Merlin 3.13: The Coming of Arthur Part II

[themadpoker]

I watched this as part of a marathon with 3.11 and 3.12. 3.11 gets no commentary because it was one of the most boring 45 minutes of television I have ever sat through and 3.12 won’t either because I actually just want to talk about the finale alot. So let’s go!

Guinevere

One of the best Gwen episodes all season. She is so amazingly competent at all times, every time I see her my love for this show expands. I am hoping her growth this season means the writers have caught on to that fact and they’ll continue this trend of giving her screentime in season 4.

I love that they made so much use of her background this episode; that scene of her making a key is my favourite ever. I may just gifspam this episode the next time I see any variation on the 'just a love interest' argument, it seems far more effective than anything I could possibly say. Gwen is a blacksmith’s daughter, your argument is invalid. =D

And finally some word on her mother! It’s possible she was lying but I am taking this is canon until I hear otherwise. It sounds pretty plausible to me, Leon seemed friendly with her and I can accept the class barrier as an explanation for why we’ve never seen them talk to each other before since they both buy into it in their own way (well Gwen doesn’t precisely buy into it so much as she’s very aware of it so I don’t think she’d initiate conversation if he didn’t).

Lancelot

There was no hair-off between Lancelot and Gwaine, I am sorry to say. But that’s okay, he made up for it by being awesome. Did you notice how he swore his allegiance to Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen? =D When he started his speech I was like lol what’re you talking about Lancelot, Arthur did not teach you those things but I noticed how he looked at Gwen when he said ‘all that’s good’ and I rewatched it and it’s Merlin who he looks at after ‘justice and freedom’. Which leaves Arthur with the knight’s code and honour and I can buy that much. I also liked that they kept it low key with the Lancelot/Gwen feelings, he still cares for her but he’s not the type to say it when she’s over him. Side-note: I was proud of Arthur for not getting all up with the jealousy this time; he’s alot more secure in Gwen’s love for him now.

The Lancelot/Merlin was excellent, I’m hoping he sticks around so we can get more of this kind of team up. The show’s general levels of implausibility would go down quite a bit with someone who knows about Merlin’s magic helping him. Other plus: I feel fairly certain that Lancelot would come up with better excuses for him than ‘in a tavern’. Not that I’m looking at anyone for that Gaius.

Arthur

I actually have no idea what Arthur’s plan was with regards to storming the castle. I mean rescue his father sure but what was he planning to do about the immortal army? Sometimes I wonder if Arthur hasn’t just decided he is supernaturally lucky or something and relies on that because most of his plans make absolutely no sense without accounting for Merlin’s help.

BUT ANYWAYS. Arthur always suffers from the writing’s plot holes, so whatever, not his fault. He was alot better this episode than he has been this season in general, the Arthur/Merlin relationship was not played in a way that made me irritated with him (see throwing all the things in episodes past) and that he went ahead and knighted all the men because they deserved it and the knight’s code is stupid was a step in the right direction. I was hoping Uther would die this episode but the idea that he might not be able to rule anymore and Arthur’ll be in charge behind the scenes works for me too. I know the writers have said a couple of times that the show will end when Arthur is officially crowned so a regent type thing seems like a good way of doing that while simultaneously letting us see what he’ll be like as a king.

Gwaine

I loved his disgruntled face throughout the knighting scene. =D Look Gwaine doesn’t want to be a knight. Back in 3.04 he left because he wouldn’t serve a man like Uther and I think that reluctance is still there. Which makes me wonder whether he’ll be a regular next season, I’m pretty certain he’ll bounce but he might come by more often if they choose to put Arthur effectively in power. Another reason to hope for regent!Arthur.

Merlin

Freya scene! =D Haha I don’t even know when I became such a fan but I was so happy with the scene where he spoke to her in the water. I kept thinking we might get more with her, I thought he was going to return the sword to her at the end. I don’t mind that he didn’t though, the sword in the stone was a suitably epic note to end the episode on. Merlin got tons of epic stuff this episode actually, the shot of Freya’s arm rising from the lake was amazing.

I do wish he’d taken down Morgause instead of Gaius because: 1) there finally would have been a magic reveal and 2) Seriously? Gaius is strong enough to take down a powerful sorceress who goes around raising the dead in her spare time? Gaius who’s never been shown as particularly powerful? Suspension of disbelief, you are stretching it.

Other side note; still cannot make sense of Kilgarrah in the least, can only conclude he suffered sudden amnesia after the season 2 finale and has been reprogrammed to be 100% Team Merlin. Something like what happened with Mr. Smith in the first season finale of SJA.

Morgana

I kind of don’t want to talk about Morgana. There was some good character stuff highlighting how she’s Uther 2.0 (anyone else stare at him when he protested her shooting the people? And he cares since when...?) and how the stuff she does generally stems from being incredibly self-centered ("I forgot that you too had suffered.") and also some stuff about internalized magic hate but honestly contemplating Morgana leaves me kind of sad and tired so whatever. I feel bad for Morgana fans, these past two seasons have sucked for them.

Wow, how did this get so long, I need to be studying. S_S In conclusion: best finale yet, loved it and am considering a rewatch next week after exams. Anyone care to join me?

Comments

[tamed-fox.livejournal.com]

Blacksmith's daughter, ftw. I refuse to believe Gwen doesn't know her way around a sword. If I, a mechanic's daughter, can fix a flat tire/change my own oil, Gwen can mess your shit up. It's only logical.

Hahaha, now the thing I want most from series 4 is a Gwaine/Lancelot hair-off. DYING of laughter.

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

Blacksmith's daughter, ftw. I refuse to believe Gwen doesn't know her way around a sword. If I, a mechanic's daughter, can fix a flat tire/change my own oil, Gwen can mess your shit up. It's only logical.

Things I firmly believe in. =D We all saw her take that bandit down in 2.04. Gwen has skills.

[hmsharmony.livejournal.com]

I am hoping her growth this season means the writers have caught on to that fact and they’ll continue this trend of giving her screentime in season 4.

God, I really hope so. I definitely think that recognizing that she COULD be with Arthur -- that she was worthy enough and that sometimes it's all right to lead with your heart -- was an important development for her this series, but now I want to see her coming to terms with the revelation that she might one-day be queen. She's accepted that she might be Arthur's wife (oh, she has MORE than accepted it -- if she were anyone else I'd swear she had a book hidden under her bed filled to the brim with dress ideas and first dance songs), but there's so much more that will accompany their union. Gwen has been a commoner and serving her entire life. She has so many leadership qualities, but so far she seems to prefer to follow than to lead (and just for a record, being a good follower? Pretty damn important and difficult). When the situation calls for it she rises to the occasion, but... So basically I want to see her struggling with the notion of ruling and eventually becoming a leader to the people. /bad mini essay

Agreed SO MUCH with Merlin taking down Morgause. WHY WAS THERE NO MAGICAL REVEAL? WTF. It's been three seasons and so far FOUR people know his secret, and one of those people died in the S1 finale and the other hasn't been seen since S2. Ughhhhhh.

Sometimes I wonder if Arthur hasn’t just decided he is supernaturally lucky or something and relies on that because most of his plans make absolutely no sense without accounting for Merlin’s help.

He has that angel from 1x04, remember? =P

I kind of don’t want to talk about Morgana.

This. It just makes me sad.

anyone else stare at him when he protested her shooting the people? And he cares since when...?

Well, to be fair, Uther doesn't enjoy killing non-magical beings. He's not completely bloodthirsty, and when he executes someone he does it because, in his mind, they've committed a crime. Morgana, on the other hand, started to massacre completely innocent people. :-\ It was still very hypocritical of him, however.

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

The leadership role would be such a great tack for them to take for her in season 4. Because she is so definitely capable of it but it's a mindset that I think she would have some trouble adjusting to. Arthur knows to lead, he's just working on doing so justly and thinking of the people under him (which is something Gwen and Merlin have been helping him with). Gwen though needs to learn to lead. I'd love it if Arthur could somehow help her with that, it'd be a nice counterpoint to all the things she teaches him.

Yeah aughhh. The magic needs revealing ASAP. It doesn't have to be Arthur or Gwen (not asking for a miracle) but there needs to be somebody. Who's the season 2 one? I'm trying but I can't remember.

I just have trouble with the fact that Uther's idea of a 'crime' entails people existing. The druids he sent Arthur to kill and the children he drowned are more than equivalent to the people Morgana fired on (her father's daughter in all the worst ways D=).

[hmsharmony.livejournal.com]

I'd love it if Arthur could somehow help her with that, it'd be a nice counterpoint to all the things she teaches him.

That could quite possibly be the sweetest, cutest thing in the world. I think it would be remiss to say that Arthur hasn't done anything for Gwen (he listens to and values her ideas and put these ideas in motion -- he makes her words MATTER and helped her recognize that she could cause change), but it would be nice to see him teach her, as you so nicely put it.

Who's the season 2 one? I'm trying but I can't remember.

It wasn't revealed in season two, the characters just hasn't been around since then. And that's Mordred, but I guess it really wasn't a reveal and more of a "Mordred is super creepy and hacked into his brain."

I just have trouble with the fact that Uther's idea of a 'crime' entails people existing. The druids he sent Arthur to kill and the children he drowned are more than equivalent to the people Morgana fired on

I know, I know, but to his mind, at least, they DID commit a crime. =\ What crime did the people Morgana kill commit? So far as I can tell, none. She just did it to make a point. Definitely don't want to defend Uther -- he's a tyrant who's committed genocide. But even Morgana didn't have a legitimate reason for killing those innocent people.

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

Oh no, Arthur and Gwen are pretty reciprocal in terms of doing things for each other, I'd just like to see that teaching dynamic reversed. Character growth shippiness is the best kind. <3

Uther kills people to make a point all the time though. That's why his executions are always public and why he always remixes that speech of his about making a lesson of them. But yeah, you're right about what his perspective would be, it's just he's ridiculously hypocritical.

[hmsharmony.livejournal.com]

Yes, he's definitely killing them to make a point, but he's also killing them because he thinks they're evil and criminals. He always makes those speeches to warn his people not to involve themselves with magic. (I FEEL LIKE I'M DEFENDING HIM RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T LIKE IT. D=) Morgana's point was, "Join me or I'll kill innocent people." It would be one thing if she had killed the knights, but she turned around and killed people who had nothing to do with the situation. (For the record, BOTH SCENARIOS ARE REALLY, REALLY AWFUL AND BAD.)

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

But their crime is existing! That's what keeps getting me, I don't see any qualitative difference between Morgana killing people who basically had the bad luck to be around when she wanted to force her point on the knights and Uther killing people who had the bad luck to be born with magic. Their crime isn't doing anything, it's being. The only difference is that at least Morgana's honest about the fact that she's killing innocent people for her own purposes.

Idk, are we actually saying anything much different here? I think he believes they're evil and criminals, I just also think he's deluding himself.

[hmsharmony.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, but he sees it as a crime! IT'S A RIDICULOUS DIFFERENCE, I KNOW, but he manages to vindicate it in his mind (and seems to think he's doing what's in the best interest of the kingdom by killing all of these people, even though that's total BS).

I guess...IDK...I think we're saying very similar things, but in my mind there's a difference between going after a party, and going after a party by going after people who have NOTHING to do with the issue. Are they both equally bad? Hell yes. But it's a difference between them.

ETA: FIGURED OUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY (had to go back and figure out what started this discussion! XD). Uther is so shocked because he would never kill "innocent" people that have nothing to do with the crime. So, to his mind, that IS terrible. Of course he's a hypocrite and doesn't realize that he's killed innocent people himself, but he justified his acts against humanity by calling them criminals, while Morgana pretty much just says, "Why not?"

[heather.livejournal.com]

Did you notice how he swore his allegiance to Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen? =D YES, one of my favorite moments in the episode. Beautiful. Lance is literally perfect. Except for ditching gwen in the middle of the night but he totes made up for it by being awesome and not Nice-Guying it up around her in this episode.

I would totes join you in a rewatch :D

[heather.livejournal.com]

Oh! And I don't think Gwen was lying; I feel like it would be something Morgana would remember if reminded, possibly. (or maybe not, idk)

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

I feel like it's open to interpretation. I'm taking it as canon but if they change that piece of backstory next season I'd be fine with it because I can believe Gwen just made it up on the spot to grab an opportunity to get Leon free. Idk. True until proven otherwise.

I am thinking of rewatching next Sunday? Around 5 EST probably.