500TH POST!

YAY!

500 POSTS!

YAY!

BALLOONS! STREAMERS! CAKE! ICE CREAM!

(See, I didn't want to make my Merlin review the 500th post, but it appears I can't think of anything to say otherwise. So I guess it's going to be.)

Merlin review coming right up after the spoiler line.



SPOILER LINE!







Too Much Holding Back! Push The Envelope, Writers!

Yeah, they had a good premise but I gotta say, this one wasn't as good as the ads said it would be. I was mostly disappointed about poor, oblivious Arthur being poor and oblivious yet AGAIN.

The lighting in this one was tremendous, however, and Bradley and Angel did well in their little love scenes together. I may actually stop pairing Arthur and Merlin so much if they keep this up.

Yeah, Arthur didn't find out about Morgana (but end of series, guarantee that's going to change.) This episode played it safe-Arthur and Gwen's relationship is viewed by Uther as an enchantment, Morgana keeps her low-profile bad status intact, Gwen talks to Merlin about Morgana's badness, Merlin keeps himself from getting burned by the skin of his wrinkled old...well, you get the picture.

I wish this episode had risked more. I wish this had been the scenario: Gwen goes to Arthur and tells him about Morgana, and they decide to keep that between them and Merlin because it's a dangerous thing. BUT NO.

Arthur should have been able to suss out what was going on, and the fact that he didn't is disappointing. Morgana couldn't have been more obvious if she'd tried. She convinces him to go out there and she knows he's out there and then she convinces Uther to practically run him OVER with his horse as Arthur's lying on a blanket hooking up with Gwen? Come on. Arthur knew that Morgana knew and he AGAIN blatantly chose to ignore her evil. He won't be so damn stupid two episodes from now when she takes the whole effing kingdom out from under Uther's nose.

Arthur knew it wasn't Merlin, Gwen, or Gaius. Take a WILD guess who else it could be.

Also, Merlin should have been in much more danger (come on, you figured he was going to get out of it, you just didn't know when.) Why couldn't Merlin have said the sorcerer cast a spell on him as he ran by, affecting his voice or something? It was almost blatantly obvious Old!Merlin had been standing there not four seconds before Arthur came round the corner.

Oh, and one more thing-Colin Morgan was having too much damn fun under that old man makeup. He was practically wriggling with it. Then there was the fact that Merlin got to stand there and tell Uther exactly what he thought of him (and Arthur, who clearly didn't get the message about mistreating servants and made Merlin muck out the stables anyway.) I really wish there had been a scene between this version of Merlin and Morgana where he'd dressed her down for the bitch she is. Maybe there wasn't time, but there should have been.


On another note, there's a rumor floating about that one person from the main cast is going to permanently leave the show, and another be reduced to recurring. Here's my thoughts:

GAIUS-permanently gone. I've been saying it for at least a year already. He's the only member of the cast who ISN'T part of the legend. Richard Wilson was saying it was an exhausting schedule for someone who's in their 70's. They've already reduced him to half time. I would be willing to bet quite a bit of money that Gaius is going to go either be with Alice or he's going to be dead.

The two I would think would be reduced to half-time would be either Uther or Morgana. Seeing as the last two episodes show Morgana clearly wearing her evil stripes for all to see, wouldn't be surprised if it was her. She's going to have to make a run for it, and that means she won't be around as much to SMIRK.

I said Uther because he hasn't really been around that much this year, and I wouldn't be too terribly surprised to see him reduced to a lighter role. But that leaves Morgana to most likely die, and they're not going to do THAT so I'm sticking with Morgana on this one.

The next episode deals with some guy misusing his magic in Camelot and Merlin instructing him to use his powers for good. Maybe good ol' Merlin's going to get an ally who can do magic. Finally.

I do have to make one comment, though. This has been the year of the Harry Potter star lineup. We've had Flitwick, we've had Sprout, now we're getting Dudley (and he's magical! HA HA HA. Wonder what Uncle Vernon would say if he knew?)

EDIT: Talk about doof. Ha ha. Missed Mark Williams, who played Arthur Weasley and the Goblin from episode 3. Silly me.

The episode after that has Arthur and Merlin going to find the Cup of Life-which should be easy seeing as Merlin left it at the Isle of the Blessed, I believe, back in Series 1 when he killed Nimueh. Unless it's been moved, which is probably going to happen just to mess with our heads.

Question: How are they going to steer the boat to the Isle if Merlin can't use a spell in front of Arthur? Will there be scorch marks on the ground yet from Merlin's last trip there? How are they going to get there if Morgause has already arrived? Does the boat wait patiently or does it steer itself back or will there be a second boat with no oars waiting for them? AM I THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS?

The rumors about Nimueh's return are getting louder, especially with this whole Cup of Life business. I personally think Nimueh's going to be terrified of Merlin's powers because she got toasted by them the last time she saw him (and he's become more powerful since then.) I still think the whole thing is hogwash-aren't Morgause and Morgana ENOUGH to be dealing with, even if their followers are immortal? If Nimueh DOES show up, Merlin's worst kept secret is gonna get revealed to Morgause and Morgana, and boy oh boy is there going to be trouble when THAT happens. I call for a big magical battle where Merlin beats them up and chains them with magical chains in a forest full of big scorpions. And kills Nimueh. Again.

And the episode after that has Morgana on the throne with that UGLY crown on her head, causing havoc, mayhem, and trouble for all in Camelot..until Merlin and Arthur and the future Round Table turn up and kick. her. ass.

One last note: I wonder if Kilgarrah's going to put in an appearance here? He's only been in three episodes total this year and we're not likely to see him in the next one, so I suspect he'll turn up in at least one of the last two.

Ta,
Bec