4x4 - Another's Sorrow

[marguerite_26]

This was a bit of an odd episode. I'm not entirely sure what to think of it. Pacing was weird. It had all these off moments, and nonsensical choices and conversations. :/

I love Mithian and enjoyed the Mithian/Merlin moments, though I have to say I was disappointed that they pigeon-holed her into damsel in distress so much so that even when she had the opportunity to grab a sword and defend herself (in the tomb) she trembled in a corner. She didn't have to turn bad ass or anything, but grabbing a weapon would have suited more with the Mithian of S4. What happened to the princess who led the hunt for Gwen?

but then again Merlin writer don't do multi-dimensional within one episode (outside of M/A).

Well, there was a lot of stuff that annoyed me. *mentally shoves all that aside*

I love what actually happened from a series arc perspective. like WOW this was a great episode to show Arthur's worth as a king, how he earns respect from other leaders, how Albion is united. YES!!! This is what I was worried we wouldn't get a chance to see when the did the three year jump. This is the bits of ~Camelot's golden age~ that I've been itching to see. so, good on you show.

Let me point you here: 4x05 - 5x04

The other thing I LOVED??? BAMF MERLIN. jadfkljgkdfljgldfjglfdjgfd HOLY FUCKING EARTHQUAKE BATMAN. hand slamming earth is my new kink. FUCK. Then he was RIGHT THERE. WITH A SWORD. He saved Arthur's life WITH A SWORD and Arthur SAW IT. *flails* It was totally on my wish list (if had a wish list for such things). That was so fucking hot.

The other other thing I loved, which I felt was SO IMPORTANT was that Arthur fought Odin alone. Merlin didn't magic up some tipping of the scales thing. It was just Arthur and his skill doing his thing (being both king and knight, defending what was right). And that yes, Merlin advised him at a critical moment, but that's all it was. Advice. Think before you act. Think beyond your instinct. And Arthur listened and on his own came up with his solution. (both the listening and making up his own mind without being ~overtly manipulated was really really significant to me). And his solution took courage and faith.

HEARTS IN MY EYES FOR BOTH MERLIN AND ARTHUR THIS WEEK. THEY NEED EACH OTHER SO MUCH.

I point you here: 1x04-5x04

I think I need to watch it again, but for an episode I didn't really enjoy while I was watching, so much of what happened made me very happy. :)

Comments

[amphigoury.livejournal.com]

Fuck yeah BAMF!Merlin!!! I actually drew him doing some similar ground-pounding back in summer 2011. (http://amphigoury.livejournal.com/14438.html#cutid1)

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

awe! I love it. :) powerful merlin is so damn hot.

[xfortytwo.livejournal.com]

I felt like this episode had some really excellent moments, but as a whole it was kinda lacking. Like, it felt like I've seen the same episode a lot of times on this show. And I agree so much about Mithian, cause I loved her the first time around and she seemed a little less like herself, but.

It definitely had some excellent moments, though.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Like, it felt like I've seen the same episode a lot of times on this show.
*sigh* yes. I mean, they can do so much with the material they are given. It's sad that they don't feel the need to be 'fresh' with their basic plots.

My head canon is that Mithian was so upset about her dad that she just let it consume her. or something. I mean, she help it together reasonably. She was ~strong in the sense of not being cowardly. But not strong in the sense of being courageous... if that makes any sense. ;)

but yeah. some AWESOME moments. :)

[prime_meridian]

I love these thoughts. :)

Well said. Agree x 10000.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

:) ty!

[bohemiabythesea.livejournal.com]

Oh, this episode made me so happy! Then again, I'm just really easily pleased; I just get ridiculously happy whenever I watch Merlin and its gleeful defiance of all things logical. <3

Also, BAMF!Merlin! That got me rather excited, I have to admit...

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it. To be honest, I usually try not to expect too much from Merlin. It's not like I ~didn't like this one, it just left me feeling ... odd, rather than my usually flailing self. ;)

[bohemiabythesea.livejournal.com]

I was 'chatwatching' it with mijeli, so I was probably watching this episode through a really enhanced fandom-filter and also not concentrating singularily on the episode, so my judgement could be very generous. But I really have such a love for the show because it is mainly like fluffy cotton candy, so I am very lenient and will forgive almost any illogical nonsense and character's 180°-turns, bcs they make up for it by being gleefully silly and catering to the audience (also, every time the only woods in the area, and the only canyon, and the only ridge come up, I have to laugh). I might have flailed rather a lot when there was Arthur warning Odin about what his knights might do if something happened to their King, to which I commented 'Arthur, sweetie, I'm afraid your knights, lovely as they are, have nothing on Merlin in that respect', and then WHAM! BAMF!Merlin slams his hand to the ground and makes the earth shake!

Also. Merlin was bossing Arthur around a lot; it amused me greatly!

[http://users.livejournal.com/shing_/]

When Merlin slammed his hand onto the ground? Ovaries GONE.

When Arthur faced Odin on his own and was all intense? Ovaries GONE.

I needed a moment after that one-on-one sword fight. MY GOD.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

yes yes yes. they were both so bad ass this episode. GOD.

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

BAMF!MERLIN IS MY FAVE! HAND SLAMMING OH MY.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

yessssssssssssssss!

[clawdine]

There is nothing fucking sexier than merlin doing an earth spell and arthur BAMFing the fuck out of everything with that LAST SCENE WITH ODIN

And yes, I loved all those parallels.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

ikr? they were like: I am BAMF. No, I am BAMF. NO!! I AM BAMFER THAN YOU.

yes, boys. please continue to our bamf each other. :)


And yes, I loved all those parallels.
:) sometimes I wonder if the trolls are like lets keep repeating plot and dialogue over and over and we're bound to accidentally land on awesome parallels.

and other times I'm like OMG THIS SHOW KNOWS WHAT ITS DOING RIGHT NOW. :0

[bohemiabythesea.livejournal.com]

:) sometimes I wonder if the trolls are like lets keep repeating plot and dialogue over and over and we're bound to accidentally land on awesome parallels.

and other times I'm like OMG THIS SHOW KNOWS WHAT ITS DOING RIGHT NOW.

--> It's both! Clearly both! Oh, BBC Wales, how I love thee! ♥

[sorrylatenew.livejournal.com]

I was prepared for the episode to be weird and boring since I'd read spoilers, so I think I enjoyed it more going into it with those thoughts in mind, and then I fucking LOVED the end. I've never found A&M more attractive. ♥___♥

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I have a love hate relationship with spoilers! I don't mind know some stuff, but the millions 'teaser lines' that come out sometimes ruin a great episode for me because I'm overly aware that 'a carrot in his hair' joke is going to happen, you know?

but expecting a crappy ep has it's advantages (when it's far better than you expected.)


next week... gah! I'm trying not to read anything. I've just read enough spoilers to know that I'm going to come out of that ep with VERY STRONG FEELINGS. I just don't know what sort. :/

[mishaphappens.livejournal.com]

I loved this review! I definitely needed to hear this because you are so right. I didn't like watching it, but all those things I definitely LOVED about the episode.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

There were lots of wonderful things going on in this episode. I just wish I loved it. But Arthur being king was really making me happy.