nyxelestia

Okay, so, I'm seeing a lot of love and a lot of hate for this episode, mostly on random levels of spaz. People with serious personal investment in the show hated the ep, people sitting back for comedy loved it. I've got issues with both.

And, I give up all together on the linear reviewing. Character by character is much easier. ^_^

( So, The Much Loved, er, Hated, um, Something Episode )

Okay, so, I only have a quick review, today, mostly in response to all the issues people have been raising over the episode. It all boils down to one key factor:

This episode was NOT about Merlin and Freya - it was about Merlin.

( Get Over It )

Bonus Trailer Dissection Here

So, because it's 2am and I'm about 10,000 words behind on my NaNoWriMo fic, I've decided to further procrastinate by starting a discussion about Episode 208, based on the trailer!

Okay, I don't have a link to just the 208 trailer, so if anyone has one (like, the one from the end of the episode), it would be greatly appreciated.

My particular dissection/analysis/prediction/rambling of the trailer for Episode 208:

So, before we begin the trailer, I wanted to analyze who 'Morgause' is in the legends. She is often named as either Arthur's half-sister, or Morgana (in the form of Morgan Le Fay). Or, she is named as Igraine's sister (in which case, she is also usually named as Morgana's aunt). Now, in the trailer, she's somewhat young and could possibly be their sibling. but we've seen how little that can actually matter (especially when magic is involved). However, she know Arthur's mother, somehow, so I'd guess a friend, and possibly she is Arthur's aunt in this particular case. Somehow, she is very closely related to the family, one way or another. Maybe not by blood - Morgana is Arthur's sister by honor in this TV version of Arthurian legend, and Morgause being a close friend of Igraine's or her sister would certainly be a justifiable reason behind her knowing about Arthur's birth.

The other main thing to know about Morgause is that she is actually the original mother of the character Mordred. In fact, it is only when her character is ever combined with Morgan Le Fay's that Morgana becomes Mordred's mother. We already know that Morgana, while close to Mordred and having already taken on a nurturing role in relation to the boy, is not actually his mother. Do I think Morgause will turn out to be Mordred's mother in this series? Not likely. But, between this reference and the scene in the trailer with her standing at the altar of candles and the crystals, she is deeply involved with magic, somehow.

I'm hoping out that Morgause's character will be a remedy for the show's latest stream of feminism fails from 205 and 206, as Morgause is in chainmail and armor in the first scene we really see her, and she kills a guard using a sword, and it seems to hint at her going up against a knight in the arena, either in a tourney or as a challenge of some kind. As a side note, she is frequently also named as Morgan Le Fay's sister, so perhaps this common bond of feminism between the two will serve in its place.

The next episode will likely be very largely Arthur centric - or at the very least, we will see a dramatic development in Arthur's character. He's going to learn something about his mother, and he's going to go up against his father. On the note of his mother, we can see his loneliness concerning her, as he clearly wants to know all he can about her, and yet has likely run into a midieval equivalent of a firewall concerning her in his life so far. In that sense, he is like any other 'little boy' who just wants to be with his mummy. Flip side, something makes him go up against Uther and attempt to actually fight and/or kill the man. For the obvious reasons, we all suspect this is due to Arthur finding out about the circumstance of his birth. But, be careful - we've been duped before. :D (Though, yes, I admit I will firmly believe Arthur's going to find out about his birth, until I see something otherwise). And even if not, if what he finds out is going to make him go up against Uther, then it has to be BIG.

And, yay for Sir Leon! ^_^ Merlin's concern for Arthur is great, and I think his magic will get a bit of a development in this, too - the cracked old castle in the back ground seemed strangely familiar to a certain character-changing isle's set...:D His character will hopefully also get some attention as he apparently stops Arthur and Uther from killing each other (or at least trying to).

Now comes the hard part - waiting and seeing. :|

Thoughts? And, if any of you have any other (spoiler) material on the episode - interviews, photos, screen caps, sneak previews, ect. - feel free to post! (Though, do remember to include a spoiler warning in the subject line for it!)

ETA: Found two caches of promo pictures of the episode (which is apparently being called The Sins of the Father). I'd go into speculation, but like I said, it's 2am, and I'm going to be doing so much homework and NaNoWriMo writing tomorrow, so frankly, I NEED SLEEP. If I don't get swallowed up by the work the earth, I'll come back to speculate on them.

http://lhwo.hostrator.com/merlin/season2/promo/2008/promo1.htm (actual promo pics)

http://lhwo.hostrator.com/merlin/season2/promo/2014/promo2.htm (some behind-the-scenes stuff)

Okay, so, it seems that the Merlin fandom as a whole has been up in arms about this episode, SO, I just want to say a few things about it before I get too into it.

1.) The Handfasting

Some people have been asking why Uther used a handfasting when he's such a big supporter of the New Religion. a.) Handfastings were still a part of Christian ceremonies long after Paganism finished it's steady infiltration of the religion. (Christmas/Easter, anyway? Those were Pagan traditions, first). Even today, handfasting is a part of many otherwise-Christian religion ceremonies. Russian Orthodox is the first that comes to mind that still uses handfasting for their weddings, but I know there are plenty more.

Also, handfasting/garment tying remained a part of royal/noble Christian weddings even after the handfasting died out in Christian weddings elsewhere, as a symbol of tying the two houses/families together, and not just these two people.

2.) Feminism Fail: The Troll

People, people - if you can tear your eyes away from all the fanservicing half-nudity, you will remember that Merlin is, first and foremost, a children's show. The troll is likely intended to be a metaphor: that if the beautiful women everyone admires that uses her looks to manipulate people around her is ugly on the inside. This is actually a very common trope among children's stories. Think the Wicked Queen from Snow White - she turns ugly when he starts acting against Snow White.

Did it come across well? Not really, no - but, that was the likely intention, and people need to accept that.

3.) Feminism Fail: Lancelot and Guinevere

And further on the feminism!Fail front with the last episode: the reason why Morgana and Gwen ran first, at the beginning of the episode? Because despite their skill, if they're unarmed and going up against dozens of armed men on their own, they will lose. Their knights were all dead, so even if they could get their hands on a sword, they would've been doomed from the start. Later on, when it's just two or three men and they stand a chance, the girls go into action. This was a case of good strategical analysis on Morgana's part.

As for Gwen being passive about Arthur and Lancelot - she's in a difficult situation of having two guys like her - and liking two guys. And in this universe, she can't just have both boys for herself. Remember, in the legends, that's her ultimate curse: she does, in fact, do her best to have Lancelot and Arthur - and loses them both through her efforts. The show is foreshadowing the fact that she's stuck between these two men. (And believe me, I've been in that "pick one man" situation, and it ain't pretty - no matter what Gwen does, she will disappoint and hurt one of the guys she loves, and herself in the process.)

Overall, for the situations they were in, Gwen and Morgana had actually done remarkably well.

4.) Uther's Flirting and Later Inconsiderateness

Now, for the purposes of this episode, I'm dividing Uther into Before the necklace and After the necklace.

After the Necklace: I'm cutting him major slack on the grounds that he's being enchanted. Seriously - of fucking course he's not going to be thinking straight!

Before the Necklace: Okay, seriously, he actually managed this very well. As much as he's flirting with her - hey, his wife's been dead for twenty years, who wouldn't? - he's keeping it fairly light-romantic and easy-hearted. He dismisses Gaius's initial warnings to his face, yes, BUT, he does bring up those quesitons later on with Catrina in their own time. He even seems willing to doubt until she starts manipulating him, again.

Not only that, but he still can't part from Igraine - remember, he doesn't actually kiss her until After he puts on the necklace. Until then, he was still trying to stay true to Igraine. Not only that, but he even volunteers that she go visit family for a while, for him to have a chance to cool and adjust appropriately. As a politician and king, this would've been the best thing to do in terms of balancing it with his heart and emotions - and, he would've carried it out, hadn't it been for the Necklace.

5.) Gaius

Gaius has worked up towards his trust in Merlin's power. He goes from telling Merlin to not abuse his magic in the beginning of Season 1 to asking him to use his magic in Excalibur to getting him to purposefully to the magical grunt work in the beginning of Season 2. Gaius's trust in Merlin's magic is growing. "Her magic must be strong to resist a sorcerer as powerful as you."

6.) The Excessive Fanservicing

Oi, you wanted more shirtless Arthur, and you asked for it - now stop complaining.

But, in all seriousness, it's not the fanservicing itself for which I think they need to quit it. I can't help but feel they degrade Bradley James's actual acting skill by practically shoving his looks into your face. He was hired for more than that, and while part of me was going, "FLAIL" at the sight of Arthur undulating on the bed like that ^_^ another large part of me was going, "Poor Bradley", too.

There, I said it all.