Previously on Merlin…
· Morgana returned after a year’s absence and spent the entire season being EVIL and smirking along with her SISTERRR Morgause and their new smoldering sidekick King Cendred who was zombie food by season’s end.
· Gwen’s never before mentioned brother Elyan, Gwaine of the Luscious Hair, and Percival the Mighty joined the knighthood.
· Lancelot returned and continued to bond with Merlin and pine after Gwen.
· Gwen and Arthur’s romance continued to simmer in secret on a slow burn, with the exception of an almost marriage to clumsy, but adorable Fairy Princess, and a near burning at the stake courtesy of Uther and Morgana.
· Arthur continued to do his father’s bidding without question, leading to a disastrous mission to retrieve “the cup of life” that paved the way for Morgana to take the throne from a shocked Uther and a neutered Arthur.
· Arthur and his newly formed Knights of the Roundtable, with Gwen’s help, overthrew Morgana’s curiously cruel reign.
· With her sister near death, the kingdom scarred, Uther driven mad and her EVIL finally discovered, Morgana teleported out of Camelot with a HUGE chip on her shoulder.
· Arthur STILL was clueless about Merlin’s magic.
Merlin returns for its fourth season with a creepy two-parter that sets the stage for what is to be some dark days ahead for our heroes. As the series opens Morgana and Morgause are in route to their next big project --- tearing apart the veil between the mortal and spirit worlds so that evil spirits will descend upon Camelot bringing death and destruction wherever they go. At least they are learning how to delegate.
Morgana no longer seems to need to telegraph her EVIL through smirks and convoluted plans, but seems to have decided to wear black this season in case someone didn’t get the “I’m evil now memo.” The two SISTERRS succeed in opening up the veil and all Hades literally breaks loose.
With Uther spending most of his time catatonic, Arthur is acting as Prince Regent. He is troubled that Morgana is back causing problems and turns to his long lost Uncle Agravaine for support. The black clad, slicked hair, fork tongue man is clearly up to no good and pretends to be touched that Arthur trusts him. Arthur discovers that the only way to close the veil is a blood sacrifice and after much deliberation (not really) Arthur decides that he is going to sacrifice himself to save the people of Camelot, but not before crying all over Uther about how he taught him to be a great prince (did I miss that?) and saying a touching goodbye to Gwen who knows that something is up.
Sure enough, faster than you can say Mufasta, a gleeful Uncle Scar can’t wait to tell his secret BFF Morgana about Arthur’s plan.
Gwen takes time from wiping Uther’s drool to see Lancelot whose clear happiness at seeing her is dampened when she asks him to take care of Arthur and doesn’t even wish him a safe trip. Lance promises to look after Arthur with his life so you can guess where this is going…
On their journey, the knight's experience some hilarious hijinks's from Gwaine that involve food and besotted monsters. OK. But the fun can’t last forever as Merlin is stung by an evil spirit and Lancelot volunteers to take him back to Camelot for help. While on their own, the boys bond over magic and water spirits and unrequited love once Merlin is healed.
Meanwhile, Gwen is upset to hear that Uncle Scar has closed the gates to villagers who need help because he’s scared of chaos and that’s not what Arthur would do and let’s her opinion be known in front of The Council. The Council sides with Gwen much to Uncle Scar’s chagrin. He goes whining to Morgana who goes on a tirade about Gwen stealing her throne and how she was warned that a guy named Emery would be her doom. Uncle Scar, who is not only a coward, but not very bright, runs to Gauis of all people and asks him for info on Emery as Merlin overhears. Maybe Morgana left out the fact that Merlin is a constant spoiler of bad guy plans in her “What You Need to Know to be Evil in Camelot” briefing.
Determined to get that crown stealer tonight, Morgana sneaks into the citadel and unleashes her wrath on Gwen who manages to come throw it with merely a gash on the head. Better luck next time.
Meanwhile at the opening of the veil, as Arthur and Merlin play “I’m willing to die more than you”, Lancelot makes the ultimate sacrifice, keeping his promise to Gwen, and his unspoken vow of loyalty to Merlin, by walking around the talkers and closing the veil himself, but not before throwing Merlin a contented smile and looking as sexy as he ever has.
Merlin is devastated, but it’s nothing compared to Gwen’s grief who tells a shocked Arthur that she asked Lance to look out for him and he died to keep his promise. Realizing that Lancelot still loved Gwen, something I’m sure Lance went out of his way not to show during the unseen year, and seeing the depth of Gwen’s feelings for the fallen knight, Arthur leaves his lady love to grieve alone, but their conflicting feelings about Lance and his place in their lives, will no doubt come back in a strong was when a not so dead Lance reappears...
Morgana is furious that Arthur lives. Uncle Scar informs her that he just got lucky but Morgana’s been to this rodeo too many times. She’s determined to come out on top, if only she can find that pesky Emery.
I really enjoyed this season opener. It seems that the writers have a clear vision for this season and the show as a whole and this year everybody’s going to get knocked a bit. You really get see how everybody’s weaknesses are going to used against them --- Arthur attachment to the people he loves and his continued blind spot for his family; Merlin frustration at having to keep his magic a secret; Morgana’s selfishness and obsession with Camelot; Gwen’s ability to love and need to be loved and valued (as seen when she makes the mistake of being flattered by Uncle Scar’s pretty words); and Lancelot’s love for Gwen. Personally, I like the darker tone of the show and I’m curious to how far the writers are going to push the envelope with the characters.
Questions/Comments
Lancelot and Merlin’s friendship was the highlight of this two-parter. I LOVE Santiago Cabrera in this role and I’m sorry that we only get him in so few episodes. He IS Lancelot. His relationship with Merlin is fantastic as Merlin can be himself around him and he has great chemistry with Angel Coulby. The looks he was giving her during their scene together made me swoon!
Nice to see Gwen having a bigger role and a bigger say in Camelot. Speaking up at the Council Meeting? You’ve come a long way Baby. I feel like this was one of the first times we really saw the real her unhampered by her “servant role.” But taking care of Uther, the man who killed her father and nearly toasted her on the pyre twice? It’s a choice… Kudos to Anthony Head for playing drooling Uther so well, it’s almost enough to make you feel sorry for the guy until you remember he likes to drown babies for fun.
Morgana is so much more convincing as a villainess now that she’s gotten rid of that evil smirk, but tell me that’s she’s being a little bit more proactive than sitting in her hut, wearing black and getting info from Uncle Scar.
Morguase, that’s your grand plan, really? Maybe, it was the only way she could think of getting away from her SISTERRR. I’m going to miss typing that!
Was I the only one that laughed when Gauis did his typical “do the right thing Sire” speech to Uncle Scar and quickly shut up AS USUAL when he was smacked down?
So, I take it that Gwaine was reduced to comic relief irrelevance because with Lancelot in the house he just couldn’t compete. Well Lance is in limbo now so hopeful Gwaine will get his spark back.
WHY IS ARTHUR MADE TO LOOK SO BLOODY CLUELESS? I’m sorry, but I had to get that out. I get that Merlin’s magic must stay a secret for the story to work as it currently set up, I also understand that Merlin is the hero of the show, BUT Arthur is the Once and Future King not Boo Boo the Fool. He doesn’t suspect anything once he wakes up from all these convenient knock outs? EVER? And come on, I mean, even Stevie Wonder could see that Uncle Agravaine is a BAD GUY --- the black clothing, the gelled back hair, the “I live to serve you nephew” attitude. You’re the Prince Regent now Art, get it together!
Merlin may not do everything right, but they are building a triangle that is pulling at the heart strings. I’m a Huge Arthur/Gwen shipper, but even I see why Gwen likes Lancelot so much and I don’t blame the girl for giving him a second, third or fourth look! It breaks my heart to see him pining for Gwen. I thought it was very mature of Arthur to leave Gwen to her grief, but seeing it is going to make him wonder just how deep her feelings for Lance run setting the stage for what we know will be Lance’s return. Arthur’s shock when he realized that Gwen and Lance still had feelings for each other and Gwen’s grief and guilt was palatable and that sight of her alone at his pyre was beautiful.
Merlin seems to be growing tired with having to keep his magic a secret. I can’t blame him. I hope that this season we see his building resentment played out.
0 comments:
Post a Comment