I JUST HAVE ALL THESE FEELINGS.

[chibirhm]

Dear Mean Meme,

You are reaching dangerous levels of Not Cool, Man. First, you discussed something my friend said in flock out of flock, which is just... wow. And that's not even the first time you've done that! Even if these people weren't my friends, douche move. And now, you are acting totally drunk off the power of "revealing" that Georgia and Bradley are dating. Really, Mean Meme? I will admit that yes, I initially freaked out. However, you forget, I think, that people are capable of going back to check facts. Remember how that rumor came out initially and it was ridiculed BEFORE the pictures showed up? Remember why? Because there were tweets saying Bradley was in LA at the fucking time the picture was supposed to be taken, and you know who I'm going to believe? Someone on Twitter. Who actually puts their name on the stuff they write. As opposed to an obscure anon fandom cesspool. So unless Bradley has somehow managed to break the space-time continuum, that picture proves nothing other than Bradley and Georgia were seen in public together, and that the source is a liar. Wooo! Shocking!

Meme, you are part of my life in the same way the weather forecast is part of my life. I watch you because I feel it more prudent to see what's coming than to stick my head in the sand. It is time that you took a good, hard look at yourself and realized that, much like the weather forecast, you are wrong, like, 90% of the time.

Sincerely,
Me

And now, for something much more exciting, TIME FOR MERLIN THOUGHTS.

THAT TIME ON MERLIN WHERE BRADLEY AND COLIN WERE ALL DDDDD: AND I WAS ALL :DDDDDD

ALKSJFLKSDJF OKAY. FIRST OFF. Best part of this episode? BOYS. BOYS WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS FROM GWEN. Oh thank the Lord. Look, I've come to accept it - any episode that's missing Gwen by default becomes a better episode. And the worse an episode is, the more likely it has a lot of Gwen in it. And by "worse" I don't mean "it's bad because I miss the gay" (though I do), I mean "it's bad because Bradley and Angel look about ready to slit their own throats and end it all, plus the characterization is so terrible I want to die because omgwtf, writers, consistency, you need to learn it". I'm certainly not happy about this conclusion because lord knows this show is a feminist nightmare and it's a wonder that doesn't bother me the way it should, but them's just the facts. attempts at Arthur/Gwen romance brings down the caliber of the show. It makes it hokey. And yes, it is a hokey kid's show, but the point is it used to be BETTER than that before hey were all OMG NO HOMO and started trying to push this shit. Well, most of the time, anyway.

This episode also confirmed a lot of my previously-drawn conclusions about Arthur/Gwen. Namely, the following:

ONE - Arthur/Gwen shippers don't actually give two shits about Arthur. If they did, they would have loved this episode, because Arthur fucking rocked it like a boss. ONE BILLION POINTS TO BRADLEY AND HIS BIG BLUE PUPPY EYES OF EMOTION. Instead, when I made my weekly glance over the Arthur/Gwen community liveposts (yes, I do that every week, I feel that I should try to see the entirety of fandom opinion instead of my own very biased little corner before I attempt to write a review), they were all OMG WORST EPISODE EVER SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE GAIUS IN LOVE ONE OMG I AM SO MAD OMG WHERE WAS GWEN THERE IS NO POINT IN EVEN HAVING THIS SHOW WITHOUT HER!!

Now, once I was over having, I will admit it, totally petty schadenfreude, I went "HAH". And then I felt confused, because it boggles my mind that you could ship a pairing and then just... not give a shit about one of the people who makes it up. How on earth did these shippers get through the first season when Gwen and Arthur interacted, like, twice? MIND BOGGLED. Which leads me to point number two...

TWO - Gwen is a Disney princess. IT'S TRUE. Remember, like, older Disney movies, like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, when it was all about the princess and the prince at the end was pretty much the same generically handsome dude who did nothing but stab evil things conveniently, kiss the heroine when appropriate? You know, the guy with zero personality? THAT IS WHAT ARTHUR/GWEN IS. THAT IS ALL IT IS.

So then I thought to myself, well, why do I love those movies and yet want to stab my eyes out every time I watched an Arthur/Gwen scene? (I watched the one at the end of last week's episode just so I'd know as a point of reference where they stood, and I nearly cried with laughter oh my god. Both Bradley and Angel are, like, two seconds away from cracking the fuck up, and I think the best part is when Angel was clearly given the direction to emote happily, so she does this weird bosom-heaving inhale-smile and OH MY GOD IT'S SO HAMMY AND AWFUL. WHY DO BAD DIRECTORS DO THIS TO GOOD ACTRESSES!?!?!? MORE ON THIS LATER) So I have come to the conclusion that, since the writers are clearly bound and determined to continue on this whole ~ARTHUR/GWEN IS TWU WUV 4EVA~ thing, they're going to have to make a few changes to Gwen's character. Namely, she needs two things: adorable animal sidekicks, and songs written by Alan Menken to sing. That is the only way I think I'll be able to get over the fact that there are actually two Arthurs running around Camelot - one who I actually recognize, and Generic Pod Prince Directly From The Trope Packaging!Arthur.

Alan Menken songs are capable of getting me through a lot, okay.

ANYWAY ON TO ACTUAL STUFF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN THE ACTUAL SHOW:


My one complaint about this episode is that it was ripe for more Merlin/Arthur interaction and there wasn't any, but what we got was HILARIOUS GOLD. I will never, ever, ever tire of harassed wife!Merlin nagging Arthur about WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?!?!?! Also, Bradley's delivery of THE ONLY RULE IS THERE ARE NO RULES was golden.

THE FIRST RULE OF CAMELOT FIGHT CLUB IS YOU DON'T DISCUSS CAMELOT FIGHT CLUB, MERLIN.



Welcome to Camelot, Gilli! LET'S LOOK AT ALL THOSE PARALLELS AND GET ALL NOSTALGIC, SHALL WE?

(Sidebar: Guys, I know canon spelling can be hard sometimes, but it really is spelled Gilli. The next time you are confused, I suggest checking the press releases. They usually spell it right there! Can this be the end of the Gilly/Gili/whatever variations I've been seeing around? Thanks.)



OH MORGANA I LOVED YOU THIS EPISODE. SO MUCH. Not only was Morgana hot, but she was subtle in her evil. Subtle! And crafty! AND THERE WAS NO SMIRKING. After listening to the Bradley and Katie commentary it became pretty clear to me that the copious Morgana smirking is not Katie's choice, considering how much she complains about it, which I suspected. That conscious a choice has to be directors or editors. Which makes me think seriously, Merlin team, you need to start listening to your actors. I've already expounded on how Bradley should totally write for the show because he wants more of what the show's best at, namely, Arthur/Merlin "friendship", fighting, and high fantasy good times. LISTEN TO HIM. Colin wants to do more dark and meaty stuff. LISTEN TO HIM. Angel wants Gwen to be more autonomous and kick more ass. LISTEN TO HER. Katie wants to smirk less. LISTEN TO HER.

Look, I've been on crew. I have a lot of friends who have worked crew. I know that non-acting parts of productions hate one thing more than anything - actors telling them how to do their jobs. But in this case? THE ACTORS ARE RIGHT. Get over it.


I love how when Uther starts having his midlife crisis and is all I CAN TOTALLY FIGHT WITH THE YOUNG DUDES (apparently, they didn't have midlife crisis cars back then), Arthur's all BUT DAAAAAAD, YOU'RE TOO OLD. And you just know when Arthur's his dad's age he'll still be sneaking into tournaments and Merlin and Gwen will be like :|||| ARTHUR WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU JACKASS and he'll be like STFU I AM SO FIGHTING FIT.


Still wish there was a bit more to these Arthur/Merlin scenes, but this one, again, CRACKED ME UP. the whole whispering to Arthur that omg people had died was AMAZING.


And Arthur's all AWWWW HELL YEAH, I'M THE MOTHERFUCKING CROWN PRINCE OF CAMELOT AND I OWN THIS BIZNITCH.


...until his dad crashes his party. GEEZ. WHY DID UTHER HAVE TO CHAPERONE? COULDN'T HE BE COOL LIKE ALL THE OTHER PARENTS AND LET ARTHUR HAVE A GOOD TIME? HE IS TOTALLY RUINING PROM, OKAY!


It's too bad Morgana is, you know, evil, because she'd make an awesome queen if she weren't. LOOK AT THIS BADASS BITCH RIGHT HERE.


OH HEY PLOT POINT, GILLI IS MAGIC.

And yes, I do think I'm funny. I THINK I'M HILARIOUS.


HELLO GRATUITOUS BRADLEY'S EYES!PORN. ALKSJDFLKSJF. YOU ALL KNOW MY FEELINGS ON THAT BOY'S EYES.


Not to be outdone for the title of Hotass of the Week, we have COLIN'S PUPPY FACE OF CONCERN.


*INCOHERENT GARBLING NOISES*


Omg hi, Andreas, hi! Yes, I do recognize Merlin's stunt coordinator at a single glance and yes, I do get ridiculously excited to see him. What? I'm actually the coolest person you know.


ARTHUR'S MANPAIN IS IN TENTS.

GET IT?!?!

Okay, horrible punnery aside, I really effing love these tents. Everything shot in them looks just! So! Pretty!


So literally this picture showed up on my tumblr dash the EXACT SECOND this scene started, which made me laugh so hysterically I had to re-watch it a few times because every time I just saw Bradley as this dog going "aroo?" and then I'd lose it again. But BRADLEY JAMES = AN OVERGROWN DOG. I HAVE ONLY BEEN SAYING THIS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

But omg this scene. I LOVE THIS SCENE SO MUCH. Merlin advising and Arthur listening with that little UGH I DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO! and the little married jibes! Also was I the only one who, when Merlin was all I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITH A MAN thought it sounded so ridiculously gay? I just wish there was MORE to this scene. This scene was so ripe for emotional discussion! IT SO SHOULD HAVE GONE THERE. COME ON, WRITERS.

Still. It was a pretty excellent scene.


SERIOUSLY I LOVE QUEEN!MORGANA. She's all "CRAWL FOR ME, BITCHES. THAT'S RIGHT. FIGHT FOR MY FAVOR."


STOP. THE PRESSES. WE MUST DISCUSS THIS.

Okay, so, in every other fight Arthur is in, he isn't wearing anything on his arm, EXCEPT in the Uther fight, when magically,he has a token of favor. HMMMM. Now the logical conclusion is that he'd be wearing Gwen's favor, except... look at it. First of all, why would Gwen give him favor for that fight and not any of the others? And second of all, why is it blue? Gwen never wears blue or anything even close to blue. (And why is he wearing it? Is it so we can tell Arthur and Uther apart? Because the different helmets do a pretty good job of that, and it's a very subtle costuming thing. Why did they even give him that to wear?)

Here are my thoughts - you know who wears blue, knows Arthur's going to throw the fight, and loves Arthur? I'll give you a hint, it starts with M and ends with -erlin.

JUST SAYING.


HOW IS IT THAT BRADLEY JAMES EMOTES SO EXCELLENTLY THROUGH THAT TINY T-SHAPED SLIVER? OH MY GOD HIS LITTLE FAAAAAAAACE. I JUST WANT TO HUG HIM AND TELL HIM IT WILL BE OKAY.


FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE.




So if I had to name the most stunning, zen, at-peace-with-the-universe moment of this episode, this was it. This, right here. It was like suddenly I understood this show. Suddenly Arthur made perfect sense to me. He's just like Merlin, really. Remember what Merlin said to Gilli:

"It's...lonely. To be more powerful than any man you know and have to live like a shadow. To... be special and have to pretend you're a fool. I know how it feels, I understand."

I WISH HE HAD SAID THAT TO ARTHUR. Because yes. YES! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ARTHUR IS GOING THROUGH THIS SEASON/ALL SEASONS/ALL THE TIME. Now, I don't think the show is doing this intentionally, because that suggests that this show is capable of emotional subtlety. But I think this is a choice Bradley's articulated very clearly making for his character, and I never saw it shine through nearly as brightly as I did in this scene. As Arthur grows older, he clearly realizes, more and more, how awful his father is. He's a teenager, okay, it's what teenagers do. And like all teenagers, he's desperate to rebel against him (which, I think, contributes in large part to his infatuation with Gwen - I think Arthur's caught up in the romanticism and nobility of the idea of their relationship but clearly doesn't really know anything about who she is as a person), but at the same time, he's desperate for his father's love and approval. He's just starting to recognize that there's something inside him that Gwen and Merlin keep talking about, this potential to be far greater than his father ever was, and he has no idea about how to feel. On one hand, he hates it, because he just wants to make his father happy, and on the other hand, he clings to it, because it means one day he'll be great.

This is the core of why in the legends originally I couldn't ship Arthur with anyone (which made me really sad because as a kid I had the hugest crush on King Arthur), and why I ship Merlin/Arthur SO HARD for this incarnation. Merlin is the only person in the universe who understands Arthur and what Arthur goes through. He understands Arthur's posturing, he understand that Arthur has acted the part of the ass for so long he no longer knows how not to be that person. He also knows that there's that part of Arthur that's kind and good-hearted and gentle that's been smothered for so long, and he knows how to reward that and tease it out. He knows how to make Arthur feel comfortable with being vulnerable. Arthur says in 3.10 that Gwen's the only one he feels comfortable with, but I think it's pretty clear that his actions say otherwise. If anything, I'd say he acts the part for her just as much as he acts the part for Uther and sacrifices and humiliates himself for him the same way Merlin constantly sacrifices and humiliates himself for Arthur. With Gwen he pretends to be Just This Ordinary Noble Guy (who secretly wants to farm) because its what he knows she wants, he knows that's the behavior she rewards in him, and the same goes for how he acts around Uther. Any nobility of spirit or generosity or humanity is seen as weakness, so he hides it. Merlin is the only person he's ever purely Arthur with. He doesn't just show one facet to Merlin the way he does to Uther, or Gwen, or anyone else. He involuntarily shows Merlin everything, and Merlin adores that about him.

I think a lot of things are going to change once Uther is gone and Arthur marries Gwen. I think Arthur's going to figure out a lot. And I think the first thing he's going to realize is that once the conflict is gone from his and Gwen's relationship, there's nothing there. Their entire relationship is based on this Romeo and Juliet fantasy. And that's when Gwen's going to go to Lancelot and when, even if the show never shows this, I firmly believe Arthur will go to Merlin. He has a lot of growing up to do to DESERVE Merlin at this point, but the foundation for him and Merlin being absolutely perfect together is there.

I just wish the show would recognize it a little more.


And see! What he says here! If he weren't my father. That level of emotional intimacy! ONLY EVER WITH MERLIN. BECAUSE MERLIN UNDERSTANDS. AND MERLIN LOVES HIM EVEN WHEN HE'S WEAK AND IMPERFECT.

OH SHOW WHAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO TO MY HEART WHEN YOU ARE PROPERLY WRITTEN.

Okay, the following sequence of Merlin showing his magic to Gilli is probably the greatest scene of this season so I'm just going to leave this here so we can wibble over COLIN MORGAN'S AMAZING FAAAAAAAAAACE. (and hands homg nomnomnom hands)










DRAGONLORD!MERLIN! ASLKFJLSKDJF. I love that the Dragon was, like, not a massive flaming bag of douche this time around. He was kindly. Benevolent. IT WAS AMAZING.


OMG COLIN'S FACE AFTER HE MAKES GILLI LOSE. OMG COLIN MORGAN. LET ME PLEASE CUDDLE YOU TO MY BOSOM AND COO AT YOU OH MY GODDDDD.


aksdflksjdlksjdf Colin. Okay, that shine in his eye, is that lighting? Unshed tears? WHATEVER IT IS IT MAKES MY INSIDES ALL WARM AND SQUIRMY.


I LOVE THIS PART. Merlin is all DON'T WORRY NEW FRIEND, ONE DAY MY BOYFRIEND WILL BE KING AND I'LL GET TO MAKE OUT WITH HIM WHENEVER I WANT AND TELL HIM ALL ABOUT MY MAGIC AND THE RIVERS WILL RUN WITH MILK AND HONEY. DID I MENTION MY UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN MY BOYFRIEND?!!? I LOVE MY BOOOOOOYFRIEND.


Arthur's little faaaaaace when he realizes that his daddy's proud of him! HIS LITTLE FAAAAAACE.


MERLIN IS PROUD OF HIS BOYFRIEND TOO.


I think the last scene was totally superfluous. The only reasoning I can see for keeping it was because the props team had a really fun time thinking up a plate of food that Colin Morgan, a lactose-intolerant vegetarian allergic to tomatoes, could not eat.

Hey, props guys have to get their chuckles somewhere.

Edit: Somewhere, there is a fourteen year old version of me having a joy seizure over this.

Edit 2: I ran out of my ADD meds and was totally spaced out, so instead of taking me a few hours, this recap took me the entire ding-dong day. I also took, like, five accidental naps today. CURSE YOU ARTIFICIALLY CREATED ENERGY I HAVE GROWN USED TO. During that time Hawaii 5-0 was on and WHAT THE WHAT IS THIS SHOW. Okay, to recap, Within the first ten minutes Steve first looks like rough trade by wearing a nearly see-through wifebeater, then he strips and shamelessly objectifies himself (while they cut to Danny VERY CLEARLY OGLING HIM AHAHAHHAHA WHAT IS THIS) while Kono (who isn't exactly bad-looking) demurely puts on a diving vest to cover up her bikini in the background. And then! After that! Danny calls Steve "babe". As in, he literally turns to Steve and says "There are cleaning people for that, babe" in front of another team member. Between this and all the rampant positive portrayal of minorities, I am now 99% sure this show is all a figment of my imagination. It actually exists in a magical world of rainbows and unicorns and I am thinking about what I want to see and subconsciously projecting it onto my television. I expect Danny and Steve to be making out by the season finale, show.

Also, what is the proper protocol when one is writing a fic that gets disproved by canon? Because I was writing a Steve makes terrible excuses to crash on Danny's couch which leads to sex fic, but now we know Steve's staying in his bullet-riddled house. Honestly, it's Steve, so I should have suspected that, but I stupidly figure that, like most cop shows, Hawaii 5-0 would forget that episodes don't happen in a vacuum. TELL ME WHAT TO DO, OH FRIENDSLIST.

Comments

[sweetp000433.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with your assessment of the show. I loved Morgana in this episode, her evilness was just right, she was playing with them like they were her puppets :) And Colin Morgan was a boat load of sexiness this episode *sighs* LOL at the plate of food.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I love puppetmaster!Morgana. SHE IS SO BADASS AND AWESOMELY EVIL.

UGH COLIN MORGAN I JUST WANT TO SMOOCH YOUR FACE ALL OVER YOU ADORABLE MAN YOU.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

As a hardcore Arthur fan, I LOVED THIS EP. :D HE'S READY TO BE KING AND UTHER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AND OMG :3

IN TENTS, OMFG. I LOVE YOU.

THE PUPPY PICTURE COMPARISON IS SO ACCURATE, OMFG.

I LOOOOVE that cap of Arthur just before what you said about Arthur realising how awful his father is. I ADORE it. It is BRILLIANT. Also I agree about Arthur slowly realising that his Father doesn't deserve the pedestal that Arthur's always seen him on. I remember a review of an ep in S1 (1x12, maybe?) after Arthur releases Morgana from the dungeons and she says "You're a much better man than your father. Always were." The reviewer described Arthur as 'looking uncomfortably aware of the fact.' Which I think is dead-on accurate.

Colin Morgan seriously has the shiniest eyes in the world.

I love Arthur and his daddy issues. OMG. ♥ That sceeeene! FAVOURITE.

I LOLed heartily at that plate XDD

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THAT TERRIBLE, AWFUL PUN. I JUST STOLE IT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF AWESOME.

Colin Morgan's eyes are made entirely of sunshine. I can't even explain it. I think they magically sparkle JUST A LITTLE MORE when he talks about Arthur or Bradley because of LOVE but that is my totally made-up opinion.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

I HAD A LINGUISTICS EXAM THAT HAD THAT EXACT PUN ON IT - and by the muffled sniggers you could hear when each person got up to that part of the exam, lmao. :P

AW BOYS. ♥ they always sound so fond of each other :3

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

The other thing is Morgana's real strength is in her ability to manipulate people. In the past she's used it for good and now she's using it for evil but as long as they keep that in there, I think it's better. Morgana's biggest talent isn't magic at all.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

It is! AND SHE'S SO AWESOME AT IT. It's almost like you're rooting for her to be evil instead of being like OH HONEY YOU ARE DOING THIS ALL WRONG because when she does it right she does it so right.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

Well you're rooting for her to be a BAMF, whichever way that goes. I think that's a large part of what people loved about her character, so they should try to preserve that.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I'm also rooting for her hair to be awesome, because omg, Katie has the best hair ever.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

DOESN'T SHE?! :D I like on that commentary with Katie and Bradley, Bradley's like "He has the best hair in Camelot!" and Katie's all, "HEY MY HAIR'S PRETTY GOOD."

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I think poor Richard is the only one in Camelot with BAD hair. POOR RICHARD.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

I admit I'm not a fan of Cenred's either.

[ninja-orange.livejournal.com]

I WAS GOING TO GO LIKE, POINT BY POINT AND AGREE WITH THINGS BUT THEN I REALIZED IT WAS REDUNDANT BECAUSE OMG THIIIIIIIIIS A MILLION TIME THIS.

BUT THE IMPORTANT PARTS
1) THEIR FACES. THEIR FAAAACES. BRADLEY AND COLIN EMOTED THEIR LITTLE SOCKS OFF THIS EPISODE AND I LOVED IT.

2) I AM SO GLAD I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT RECOGNIZED ANDREAS. HE'S AWESOME.

3) AROUND WHEN YOU HAD MOPEY BRADLEY VS. SAD DOG WAS WHEN I LOST IT AND STARTED HYSTERICALLY GIGGLING OUT LOUD.

4) LAST SCENE WAS DEFS AN IN JOKE. AND I LOVE THE PROPS GUYS FOR IT.

ALSO 2x10. I finally watched it. AGAIN WITH THE NEVER HAVING ARTHUR AND GWEN IN THE SAME SHOT. I am CONVINCED this is a cinematic choice. And granted I don't know anything about like, cinematography, but I know A VERY SMALL AMOUNT about comic books and how you tell a story with pictures, and a comic book frame is kind of like a shot in a TV show, and choosing to put two people SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND HOLDING HANDS in TWO DIFFERENT PANELS? THAT IS A DELIBERATE CHOICE MEANT TO USE THE GUTTER TO IMPLY A DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM.

So I think these thoughts, and I'm like IT'S LIKE, THOUGHT OUT OR SOMETHING. THEY ARE ALL WRAPPED UP IN THEMSELVES BUT THEY JUST DON'T CONNECT ON A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL. But then I look at ALL OF SEASON 2 GWEN/ARTHUR and their SPONTANEOUS TRUE LOVE and then I think I'm giving them too much credit. I HAVE NO IDEA.

and now I think my capslock makes me sound angry about this. I AM JUST EXCITED TO USE MY COMIC BOOK KNOWLEDGE OK? I AM NOT ANGRY.

IN OTHER NEWS why doesn't everyone hold up Arthur's "I want to be a farmer" speech as a shining example of the enduring power of Merlin in his life? HE SAYS HE'LL TAKE MERLIN WITH HIM AS IF IT WERE AN OBVIOUS GIVEN. OH BOYS, NEVER CHANGE ♥

[ninja-orange.livejournal.com]

WAIT ONE MORE THING.

Also re: Arthur realizing in these moments that his father is awful. I COMPLETELY agree but I also thought that right there, seeing his father so winded and just not what he once was, he realizes that Uther is OLD. I think that's the moment when he realizes that him being King isn't just this faraway "oh haha someday I'll be king" thing. His father is old and someday soon he's going to die, and Arthur will be king. For me at least, that moment during the fight is where all that reality and responsibility really sunk in.

ETA: AND BY 2X10 IN THE PREVIOUS COMMENT I MEANT 3X10. SORRY BB. IT IS PAST MY BEDTIME.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

BB YOUR COMICS CONNECTION WAS BRILLIANT. I think it's a more practical matter of they always have one of them looking physically nauseated so the only way to get the shot is to have them in separate frames. Because you'll notice the rare instances they put Bradley and Angel together one of them is ALWAYS making a :\ face.

AND OH, PEOPLE DO, BECAUSE MERLIN TOOK HIM TO HIS MOMMY'S HOUSE AND ARTHUR CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HIS HAPPY FANTASY WITH GWEN WITHOUT KNOWING THAT MERLIN HAS TO BE PART OF IT OR HE'LL NEVER TRULY BE COMPLETE. BECAUSE HE LOVES HIM. OBVIOUSLY.

omg bb Arthur realizing his daddy is old. I JUST WANT MERLIN TO KISS HIM BETTER.

[moonie]

As in, he literally turns to Steve and says "There are cleaning people for that, babe" in front of another team member.

WHAT WHAT ARE YOU SERIOUS.

♥_♥

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

DEAD SERIOUS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS. WHAT DO I NORMALLY DO WITH MY HANDS?!?!?

[eg-vs-warning.livejournal.com]

I too appreciated Morganas subtlety this week!

(p.s. *waves* (random friending ahoy), I'm here for the Merlin & H5-0 squee)

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I love random people coming by my party. We have lots of yummy things to eat. And stare at. And make bad jokes about.

[marvelpku.livejournal.com]

Julia, your review is always one of the best and it just has its depth.
To tell the truth, I don't actually think the producers/writers are aware of many things which in our eyes really make the show lower in level.
But fortunately, they have Bradley and Colin. They two are the foundation of the success of the show. No matter what happens, as long as they two are there, the show will be successful. But I am aching SO MUCH that they two have been given SO FEW scenes (which should be good scenes rather than throwing things) in this season to play. Their chemistry is the pure gold of this show. I really DON'T hope it is wasted (especially in the excuse/attempt to avoid homoeroticism so that they can be a good family show). It just lower the level of the show (or corrupt the show to some extent). I hope S1 can come back. At that time, everything is PURE and PURE AT HEART, just like unicorn.
And Katie, yes. I know from the start that the overload of smirk is not her idea at all. I firmly believe it is the directors' idea and it is bad idea. The comment in 301 from Katie just confirmed it. Look at Katie's performance in 212 when Merlin was poisioning her, it was breath taking. Katie need a lot more awesome scene like that.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what to believe of the showrunners at this point, I just put my faith in them and hope it turns out all right. So far they've been pretty good to me, so I'm just crossing my fingers and following along and hey, whatever they mess up? That's what fic is for.

[marvelpku.livejournal.com]

I have no idea where the showrunners want to go either and I DO hope they can be back to PURE at heart and Brave at mind (if you know what I mean).
I re-watch 311 today for several times (indeed). And I realize IT IS NOT a filler episode at all. Brad/Col may love 308 most, but to me, I love 311 best so far. Both the storylines in this episode are very well written (and do have the depth) and all of the cast deliver pure gold performance. And the music in this episode is so great, totally in tune with the scenes.
And let me comment on Colin Morgan. If we say Bradley James single handedly save the dreams of all A/M shippers (Bromance or Romance, doesn't matter, but Bradley clearly understands the relationship between A/M is the foundation/heart of this show and he is not afraid to say so. I think he is pure at heart for that). Then I would say Colin Morgan's performance is always the ONE saving this show, no matter what mess the showrunners put into the storyline. That's why I want Colin to do films/TV other than Merlin, in which he can really dive into more mature stuff (I mean emotionally).
Actually, all I wanna say is Colin's performance just lead Merlin to another level (and especially his scenes with Bradley).

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

First, you discussed something my friend said in flock out of flock, which is just... wow. And that's not even the first time you've done that! Even if these people weren't my friends, douche move

Did you mention that to the mods? Because they're always very quick to screen posts like that. Of course it shouldn't be done in the first place, but when it's nipped in the bud stuff dies down pretty quickly.

Gotta go now, be back later for the review :D

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I haven't had the heart to be back there in a while, but I think the person in question did. At this point, though, people just break it and then pretend to be sorry, but the damage gets done, yanno? It shouldn't happen in the first place.

[rodneyscat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was something you'd come across yourself. Because yeah, of course people shouldn't do it, but when it happens it does help when these posts get screen asap. If only to discourage it from happening.

On a different note: I can't get enough of that episode, or reviews, or caps from it. Just can't get enough. That cap you have there where you mention the shine in his eyes, that just catches it so beautifully, because when I saw the scene for the first time I was just blown away by those eyes.

And I love that by now we know so much about the people behind this series! That fandom goes 'oh hay Andreas!' when he enters the arena, that we burst into a gigglefit when we see the plate of food that Merlin is presented with, that we take special note of the scenes between Gilli and Merlin because we know Harry specifically enjoyed doing those scenes with Colin. It's a whole layer of extra enjoyment to watching it :D

[blameitonmerlin.livejournal.com]

The only reasoning I can see for keeping it was because the props team had a really fun time thinking up a plate of food that Colin Morgan, a lactose-intolerant vegetarian allergic to tomatoes, could not eat

HAHAHA brain twins!! This was my exact thought.....which means that it is an inside joke that to be understood by the obsessed *raises hand proudly* and so it's a double LOLLL

ONLY EVER WITH MERLIN. BECAUSE MERLIN UNDERSTANDS. AND MERLIN LOVES HIM EVEN WHEN HE'S WEAK AND IMPERFECT.

And OMG a STEP FORWARD in their relationship as S1 Arthur wouldn't stand for any sort of talk about his father. And although I can think of a logical reason why Arthur might wear the blue armband, I choose to beleive that it is because Merlin put it on him (which he did, because who else would tie it on him?) and Arthur probably teased him for being a giant girl but secretly loved it.

With Gwen he pretends to be Just This Ordinary Noble Guy (who secretly wants to farm) because its what he knows she wants

THIS SO HARD. I mean...let's face it. Arthur, while he really is a good guy, is always going to be a little...what is the word...supercilious? Which I think Merlin actually finds rather amusing at this point because he knows how awkward and insecure he can really be.

On top of all this....COLINNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that is all.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

COLINNNNNNNN COLIN COLIN FUCKING MORGAN.

Yes. Merlin is the only one who TRULY understands Arthur's manpain, bless them both.

Also omg, there's a logical explanation to the armband? PLEASE TELL I AM AT A LOSS.

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

GEEZ. WHY DID UTHER HAVE TO CHAPERONE? COULDN'T HE BE COOL LIKE ALL THE OTHER PARENTS AND LET ARTHUR HAVE A GOOD TIME? HE IS TOTALLY RUINING PROM, OKAY!

Thank you for making me laugh REALLY HARD.

And here, DON'T WORRY NEW FRIEND, ONE DAY MY BOYFRIEND WILL BE KING AND I'LL GET TO MAKE OUT WITH HIM WHENEVER I WANT AND TELL HIM ALL ABOUT MY MAGIC AND THE RIVERS WILL RUN WITH MILK AND HONEY. DID I MENTION MY UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN MY BOYFRIEND?!!? I LOVE MY BOOOOOOYFRIEND.

YES AND YES FOREVER.

That scene with Gilli in which Merlin reveals his magic is AMAZING. HIS FAAAAAAACE. OMG COLIN MORGAN, HOW ARE YOU EVEN REAL?

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I continue to believe that Colin Morgan isn't real, he is actually an illusion made up of kittens and stardust. TRUE STORY.

[adinfinitum.livejournal.com]

GURL WHAT IS THIS MEAN MEME YOU SPEAK OF?

Okay so I don't watch Merlin or Hawaii 5-0 but just know that seeing you flail makes me want to really badly. AND OMG THAT DOGGIE SPLIT SCREEN, I AM DYING OF CUTE OVERLOAD.

Also, what is the proper protocol when one is writing a fic that gets disproved by canon?
Um, so, my approach is to just screw canon and write whatever the fuck I want. BUT I ALSO HAVE ZERO SENSE OF HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK IN FANDOM LAND, FML.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

The mean meme is basically a place where people go to bitch anon and are generally douchebags. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED OR WANT TO KNOW.

!!!! FARAH I AM SO READY TO PIMP YOU INTO THE LAND OF GAY. JUST GIVE ME THE WORD AND I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO SHOW YOU.

[thisissirius.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW I MIGHT DIE A LITTLE BIT.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOU MOOOOOOOOOORE. <3 <3 <3

[alba17.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I had to skip your Merlin recap because I haven't watched this ep yet. I have no idea why.

H50 - Um, Danny called Steve babe. I think that's probably the most important thing that happened. I wasn't sure I heard it right and I was watching live by myself so couldn't rewind or confirm with a human until I looked at LJ today. Looks like H50 is taking a cue from Merlin with the Steve shirtlessness every ep, which is fine by me.

Fic: maybe Steve needs to stay out of his house because it's getting fumigated or de-molded or something. Or he's got some sort of injury or illness and can't make it home?

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

Maybe! Ugh, fic is hard, yo. THE WORK WE MUST PUT IN.

[creativepseudo.livejournal.com]

PRETTY SCANS ARE FUCKING PRETTY! FAAAAACES. :)

I'm going home tomorrow for Thanksgiving break which means I am DOWNLOADING EVERYTHING, woohoo.

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

OMG I AM EXCITE TO FLAIL WITH YOU, BBGIRL.

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

DUDE. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE ~IN MY MIND~ AND OUR BRAINS ARE HAVING A TEA PARTY WHILE THEY MELD OVER THIS EPISODE.

I was going to point out certain bits I was all, THIS!!, about but it's basically the entire thing so this, THIS!!, is an all encompassing, THIS!!, for your whole post. BUT the thing I wanted to flail about the most is the bit where you mentioned how Arthur and Merlin are exactly alike in their alone-ness and power and how that makes them PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT for each other and that, in each other, they find the ONLY person who can truly understand them. I LOVE THAT SO DAMN HARD IT'S NOT EVEN DEFINABLE HOW HARD MY LOVE FOR IT IS. (and sadly, that surely just happened by mistake on the writers' part. booo.)

Also? I really must start watching Hawaii 5-O, I keep hearing all this shit and it's like WOT?? FOR REALSIES??

[chibirhm.livejournal.com]

YOU REALLY NEED TO. OMG. SRSLY, IT IS THE BEST.

[falulatonks]

Oh my god, I'm sorry, because I don't even follow you so I can't excuse this, but your assessment of why Arthur and Merlin work together in this 'incarnation' is absolutely spot-on. All that quiet, aching potential! Both of them knowing they can be better and will be better but having to wait until they get there - I don't think the writing always gets it right, but Bradley and Colin capture that so beautifully. I just - agh. I hate the writing on this show almost all the time, but sometimes they give episodes like this where things make a little more sense, and I end up feeling incredibly grateful that we got these two boys out of this entire thing. They are brilliant.

And I'm inclined to agree with anyone who talks about how great that scene with Merlin and Gilli was, so yes, Colin Morgan, you beautiful bastard.

[marvelpku.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd say the performance of Colin Morgan and Harry as well in the scene with Merlin and Gilli is something changing the show. Sometimes, you will feel it is not a kid show for these kinds of scenes. Let's all be thankful that we get Colin and Bradley out of this entire thing. They two are the pure gold.

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

OMG I THOUGHT OF THE EXACT SAME THING WHEN I SAW THE FOOD PLATTER!!! xD

THIS IS LIKE ONE OF MY FAVE EPS THIS SEASON AND IT'S A FILLER!

SO MUCH WIN!!!!