Merlin – Is Arthur finally getting in touch with his feelings?

Julia: As awesome as coming in right at the beginning of a big fight is, I have to question a few things. One, why is the dragon attacking Camelot if it wants Arthur to become the once and future king? How’s Arthur supposed to become king if everyone’s dead? Or if he’s dead? And furthermore, why are they shooting at a dragon with flaming arrows? I get that it looks cool, but the dragon breathes fire. I think that trumps a little bit of burning kindling. I’m starting to think that Uther had the right idea, locking that dragon up.

Ruby: Perhaps this is the origin of the saying, “You can’t fight fire with fire.” I don’t know if the dragon actually wanted Arthur to become king of Camelot — he was just sweet-talking Merlin in order to get out of those chains. Here’s what stood out to me from that opening scene — Arthur’s big inspirational speech to his men was, “Hold firm! Tonight is not your night to die! I will make sure of that.” Yes, he will make sure of that … just like he did for all the other red shirts who got killed last week. When he said that, his knights probably just rolled their eyes. At least by the end of the episode, Arthur obtained a more realistic view — he admitted to his knights that their chances of surviving were slim. He’s learning to be more honest with people. I mean, think of it — he even broached the subject of feelings with Merlin!

Julia: I cannot be the only one who went, “Oh, Arthur!” in that scene at the inn. The whole “I know I’m a prince so we can never be friends” thing was just so, so sad. Just imagine him, all little and growing up with everyone fake-fawning over him and no one being honest and no friends at all, not until Merlin comes, and then he’s too emotionally constipated to do anything but drive Merlin mad and make his life a living hell because he has feelings. Feelings! Arthur, this is why I can never hate you no matter how much of a jerk you are. Because deep down inside, you have a soft, marshmallowy center that’s full of love and fuzzy bunnies and rainbows and all you want is to give Merlin a big old hug. Don’t lie. You know you do.

Ruby: He comes pretty close to it — I mean, this is probably the most affectionate Arthur has ever been with Merlin. Throwing a pillow at him, poking him with a stick, teasing him into talking during their camping trip, the comforting hand on the shoulder … all of that shows Arthur’s emotional growth. He’s becoming honest enough to show Merlin that he cares, despite what he said at the inn (and anyway, when Arthur said that, I think he was being facetious). Even with Gwen, he’s being more honest in the sense that he’s no longer hiding what he feels for her — he’s willing to embrace her out in the open. But that emotional growth is especially apparent in his interaction with Merlin.

Julia: I am willing to admit that I am entirely too invested in the idea that Merlin and Arthur are in big, gay love and going to run off into the sunset together. I admit that. And I am aware that my heart will ultimately be broken, and that the show isn’t going to go in that direction, and that the writers were trying really hard to get me to hop aboard the Gwen and Arthur train. And fine, I was willing to meet them halfway if they took a few of my concerns with that storyline into account. Sure, I would be whiny and snarky on the way, but I would at least make an effort. And I was trying really hard to stick to my resolution to be less obsessively reading into the googly eyes Merlin and Arthur were making with each other, and I was gritting my teeth and not squealing through the whole campfire bonding session or slumber party, and then you just had to throw in the whole scene where Merlin insists on accompanying Arthur because he cares a hell of a lot for that armor (and I think we all know, Arthur in his fully emotionally constipated glory included, that Merlin is in no way actually talking about the armor). And if you pair Merlin admitting that he totally loves Arthur (except that he doesn’t, hah hah hah, just joking) with Arthur’s earlier, “I’m pretending not to care about you by whacking you in the face with a pillow and being derogatory but really I want you to pet my hair and help me work through my feelings” (which I was totally restraining myself on, by the way), I can’t help but feel like this show is purposefully mocking me and my resolutions. I mean, come on, writing team! Come on! You don’t take an alcoholic to a bar for happy hour! I know you’re just going to break my heart by having Arthur and Gwen run off into the sunset while Merlin is their dogsbody and gets slapped around a lot without so much as a thank you, so WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!?!?!

Ruby: What can I tell you? I guess, just try to enjoy those perfect moments, however you choose to interpret them. For my part, I see their relationship as that classic archetype of the “master and man” (like Frodo and Sam in LOTR) — a quintessentially British kind of relationship that is based on class difference, duty, loyalty, respect/love, and friendship. I totally understand your consternation though. But don’t worry. I think one thing has always been clear — that is, this show is about Merlin and Arthur, not Arthur and anybody else. Even if Arthur falls in love with and marries Gwen, even if she breaks Arthur’s heart and runs off with Lancelot, even if Merlin falls in love with a nice sorceress sometime down the road — the show is about Merlin and Arthur. Their relationship is the heart of the story, regardless of the labels we choose to slap on that relationship.

Julia: You know, I’m sort of confused by how Gaius views Arthur. On one hand, he’s encouraging Gwen to go for Arthur because things can change one day and Arthur’s such a nice, loving guy, and on the other hand he’s telling Merlin, “So, I know you think you’re friends, but really all Arthur needs is the tiniest provocation and he’ll turn you over to his father and let you burn. Did I mention you’re all alone? Because you are alllllll allloooooooone.” (By the way, I’m all for Gaius quoting Huey Lewis & The News re: The Power Of Love, but it can’t make Arthur into that person Gwen thinks he is, because he’s not that person. This is going to be bothering me for a while, isn’t it?)

Ruby: Gaius is extra protective of Merlin because he’s seen so many innocent people (like the Dragonlords) killed for having magic. Gwen, on the other hand, is not going to be burned at the stake for having a crush on Arthur (if that were the case, Uther would have to burn half of Camelot as well as all of the viewers watching at home). Gaius was probably thinking, “What the hell! We’re all going to die when the dragon comes back. I may as well say something to lift her spirits.”

Julia: I’m really not feeling the characterization of Gwen in this episode. She’s never seemed flaky before — prone to crushing on people, sure, but the way she’s being portrayed in the latter half of season two really rubs me the wrong way and feels like they took my Gwen away and replaced her with a Pod-Gwen who cares about Arthur because he’s pretty. And who was that woman who’s saved her life so many times? You know, the one she worked for, who used to be her BFF? Mor-something? Oh, whatever. It’s not like Pod-Gwen cares, she’s too worried about her true love, her knight in shining armor. Yes. Because that sounds like a great idea so far as character growth is concerned.

Ruby: I have to disagree. I think losing Morgana is the very thing that causes Gwen to go melty and doe-eyed over Arthur. In addition to being her friend, Morgana was Gwen’s protector, in a way, and Gwen is weaker without her, just like Arthur would be weaker without Merlin. Having so recently lost Morgana, she turns to Arthur, probably afraid of losing him as well. Her embryonic feelings for him have been heightened by that fear of loss and loneliness: “Oh no! The world is ending! Everybody I know and love is going to die and leave me! Arthur, I love you — please, don’t leave me!” Her father is dead, and who knows if she has any friends besides Merlin and Arthur? In the absence of Morgana, who has got her back? Merlin can’t — he’s got Arthur’s back, and that’s a full-time job. That means it’s up to Arthur to have Gwen’s back. (Poor Merlin … no one puts him first, except maybe Gaius.)

Julia: I feel like I should say something about Colin Morgan and how he breaks my heart, especially after that fireside chat with Balinor where he says, “Sleep well, Father,” but I can’t coherently form words on that subject.

Ruby: Oh, I know. I’m about as touchy-feely as a Vulcan, but Colin’s performance, all those heartrending faces and tears, choked me up like nobody’s business.

Julia: Good Lord, Merlin cannot catch a break this season. His first love and his dad die, Arthur treats him like a peace of crap because he’s too busy being self-involved and googly-eyed … I swear to God, if someone doesn’t give Merlin cookies and tuck him in at night, I think there’s no justice in this world. I mean, I know Colin Morgan is really, really good at bringing the heartbreak, but writers, geez! Give him some cuddles in between the heart-wrenching agony!

Ruby: The heartbreak was mitigated in a small way by that one gorgeous, incandescent smile after Balinor said, “Goodnight, son.” But you’re right, Merlin has taken a beating this season — and in the end, he still doesn’t get any credit for saving Arthur’s ass yet again.

Julia: Okay, to review, at the end of this episode, Arthur’s gotten injured and been noble a lot, and his reward is to get the girl and all the glory. Merlin’s done all the hard work, lost his dad — and he gets a pat on the back and a “Good job” from Gaius? And that’s it? What are Merlin’s favorite cookies? Does he want me to knit him a sweater? Seriously, can we reward him at all? The teeniest of tiny bits?

Ruby: I don’t mind if they put him through hell, as long as we get more of that great fanservice.

Julia: Do you think there is some sort of quota they have to fill every season? A checklist? “Bradley, Colin, you haven’t inappropriately moaned each other’s names in your sleep to make the fangirls happy. We’re going to need you to do that, okay? Okay. Also, Bradley, can you lose the shirt again? Thanks.”

Ruby: It’s amazing how we always managed to circle back to BJ’s abs. That’s how we began these dialogues, and that’s how we’ll end them. (Til Season 3, folks!)

Clacked by Ruby T.
on Jul 02, 2010 @ 23:00 EST5EDT