THINGS THAT ARE QUITE SPLENDID INDEED

[whynot]

YOU GUYS. OMG. EXCALIBURRRRRRR. *palpitations*


So, the episode opens up with Arthur's coming-of-age party, with Merlin and Gwen watching from the side and having this hilarious exchange:

Gwen: D'awww you liiiiike him!
Merlin: No I don't!
Gwen: Yes you do!
Merlin: Nuh-uh!
Gwen: Yuh-uh! Merlin and Arthur sitting in a tree!
Merlin: Shut up! Shut up shut up!

Okay, so it didn't go exactly like that, except for how it PRETTY MUCH DID.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST FUCKING USELESSEST EVER. omg. Someone crashes through the window on a horse and they all just FUCKING STAND THERE. What is it exactly that you do as knights of Camelot anyway? Oh, right.

"...And I know no one braver." Oh, Arthur. XD

I know it makes the brain explode to think about this show too hard, but this "showdown at high noon" business is very confuzzling to me. Sooooo, you can just challenge anyone to a duel without explanation and they have to say yes lest they appear dishonorable? That's IT?

Uther said, "I am the king. You cannot tell me what I can and cannot do," and I was like, "<333333333333!!!!!111" My Uther love exceeds my Arthur love, in this episode. UTHER. So powerful and passionate and prone to bad decisions! I LOVE MY DOOMED KINGS.

Uh, and that scene where Merlin tried to roast the zombie knight, and then the knight, like, WHIRLS to glare at him and Merlin was like, "Meep!" and scampers away. Hilarious.

Arthur: "You know that conversation we had about knocking."
UM. WHAT. *PLOT BUNNIES, all over the place* Arthur makes a good point though; even in Episode 8, no one ever seems to knock or feel any hesitation about going into one another's chambers, even when the owner isn't there. Arthur was completely unsurprised to find Morgana waiting for him in his bedroom, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. Oh, Camelot. Your knights are worthless, but the night life must be fantastic.

Merlin: "I've stood there and watched you overcome every fear you ever faced. You have already proven your courage -- now you need to prove your wisdom." Yessssssssssss. Yesyesyes, to Merlin, and Arthur, and what they will become.

I am very glad to see that Nimue is the shit! Her previous shenanigans on this show have left me unimpressed, and I'm loving this backstory we get of her.

Merlin: "I'm sort of in a hurry." Impatient!Merlin is ADORABLE. Look at him, all arms-crossed and about to explode. Eeee!

Gwen: "You know I'd grant you anything." [Insert typical Gwen backpedalling here. GWEN <33. I officially heart you.]

Morgana: omg don't do it!
Arthur: "It's my duty."
Morgana: "I understand."
THAT'S IT?! MORGANA. You can make Arthur do ANYTHING, WTF. THIS SCENE WAS A LETDOWN. On the other hand, we can look at it as: there are some things that even Morgana cannot make him do. She knows this, and knows to not even try. His duty, his honor, and the responsibilities of his throne are heavy for any man, but Arthur reaches for them with both hunger and the ease of birthright.

UTHER/GAIUS FOR THE WIN. Especially when Uther says, "I have one other favor to ask," and then it FADES TO BLACK?! And then my brain went to a bad place.

Dragon: "It may surprise you, Merlin, that my knowledge of your life is not universal." Lampshade-hanging, y/n?

MERLIN: "BUT IF ARTHUR FIGHTS THE WRAITH AND DIES, CAMELOT WILL HAVE NO HEIR. I WILL HAVE NO DESTINY." CAN I SAY MORE THAT LARGE BLINKING TEXT DO NOT ALREADY.

Uhhhh, Gaius drugging Arthur and then having his way with him. Why so sketchy, Gaius? Oh well, THAT IS WHY I LOVE YOU (I THINK).

THE AMAZING MERLIN-PREPS-UTHER SCENE:
Uther: Are you having sex with my son?
Merlin: "You could say there is a bond between us."
Uther: Right. Carry on.

MY FAVORITE SCENE IS PROBABLY--
UTHER: "I'LL SHOW YOU FOOTWORK."
UTHER & ARTHUR hgjasjfd';ks';gld;kg;fd OMG KIIIIIIIIIIIIINGSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Uther being all fabulously stern like, "You are more precious to me than Camelot," and Arthur being all like, "...Really?" BECAUSE ARTHUR IS KIND OF DENSE, and all caught up in trying to prove himself. There's a dash of self-pity in how he always tries to prove himself. He can't always tell the little ways that people truly care about him, because he's had people fake-caring for him all his life. So then there is this great moment where Arthur just CAN'T HANDLE IT, and looks away, and is all like, "Be manly, self! STIFF UPPER LIP, THAT'S THE STUFF," and of course resurfaces with a casual and flippant, "Your footwork sucks, btw. Come train with the knights." Translation: I CAN HAZ FATHER-SON BONDING TIME?! OH KINGS AND HOW THEY TRY TO BE SUCH HARDASSES <33333333333333333333333333333. MOTHERFUCKING PENDRAGONS YAY

Dragon: "What is made cannot be unmade."
...Eerily similar to "what is seen cannot be unseen"? Are the writers throwing fandom a bone? I mean, ANOTHER one?

This episode was FANTASTIC. All my favorite scenes have to do with Uther, but I am also a-squee because I don't think there's been this much Merlin/Arthur innuendo since, like, what, Episode 4? Okay, maybe not, because Episode 4 was RIDICULOUS. Since a while, in any case.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE where Merlin goes back to his hometown to have sex with his old boyfriend and then ARTHUR WILL POSSIBLY FIND OUT ABOUT THE MAGIC. I am a fan of the fanon that Arthur secretly already knows, but canon is probably not going to go this way. Either way: ahofdjsf;kg';ls'fg[dkhgpfd!!!!1111

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING EVER. It is a two-minute 'Merlin' episode (for realz!: Uther being paranoid about magic, Merlin flailing in with dire warning, then being put in the stocks, even Arthur/Merlin touching) in the name of BBC Children in Need. It made me LOL for serious. UTHER'S CLOSING LINE <33333333333

This is also made of win & hilarity. An old-school Star Trek vid set to Monty Python's "Camelot."

In keeping with theme of things that are AMAAAAAAZING, Trail of Dead's new EP 'Festival Thyme' is BEAUTIFUL and you can stream it on their MySpace. I love all the tracks except the title track, and you can download 'Inland Sea' here.

Comments

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND I AM SO INCREDIBLY JEALOUS, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

Maybe I should convince my brother that instead of buying me whatever sensible christmas/birthday present he was going to get me he should download pirated episodes of MERLIN.

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

AHAHA the Children In Need special is *hilarious*

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

You sure you don't need that present to be something else? Warm socks, maybe? Or a free meal at some delicious restaurant? That said, THE MORE PEOPLE JOIN IN ON THE MERLIN FLAILPARTY, THE BETTER. AND IT IS ALREADY A PRETTY POPPING PARTY. THE NEIGHBORS ARE ABOUT TO CALL THE COPS ON US. omg this show!

"I WILL NOT HAVE THIS CREATURE FLEECE MY KINGDOM." You tell 'em, Uther!

XD x 10000000000000000

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

I think it's going to be a calligraphy pen. So that I can learn to write in Anglo-Saxon round miniscule.

BUT PERHAPS I CAN SIMPLY GET HIM TO TEACH ME HOW TO DOWNLOAD THINGS. AND THEN I WILL NEVER HAVE TIME TO WRITE MEDIEVAL SCRIPTS, EVER.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

Also, what is the deal with duels during medieval times, seriously? Can just ANYONE challenge you without explanation, and without your having to demand one?

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

Er, yes. Well. You might not actually have done so (I know trial by combat was out by the 12th c. for the upper classes, not sure about honour duels- but bear in mind that honour duels seem to have been common in 15th-18th c. lit, and Merlin are working with the recieved understanding of medieval culture which has come down to us through said centuries).

ANYWAY. High medieval romantic literature uses the "flimsy or bizarre excuse for a duel" quite a lot. I think more common is to insult someone or their girlfriend and provoke them into challenging YOU. But in terms of Arthurian lit, random dude walking into the hall and challenging you to a duel or bizarre contest - allow me to point at Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Who is it that's marching in and demanding a duel? The wraith? That would be an SGGK rip-off right there.

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

*finds episode synopses*

1. Yes, that sounds ENTIRELY normal for Arthurian legend. Looks to me like it's based in part of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, although... *frowns* I think there was something about a random black knight intruder in Malory somewhere...

2. WTF THEY KILLED YVAIN/OWAIN? I'm a gonna go over here and CRY now.

[stealingpennies.livejournal.com]

*Flaily FLAIL FlaiL* Merlin really is the gift that gives on giving. Since the producers seem intent on fulfilling my every need next on my wishlist is a little tasteful nudity. Or tasteless. Not fussy really. Have to watch again and do my own over-wrought review. Not because the world needs another but just BECAUSE.. Uther/Arther I think I may have actually *moaned* out loud at the awkward emotional picking at scabsness - hurts, it makes you bleed, but you can't help it - of it all.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

I have never been in a TV show fandom like this! Even way back when, with The OC, I only watched a few episodes and just mostly read the fanfiction, so I was def not rolling around in squeeflail over canon the way I am now. It's... um, exhilarating?

zomg Uther and Arthur interaction makes me go all ahfdskgfa';l;gfkd;kg;d'f 'cos like, just the flabbergasted LOOK on Arthur's face that's like, "Wait, so you don't hate me?" ARTHUR, DON'T BE DUMB. AND THEN the "[Clears throat, suddenly cool and collected.] So... I heard you fought well." OMFG THESE KINGS
I love reading the recaps; no one else on my flist does Merlin recaps and this MAKES ME SAD.

And Arthur wouldn't mind being born out of magic; Uther's just projecting there.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

...oh my god, what have they done to the mythos? *distracted*

ARTHUR. UTHER. OMG. GWEN.

*flails*

Really, the dragon is kind of a jerk this episode.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

isn't the dragon a jerk in EVERY episode?

THIS is the episode where gwen has truly won my heart. she was so cute! as for gaius, it's not so much that i love him, but i am thoroughly FASCINATED by what the hell he thinks he's doing and the sketchy-ass things he continues to do. NEVER CHANGE, GAIUS.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

he seems to be more of one in this ep. "WHO CARES IF ARTHUR DIES?" indeed.

gaius is being so sketchy. i mean. does he just go around drugging princes every day of the week and twice on tuesdays? no one answer that.

still back at GWEN OHMYGOD. they really need to use her more; she's adorable.

also, omg the special.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

THE SPECIAL hfjlgasj;fd'ks';dglfd how about the time when uther is just all casually like, "oh a monster? go kill it, son," and arthur's like, "right-o!" XD

and there are these pictures of them posing in costume with teddy bears and i can't handle it omg i cannot.

I AM LIKE, SO not getting het vibes from this show, like AT ALL. are they fo' shiz trying to set gwen as merlin's love interest because all i'm getting is a BFF vibe. they pal around in the kitchens and maybe occasionally prank the cook or head steward in cute little ways. and arthur and morgana, they may do each other from time to time, but i dunno, they are more brother and sister (*shoves peter/susan tendencies under the rug*) in that they can be allies when they want to be, but they are childhood companions, and there are these layers of loyalty and betrayal between them. morgana's kind of always got her own plans and arthur is too stupid to care about them. uhhh i wanna read the fic where arthur and morgana compete for arthur's love.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

uther. uther's love.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

*giggles hysterically* and what about arthur and merlin with their hands ALL OVER EACH OTHER.

*cocks head to side* i could probably see merlin/morgana, though it's less romance and more...well. i cannot think of an adjective. or a noun.

...i want the episode where merlin from the future comes back to try and warn this merlin. oh my god. we need that ep! it is camelot, come on.

or. well. i mean, i could write it, but HELLO ON THE BIG TEETINY SCREEN.

[fahye.livejournal.com]

djshdshdsad I am looking forward to this show SO MUCH. I will get home from Europe and watch every single episode in one day, I bet.

I think I am seriously under-hyping the amount of slash in my head because my logic-centre is saying 'don't get too worked up, surely it can't be THAT gay' but wtf on the basis of that special, maybe it IS. They have two seconds in the same frame and Arthur is all: *HANDSY*.

And there is nothing I love better than fucked up kings.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

I know, and even on my side it's like, what if overhype it? There is bad CGI and questionable action scenes and all that other stuff, but I cannot help myself because I say TO HELL WITH THAT for Merlin's love for Arthur is truuuuueeeee. 'Cos in the end this is really just about everyone growing into themselves and how Arthur learns to rely on Merlin and Merlin to help Arthur, so as I was saying the other day, "Beeb writers, if the hoyay is lacking, you are straying from the plot!"

HEE. My fandom secret is that I am transposing much of my Peter angst into Arthur.

[fahye.livejournal.com]

Arthur and Peter have different but beautifully complementary blond-royal-knight angst. SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHERE IS THIS FIC, HUH HUH HUH.

wow Fahye learn to spell

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

THIS IS TRUE, AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE IT SO. Um. I am procrastinating it D-:! I have been distracted by my a million and one WIPs and this Arthur/Lancelot I suddenly have 700 words of. I encourage you to continue haranguing me about it.

[fahye.livejournal.com]

I have been meaning to write some kink-drabbles for ages and now I want to do a Peter/Arthur one but I don't know which kink would be best. YOU PICK ONE.

Okay was I just hallucinating a comment somewhere or are you calling it 'the crosstree and the grail' because if so:
a) SO AMAZINGLY APT
&
b) omg that poem <333

[vagabondsal.livejournal.com]

...okay you did not mention (or maybe I just skipped past it) that GILES IS ON THIS SHOW. WHAT.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

YES WE HAVE GILES
i was never a buffy person so i don't think of him as such
probably if i ever get into buffy in the future i will think, "OMG UTHER <333!!"
YA KING GILES is AWESOME, and proud and battle-worn and full of honor and merciless and loves his son and foster-daughter and takes noooo bullshit. LONG LIVE KING GILES

[lettersandliars.livejournal.com]

...I JUST MADE THAT CONNECTION. I AM A BAD AND RETIRED BUFFY FAN.

[pogrebin.livejournal.com]

My favourite part was Merlin bursting into Arthur's bedroom and yelling, 'You have to pull out!'

I mean, COME ON.

[twoskeletons.livejournal.com]

YOU WOULD THINK
or even the part where merlin flails all like BUT I WILL HAVE NO DESTINY WITHOUT ARTHURRRRR

but oh man, i came for the merlin/arthur and stayed for the pendragon family dysfunction (uh, in addition to the merlin/arthur) because OMG DOOMED KINGS (http://lassiterfics.livejournal.com/73336.html#cutid2), all trying to make the right decision and victim to their own hubris and the tendency to be undone by the ones you love and how YOU KNOW no matter HOW MUCH THEY TRY this is ALL GOING TO END V. V. BADLY

or, maybe not, because it's not like bbc is being all that loyal to the mythos here. (HOW ARE ARTHUR AND GWEN GONNA GET TOGETHER?!) but you know what is? this fic. (http://ethrosdemon.livejournal.com/468233.html#cutid1)