Morgana: FIERCER THAN YOU
Dec. 6th, 2008 10:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Heh, I like how my subject line (and, let's be honest, probably the bulk of this entry) are about MORGANA AND HER EPIC WIN, OMG, and yet I'm using my single, solitary, newly-acquired Gwen!icon. I kind of thought this episode would have been more about Gwen, really, so I'm slightly disappointed that Angel didn't get to do more. ONE DAY THIS SHOW WILL HAVE BOTH LADIES BEING EPIC AT THE SAME TIME, AND THAT WILL BE A GREAT DAY.
+ FIERCE MORGANA IS FIERCE
I wonder just how much fandom's collective girl crush on Katie got amped up with this episode. I BET IT WAS A LARGE AMOUNT. Unnngh, this was so amazing; I was completely sold on her arc, even though I was gnawing my fingernails right up until the end of the episode because I had NO FUCKING CLUE how it was going to play out. SO MANY TWISTS AND LAYERS AND STUFF, 'TWAS RIDICULOUS. One tiny example of how my mind was blown: the scene where Gwen reveals that Tauren attacked her, and Morgana immediately sets out "to tell the guards". I WAS FIZZING WITH THE SHEER POSSIBILITIES. She didn't tell Gwen about her connection with the ~glowing stone of mystery and marvel~! The story could have gone in so many different directions!
Going into the episode, I was so, so wary of the whole MORGANA PLOTS UTHER'S DEMISE thing, because it felt like too much of a jump from the (mindbogglingly awesome) relationship established between the characters, but whatever! NOW I AM FULLY ABOARD THE JOY TRAIN and full of glee that the writers are being fabulous. I adored the way that Morgana's backstory was woven in (she was ten! Good to know!), particularly the flashes of resentment she had towards Uther re: her father's death. The whole episode, she was just getting progressively more and more hardcore, striding about with her glorious cleavage and shouting at Uther and getting flung in prison and then getting even *more* hardcore. God, the way she kind of tossed her head when she called him a tyrant - she just actually didn't give a shit anymore, it was magnificent. And then she was all bitter and snarky when Arthur came to free her, which I loved - I enjoy the Arthur/Morgana "We're in danger, let us UST prettily" dynamic thing rather a lot, but I liked that all the other stuff that was happening was more important than that? Also, I LOVE WHEN THIS SHOW IS MORALLY GNARLY. I really would not have been surprised if she had offed Uther and gone all batshit insane and powerful, but I love that everything's being stretched out like this, and she isn't being portrayed as a villain at all, and PLEASE LET THEM GET 5 SEASONS, PLEASE. OR AT LEAST JUST CONFIRM S2? And Katie! So many scenes ended with shots of her face, and she was so spot-on with everything.
+ Uther/Morgana
Man, this ship confuses me so much. Because, hello, hot as all hell, yet they're constantly at loggerheads and their core belief systems clash in so many ways, and she spent most of this episode trying to kill him, AND THEY REMAIN AWESOME IN THE FACE OF EVERYTHING. I particularly love how much Uther loves her; I got some weird Mr Bell vibes when he was all "Your father's grave, nothing would make me happier!", but the inappropriate is really part of why these two are delicious, so we'll gloss over it. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE PERFECTION OF THE BACKSTORY, THOUGH. She doesn't remind him of Igraine or any other significant ladies, he cares about her because she's hardcore like her father and stands up to him and won't let him get away with being morally dodgy! IT IS SO MUCH WIN. And that final hug, oh my days. I AM SO NOT READY FOR UTHER TO DIE YET.
+ Gwen
As I say, I wish Gwen had had more to do. Also, somebody needs to give this girl a hug, Merlin, you useless and adorable fool. Morgana seemed to be about to give her a soothing backrub, but then the demands of the plot pulled her away. Anyway, Gwen, my heart! She was all non-vengeful and lovely and kind of spaced-out but not falling apart. Also, it is kind of shameful how much I enjoy every Arthur/Gwen interaction, not least because of the way he calls her "Guinevere". HOW ARE THEY EVEN GOING TO GET THERE, IT IS EPIC AND BAFFLING AND I NEED TO SEE IT HAPPEN.
+ I have the same kind of feelings about Merlin/Morgana! When they were doing their anxious close talking thing I was just waiting for one of them to get ~magic vibes~ or something so they could smirk at each other and be all pale and delicious. I AM SUCH A SHIPPING HO, IT IS QUITE ASTOUNDING.
+ After the EPIC GAY DESTINY fest that was last week, it's only fair that this ep was rather light on Arthur/Merlin, but still! It makes me so sad when their only interactions are Arthur lashing out and Merlin shutting down and looking all hurt. Ohhh, boys. It's worse because presumably Arthur will be spending most of the finale dead/in a coma (deep breaths, don't start crying already, you utter wuss), and THERE HAD BETTER BE SINCERE THANKYOUS AFTER ALL THAT, YOUR HIGHNESS. Pshaw!
+ Gaius' pride in Merlin's awesome continues to delight me something silly.
+ BROOM CUPBOARD = SNOGGING IN A BROOM CLOSET VIRGINITY. That is straight where my brain went.
+ NEXT WEEK
Oh my days, I have been tearing up every single time I watch the preview. The intensely dramatic editing-to-big-blasts-of-orchestral-music technique! "Somebody help me!" Morgana having more visions! UTHER CARRYING ARTHUR'S BODY, OH MY GOD OH MY GOD TONY HEAD'S FACE IS AMAAAAZING. Is that Avalon? He's in a boat! Nimueh! "YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE KILLED MY FRIEND" OH DEAR, THE PREVIEW BROKE ME AGAIN.
So what do we think? Do we think Arthur is dead-but-will-be-restored-by-the-end-of-the-episode? I'M STILL FREAKING OUT IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO GAIUS. OR ANYONE, FOR THAT MATTER. I will be distraught if they pull the old "a life for a life" thing that was mentioned in "Mists Of Avalon"...
Oh, and bedhead!Merlin needs to happen every week. MAN ALIVE, THIS SHOW IS PRETTY.
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Date: 2008-12-07 02:26 am (UTC)I get really excited about Arthur/Gwen. I find it the most interesting relationship at the moment.
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Date: 2008-12-07 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-07 10:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-07 10:39 am (UTC)I knoooow! They're so potentially epic and their, what, two scenes together have been so lovely and understated, and she's going to be an awesome QUEEN OF THE PEOPLE type person and it is going to be lovely and/or heartbreaking.
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Date: 2008-12-07 03:00 am (UTC)Seriously, what happened to the Gwen-having-a-crush-on-Merlin-and-Merlin-pretending-to-not-know thing? Yes, huggage was lacking.
Also, it is kind of shameful how much I enjoy every Arthur/Gwen interaction, not least because of the way he calls her "Guinevere".
I got all squirmy during that scene because Arthur being all looking-down-y and calling her GuineVERE made me want to grab him and do things to him.
Next week? Nimueh will put Arthur into a death-like sleep only to be woken by his true love's kiss, IS WHAT I'M THINKING.
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Date: 2008-12-07 10:44 am (UTC)UM. YES. Please to always be stressing the wrong syllables, Arthur.
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Date: 2008-12-07 08:52 am (UTC)MERLINI LOVES YOU SO. (There is something so tragic about a father carrying his son's body.)I pretty much agree with everything you said. I was near tearing out my hair at the end there "MERLIN RUN FASTER DON'T TRIP YOU DIV CAMELOT NEEDS YOU". I liked the way they had Morgana save Uther in the end because it made her character arc in the episode come full circle.
I would love to see Gwen do more as well. And to hear Arthur call her Guinevere more (I wonder if we'll ever find out why he does that. Is it a 'showing you respect to show I esteem you' sort of thing perhaps?) There was almost some femslash vibes at one point where Morgana was comforting her, I thought. Femslash fic potential, anyway.
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Date: 2008-12-07 11:02 am (UTC)I don't necessarily think it's a respect thing (although there could definitely be elements of that because she is AWESOME) - it strikes me more as a reminder of how little they know each other? Like, if they were closer he'd be teasing her or being a douche, maybe?
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Date: 2008-12-07 04:44 pm (UTC)I was so in denial during this whole episode, I was thinking Morgana is planning some awesome amazing double crossing, lol.
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:55 am (UTC)Yes! Exactly! I really thought they'd bluff it out somehow, but, no, she was *actually* going to have him murdered to death. SO EPIC (and slightly crazy, but undeniably HARDCORE!)
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Date: 2008-12-07 06:18 pm (UTC)It could have been so different and I love where it went and Morgana finally realizing she should save Uther for the time being and the ~epic hug~.
Your review of this episode was spot-on but I kinda wished Gwen had been a bit more tragic about her father's death. But it fits her to be all though and mighty.
When Merlin's talking to Gwen about having the power of killing Uther, THE PRETTY. ILU MERLIN AND ALL YOUR INTERNAL SHENANIGANS.
I couldn't help thinking this episode lacked Arthur/Merlin. Last week's episode was heavy on that and ~UNICORNZ~ and I was so happy! But Morgana is fiercer than fierce.
AND I DON'T WANT ARTHUR TO DIE. EVER! IT KILLED ME ON THE INSIDE TO SEE HIM BEING CARRIED IN ARMS. WHAT ARE THEY GOING WITH THIS? DOES. NOT. WANT. Also, I should have read Mists of Avalon and some other stuff because I haven't got a clue about what might happen next, even if this show has changed a bunch of stuff (from what I've heard).
I love everyone on this show! :D
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:16 am (UTC)I really thought that the whole Morgana-consorting-with-the-bad-guys thing was going to be some sort of trap, so it was awesome that, no, she actually wanted to kill him. SO HARDCORE.
Yeah, I think something went a bit dodgy in the edit in the scene where she finds out about Tom's death, becuase her screaming didn't really match up with her Stricken!Face Of Loveliness. Ach, she is going to be such a great queen.
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Date: 2008-12-07 11:16 pm (UTC)OH MY GOD. THAT SCENE. Where Morgana's face is all doubtful and troubled yet FIERCE AND DETERMINED at the same time. And then the look of horror that comes when Uther says he's sorry for killing Tom and that Morgana makes him an awesome king. KATIE AND ASH ACTED THE MOTHERFUCKING HELL OUT OF THAT SCENE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UTHER/MORGANA FTW. I AM FANMIXING IT UP OVER HERE.
Also, it is kind of shameful how much I enjoy every Arthur/Gwen interaction, not least because of the way he calls her "Guinevere"
THE AWKWARD WAY HE SAYS SORRY. OH GOD, I CAN'T HANDLE IT.
When they were doing their anxious close talking thing I was just waiting for one of them to get ~magic vibes~ or something so they could smirk at each other and be all pale and delicious.
I always feel kind of silly for shipping Merlin/Morgana, since I can never come up with any reason for doing so besides, "THEIR LOVE IS PALE AND MAGICAL. ALSO, THEY ARE PRETTY." THAT IS TOTALLY REASON ENOUGH, DAMMIT.
BROOM CUPBOARD = SNOGGING IN A BROOM CLOSET VIRGINITY. That is straight where my brain went.
*sporfle* BRADLEY AND COLIN RUN OFF TO SNOG IN THAT BROOM CUPBOARD IN BETWEEN TAKES. YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE.
So what do we think? Do we think Arthur is dead-but-will-be-restored-by-the-end-of-the-episode?
YES. I don't think he's in a long, Sleeping Beauty-esque coma mostly because when that happened to Morgana, everyone was all, "FIND A DOCTOR HOMG" and not dramatically carrying her down the Camelot front-steps (I AGREE ON TONY HEAD'S FACE HERE. ALSO KNOWN AS THE POINT I STARTED CRYING).
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:05 am (UTC)NNNNNFGH, that scene, that scene! I love how everything just shifts across Katie's face as it unfolds, and it's meaning different, incredibly important things to both of then, and Uther is being maybe more earnest than we've ever seen him, AND IT IS WIN.
Did you listen to that Geek Syndicate podcast? There was this really awesome bit where the producer guy was talking about how they realised after a few episodes that they'd set the tone of the show a bit too 'teen', and that's when they started making it a bit more epic and AMAAAAZING, but because Bradley (and everyone else, but I think he specifically talked about Bradley) had been cast when it was all still youthful hijinks, they had no idea whether he'd actually be able to do the more weighty stuff (let's face it, it's not like they could check with Dis/Connected). Except he totally could, and now everything is lovely and awesome! The end.
UM, WRITE IT.
WHY DON'T I HAVE ANY UTHER/MORGANA ICONS? Unacceptable.
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:16 am (UTC)WHERE IS THIS PODCAST YOU SPEAK OF? I DID NOT KNOW IT EXISTED! (Ahahaha, I can picture the writers sitting around going "I don't know if BRADLEY can handle all this epicness, guys" *BRADLEY RUNS PAST DOING SOMETHING CRAZY AND RANDOM - LIKE SCATTERING PAPERCLIPS DOWN A HALLWAY*)
IT WILL BE IN YOUR HOLIDAY CARD.
I NEED MORE TOO. I've stopped switching my icons, because after I answer the 349349 comments in my inbox, I am going to go off and CHANGE THEM ALL.
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:32 am (UTC)AHAHAHA, "ONCE MORE WITH FEELING" IS UNDENIABLE WIN, BUT YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT RE: ITS RELEVANCE. I'm still annoyed that someone made an UTHER&ARTHUR DADDY ISSUES!VID to "Standing in the Way" *before* "Excalibur" aired, so it's missing all the good stuff. It's such a shame, because that song is perfection.
OH GOD NOW I AM THINKING ABOUT UTHER SINGING AT ARTHUR'S FUNERAL AND IT'S MAKING ME SAAAAAAD.
Ohh, Bradley. I bet he turns up for all the big emotional scenes with pie on his face, and then Colin has to lick it off shamefacedly, and the entire production crew is like "This guy? Seriously?" AND THEN HE ACES IT and wanders off to play some ping pong.
BEST. CHRISTMAS. EVERRRRR.
IT IS ENTIRELY YOUR OWN FAULT FOR WRITING SUCH PASTRY-BASED WONDERMENT.
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Date: 2008-12-08 12:44 am (UTC)ADJFK;AJEAKJFD; I AGREE ABOUT "Standing in the Way" SO MUCH.
I bet after really emotional scenes, Colin, and Katie, and everyone are all drained, but Bradley just JUMPS BACK INTO RIDICULOUS!MODE.
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Date: 2008-12-08 01:07 am (UTC)It could somehow work! *clutching desperately at straws* Iiiif there is some Morgana's!dad!angst and Uther has been Concealing Relevant Information, or something? IT IS ALL ANGSTY SEXY FUNTIMES UNTIL YOU GET TO THE BIT WHERE HE WANTS TO PRETEND TO BE HER FATHER. I am way, way cool with the inappropriateness but there is a line. Maybe there's a line. WHY AM I STILL TYPING?
AHAHA, WIN. Once you get to the bickering it is magnificently them! I can see them having fights about Arthur (AGAIN, TYPO'D 'BRADLEY' - THE LINES, THEY ARE BLURRING, AND I AM AFRAID) wanting Morgana to check him out in case he's accidentally got an STD and her being "YOU JUST KEEP YOUR SKEEZY PENIS TO YOURSELF, SIR. AND DON'T HIT ON MERLIN UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN A DOCTOR", and also because he won't stop stealing her Brie.
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Date: 2008-12-08 01:43 am (UTC)AGAIN, TYPO'D 'BRADLEY' - THE LINES, THEY ARE BLURRING, AND I AM AFRAID
In the reviews for the pie!fic, there are at least two instances of Bradley typo'd as 'Arthur'. YOU ARE NOT ALONE (also, I once wrote an entire paragraph calling him, 'Ben').
HE SO TOTALLY WOULD ASK HER TO CHECK IF HE HAS AN STD. DAMMIT WOMAN, NOW I WANT TO WRITE THAT FIC. DD:
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Date: 2008-12-09 10:54 am (UTC)I sort of got the same vibe! Heh. Oh Mr. Bell.
And that final hug, oh my days. I AM SO NOT READY FOR UTHER TO DIE YET.
The ending of that scene was PERFECTION ITSELF. The way he begged for her forgiveness and Morgan's expression when she said Nooo! Then the hug of love in slow motion with CAPS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE PERFECTLY ~no silly getting tangled of any kind~
I LOVE THEM.
I loved it when Merlin was question Gwen about what she'd do if she had the power of Uther's life in her hands. GWEN IS AWESOME.
UTHER CARRYING ARTHUR'S BODY, OH MY GOD OH MY GOD TONY HEAD'S FACE IS AMAAAAZING.
I KEPT REWATCHING THAT BIT. OMG I AM SPEECHLESS. I want the finale now~!!
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Date: 2008-12-09 01:23 pm (UTC)Heee, I really love all the capes. The producers were complaining on the commentary about how awkward they are for the cast to wear, but admitted that they just look so pretty so they have to use them! I APPROVE THIS SHALLOW POLICY, SHOW.
Gwen IS awesome! I just really bummed myself out by reading the Digital Spy thread for the show (aaaaand that right there is why I only fangirl on LJ) and so many people complained about her being black (STFU, UGH) or not being beautiful enough. I think she's lovely; she's kind and sweet and has a really strong moral core and she'll make a righteous queen. Seeing how they're going to swing Arthur/Gwen has reallly quickly become one the things I'm most looking forward in the overall arc of the show, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE a) they're going to have to de-UST Arthur/Morgana at some point, and it's going to be angsty and delicious and hot and I'm looking forward to it and b) MERLIN IS HIS EPIC GAY BOYFRIEND, SO THERE. I don't even know. This show!
TEARS. EVERY TIME. I don't want it to be over, though!
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Date: 2008-12-09 01:50 pm (UTC)Mr. Bell was CREEPY. The way he kept looking at Margaret and then when he finally (jokingly) broached the Ill Fated Subject, the look of horror on Margaret's face and being all uncomfortable. lol.
Whenever I think of Capes, I think of Edna Mode and her distaste for Capes. Haha. But, I love seeing it well worn by actors in Period Pieces. BECAUSE IT'S SO PRETTY and I want one for myself. Velvet Cape in the Desert. WIN. XD
I don't know why people complain about such a stupid thing. SHE'S IS AWESOME. And I love her as Gwen. People should complain about the actor's abilities not colour. D:! Like in Little Dorrit, I don't like Freema Agyeman as Tattycoram not because of her colour but because she reduces every character she plays into a whiny little 5 year old girl. lol. (I know a lot of people love her... but all I can see is whine whine whine. XD)
I REALLY NEED SOME NEWS OF A SERIES 2. I never want it to end. D:!