sophieisgod | Morgana: FIERCER THAN YOU (Reply)

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.