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auntiemeeshWow, I was tired today. All that shopping yesterday just wore me out. And then, I thought I was babysitting from four to six today, but it was more like two to five-thirty, and because I had to get there on my own, I left the house a little after one, so it ended up being all afternoon. *pouty face*
By the time I got home I was super tired and headachy and trying hard to not just go straight to bed at six in the afternoon. But, I persevered and managed a significant amount of lounging on the sofa wrapped in a warm blanket with mindless dvds on.
I had the first disc of Jeeves and Wooster, season one, so that was what I popped in first. I fell in love with it pretty much immediately. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry have such great on-screen chemistry. And, as silly as it is, I think I spent the entire three episodes just absolutely lusting over the clothes. I love just about every outfit everyone on the show wore.
And then, after convincing myself that nine o'clock was far too early for bedtime, I finally pulled up Merlin.
Okay, so there were things that I liked about this episode, and things I did not like.
Things I did not like: (borrowing a page from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
slightlytookish, I'll get the bad stuff out of the way and end on a positive note.)
*I don't really love a lot of shippiness in the shows I watch, and so far this season, there has been a big push on the shippy front. So I wasn't thrilled when I saw the title for this episode. I'm really hoping that now that they've established the love triangle, they can get back to telling stories about Merlin saving Arthur from ridiculous monsters and magic, and Arthur saving Merlin from himself, Uther, and whatever else comes along.
*Merlin was obviously concerned about Gwen when saying goodbye to Gaius, but once actually on the trip, he was rather cavalier about the whole thing. I understand him being exhausted and not as used to riding, but once they got on the road, he seemed so light-hearted; too busy quipping at Arthur and not busy enough putting his mind to the business at hand. Merlin may not be in love with Gwen, but he definitely loves her and that concern barely showed at all during this portion of the episode.
*Morgana being an hysterical harpy. Enough with that already. She seems to have two modes, depending on the moods of the writers. Sharp-tongued bitch, or helpless hysteria. I would like to like Morgana more than I do, but there have only been a few episodes so far where I've actually liked her much.
*Two abduction stories in a row. Come on writers, you can't be abducting or fake abducting people every episode. Think up some new storylines, please.
Things that I liked:
*The special effects are looking much better this season. They must have had a bigger budget this year. I liked the ROUSes, both as creatures and as effects. "They're like giant..." Merlin's unhappy face "Baby rats." Which leads to..
*Arthur. Arthur was adorable in this episode. Mooning over Gwen with every ounce of his just barely post-adolescent soul while denying his attraction with every breath. He is struggling with the conflicting needs of pleasing his father and following what he knows is right in his own heart. He's a difficult character to get right, because there's a lot going on with him, and a lot of it is at odds with other bits of it, if that makes any sense. I think that's part of why his characterization seems so all over the place sometimes. Well, that and the fact that the writers just script whatever ridiculous scenarios they want and then change his character to fit.
*Gwen and Lancelot. I know, I said I don't like the shippiness, and I don't, but these two are really just adorable together. Lancelot is so absurdly noble, stepping aside because he feels Arthur's claim precludes his own. Of course, he doesn't know that Arthur is refusing to act because his father wouldn't approve, so that he's rather left Gwen standing in the middle, with nothing, which just makes it more heartbreaking.
*Gwen. Angel Coulby does such a beautiful job with Gwen and this episode was a triumph for her. She showed Gwen's strength in the face of fear and despair (both hers and Lancelot's), her confusion and pain when put between Arthur and Lancelot, and her unselfishness in putting others' welfare above her own (I suppose this could be seen as a negative, a stereotypical servant behavior, but I think it's just a golden soul showing through).
*Merlin and Lancelot. "I see you're still up to your old tricks, Merlin." "It's probably best you don't tell anyone about that." LOL. Merlin really needs a friend. Gaius is much more a father figure, he and Arthur may have an odd friendship, but their relationship is still more master and servant most of the time, Gwen is more of a sister. He needs a friend. Lancelot could easily fill that role. He knows Merlin's secret, so Merlin could be a little bit more relaxed around him, and they have a great chemistry between them (regardless of whether you slash them or not, which I don't). I like seeing them together and I hope we get more of it this season.
And that's that. Next week's episode looks pretty fun. Still more shippiness, but since it's shipping Uther and a troll, I might be able to forgive the writers.
By the time I got home I was super tired and headachy and trying hard to not just go straight to bed at six in the afternoon. But, I persevered and managed a significant amount of lounging on the sofa wrapped in a warm blanket with mindless dvds on.
I had the first disc of Jeeves and Wooster, season one, so that was what I popped in first. I fell in love with it pretty much immediately. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry have such great on-screen chemistry. And, as silly as it is, I think I spent the entire three episodes just absolutely lusting over the clothes. I love just about every outfit everyone on the show wore.
And then, after convincing myself that nine o'clock was far too early for bedtime, I finally pulled up Merlin.
Okay, so there were things that I liked about this episode, and things I did not like.
Things I did not like: (borrowing a page from
slightlytookish, I'll get the bad stuff out of the way and end on a positive note.)*I don't really love a lot of shippiness in the shows I watch, and so far this season, there has been a big push on the shippy front. So I wasn't thrilled when I saw the title for this episode. I'm really hoping that now that they've established the love triangle, they can get back to telling stories about Merlin saving Arthur from ridiculous monsters and magic, and Arthur saving Merlin from himself, Uther, and whatever else comes along.
*Merlin was obviously concerned about Gwen when saying goodbye to Gaius, but once actually on the trip, he was rather cavalier about the whole thing. I understand him being exhausted and not as used to riding, but once they got on the road, he seemed so light-hearted; too busy quipping at Arthur and not busy enough putting his mind to the business at hand. Merlin may not be in love with Gwen, but he definitely loves her and that concern barely showed at all during this portion of the episode.
*Morgana being an hysterical harpy. Enough with that already. She seems to have two modes, depending on the moods of the writers. Sharp-tongued bitch, or helpless hysteria. I would like to like Morgana more than I do, but there have only been a few episodes so far where I've actually liked her much.
*Two abduction stories in a row. Come on writers, you can't be abducting or fake abducting people every episode. Think up some new storylines, please.
Things that I liked:
*The special effects are looking much better this season. They must have had a bigger budget this year. I liked the ROUSes, both as creatures and as effects. "They're like giant..." Merlin's unhappy face "Baby rats." Which leads to..
*Arthur. Arthur was adorable in this episode. Mooning over Gwen with every ounce of his just barely post-adolescent soul while denying his attraction with every breath. He is struggling with the conflicting needs of pleasing his father and following what he knows is right in his own heart. He's a difficult character to get right, because there's a lot going on with him, and a lot of it is at odds with other bits of it, if that makes any sense. I think that's part of why his characterization seems so all over the place sometimes. Well, that and the fact that the writers just script whatever ridiculous scenarios they want and then change his character to fit.
*Gwen and Lancelot. I know, I said I don't like the shippiness, and I don't, but these two are really just adorable together. Lancelot is so absurdly noble, stepping aside because he feels Arthur's claim precludes his own. Of course, he doesn't know that Arthur is refusing to act because his father wouldn't approve, so that he's rather left Gwen standing in the middle, with nothing, which just makes it more heartbreaking.
*Gwen. Angel Coulby does such a beautiful job with Gwen and this episode was a triumph for her. She showed Gwen's strength in the face of fear and despair (both hers and Lancelot's), her confusion and pain when put between Arthur and Lancelot, and her unselfishness in putting others' welfare above her own (I suppose this could be seen as a negative, a stereotypical servant behavior, but I think it's just a golden soul showing through).
*Merlin and Lancelot. "I see you're still up to your old tricks, Merlin." "It's probably best you don't tell anyone about that." LOL. Merlin really needs a friend. Gaius is much more a father figure, he and Arthur may have an odd friendship, but their relationship is still more master and servant most of the time, Gwen is more of a sister. He needs a friend. Lancelot could easily fill that role. He knows Merlin's secret, so Merlin could be a little bit more relaxed around him, and they have a great chemistry between them (regardless of whether you slash them or not, which I don't). I like seeing them together and I hope we get more of it this season.
And that's that. Next week's episode looks pretty fun. Still more shippiness, but since it's shipping Uther and a troll, I might be able to forgive the writers.
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 05:30 am (UTC)Love that show.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 07:03 am (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 07:56 pm (UTC)*hugs you back*
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Date: 2009-10-12 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 06:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 01:57 am (UTC)