UNCUT MERLIN SEASON 5 EPISODE 6 REACTION
Added 2021-05-28 21:34:28 +0000 UTC
Comments
Totally agree! This evil Gwen storyline is way too late into the season. Seems like something that should’ve been explored in season 4 instead.
S
2021-05-29 18:27:52 +0000 UTCHonnestly, I have mixed feelings about this episode and the Evil Gwen storyline. Like you said, it's a bit late in the season for something like that, and we'd rather see more of the main arc with Mordred and build up to the end of the season or the F* magic reveal alrady !!! Anyway, there are still good things in this episode. As much as I have mixed feelings about Gwen being controled, I do appreciate Angel's acting in such a different personality for Gwen. As you mentioned, Gwen could be a really good villain and Angel is brillant portraying it. My fave moment in this episode for the evil acting is when she kills Tier, she appears so cold hearted and without remorse, so unlike the Gwen we know and love. And even Morgana was impressed when Gwen just coldly said "I had to do what had to be done". It really is a wonder that no one has noticed (apart from Merlin and later on Gaius) that Gwen is clearly not herself. There are huge clues throughout the episode. The first one being when Arthur gets attacked by the three guys and is fighting them. Gwen just doesn't react at all in that scene, she doesn't even look worried for Arthur, compared to Merlin who screams in panic when he sees Arthur surrounded. I guess, Merlin noticed though because he seems to start having suspicions about Gwen already in the next scene. The second scene, and that's when Arthur should have realized something was wrong, is when Gwen doesn't even react when Arthur starts to lose consciousness but he's still looking at her and once again, she shows no worry for him clearly being knocked out. It would have been great to have Arthur slowly realize but then forgetting about it after nearly dying. If Gwen had been a little smarter in that scene, she would have acted really concerned until it was clear Arthur couldn't see her anymore. And the last big clue is when she accused Merlin of all people. That should have been when everyone in the room should have reacted and said that there was no possible way Merlin would ever want to harm Arthur and that Gwen was clearly out of her mind. I mean, the knights have witnessed countless times when Merlin has literally put his life at risk for the sake of Arthur's. That's when the episode really doesn't work for me anymore, they just accept that Merlin's guilty and throw him in the cell. The entire scene with Gwaine earlier just doesn't work anymore because he doesn't even try to defend Merlin, and we know that out of all the knights, Gwaine is definitely the one who knows that Merlin loves Arthur and would never in a million years hurt him or try to kill him. So like you said, if they had any common sense, they would have surely figured it out, but commen sense was nowhere to be found in this episode... Usually Gwen is the one with common sense and she's bing controlled so that means they're all just screwed.... Gwen acting evil really works, but her act as the grieving wife and soon to be widow just doesn't for me... It feels so unnatural and unlike Gwen that I'm really astounded that Leon buys it so easily. We've seen Gwen grieving before when Lancelot died and the scene in that episode is just so false compared to that. One thing I do love about this episode and quite frankly redeems it a little, is all the Merlin and Arthur moments we get. The first scene with Merlin tagging along on the anniversary date and the teasing between the three of them is a really cute moment. The wardrobe scene, both cute and funny. Merlin saying he prefers Gwen's clothes and Arthur's reaction to that XD Just can't help but think about that scene from 2x09 when Arthur walked passed Merlin carring one of Morgana's dresses and teasing him about it (ah good times). Then of course, we get the more emotional scene of Merlin desperately running to Arthur and arriving too late... The scene when he's using magic to save him and beliveing he failed... Poor Merlin is just so scared of losing Arthur that he's nearly sobbing :'( That scene is just really heartbreaking. And then the relief he clearly feels when Arthur is cured, my heart can't take it anymore.... And then Merlin has to leave his side again and go back to the cell and wait the rest of the night to see if Arthur is actually going to survive. The smile on his face when Gwaine tells him that Arthur wants to see him <3 Our man was worried still but he finally knows that Arthur is truly safe. Their entire scene in Arthur's chambers has to be one of my favorite scenes of the episode. They're both just so soft in that scene. I absolutely love that Arthur tells Merlin he never would have suspected him because of course Arthur trusts Merlin and he knows that Merlin will always want him safe. After all, they both have laid down their lives for the other many times before. The fact that Arthur never doubted Merlin almost makes up for the knights not defending Merlin earlier. Merlin was definitely going to tell Arthur about Gwen in that scene but unfortunately, Gwen is two steps ahead and has managed to convince Arthur that she's beyond suspicions. Poor Merlin, has been through a lot this episode and it doesn't seem like this will get resolved just yet.... I do love the parallel between the scene when Merlin is watching Gwen at the end. It's so similar to the scene from 2X02 when Uther is praising Morgana for saving Camelot and Merlin and her are looking at each other almost the same way as Gwen and Merlin are looking at each other at the end of this episode. Old Merlin is always enjoyable and fun to watch. Those gards are just shit and I agree, they need to be replaced by actual soldiers from now on... I also really enjoy the scene when Merlin uses magic to blow out all the torches and put the courtyard into total darkness. These kind of scenes just give us hint at how good dark Merlin could be if they had gone that route at some point in the show. Colin could totally pull evil acting. His roles in Humans and The living and the dead definitely proved he can act more ambiguious and darker roles. A good episode owerall but there are just too many mixed feelings about it for me to truly love it. But I adore that last Merlin adn Arthur scene, it's just so good! Next week Gwen keeps plotting and we get new characters. There is one that has become a fan favorite and I can't wait to see how you'll react to him. Well, great reaction as always and until next week :)
Cynthia Jehl
2021-05-29 10:49:18 +0000 UTC
