TV and Satellite Week on Merlin (and tiny Radio Times bit)

[magog_83]

Photographs from TV and Satellite Week's short article on Merlin. Spoilers under the cut. And I'm sure everyone knows already, but if you click through on the pics (about 3 times I think), you can see them much bigger!









I'm particularly intrigued by

- No whole slapstick episodes
- 'Later in the series, Merlin gets his biggest chance to lead Arthur towards magic and reveal his secret powers, but things don't go to plan. He has to make decisions that will change the future, and the magical world looks to him for answers.'

Of course, they ALWAYS promise big on Merlin and deliver something a bit smaller so we'll have to wait and see I guess.

And here's the tiny Radio Times write up for episode one...

Comments

[tama_abi]

Later in the series, Merlin gets his biggest chance to lead Arthur towards magic and reveal his secret powers, but things don't go to plan.

THAT is actually completely true....

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I guess the speculation is right then, and we're getting another Sins of the Father. I wish this show would stop recycling all of its plotlines!

[tama_abi]

Huh, not at all no... No recycled plotlines at all. This is really brand new, believe me.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

But if they're STILL not having a reveal, and Arthur's still in the dark about everything (grrr), then it's just a new gloss on the same old stuff. Somehow Arthur will end up thinking magic is OMG SO EVIL and probably become Uther Mark II. I wish they didn't stagnate things so much in this show, it drives me crazy!

I shall continue to roll around happily in series one ;)

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

They have such a great cast, they could be daring and have the reveal and then explore how Arthur and Merlin deal with that, what they do with Merlin's power and destiny etc. But I think a lot of people feel like the man in the Guardian article, that the moment you reveal the magic the show ends. As if there's no potential post-reveal! It's mad.

[tama_abi]

Part of it is true, but part of it isn't.

I have to say I'm a bit pissed off by all the fans who are already bashing series 4 before even seeing it. OK there are spoilers, some of which are true. But why don't we wait to have he whole picture before already yelling at the script writers and producers and everyone?! Believe me, you will have reasons to yell at them, but they might not be the ones you are expecting. And you will also have reasons to LOVE them.

However I DO agree that the part of truth in the Guardian article is infuriating. I have reasons to believe he might be wrong, though.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I think for a lot of fans, myself included, it is just a way of dealing with their worries about the upcoming series and the development of characters etc. There are lots of people who are optimistic and excited and treat all the spoilers with enthusiasm, but then again there are people who analyse and critique, even before they see it, and I think that's a normal part of fandom.

Series two and three haven't really given me any reason to be THAT optimistic about this series. The writers and producers clearly have a view of the show and the characters, and for the most part it's not really mine, or what I enjoy about it (I don't like A/G, evil Morgana or even the knights particularly, I watch only for Merlin and Arthur being on screen together). Then again, I don't really watch the show much any more, I'm mostly in it for the fic and the fandom. Me and canon parted ways after series one! :)

[tama_abi]

I understand ^^

However, I can tell you that the episode including this "Later in the series, Merlin gets his biggest chance to lead Arthur towards magic and reveal his secret powers, but things don't go to plan." will probably be very interesting for you, because it has very interesting Arthur/Merlin moment (somehow...).

If you don't care for A/G there are a few episodes you might not want to watch. If you don't care for evil!Morgana and the knights huh... they're pretty much in every episodes, but so is the A/M relationship so... There's still much to love in this series.

It's true series 3 is my favourite one, so I'm happier about series 4 than a series 1 lover might be, but I hope you'll like it a bit anyway ^^
Even if it's only because all the people who worked on it gave it all their hearts, even if they didn't necessarely agree with the script writers...

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

I still have a lovely view of Morgana because I fast forwarded through ALL her evil moments in series 3. Morgana was my favourite character after Merlin, so I was so sad to see her change completely and without much explanation (I was hoping for some internal struggle over her evilness at least!). When I feel sad about it, I just go back to series one and watch her being snarky to Arthur <3 And of course I always write her as her series one self in my fic!

For me, I find it very hard to handwave what I see on screen so it's easiest to not watch it. If I watch Arthur and Gwen having romantic moments, it completely kills my Arthur/Merlin muse - and that cannot happen so thank goodness for my remote control.

I don't HATE the knights, I just don't want them taking attention away from Merlin and Arthur being awesome by themselves and having Moments. I have tunnel vision where those two are concerned ;)

ANYWAY, it doesn't really matter what I think of it. I'm sure it will look gorgeous and the general audience will love it. They are not all quite as in love with series one as I am.

[tama_abi]

Haha ok... Well, maybe, don't watch ep. 8 and 9. Others will be good for you I think.
Eps 3 and 12 and 13 especially have awesome A/M plotlines...

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Duly noted ;) I shall spend those two evenings watching M/A fanvids, eating chocolate and writing epic Gwen/Lancelot fic.

[tama_abi]

Your fellow fans who will be watching the episodes will love you even more if you write epic Arthur/Merlin fics! <3

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

Maybe I could combine them and have both couples paired off with their true loves ;) Actually in my Jane Eyre I'm writing at the moment, Gwen gets her Lancelot and Merlin (eventually) gets his Arthur.

I will have to make sure I'm on hand with M/A fic and picspams and maybe the Mini Thems, like after episode therapy for M/A shippers!!

[tama_abi]

That's the best actually! I do like Gwen a lot, and I love when her and Lancelot find each other <3

Good idea <3
I'd love to see these, even if I won't be watching the episodes immediately......

[tama_abi]

I mean, if you (and this is not "you" magog it's a general "you") already decided you're gonna hate series 4, just stop watching the show!

There are people who are excited with it and happy about it, whatever its weakness. I am, and I know exactly what to expect of this series.

[magog-83.livejournal.com]

If only it were as simple as that ;) The amount of times I've seen people write "IF ONLY I KNEW HOW TO QUIT YOU, SHOW". I get where they're coming from. Even though I only watch the odd episode, I just can't stop myself reading the spoilers and speculating and squeeing over the cast and planning elaborate torture for Johnny Capps (I am kidding about that last of course!). I guess I want to love it again, like I did series one, but it's not that show anymore. But I can't quite quit it either. I do try to keep most of my complaining in my journal though, or the journals of fellow complainers :)

[tama_abi]

That's true, and it's my business if I have so many complainers in my f-list XD

I know the feeling of not being able to quit. *hugs*
ANd fandom is just too addictive!