i don't think a show has ever used the word "destiny" so often

[thirty2flavors]

I think by episode five it is safe to say that I am not dazzled. That's alright, I didn't really expect to be -- I will probably keep wathing anyway because otherwise I don't know what christycorr and sweetcherrytree are talking about and clearly my ability to jump in and start hijacking conversations is highly important. Some thoughts in no particular order:

-The themesong/opening narration/photoshop montage at the begining IS SO HILARIOUS. I just about died during the first episode, and then when it was like "and JOHN HURT as the voice of the dragon" I did die.

-I'm totally apathetic towards ships, as usual. I know everyone ships Arthur/Merlin like burning but I don't care beyond the lulz. I do find the Gwen/Arthur flirtation really awkward, and the Gwen/Lancelot stuff that just happened was also really awkward. I don't particularly dislike Gwen, but her flirting is always so painful. I was definitely getting a pretty strong Lancelot/Merlin vibe, and I just realized Lancelot reminds me of Caspian which is why I was so amused by him. Huh.

-Morgana irritates me. Luckily she does jack all so I don't have to dael with her much, but every time she comes in and bats her eyelashes and failflirts with Arthur I am just like stfuuuuu. Actress is pretty, though, I'm jealous of her hair.

-lol Eve Myles

-lol Lady Christina

-Merlin's brief moment of teenage OMG U DONT CARE ABOUT ME angst in this episode was really bizarre and misplaced. Gaius tries to stop Merlin from getting his ass kicked at every turn and Merlin constantly ignores him. I think it is decidedly unfair to suddenly claim that Gaius does not care.

-Speaking of, Merlin's plans are consistently Scooby Doo worthy. "Let's just pretend you're the son of this dude! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?"

-That episode where Arthur rock-climbs with the help of Merlin's friendly glowy ball thing was hysterical.

-Every single thing Uther does is hysterical. I don't know if this is left-over lulz from when I watched Buffy as a kid, because Giles is literally like the only thing I remember from that show, or if it's just because he's ridiculous. I love that every episode includes some variant of "I THINK IT'S MAGIC, UTHER" "NO SHUT YOUR FACE". Maybe it's lupus.

-I like Arthur. I'd hit it.

-Oh, is the "magic" language Old English, or does it just sound an awful lot like Old English?

-I don't know virtually anything about fashion of the time period and from what I undesrstand it's not like this show gives a shit about fashion of the time period, so are Morgana's dresses legit? They look like something I could go buy at the store right now. Her bare shoulders feel very scandalous. But like I said, my knowledge of this stuff is zilch.

-The special effects are hilarious, and I watch Doctor Who. Also, every time Merlin's eyes glow I am SO AMUSED.

In conclusion, my response is a resounding "meh". Given that I have more than a week until my next exam, though, it's something to do. At least until someone uploads the missing episodes of Flight of the Conchords season 2.

Comments

[christycorr]

Re: Lancelot/Merlin—yeah, you're definitely not alone there.

Re: destiny, yeah, the slash_dragon does love to abuse it.

Like I've said before, the show is not all that dazzling—it's the fandom that got to me. But I know you're easily bored, so eh.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

Omfg slash_dragon is amazing. I love the dragon and his Yoda-y, Dumbledore-y advice.

I don't think I'm intersted enough in the material to want to check out the fandom, though. That and I really only need one fandom at a time to sustain myself.

[isaysquee.livejournal.com]

Ahahha... your review amuses me. My friends are hyperactive in the fandom... and while I think Arthur and Merlin are cuties... um, that's really all I think. Plus I like Richard Wilson; I think he's awesomes.

Yeah... Merlin was my first encounter with Lady Christina... which was why I was like "oh, god... not her..." when they cast her in DW. B/c I didn't think she was that strong of an actor... still don't. O_o

Um. Yes, the females of the show are... sadly... I don't know, shunted or something. I don't really remember what the girls did... except for Gwen = shy, and Morgana = spoiled brat.

That said, the cast commentaries are hilarious, and I think you should totally watch those. :P

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

YOUR ICON MATCHES MY TAG. Hee.

I think Colin Morgan -- that's his name right? -- is kind of like, doofy-cute but mostly doofy (I thought he was cuter in Midnight, I don't know what this says about me), but wha't his name, Bradley James or whatever is a fox.

Which one is Richard Wilson? rofl

I knew she was in it but I hadn't seen it beforehand. Her acting has not been particularly dazzling thusfar, but I wasn't dazzled in Planet of the Dead either. It's not atrocious I don't think it's just kind of meh.

Gwen just kind of flirts awkwardly and Morgana uses her feminine wiles to be really annoying. Hurrah!

Hahaha maybe.

[isaysquee.livejournal.com]

HEEE YES. I saw that icon and I was like "MUST HAVE"... 'cos it was silly.

Yes. Colin Morgan was Jethro... and no worries, I think Jethro's hotter too. It's the emo thing... it works for him. Bradley James... is made of LOLz. He's got the weirdest sense of humour... and it's hilarious!

Richard Wilson = Gaius. So no, I don't think he's cute or anything, but he's just been in a lot of Brit tv that I've watched and I liked him a lot in Duck Patrol (w/ baby!Tennant) b/c he was funny.

Yah, she's just not dazzling. x_x I should probably check her out in... Bionic Woman or wahtever it was... Nimueh and Lady Christina weren't exactly eye popping roles though.

Yah... I'm pretty sure the writers focus more on the boys... cos of all the Arthur/Merlin love.

[afterthree.livejournal.com]

Re: Morgana's outfits:

No. Not even at all. Not even a try that missed. Just.... no.

In fact, none of the costuming is really period at all. I'm not sure they've even decided what "period" they're in. I think they've decided they're a sort of out-of-time fable-type show.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

Oh I'm glad. I was pretty sure they weren't btu I was kind of worrid I'd be like "UM WTF" and someone would be like UH KALI ACTUALLY [insert wikipedia link about how wrong I am]

Sounds good. It's not like I'm watching for historical accuracy, but I was definitely WTFing at her garb.

[bazcat89.livejournal.com]

Wow, all the Gwens in one place.

Who does Eve Myles play?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

Eve Myles plays this singer lady in the first episode who gets killed by a crazy evil witch who steals her body to try and kill Arthur. I wanna know if Eve Myles was really singing or not.

[bazcat89.livejournal.com]

lolbody stealing

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha. I think you just reminded me of all the reasons why I love the show.

I think that you need to give the Arthur/Merlin thing some time. It wasn't until episode 9 or something when Merlin's mother was all "HE REALLY LIKES YOU :D" and Merlin was all "No, he's just pretending to be nice, Mum, he doesn't like the REAL ME." For real. It was pretty awesome. Let me know when you get to that point.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

Glad to be of service.

It wasn't until episode 9 or something when Merlin's mother was all "HE REALLY LIKES YOU :D" and Merlin was all "No, he's just pretending to be nice, Mum, he doesn't like the REAL ME."

LIRL WHAT. I AM SO DELIGHTED. THAT SOUNDS HILARIOUS.

I suspect I will never care about it beyond a general apathy, though. Like I said I rarely care about any ships beyond a general apathy, even the ones everyone else loves. Like Barney/Robin. SPEAKING OF CHECK THIS ICON OUT.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

THERE IS NO REASON TO UNNECESSARILY DRAG ROBIN/BARNEY INTO THIS.

OMG, that is awesome. In my personal canon, Barney secretly wants to BE Ten.

[kirrea.livejournal.com]

Bradley James is bloody gorgeous. Totally my new celebrity crush, but none of my Sydney friends see it. They are obviously delusional.

I'm really meh about the show too, but at around episode 7 the script starts getting funny. I like that they don't take themselves seriously; at one point the Dragon's like "it may surprise you, Merlin, but my knowledge of your life is not universal" and I lol-ed so hard.

I concur about Morgana's annoyingness, and Gwen awkwardness and Utherness idiotness etc etc

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

He is cute, isn't he?

I typically don't like shows that take themselves seriously, so I can appreciate that Merlin appreciates its own crack. It'll be nice if the episodes get funnier though, right now most of the lulz are unintentional.

[birdseyeview.livejournal.com]

Your tag made me laugh so hard.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

I am glad!

[theepiccek.livejournal.com]

Merlin's plans are consistently Scooby Doo worthy. I have never thought of it like that. HOW TRUE.

I'm two ep's in and i find it sweet and funny and another great BBC show but i do not love it like I do Dr Who or Robin Hood

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

IT IS. He has the worst plans, I find it so funny.

Yeah it's cute but I'm not very fangirly over it.

[hysteriagalore.livejournal.com]

I am thrilled you find the opening as hilarious as I do. There's just something about it, like their intention was "LOOK AT THIS GODDAMN COOL SHOW, IT HAS DRAGONS AND WIZARDS AND SHIT" but settled for "Oh, Harry Potter in the Dark Ages. Neat."

LOL SHIPS. I think you have to care about the characters to find ships, although I did start liking Morgana/Arthur in a sibling way at the end of the series :|

I so approve of watching Merlin for the pretty. Bradley James is gorgeous.

ALSO: OMG wait until the finale. *cringes* D:

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

I KNOW. THEY'RE JUST HILARIOUS.

That's true, though I really don't ship much of anything in any show with one glaring exception. The Office, Scrubs, HIMYM, Arrested Development, I don't have ships in any of those. I used to ship Jim/Pam (Office) but now they're together and engaged and I stopped caring.

He is, and Arthur entertains me.

Really? I remember reading my flists' reactions and they didn't seem to be as soul-destroyed as people usually are after a BBC finale, so.

[wild-sibyl.livejournal.com]

I tried to watch Merlin, but then the Dragon started talking and I was like HOLD THE PHONE I think I have already seen this... and it turns out I have.



And then I got bored after Gwen died... so I stopped watching it. But I still kind of want to know what happens because I am nosy.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

GWEN DIES?

or do you mean gwen cooper?

The talking dragon is hilarious, I dunno what it is about him

[inksplotched.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of this, except I don't think I ever made it past episode three.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_thirty2flavors/]

I'll probably finish the season but I dunno if I'll watch s2 or s3.