Merlin 5x01 - ladycentric reaction post

[sophinisba]

I enjoyed this episode a lot! With some sense of distance, I don't know, I tend to feel pretty anxious when I'm watching Merlin episodes for the first time, between worrying about my bbs and worrying about how fandom will react to one thing or another.

So yeah, it was great. Beautiful landscapes and snow and funny trees. Shirtless knights laboring in captivity. Arthur and Merlin caring for each other along the journey and poking at each other for hours in a net omg. This new dude, Gwen's servant's father, is doing some of what Agravaine did last season but he's so much sexier, yay. I see that many people on my flist are impressed with Mordred and his beauty; so far he's not doing anything for me but I'm happy for those of you who like him.

But since you can read about those dudes in lots of other reaction posts, let's talk about the ladies! I just saw on Twitter that my buddy Moon_metro said, "there were more conversations between women since S2 and still none passed the Bechdel test." Still, focusing on the positive, more conversations between women since S2! I was very pleased by how much we got to see of our ladies in this episode.

Morgana
Okay, so the changes in Morgana's personality between seasons 2 and 3 make no sense, Morgana's motivations for wanting to hurt Arthur make no sense, etc. In the present, though, what a fucking badass witch queen! She commands wolves! She threatens Gwaine in a sexually aggressive manner. And she looks so fucking good. I like the self-assured Morgana in her fortress way better than anything we saw in seasons 3 or 4. As long as I keep season 1 and the love she still ought to have for Gwen out of my mind I can really enjoy this.

Annis
OMG flammablehat DID YOU SEE THE PART WHERE THEY BROUGHT BACK ANNIS?!?! It's so rare for them to bring back one-episode characters and I'm so happy that they went for this mature and competent queen who's an ally and mentor to Arthur, although god damn it seems like a missed opportunity not to let her interact with Gwen, who could use some mentorship for sure. I will be super sad if Gwen always stays in the castle worrying while Arthur goes out on his adventures and meets new people all this season. Some more continuity in terms of Annis and Arthur recalling how difficult their last meeting had been would also have been nice. Still, Annis!

Gwen and whatshername
I feel very strongly that Gwen's new servant is gay and I doubt any evidence will convince me otherwise, although it will eventually tell me how to spell her name -- for now I'm going to write Seefa. So yeah, that made all her scenes more interesting for me, starting with the servant bonding bit where Merlin flirts with her like he did with "Cara" and Gwen back in the day. And then omg when she and Gwen were alone and her reaction when Gwen touched her hand and asked her if she was worried about a special someone. Thus, the episode passed the Bechdel test in my head even if the writers etc. didn't intend it that way. \o/ Anyway, I think the fact that she was really thinking about her dad at least disturbs the whole ladies-talking-about-their-boyfriends thing. I enjoyed the Arthur/Gwen romance last season but I really missed seeing her interacting with other women, including the whole mistress/servant thing, and now with her being on the other side of it, I'm so happy to have some of that again.

Gwen suggesting Arthur and the boys go through Annis's lands, and Arthur and the boys listening to her: very nice! Gwen unburdening her cares to the servant she barely knows, assuming the servant is a nice girl like she was: not the smartest thing she's done, but fun to watch, and it looks like she can learn from her mistakes. Nice job trying to reassure her but also keeping an eye on her as she left the castle. Gwen sentencing Seefa to death: totally over the top, but it makes sense to me with the pressure she's under, not knowing what's going to happen with Arthur and needing to establish her own authority. I'm sure S will be okay, or at least will get through this without being executed at Gwen's orders.

Some other things I would like to see:
-Arthur/Gwen sexiness
-Gwen&Merlin friendship and affection
-Gwen having adventures outside of Camelot
-Gwen interacting with Annis, Morgana, Mithian, and/or other HBICs

I'm spoilerphobic to the point that I don't watch previews for upcoming episodes, so let's please talk only about episodes that have already aired. :)

Comments

[netgirl_y2k]

I enjoyed it too! Well, of course I did, Morgana is living in Narnia with that dude I love from Game of Thrones and making pets of the local wolves.

Um, it's entirely possible that's not what actually happened.

[sophinisba]

Right? She seems to be doing very well for herself. I enjoyed the angst and squalor of last season but she looks so good with that stark white background. I should get a fierce Morgana icon.

[croissantkatie]

Morgana! If I ignore how she got to this point, I actually really like Morgana this series so far. I like badass queen Morgana!

ANNIS. QUEEN ANNIS. I AM SO HAPPY.

I pretty much agree wholeheartedly with everything about Gwen and whatshername. I want her to go out and be awesome and fabulous!

[sophinisba]

Gwen getting queen mentoring from Annis needs to happen so bad omg. Also whatshername seeing the error of her ways and getting more mentoring from Gwen. (And obviously a magical reveal.) LADIES!!!

[msilverstar]

Yes to all of that! Badass Gwen makes me cheer! Annis is fabulous, I hope they have good things in mind for her.

[sophinisba]

It would have made me a little more hopeful if they'd given Annis's lands a name! But it is really great that they at least brought her back. Also thought the thing with her calling Merlin a fool was gonna be icky but then it was cute and I LOVED him telling Arthur he had many talents. <3

[msilverstar]

yes, I forgot about the juggling!

[cantarina]

Watching this, I definitely had the familiar frustration with how badly Morgana's plot line has been handled.

But I was also shipping Gwen/Seefa and enjoying Gwen's generally HBIC status. And also, Annis, welcome back! She had really lovely chemistry with Arthur.

Still laughing and laughing at a friend's comment (because I shared the sentiment) that you know you're pretty gay when there are attractive, shirtless, sweaty men on screen and you think it's a good time to turn away to tweet.

[sophinisba]

The shirtless laboring knights were so campy and awesome!1! I loved Gwaine being cheeky and brave and all, and Percy I still don't get but whatever, they were lolarious.

I was confused by my mildness of feelings about my bb Merlin and I wonder if the broad shoulders and deeper voice have made him less attractive to me, or if it's because I'm so much gayer now than when I started watching this show or what.

And then yeah I am seeing so many posts about Mordred's sexiness and I'm like what. But I guess he's pretty, idek.

A friend on the LJ side of this post is sure Seefa's going to die in the next ep, but I'm hoping Gwen will take her under her wing and reform her and they will both learn from their mistakes. <3 <3 <3

[cantarina]

I will never not love Gwaine being Cheeky and awesome! I cheered when he showed up on screen and then made narrow, squinty suspcious eyes when I thought they might kill him off. THEY HADN'T BETTER DARE

Modred isn't bad looking! I can see why fandom is swooning, although I think I'm mostly disappointed show isn't going there and having Arthur's murderer be his and Morgana's child.

*joins the Keep Seefa Alive club*