zouzounaki | Merlin review of sorts (Reply)

So, my sister had a dinner to go to tonight, which meant I was able to watch Lancelot and Guinevere much sooner than I'd thought, hooray! And since it was the pure awesomeness I was hoping it was going to be, I just had to write a review!

I realize that I'm immensely biased, but it wasn't merely Lancelot's presence that had my heart a-pitter pattering! This episode was my favorite so far of this season hands down for quite a few reasons, not the least of which was the really punchy pacing. I'm rather partial to the more formal dialogue that Jake Michie brought to the first seasons (in episodes like, not coincidentally, Lancelot) so I was happy to see that sort of lovely traditional speech make a return with Lancelot. The ROUS (I can't remember the actual name of the things, wilderins or something--I'll stick with the Princess Bride reference!) were actually pretty well done, certainly nasty-looking enough. Poor Santiago, soon he's going to be an absolute expert in fighting crappy CG effects...

Ahem. Speaking of Santiago, as you knew I was going to, he was back in absolutely top form; as if he'd been on the show this entire time, he was just the character instantly, a bit more complex, a bit darker. A testament to his acting that he made it absolutely the same person with quite a bit of (rather hard) time passed. And oh God, I loved the scar! I've always thought he had dynamite chemistry with Gwen, and this go round Angel got to explore it as well. I'm such a gooey romantic at heart, but their scenes just had me melting into a puddle of contented moosh. The little smile he gives her after he tells her, "I've thought of you often," lor, someone scoop me off the floor! But that's just one of those instinctive little flourishes that made it feel as if Santiago is much more comfortable in the role, and gives an easier performance as a fully developed character. (Not that I'm one of those that thought he wasn't in Lancelot--I was just impressed with how much more at ease he was!)

Of course, this sparked a fervor of shipper wars, which I'm only going to address with some practical analysis of Gwen and Lancelot's reunion and this hilarious Lolcat macro:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Anyway... I think they address Gwen and Lancelot's relationship as last left in Lancelot perfectly: Gwen's passiveness in the earlier episode, her reticent behavior with Lancelot, is hit spot on with the bit of Lancelot's dialogue about not knowing she felt that way about him, even after his typical florid declarations. The end of the earlier episode with Gwen watching Lancelot leave spoke volumes for me: regret, longing, resignation, which works really well against her line about never thinking she'd see him again, that she'd sort of forced herself to get over it, being the practical girl Gwen is. And that Gwen is anxious this time round to grab hold of him, I thought, was marvelous. But it broke my heart, too, because I knew he was leaving.

The Merlin and Arthur segments of the story, I was scared, were going to slow the story down, but it's to the writer's credit that he gives them such sparkling, sweet and funny dialogue. I'm not a shipper, but truly the BFF chemistry they have is undeniable and just leaves such a huge smile on my face.

Now, the end. I think both Arthur and Lancelot deserve a great big bonk on the head for breaking Gwen's hearts as many times as they do. Am I going to excuse Lancelot's decision? No, but I am going to attempt to give it an alternate explanation than I've seen posted. Most assume it's sheer nobility that send Lancelot from Gwen's side, but, despite being given a true purpose again and being reminded of who he is, I think Lancelot is still in a bit of his slump; he's seen how harsh the world is, his idealism is gone, replaced by something much more realistic if still a bit chivalrous (puppy can't help himself and that's why I lurves him!). From his point of view, to come between Gwen and the love of a prince who can give her anything and everything... How could this new Lancelot do that? When she could have a kingdom, ask her to have only him? I think it's to do with a low opinion of self as much as it is truly being concerned about what's best for Gwen.

Of course, boys always need their heads knocked together to understand that the girl is capable of deciding for herself what's best for her, grumble, grumble. We know he'll be back this season anyway, so bring on that romantic angst, mehehehehe!

Seriously, a 10/10 episode! Honestly? The first of the season for me, which is about when the first season hit its stride as well (though The Once and Future Queen came very close!) And such ridiculously fantastic medieval eye candy!