dancinguniverse (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dancinguniverse) wrote2011-11-13 12:58 am
dancinguniverse) wrote2011-11-13 12:58 am
the stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
Wait... was that just the most perfect episode of Merlin ever? Because I think it was.
At the end of last season, when Arthur knighted everyone, I said that I had this glorious vision for the future of the show, where Merlin is friends with the knights, and they all buddy around, and Arthur learns to become king, but secretly Merlin is his success, because Merlin is the one convincing all the smallfolk how amazing Arthur is, so they all pledge allegiance to Merlin, really, and just follow Arthur because Merlin promises them it's okay.
And that's fucking happening!! Like, my biggest complaint otherwise on this show is that people's relationships seem to mysteriously change, week to week. Sometimes Merlin and Gwen seem like good friends, other times it's like they barely know each other. Sometimes Gwaine and Merlin are best buds, other time Gwaine barely seems to remember Merlin exists. But this week was awesome, and Gwen comforted Merlin, and Gwaine showed up to help out and knew useful things and fucking did something. Lots of hugs for Gwaine this week!
And then at the end, the Acatha (?) dude switched sides and was all, "No, you're totally cool, Merlin, whatever you want, I'm on your side." And then Gaius got to school Arthur about how magic users are people too, and they like you, and it looked like Arthur was actually learning something!
So, next on my list: Gwaine learns about Merlin's magic, Lancelot comes back from the dead, and then Arthur learns about Merlin's magic. And then Merlin brings him the kingdom on a platter. And then there are rainbows and unicorns forever, or at least until Mordred shows up.
Actually I think this season so far has had one of the best runs of good episodes I can remember for the whole series. I just keep thinking, "Wow, that was unexpectedly awesome!" over and over again. I think it helps that Merlin's goofiness is a lot less embarrassing now that Arthur's insults sound genuinely affectionate, and they're letting Merlin be a lot more assertive these days. He used to be the guy who just spoke out of turn, and even when he was right it was cringeworthy, but he's much better now about speaking up like a man, and finding more appropriate moments for it, when Arthur will actually listen.
I guess what I mean is that Merlin and Arthur finally seem to be getting some character growth, and it's a pleasure to see.
On a completely separate topic, I found this vid yesterday, and I can't believe how much I needed that in my life. I have a very solid list of comfort media. But while my comfort books are awesome YA fiction, my comfort movies are mostly ridiculous. The list is something like: Princess Bride, The Fast and the Furious, Muppet Christmas Carol, and Dirty Dancing. I watched Dirty Dancing when I was in middle school, probably, and thought it was fun, with great music. I rewatched it in college and realized huge chunks of it are practically soft core porn. But it's also the perfect popcorn romance. Baby's romance is exactly the romance story I fall for every single time. And REM's "You Are the Everything" is also literally on my playlist titled "Comfort."
All you hear is time, stand still and travel
Feel such peace and absolute stillness, still
That doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep.
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you.
For you alone, you are the everything...
Voices calling somewhere in the house
Late spring, and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth.
You are here with me.
You are here with me.
You have been here and you are everything.
At the end of last season, when Arthur knighted everyone, I said that I had this glorious vision for the future of the show, where Merlin is friends with the knights, and they all buddy around, and Arthur learns to become king, but secretly Merlin is his success, because Merlin is the one convincing all the smallfolk how amazing Arthur is, so they all pledge allegiance to Merlin, really, and just follow Arthur because Merlin promises them it's okay.
And that's fucking happening!! Like, my biggest complaint otherwise on this show is that people's relationships seem to mysteriously change, week to week. Sometimes Merlin and Gwen seem like good friends, other times it's like they barely know each other. Sometimes Gwaine and Merlin are best buds, other time Gwaine barely seems to remember Merlin exists. But this week was awesome, and Gwen comforted Merlin, and Gwaine showed up to help out and knew useful things and fucking did something. Lots of hugs for Gwaine this week!
And then at the end, the Acatha (?) dude switched sides and was all, "No, you're totally cool, Merlin, whatever you want, I'm on your side." And then Gaius got to school Arthur about how magic users are people too, and they like you, and it looked like Arthur was actually learning something!
So, next on my list: Gwaine learns about Merlin's magic, Lancelot comes back from the dead, and then Arthur learns about Merlin's magic. And then Merlin brings him the kingdom on a platter. And then there are rainbows and unicorns forever, or at least until Mordred shows up.
Actually I think this season so far has had one of the best runs of good episodes I can remember for the whole series. I just keep thinking, "Wow, that was unexpectedly awesome!" over and over again. I think it helps that Merlin's goofiness is a lot less embarrassing now that Arthur's insults sound genuinely affectionate, and they're letting Merlin be a lot more assertive these days. He used to be the guy who just spoke out of turn, and even when he was right it was cringeworthy, but he's much better now about speaking up like a man, and finding more appropriate moments for it, when Arthur will actually listen.
I guess what I mean is that Merlin and Arthur finally seem to be getting some character growth, and it's a pleasure to see.
On a completely separate topic, I found this vid yesterday, and I can't believe how much I needed that in my life. I have a very solid list of comfort media. But while my comfort books are awesome YA fiction, my comfort movies are mostly ridiculous. The list is something like: Princess Bride, The Fast and the Furious, Muppet Christmas Carol, and Dirty Dancing. I watched Dirty Dancing when I was in middle school, probably, and thought it was fun, with great music. I rewatched it in college and realized huge chunks of it are practically soft core porn. But it's also the perfect popcorn romance. Baby's romance is exactly the romance story I fall for every single time. And REM's "You Are the Everything" is also literally on my playlist titled "Comfort."
All you hear is time, stand still and travel
Feel such peace and absolute stillness, still
That doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep.
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you.
For you alone, you are the everything...
Voices calling somewhere in the house
Late spring, and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth.
You are here with me.
You are here with me.
You have been here and you are everything.