Theoretical Question

[redbrunja]

If I lost my mind and decided to watch some Merlin episodes so I could justify having icons from that show, which episodes would you recommend?

Note:

~I have a lot of second -hand knowledge about the show. 

~While I know this show hates its ladies, I adore them, so episode with a heavy Morgana/Gwen/Morgause/girl with dark twisty hair is a plus.

~Episode that have those iconic images that keep showing up in vids.

Comments

[mildmay.livejournal.com]

Episode 1.12/To Kill the King is probably Morgana's best episode. It highlights her friendship with Gwen and her complicated feelings for and about Uther. She has a lot more depth in that episode than she is being given in the current season. She also has more agency in that one episode than she did in most of season 2.

That episode is actually what makes me so disappointed in what they did with her in season 2 and what they're doing with her now because it proves that the writers COULD have handled her in a compelling way and they just. Didn't.

Episode 1.8/The Beginning of the End is when Mordred is introduced and therefore is the beginning of Morgana's relationship with him.

Episode 1.10/The Moment of Truth features Morgana fighting and being badass, as I recall.

Episode 2.4/Lancelot and Gwenivere features Morgana being pretty badass, but then Gwen is a damsel in distress so it's a trade off. Morgana and Gwen have some good moments, though.

And after that the handling of Morgana's character went sharply downhill. So, I don't know. 2.8/The Sins of the Father is when Morgause is introduced, though. She's pretty awesome.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the info!

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

I would advise you veer away from 1.12, just in case you want to avoid RAGEFUL episodes. That's the one where the upper class white girl decides that a man saying sorry for hurting her feelings outweighs his widespread persecution and butchery of a minority. Oh, and the murder of her (POC) supposed friend's father. She caps this off by killing a freedom fighter to save the most evil person on the show.

2.02 -- or whatever episode The Once and Future Queen is -- has a lot of Gwen in it being fabulous, Arthur being a dick (as he is constantly throughout the series) but actually getting called on it and taking a step toward improvement. Morgana is in it hardly at all, though. They don't seem to be able to handle more than one woman appearing at a time.

The first episode of the newest season has virtually no Gwen, but Morgause and Morgana are in it a lot, proactive and successful over our 'heroes.'

1.10 has girls sword fighting, Arthur being a tagalong and Gwen being feminist. Also magic tornadoes.

2.08 is pretty good, I think. The main actor shows he can act, Morgause shows up and wins everything...the end is pretty frustrating, because this show can't take its finger off the reset button, but that's going to hit in every episode.

2.09 has some gender issues, (whooo boy) but I really love Freya, the main lady in the episode.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I would advise you veer away from 1.12, just in case you want to avoid RAGEFUL episodes. That's the one where the upper class white girl decides that a man saying sorry for hurting her feelings outweighs his widespread persecution and butchery of a minority. Oh, and the murder of her (POC) supposed friend's father. She caps this off by killing a freedom fighter to save the most evil person on the show.

I have heard MUCH commentary on the sparkly White Woman's Tears of that episode.

Thanks for the other recs, though.

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

There's a pretty hilarious image-heavy review of 3.03 (http://heather.livejournal.com/186520.html) yonder -- it's not even all that spoily for the conclusion, honestly. Also, is hilarious.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I love you for that link - not because it's hilarious, but because it lead me to heather, who is watching and commenting in witty ways about all the television (AND THE HUNGER GAMES) that I'm in love with right now.

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

Happy to be of service!