Merlin
Season 4 Steps It Up At Last!
By
Kristin Battestella
It’s
taken awhile for the BBC series Merlin to
grow into its own mythology, but with this fourth season, it has finally stepped up to what it should be.
One
year has passed since Morgana (Katie McGrath) fled Camelot and the broken King
Uther (Anthony Head). Though his Uncle
Agravaine (Nathaniel Parker) would seem to help Prince Arthur (Bradley James)
rule, he secretly supports the exiled Morgana’s intentions against Camelot.
Servant Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Court Physician Gaius (Richard Wilson) have
their suspicions about Agravaine, but little can be done without proof. Maid Guinevere (Angel Colby) cares for the
ailing Uther and becomes a strong supporter of Arthur at court- much to Agravaine
and Morgana’s chagrin. The illegitimate sorceress is determined to never see
her former maid upon her throne as Queen of Camelot.
The
drama’s been kicked up this season, and we have new credits, too! It peeves me when
everyone isn’t listed in the opening, but finally we also have a fine
supporting court cast as there always should have been. With positive players
like the Knights of the Round Table against the meddling forces of Nathaniel
Parker as Agravaine, this year builds nicely towards the Arthurian myths we know,
love, and have long expected to see. Old Merlin has a few appearances, the
fully villainous Morgana and would be Queen Gwen face their destinies, and
Arthur at last rises to the occasion. The fast paced, grown up strides of
Series 4 makes an audience wonder why they wasted the first 2 seasons on humor
and stupid creatures of the week! Alice
Troughton wonderfully directs the opening two-parter “The Darkest Hour,” a
great suspenseful Samhain plot, as well as the third episode “The Wicked Day” and
the “Sword in the Stone” two hour finale. Though the intercutting and deaths
are a little heavy in the first episode, it’s bemusing to see all the badass
knights cowering and afraid of wispy phantoms. Several scenes throughout the season do erroneously demote the knights towards
comedy and overused misuses or further stupidity. However, oft writer Howard
Overman also builds on King Uther’s anti-magic stance and finally creates
resolutions that take Merlin toward
the getting good point of no return in episode 5 “His Father’s Son” and the
subsequent “A Servant of Two Masters.” Arthur’s
budding kingship and Merlin versus Morgana turntables take the forefront while
the quality humor, humility, and family friendly style remains well balanced amid
the increasing perils.
Of
course, those perils are depicted with way too much slow motion! And yet, the heavies come too quickly at times
as well- resolved haphazardly or afterwards easily forgotten. “The Secret Sharer” and “Lamia” almost resort to slapstick and
creature feature stylings while “Aithusia” provides another quest for quest’s
sake with conveniently knocked out knights allowing magic to happen sight
unseen. It’s also odd to again have
so many one off episodes when the heavy ongoing storylines could continue. Why must major material go on hold for the
rehashed plot of the week? “A Herald of a New Age” has some great scares and
gives Elyan something to do; but it also retreads earlier wet ghost plots, and
the major arc change for his sister Gwen in the previous episode “Lancelot du
Lac” is hardly mentioned. Despite
serious reflective time for Arthur and maturity for Morgana, “The Hunter’s
Heart” also rehashes arranged marriages and new princesses. The improvements on
Merlin are great, but it is too easy
for the writers to fall into seemingly safer, juvenile trappings. The otherwise
fine finale feels slightly rushed, too, with a wasted Tristan and Isolde
opportunity. We finally have all the
legends we love happening all at once and they’re sped up for presumed
audiences with short attention spans. Fortunately,
great suspense, action, and relationship turns force our players to, you know,
act like adults. Excalibur makes its presence known and Merlin at last goes past the point of no return in approaching
Series 5.
Although
Merlin still uses magic in public too much and no one ever notices, Colin Morgan is perfect at saying all that can’t be
said. He also has some fun as the Old Merlin
incarnation, mixing the snarky with a serious and wise reflection. It’s nice to
see Merlin take on medical duties in “Lamia,”
and there’s even an Evil Merlin in “The Servant of Two Masters.” As these young men mature, Merlin’s relationship
with Arthur also improves greatly. The humor and camaraderie are still there,
but as Bradley James rises Arthur to new leadership and strengths, critical
events and a lovely begrudging respect replace the crude and previously so
often retconned jerky Arthur. There are
some nods to the slash subtext built in this season- a little more emotion and bromance
per episode for fans. However, I could do without the weird near butt shots and
ab-fest imagery unnecessarily toeing the line of excessiveness. By contrast, Arthur seems to cry quite a bit
this season, and that isn’t a bad thing.
His burdens increase wonderfully through Year 4, creating quality drama
in Camelot and much need adult angst on Merlin.
Audiences
are finally treated to Katie McGrath’s full on magical and notched up Morgana,
too. Her style would seem a little too Potter
Bellatrix-black lace, crazy hair, cheap Halloween costume spider web
designs- but she does look great! Green eye shadow has replaced that so obviously evil black eyeliner, and
Morgana’s little witchy hut is a spooky, elemental place- even if it seems way
too close to Camelot to never be
found! McGrath tones down the smirky as
well, but she still fronts more evil backtalk dialogue then she successfully
does thanks to repeated evil exposition. Episode 7 “The Secret Sharer” fortunately
shows Morgana’s increasing magical connections building heavy towards the
finale. Her hooded, dark menace ways grow throughout the season, and Morgana’s ongoing
threats to Camelot amplify the tension and create divisions all around. I still
hold hope we may have more of the even juicier Emilia Fox as Morgana’s
disfigured sister Morgause, too.
Angel
Colby also looks much nicer this season, and Gwen is at last receiving some
just Arthurian grace. This is how she should
have been styled all along. Why did they waste all that time on a bumbling
servant girl? Where did those boobs come from?!
It is unusual that Gwen would nurse Uther after all he did to her and
her late father- like causing him to be late. However, her intelligence, maturity,
and compassion lead to a strong standing at Camelot’s court and define the Guinevere
we’ve long expected. Her relationship with Arthur has finally gotten realistic,
even it if is handled innocently for the family audiences. Some of the retread with Santiago Cabrera as
Lancelot is a waste of his appearances, but his guest episodes fortunately
can’t revolve around some stupid puppy love anymore. Serious consequences and meatier bits happen
for all the knights on Merlin this
series- and it’s so nice to have court players on Merlin all the time! Yes, Eoin
Macken as Gwaine is especially resorted to mostly comic relief instead of
snappy guest spotlights. Despite being a
creature of the week enchantment and subterfuge, “Lamia”
does give Gwaine, Leon (Rupert Young), Elyan
(Adetomiwa Edun), and Percival (Tom Hopper) a chance to shine. The writers
still don’t seem to fully utilize all their wonderful players, but the knights’
moments per episode increase the camaraderie and peril throughout the
season.
The
great strides for Merlin this year do
deserve praise, but Richard Wilson’s fatherly Gaius finds himself accused of
sorcery yet again in “The Secret Sharer.” Everything is much more serious and the
individual tests work because Wilson
is so good, but our darling and classy Court Physician is still needed
onscreen- even as our younger cast grows up. Anthony Head also raises the bar as the sickly
and humbled Uther in “The Wicked Day.” Strange as it may sound, it’s great to
see the anti-magic, mean King broken after such prior nasties! New regular Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley Mysteries) as Lord
Agravaine is equally love to hate worthy as the embittered uncle slithering
into Camelot. Again, his kind of subterfuge should have been part of Merlin all along. Although I’m sorry but I must say it, for
there are some potentially dirty vibes coming from Agravaine in scenes with the
pretty young ladies! He’s always sneaking off for a secret or suspicious rendezvous
with Morgana or trying to trap Gwen into uncomfortable one on one meetings.
Youth enjoying Merlin probably won’t
notice, but older audiences and adults will see his disturbingly fine brand of
creepy!
Though
I wish they had extended appearances, mature guest stars Gemma Jones and Miranda
Raison (MI-5), Melanie Hill (Stardust), Lindsay Duncan (Rome), Ben Daniels (Law & Order: UK), and the too, too brief Michael Cronin as
Geoffrey of Monmouth are perfection. I would rather have actors acting instead
of mock battles with thin air and monsters of the week any day. But alas, such
action has almost always been the definition of fantasy media, I suppose.
Precious time on Merlin is still
wasted on creature features, and the Massive CGI effects are somewhat low in quality
if compared to big cinema today. Fortunately, the set dressings, forestry and
castle locations, and fun costumes invoke superior medieval mood and fantasy
atmosphere. Great candelabras, court finery, and spooky ruins do wonders indeed!
Sure, it’s colorful and not high end 5th century brooding, but the
fanciful for young and old has always been a fine aspect on Merlin. John Heard and his Great Dragon avatar are
also smartly used as needed in poignant, touching moments- especially in the
fourth episode spotlight, “Aithusa,” and hopefully the dragon hints and motifs
will blossom to the forefront in the upcoming Series 5.
Merlin can
still fall victim to weaker juvenile formulas, I grant you. Thankfully, Year 4
has stepped up the pace and maturity immensely, and casual reset buttons can no
longer be pressed. Older audiences or Camelot connoisseurs who may have put off
the series for its growing pains beginnings can now tune in anew. After jumping in with this season on the SyFy
(still hate that!) Channel’s recent airings, my teen nieces are now
addicted! All lovers of fantasy fun can
enjoy Merlin’s strengthened
storytelling and approaching Arthurian wonders. Bring on Year 5!
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