First "Merlin" episode I was able to see together with a friend of mine since I slept over at her house Friday and Saturday. :) It was a lot of fun... we saw Disney's "The Sword in the Stone" (I've now seen it three times in the past week - such a cute movie -- the ending was love.) and "King Arthur" with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. Yeah, it was pretty much an Arthurian-themed weekend... the latest "Merlin" episode just added to the fun.

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I liked Freya. I really love the idea of the "Lady of the Lake" and it was nice to see Merlin have a love interest for once. I wish they would have made it a little clearer that Freya was, in fact, the Lady of the Lake of legend...and it wasn't just a title the writers tacked to this episode without really meaning to suggest Freya was *the* Lady. Though, if the Lady of the Lake was one of Merlin's loves in the legends, then this episode definitely tried to keep to that part of the legends. Maybe a little too well because Merlin really did fall head over heels in love with her (over the course of 40 minutes which is really not enough time... for building a friendship, maybe, but love? no...).

But now that she's dead, there's a good chance that she truly is the "Lady of the Lake" because she's usually a spirit, I believe? Or a water sprite... Anyway...

Still, there's a bit of a problem what with Freya's body being set on fire within the boat. I'm guessing there's a magical solution to that and she'll come back to life at some point. As I said before, if only they had taken effort to tell the audience that the episode title really meant what it was hinting at. I suppose I'll take the "I'll repay you, I promise," line from her as the hint that Freya would be the Lady.

Urgh...I'm writing in circles, sorry about that. :(

I've read a good number of reaction posts that discuss Merlin's OOC actions and behavior in this episode. I understand what frustrated people - it was rather rushed and it's a shame that they don't make episodes that could use more relationship development into two-parters. I still liked the interaction between Merlin and Freya and I enjoyed watching it. I think it was mostly due to Colin Morgan's acting and he did such a nice job with showing Merlin in love. I liked his earnestness - it was very sweet, I thought.

And really, coming on the heels of "Sins of the Father", I could see Merlin seeking an escape. Think, Merlin just lied to Arthur to stop him from killing Uther; but that lie came with a price. Merlin now has really buggered up any chance of telling Arthur about his magic secret (what with Arthur's renewed determination to keep to the "magic is evil, dangerous" stance).

So here, in this episode, Merlin finds a Druid girl and decides to look after her... and it must be so nice for him to spend time with someone with whom he doesn't have to hide who he truly is. The point of the matter is that this is still an escape for him - Merlin isn't thinking clearly (no duh) here and he pretty much is pushing his destiny to the wayside. What he wants to do (be accepted for who he is) over what is just sooo hard and frustrating to do right now (living in Camelot and keeping his magic secret or else risk death).

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The Morgana Question

There is the Morgana question, of course. I do love Merlin and Morgana together, and yes, it is a shame that Merlin didn't entrust his secret to her even though she now knows what she is. You would think Merlin would trust her more because she has been a friend to him and he to her since S1 (particularly beginning with S1's Mordred episode where Merlin showed how much he trusted her to help him keep Mordred hidden).

But then again, maybe why Merlin would trust a stranger - Freya - over Morgana because Morgana is the King's Ward after all. No matter how many times that Morgana chose to challenge Uther -- she's still too close to Camelot...

I suppose it's much easier to tell someone that has no ties to Camelot, who is simply a Druid girl and desperately needs help. There's no history between her and Merlin - no worry about how this will change things between them because he just met Freya. It's all just so freeing, I suppose.

What bugged

It really frustrated me how Merlin made no mention, no thought about what he was leaving behind, what he has turning his back on - if he did manage to run away with Freya to who knows where.

Really, Merlin? What about your destiny? Protecting Arthur? C'mon - I *understand* that Merlin was just looking for an escape and all - not really thinking through what he was so gung-ho about doing, but STILL, why, Merlin, why??

And it didn't help at all that Merlin almost killed Arthur if Arthur hadn't gotten out of the way of the gargoyle head Merlin almost DROPPED ON HIS HEAD WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT CERTAIN DEATH.

*shakes head*

Also, on an unrelated note: Where was Morgana? NOT GOOD, SHOW. One thing to have her just sitting there not saying anything, but to have NO Morgana at all? That's just not right!

Ha, I suppose I'll contend with the cameo appearance of Morgana's dress, which led to a cracktastic Merlin/Arthur moment, certain to be a classic. LOL.

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I thought the scene where Freya died was absolutely heartbreaking. Very touching. Poor Merlin! I thought the whole scene with the beautiful landscape and the lake was nicely shot. I so thought "Oh, look, it's the Lady of Shalot!" what with Freya lying in the boat as it floats away...

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Merlin/Arthur moments

Oh, no matter the Merlin/Freya focus, they spoiled us with all the awesome Merlin/Arthur scenes. *cheers* LOL at Arthur believing Merlin's "you're getting fat" lie... looks like Arthur does have some body image issues. Oh, Arthur. It was so lolworthy though. Merlin comes up with the most ridiculous lies - really, Merlin - that's the reason you give for Arthur's sudden diet?

Okay, granted, Merlin didn't have much time to come up with anything better... anyway, I didn't mind... though I found it hilarious that Merlin kept up with the fib. Thereby confirming that Arthur may have some self-esteem issues relating to his body... (like, "Oh no, all those times I don't wear a night shirt to bed just so Merlin could get a chance to check me out... and now Merlin thinks I'm getting fat? That's not the impression I wanted him to get! Oh, bugger it all! *sad face*)

Honestly, why am I overthinking this, I don't know. It was all very funny all the same.

And ha! Arthur thinks Merlin likes to crossdress in his spare time. OMG, LOLing forever! Love how Arthur saw him and then continued on his way, BUT THEN ARTHUR JUST COULDN'T RESIST. He *had* to know what the hell Merlin was up to.

Merlin's explanation was terribly weak, so I'm sure Arthur still firmly believes in Merlin's interest in crossdressing.

LOL LOL LOL.

Yay for Arthur to the rescue and getting Merlin out of the bounty hunter's clutches. :) Go, Arthur! You tell that bounty hunter - "Merlin is MY servant. He has my absolute trust. You have a problem with him, you come to me. BIOTCH." (haha, I would have loved it if Arthur called the bounty hunter a biotch. LOL. That would have been awesome!).

I loved the last scene between Merlin and Arthur. Awwww... Arthur noticed that Merlin was sad and he wanted to make him feel better so Merlin would smile again!

Awwwww... oh, Arthur. *grins*

I loved how Arthur gave him a noogie (that's a hug, darnit, yes it is :P) to get Merlin feeling better... I love the oh so obvious big smile Arthur gave to him when he got Merlin to smile.

*cheers* That whole scene made me feel all warm inside. What a lovely scene. I think I've said this before, but I do love when the episodes end on nice Merlin/Arthur scenes such as this one. *still grinning*

It's going to be all the more devastating when -- after all these bonding scenes between them -- Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic. I worry for the negative impact it'll have on their friendship. *is nervous*

It should so happen this way:

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Arthur sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Really, Merlin. I don’t have all day. Either you tell me you’re a sorcerer or we could try this again another time.”

Merlin stared at him. Arthur knew? What the hell? Well, that was anticlimactic just a bit.
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^ from my "Hullabaloo" fic.

Oh, if only it were anticlimactic...

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Preview for next week's episode: Arthur knows how to woo a girl, YES HE DOES. :P

The scene where he has the flower in his mouth and he climbs into her window... CRACK! Romeo and Juliet, yes/yes?

LMAO.

Merlin will probably be alternating between tearing his hair out trying to save Arthur's arse (yet again!) from Sophia 2.0 and laughing his arse off at the ridiculousness of the situation. :P