Episode 42: Review 2×02 The Once and Future Queen

cover art in which Merlin wears a headset with microphone and holds up a finger to his lips as if to tell you to be quiet

In today’s episode, MissSnowfox and Momo continue with Series 2 of Merlin, going into the second episode: “The Once and Future Queen.” The episode is about two and a half hours long, and features Rox and momo complaining about lazy and bad writing with regard to canon ships and other nonsense.

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Find more stream or download options for this episode below the cut.

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News:

Bottom Arthur Fest
Merlin RPF Prompt Fest
Merlin Canon Fest
ReMoPodMo

Statistics:

  • First aired 26 Sep 2009
  • 1 female character (with lines)
    • 1 main cast (Gwen)
    • (Morgana shows up but has no lines whatsoever)
  • 11 male characters (with lines)
    • 5 main cast (Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Uther, Leon)
    • 6 supporting cast (Myror, Odin, “Sir William”, 3 extras without a name)
  • Enemy/Monster of the Week: Myror, Odin
  • Arthur eliminates 1 person with Merlin’s help: Myror

Resources & Mentioned Fanworks

Elirwen’s comment on Episode 24
Eirene’s comment on Episode 17
Aspen’s comment on Episode 19
Eirene’s comment on Episode 23
Elirwen’s comment on Episode 22

“The Once and Future Queen” on the Merlin Wiki
Drastically Redefining Protocol by Rageprufrock, Podfic by RevolutionaryJo | Podfic by Lunchee

Credits

Merlisten theme music composed by side_steppings
News music by Mansardian on freesound.org
Interview/Talkback quote music: Monkeys Spinning Monkeys by Kevin MacLeod on freesoung.org
Manip for the cover by brolinskeep, Cover by momo

momotastic on AO3 | tumblr | Podfic | (Pod)Fic updates
misssnowfox on AO3 | tumblr | YouTube | Cosplay

2 thoughts on “Episode 42: Review 2×02 The Once and Future Queen

  1. You don’t have to comment on this. I just wanted you to know.
    To kill the king https://www.farfarawaysite.com/merlin/season1/1012/241.jpg – This one is a hall, La salle des ducs but one of the larger halls (they did a display of costumes there at one time).
    This is the one I was talking about (also to Kill the king). https://www.farfarawaysite.com/merlin/season1/1012/71.jpg
    However, I was wrong as I thought it was this room but it isn’t https://66.media.tumblr.com/03568c639e712a8679f7668c008a9b04/tumblr_podkxzhkmd1u02xxq_1280.jpg

    Sorry about the mixup. Without the actual photos in my hand, it’s hard to tell sometimes where things are.

    You can comment or not on this.
    As for the episode, I have so many good and bad feelings about it. The Gwen/Arthur relationship was way too rushed and I could feel the show people pushing it so much. I did like Arthur’s realization that people were pulling their punches but I didn’t like that Merlin’s part in molding Arthur’s character was taken over by Gwen here. I do love the smart, sweet Gwen. I just wish they’d treated her character better. Gwen and Angel deserved more.

  2. Sorry for this long (and possibly controversial) comment! But so much to say!!!!

    When I was listening to you guys talking about the kiss scene and that it felt it came out of nowhere especially after their several fights, the first thought I had was “Maybe that’s (i.e. arguing) Arthur’s ‘thing’.” ?But when I think of it, maybe the reason why Arthur kisses Gwen is because the whole episode revolves around him being frustrated that his whole life, people have treated him in a certain way they think he expects them to treat him. He possibly felt very lonely when he realizes that everyone he thought he was close to (including Leon) was actually holding back from him. After spending two nights in Gwen’s house (probably the most time he spent with only her) and being confronted by her so frankly, he maybe felt attracted to her because she’s the first person to speak to him so honestly when she doesn’t have to. In his identity crisis at that time, that may have caused him to surprise himself by kissing her. Keeping in mind Arthur’s comment in The Queen of Hearts that he wonders what life would be like as a farmer, I think he often fantasizes life without the strict rules and restrained relationships of court. Maybe he thought that Gwen could provide that escape for him. As for Gwen, I’m not sure. She probably thinks he’s cute but we don’t really get to know what she thinks right then (except for the flustered smile and the handkerchief token). Especially with the Lancelot and Guinevere episode later, I don’t think Gwen was as much involved in that first kiss as Arthur was. Overall, I think the kiss was mostly due to Arthur’s present (possibly one-sided) infatuation that was heightened due to the fact that Gwen’s personality and the way she treated him was so “fresh” and unexpected. An infatuation that grows into true love apparently, although that’s the part I’m not quite sure about. But for me, no matter what the show creators intended with that first kiss, it feels much more dramatic due to the fact that Arthur is finally recognizing that side of him that longs to be free from his burdens and restrictions and responsibilities and be different than what he’s been raised to behave like rather than Gwen and Arthur sharing a passionate moment of true love.

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