From Good to Evil: character progression in the best way. MERLIN EDITION

From reading and watching a lot of Tv and books I have got quite a collection of opinions on characters. In previous posts I have listed my favourite characters including all time favourite characters from books, favourite characters from TV/film and favourite characters from Harry Potter, however, in this post I am going to be discussing the character progressions in BBC's Merlin, these are the character's that I just love to hate. *All these opinions are based from the characters in Merlin, the BBC show, not the actual Arthurian legend*

First up we have Morgana Pendragon. In the first two series Morgana is as nice as a button, sure she's slightly spoilt but that just comes with the territory of being a King's ward. She cares about her friends would do anything to protect them. A great example of this is when she, along with Gwen and Arthur helped Merlin save his home village from bad guys steeling their harvest; she didn't have to do it but she did out of the goodness of her heart and because of the love she had for her friends. They cared greatly for her and in return she did the same for them, no matter what class you came under.

Until Morgana realised that she had magic, she was completely golden-hearted, but I believe that it was the fear of her magic that turned her evil. She was scared and because of Uther's harsh ruling and complete out-law of magic she felt she was completely alone, little did she know that Merlin had also felt the same feelings as she had but it was forbidden to ever be spoken of. So in haste of her being completely terrified and so confused she turned to the only person who was prepared to tell her that she wasn't a freak and that magic was nothing to be scared of and that was of course, Morgause. Sadly Morgause trained Morgana into thinking that if you had magic then everyone around you should be afraid of you and should be at your mercy, she showed her the evil of the magic world, but of course, Morgana had never been able to see the beauty of using magic for good and so I believe she never really thought any different about using magic for anything other than to get her own way. I think she also thought that who was she to doubt the only person who treated her no differently but in fact with greater love than before despite her magic.

However, I believe that the true culprit that pushed Morgana further away and further into the evil witch that she became is Uther. Uther was also mad with fear over magic and would not accept that it wasn't just used for evil, therefore he corrupted Morgana's mind right from the start before she even realised she had magic, so when she woke up one night with her curtains on fire, of course she would be led to believe that she was the one in the wrong. Morgana's greatest weakness was loneliness and that is what pushed her to becoming evil, once she was evil, her thirst for power over rode any kind of emotion that she possessed other than anger. It does truly break my heart because her character progression is one probably greater than Merlin's himself, she literally flipped the side of the coin throughout the show and in the end she died alone instead of being surrounded by her friends and family, even Morgause, who trained her and loved her was not there to see her into the other world. Morgana Pendragon's character is probably the most saddening in the entire series and her end is horrific, because at least Arthur died in Merlin's arm, in the arms of someone who protected him and loved him, but Morgana, as I said died completely alone, in the presence of a self-made enemy.

Next up is Mordred. The first time we see Mordred, he is a child, and a hurt child at that. He is the one who tells Merlin of his Druid name and talks to him telepathically. However, Merlin finds out from the Dragon that Mordred is Arthur's doom and that Merlin should try his best not to help him get out of the citadel, however, obviously this is Merlin we are talking about and he cannot let an innocent person suffer, he ignores the Dragons warnings. Despite helping Mordred, Merlin remains in suspicion of him when he returns, especially in series 5.

Mordred, in series five, now an adult gets knighted as a Knight of Camelot. Despite Merlin always being wary of him, Mordred seems nothing but devoted to being the truest knight he could be, he risks his life several times for Arthur and the other Knights. He keeps Merlin's secret which also happens to be a shared secret, something that they both have, away from being noticed or found. He is literally the model of a perfect knight. So what went wrong?

Arthur is partly to blame for Mordred's fate because he didn't take into account how much Mordred loved Kara, I think Arthur could have handled the situation a bit better, but he did what he did because of the laws put into place by his own father. Mordred did what he did out of spite, he told Morgana, Merlin's true identity to cause pain to Arthur, however, I don't think he ever thought it would be him who was to kill Arthur, until it was too late to back out, or maybe, just maybe he really is that evil and it was planned all along. However, in my opinion I don't believe once he did the deed of killing Arthur, a man who up until the point of Kara had shown him nothing but friendship and loyalty, that he felt any happiness from it but only remorse and you can see that on his face in the Battle of Camlann. Another part of Mordred that led him to eventually becoming evil was that it was always his destiny, and like Merlin learns, you can never truly escape your destiny. Mordred is such an interesting character because you can never really tell if he has always been evil or if he truly was good. Its hard to sum up Mordred's character, because he is just that complex but I think that a quote from Harry Potter is best to use to describe him "We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on." Mordred unfortunately chose to act on the bad side and ended up dead and killing Arthur as a result.

Also can I just say how amazing was both Alex Vlahos and Katie McGrath's acting is in Merlin. Seriously it was completely top notch, you can just see from the bottom picture of Alex the emotion he had when he played Mordred, it was truly amazing to watch. Katie McGrath's Morgana slowly spiralling down into the depths of evil and her acting just gives me chills. It makes their character progressions so much harder to bear because of the ability and talent that they had with their characters. Congrats BBC on yet more insanely good casting choices.

The White Queen- Philippa Gregory BOOK REVIEW

"1464. Cousin is at war with cousin, as the houses of York and Lancaster tear themselves apart...
...And Elizabeth Woodville, a young Lancastrian widow, armed only with her beauty and steely determination, seduces and marries the charismatic warrior king, Edward IV of York. Crowned Queen of England, surrounded by conflict, betrayal and murder, Elizabeth rises to the demands of her position, fighting tenaciously for her family's survival. Most of all she must defend her two sons, who become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing Princes in the Tower."

This is the third book I have read of Gregory's Woman from War of Roses collection, however, this was the first in the series so I've done them a bit back to front, but as I said in my other reviews (the RED QUEEN and the KINGMAKER'S DAUGHTER) it doesn't matter which book you read first or last because they follow the exact same story just told from different points of view.

This is the story of Elizabeth Woodville who literally came from the bottom of the heap to being crowned Queen of England. I personally believe that in the TV show on BBC she is shown really very poorly because in the book she is far more a human with emotion rather than a Queen of ice like she is portrayed in show. In the book you get to really see things from Elizabeth's point of view; I am not saying that she wasn't a determined woman who certainly knew how to persuade her husband, but she certainly wasn't the villainous witch that she is portrayed as in the show and the other two books.

Her main priority is to have boys so that the House of York have heirs after her husband; she does this well and has two healthy boys. Not only does she have two boys she also has six healthy girls (she gives birth to another boy and girl who die shortly after birth or in their early years). So after she has done her duty as a wife her main concern is to make sure that her princes get on the throne and that the girls marry well and maybe become queen's themselves.

They always say that a mother's fury is something to be beckoned with and I truly believe that everything she did after she had her children was to keep them safe, but also to make sure that she had an heir on the throne. She certainly wasn't going to give that one up easily and she literally stages rebellions from sanctuary which despite being unsuccessful showed everyone that she wasn't going to simply give away her throne.

In both the book and the show they talk about Elizabeth being a witch and possessing the Seer quality. Do I think this is real or fake? Well no one knows for sure (and before you say "oh magic isn't real" well since you have no proof that it isn't real I will not accept that it isn't). Either way it is a gift that her daughter Princess Elizabeth her eldest daughter, also had. This created some very interesting theories and plot in the book which made her character seem all the more interesting. Its hard to say whether her curses really worked or if it was all just coincidence but either way it gives Elizabeth Woodville an air of mystery.

I'd obviously recommend reading this series, so far my favourite is still The Kingmaker's Daughter, but this is a close second. I am currently on the last but one book in the series The Lady of the River's and once the White Princess is out in paperback I will review that for you as well.

4/5 STARS

Cardiff Comic Con and Meeting Alex Vlahos

Today I went with my friend Molly to Cardiff Comic Con. Truth be told I was only going because of Alex Vlahos and wasn't holding out much hope for the actual convention. However, the convention itself was absolutely incredible and so much fun. There were loads of stalls selling postcards, badges, posters, wrist bands, you name it they sold it with Doctor Who to The Hunger Games to Game of Thrones to The Avengers to Harry Potter and so much more. My self and Molly spent ridiculous amounts of money but it was totally worth it.

We queued to get Alex Vlahos' autograph and we had a small conversation: I was so shocked by how nice he is and was a little bit speechless for a while so thank God for Molly, however, after I got some courage I spoke to him and gave him a letter with some sweets in it, he got quite excited about the sweets, haha.

We shopped around for a while more until we literally had about £1 between us and queued to get our photos with Alex, it was pretty quick and so I am really glad we queued up to meet him before so at least we got a conversation with him. He was so lovely and funny and I honestly cant believe how brilliant he is. So I'm going to stop now before I gush too much but overall I had an amazing day and my room is looking even more fandomy than before, which I didn't even think was possible, but there we go.

*Sadly I am going back to school tomorrow and that means summer is obviously over and so I will be posting less frequently.*

The best of TV and Film

In light of the SFX awards (which is a sci-fi magazine) I thought I'd compile a list very similar with my tops in TV and film.

IN TV

Best TV show

Merlin

CAST: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, Alex Vlahos, Rupert Young, Eion Macken and John Hurt.

Call the Midwife

Jessica Raine, Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris, Judy Parfitt, Helen George, Bryony Hannah and Laura Main.

Downton Abbey

Maggie Smith, Hugh Boneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Brendon Coyle, Phillis Logan, Dan Stevens, Joanne Froggatt and Rob James-Collier

The White Queen

Rebecca Ferguson, James Frain, Rupert Graves, Caroline Goodall, Amanda Hale, Max Irons, Ben Lamb, Michael Maloney, Faye Marsay, Aneurin Barnard, Eleanor Tomlinson and David Oakes

Doctor Who

Christopher Eccelston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, Karen Gillian, Arthur Darvil and Jenna-Louise Coleman.

Best Actor 

Colin Morgan (Merlin)

His role as Merlin was his first major part; he is a truly astonishing actor and will go extremely far in the future. He is able to play about fifty different emotions within a single scene. The last series of Merlin is possibly the most heartbreaking thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life all because Colin embodies Merlin to the point of heartbreak.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)

Often referred to as the chameleon for his diversity and ability to make any role he plays unique and incredibly good. As Sherlock he is arrogant and has a very credible talent to speak extremely long dialogs very fast. (If you watch the show you'll understand what I mean).

Bradley James (Merlin)

Watching Arthur go from being an arrogant and spoilt prince in the first series to the Once and Future king was amazing to behold and Bradley couldn't have been a better choice for King Arthur. He and Colin Morgan also get along very well and have a brilliant chemistry on screen and off. 

Aneurin Barnard (The White Queen)

Aneurin really comes into his own in the last four or five episodes of The White Queen. He shows a lot of emotion on his face and is able to make you feel what he is feeling by a simple look in his eyes. I can’t wait to see him in more.

David Tennant (Doctor Who)

Of course I had to include my favourite Doctor on this list, David is able to show the Doctor in love, at war, troubled, happy, sad, worried, angry and I'm not even going to mention The End of Time episodes because his regeneration is ridiculously heart breaking "I don't want to go", no David I wish you hadn't either.

Best Actress

Katie McGrath (Merlin)

Katie shows Morgana's descend into evil in the best possible way. In the first series you love her and then as each series progresses you start to hate her more and more until you physically cannot stand her any longer. It takes great skill to be able to do that and do it well and Katie handles it all with ease.

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

Arguably one of the greatest British actresses that has ever lived. If Maggie Smith is in something you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be worth watching. In Downton Abbey she is a hilarious snob and shows what the first class from that age really acted like.

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)

Despite the fact that I don't love Game of Thrones that doesn't mean to say that I don't love Emilia Clarke. She is literally the best character and it perplexes me why they don't show more of her on the show. She's the type of character that is a feminists dream.

Miranda Hart (Call the Midwife)

Despite the fact that Miranda Hart is originally a comedian as Chummy she is brilliant and you get to see how much of a good actress Hart actually is. What's even better is that despite the fact that in Call the Midwife she doesn't try to be funny she is even funnier.

Amanda Hale (The White Queen)

She plays the Red Queen in the White Queen and she plays the slightly deranged woman with huge skill because as much as you may not support her cause you cannot deny that she is a determined, pious woman. 

IN FILM

Best film

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

This is the film that sparked the already growing Harry Potter franchise. This film is the perfect exam of the absolute crème de la crème of British film making and acting. The best of British and obviously its based from the most successful children’s book in years.

Despicable Me

This is the perfect family film and that is why it is not only included in this list but the best-animated film list as well. Its good for everyone and every member of the family can take something away from it. It’s heartwarming, funny and just simply brilliant.

Cool Runnings

An old classic really, it showcases the determination, hard work and sportsmanship that are required for any competitor in the Olympics. It’s a hilarious and witty film about working hard to beat your dreams and not letting anything get in your way.

Twilight Tower of Terror

This isn't a popular film, so much so that I cant even buy it on DVD for my region (urgh why) and have to watch it on VHS instead. The infamous ride at all the Disney parks are based from this film and the film is whilst old now still a brilliant film that is always in my top five.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone breathe a new ray of life into the Spider-man franchise (At least in my opinion). The story stays pretty true to the comics and I always see myself remembering bits that I read when I was younger. I cannot wait to see the second installment.

Best Actor

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Considering that Daniel was only a child when he got the part of the infamous boy wizard, he has continually improved and grown up with us. Having to deal with having one of the biggest franchises in the world on your shoulders is no mean feat, but he manages marvelously and really brings to life my favourite fictional character.

Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter)

The villain that haunted my childhood was a role that couldn't be played but just anyone and Ralph Fiennes brings so much to He Who Must Not Be Named that he is frankly terrifying. You only need to watch the bonus features on the discs to see how much he cares about how Voldemort was portrayed in the films.

Warrick Davies (Harry Potter)

Warrick Davies is another of Britain's finest actors and actresses, if he is in something; you just know it’s going to be good. He has managed to turn what some would call a disadvantage into an absolutely multi-million pound advantage.

Robert Downey JR (The Avengers - Iron Man)

Robert Downey JR completely embodies Iron Man and brings the emotion and physicality that is needed for such a big role. He is hilarious and brings light to dark situations. Super actor and brilliant superhero.

Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers - Loki)

One of my favourite Marvel villains I'm not sure why but he sends shivers down my spine in a way that the others simply cannot. He is clever, devious and completely deranged and Hiddleston plays him to perfection.

Best Actress

Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games)

It’s a hard role to play when the character you're taking over is a heroine to many but Jennifer Lawrence handles it with ease and grace. She has remained down to earth despite her huge successes in the recent years and she's not even 25 yet. So I don't know about Katniss being my role model I think Jennifer does that all by herself!

Maggie Smith (Harry Potter)

There’s nothing else to say that I haven't already said, but with such a class actress as Maggie Smith it was only right that she was included in both film and TV. McGonagall is a teacher you love but certainly wouldn't want to mess with.

Emma Watson (Harry Potter)

Like with Dan Emma was only a child when she got the role of Hermione but her talent was strong right from the start. She has cemented the love for Hermione and has given millions of young (and old) girls a smart girl who doesn't rely on her looks to look up to.

Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers)

She's the only female superhero in a group of males so for that reason I think its only fair that she is included on here. She is a total badass not only as the Black Widow but as herself as well.

Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)

Anne Hathaway is breathtaking in Les Mis, her Oscar speaks for itself but honestly she is a flawless actress. She was also in the Princess Diaries which (despite the fact you will deny it) is an awesome film. So it just shows how diverse she is because she can be in a silly teen movie to a completely heartbreaking musical, doesn't get much different than that!

Best Animated Film

Tangled

Based on the famous Rapunzel fairytale however, this is a brand new take on it. Its funny, cute and pretty fulfilling. Pascal and Max the horse are very welcome additions to the storyline, another Disney classic!

Toy Story

This has to be on best-animated film lists because it is one of the best works of my generation. It is another that makes you happy and reflective, oh and also who doesn't love the thought of all of your toys actually being alive?

Finding Nemo

This film is a heartwarming tale about a fathers love for a son and how he will literally go to the ends of the ocean to find him. If that doesn't sound like a premise to a brilliant film to you then you're sorely mistaken.

Monsters INC

This is the type of Disney film that can be for all ages. Everyone will enjoy and the storyline is hilarious but as with all Disney films they all have a secret message behind them that makes you think. This film never gets old and Monsters University is one of the only sequels (along with Toy Story) that hasn't ruined the franchise but enhanced it.

Brave

One of the newest in Disney releases; I like that Merida isn't your stereotypical princess and she is independent and strong willed, whilst she is obviously still a child and makes a few silly mistakes (Come on, Merida, never trust a witch!) its an excellent film with phenomenal animation.

Most Cinematically Pleasing Film

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows part 1

The first Harry Potter film away from Hogwarts but that certainly doesn't take away from the spellbinding views and locations that they used to film.

Brave

As mentioned in the previous list Brave is a fantastic example of a human mind (and hand), they created enchanting scenery by the flick of the hand to leave you mesmerised by the view.

The Hunger Games

The arena itself is in a forest and the Districts are something else to behold. Whilst it isn't the prettiest of sceneries, the locations that they used add to the films ambience tenfold.

Up

Again as with Brave, these two films really show just how ridiculously talented Disney animators are. It seems ridiculous that you can be amazed by places that aren't actually real.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In the light of the TriWizard Tournament there are several new locations, some enhanced by CGI and others actual locations but none more beautiful than the other and of course any view of the Hogwarts castle has me wishing I were there.

IN BOTH

Sexiest Male

Colin Morgan (Merlin)

Alex Vlahos (Merlin)

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Bradley James (Merlin)

Aneurin Barnard (The White Queen)

Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers)

Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)

Most Attractive Female

Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games)

Katie Mcgrath (Merlin)

Emma Watson (Harry Potter)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)

Right thats it for my awards this year and bloody hell that took far longer to write than I anticipated, but oh well! 

GCSE results

As you may know if you live in the UK tomorrow (22nd August) all of the thousands of teenagers who sat their GCSEs will be picking up their results: myself included. To say that I am nervous would be an exaggeration of the highest level. I was fine (well I say fine if you can say that not being able to sleep and having very vivid dreams about failure is fine) until I watched the news and they said that "GCSE results this year are significantly lower than previously due to examiners marking papers more harshly". Well thats just great, thanks for telling me that when I am already a bundle of nerves, is it really necessary?

Its no wonder that so many people my age are having breakdowns over things like results, not only do we have the massive pressure that several single letters can completely change our lives and will impact us forever in whatever we want to do, but then you have high nosed people making things ten times worse than it needs to be. At least give us some hope that we have passed rather than squish it before we even know the results ourselves.

Then not only do we have people in high places complaining, but we have those who are older than us telling us that GCSEs are not important and that A-Levels are harder etc. Well yes I am perfectly aware that A-Levels are harder, thats obvious, a monkey could work that out, but at the time you found GCSEs hard as well. I also would count all my chickens that you were just as nervous as I or anyone my age when you were picking up your results, so why don't you stop complaining and shut up.

So thats my small rant and I have everything crossed that I have got the grades that I want and that what they are saying is not as true as they say.

The Red Queen- Philippa Gregory BOOK REVIEW

“1453, Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort is a strikingly pious child. Saints’ knees he stigmata, she has a fierce and unwavering sense of destiny, if not a nun, then she’ll be Queen of England and sign her name Margaret Regina: Margaret R.

Still a girl, Margaret is sent to a loveless marriage in remote Wales. There she gives birth to a son whom she names for the King, he cousin Henry VI of England, who is sinking into madness. Determined to put her Henry on England’s throne, regardless of the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she sends him into exile and pledges him in marriage to the daughter of her enemy Elizabeth Woodville.

Meanwhile, devoted in her belief that her House is the true ruler of England, Margaret feigns loyalty to the usurper King Richard III and masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of all time.”

Before reading the book but watching the TV show I have come to the conclusion that Margaret is slightly mad. Driven by her belief that it is God’s will to put her Henry on the throne. She is as the blurb states in a loveless marriage at the start and an even less so one later on, married only for personal gain and a place in court.

After reading the book you can’t help but feel so sorry for Margaret Beaufort. She was a disappointment to her mother because she was a girl and not a boy, she is given a betrothal when she is only 6 and gets re-betrothed when she is 9. She is only 12 when she finally marries and is a widow at 14 after carrying her husband’s child. Then to make matters worse she is made to re-marry to Henry Stafford and forced to give up her child. Well, I don’t know about you but my childhood certainly wasn’t that bad. Her mother is wicked woman and an absolute beast; I just simply cannot understand how a mother can have so little love for her child. It must have really sucked to be a girl in Margaret’s time, to never have a say in your life, but instead it be all to do with your parents and later your husband is a completely horrendous thought.

She continues to be told what to do throughout her life but she always holds on to the unwavering sense that she is doing the will of God, she believes that he speaks to her. She will stop at nothing to get her son on the throne of England. She even marries to get a place in court so as to get her closer to getting her boy on the throne. She is a very strong, pious woman.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the Kingmaker’s Daughter purely because of the amount of battle and I felt as if Margaret kept repeating herself about the will of God, which of course is supposed to happen because that is what she lives for and is the main plot line and her driving force behind everything she does, but I did find it getting a little bit trying. If anything I am more intrigued to read about ‘The White Princess’ Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter, which is due to be released sometime in August. She seems to be a rather significant figure in both of the books towards the end of them and I’d like to find out more about her.

The twelfth Doctor is...

Well its not Alex Vlahos like I wanted but its Peter Capaldi. 

I can't say I am thrilled if I'm being completely honest. Whilst I am not a massive fan of the 'ship whouffle' (Clara and Eleven) but I just cant help but feel that the relationship between them will be slightly awkward, at least in the first episodes. However, he could end up having a relationship like Donna and 10 which would be awesome because the Doctor needs a new best friend. I find it slightly odd that he has already been a pretty significant character in the Fire Of Pompeii in series 4, I wonder if they will address this or just sweep over it, I'm not sure. I will keep my judgement until I have seen him in action but he's definitely not who I would have chosen but who knows he could end up being my favourite Doctor yet.