Context: After Queen Mary Stuart is raped by Protestant rebels (actual scene not shown in this clip), she is comforted and counseled by her mother-in-law, Catherine de' Medici.
Review: Everything about this scene is top tier. Mary's fear, grief and shame are all reactors to her shock. My heart breaks for her. She's afraid to be touched; she's a queen, but she's crouched down on the ground and hiding under the desk like a child. She's crying so hard she can't talk. As soon as Catherine says rape, Mary just relived her trauma all over again.
Catherine's de Medici (who spends most of the series despising Mary) breaks down her icy walls to comfort her daughter-in-law. She builds on her own experience and reminds Mary of who she is and what she is capable of. Also the music build up was amazing.
Context: When her husband, Edmund, suddenly dies in her arms, Violet, who was eight or nine months pregnant with their eighth child goes into immediate labor. She delivers a baby girl, but her mourning is so intense that she cannot face her children afterwards.
Review: Violet's grief is captured so subtly. She's past weeping, anger, shock and denial. She's numb and is bargaining to end her life. She doesn't begrudge her baby daughter for living while her husband dies but rather mourns the life she is denied without her father.
Context: After realizing that the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo is her former fiancé who was arrested years ago and thought to be dead, Mercedes confronts him for answers.
Review: The juxtaposition of Mercedes gentleness and confusion and Edmund's coldness and mystery add so many layers to this scene. Edmund sees Mercedes as a traitor for marrying his enemy, although Mercedes was completely ignorant of her husband's involvement with Edmund's arrest. Her beautiful line, "God has given you a second chance, don't slap his hand away now," is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The stunning music heightens this scene to another level artistry.
Context: Taken captive by the TVA (Time Variant Authority), Loki is stripped of his godlike powers making him vulnerable. This new lowly position forces Loki to open up to Agent Mobius after he is challenged about his vengeful filled life.
Review: It was a scene and a talk that was a long time coming and as usual Tom Hiddleston nailed it when he finally humanized Loki. For a brief second Loki's spirit is broken after he witnesses how his mistakes impact his family's future.
Context: During the Spanish Armada War Queen Elizabeth I seeks solace and wisdom from her royal advisor, Dr. John Dee.
Review: One of my favorite film dialogues for years, Dr. Dee's warmth and kindness bring peace to Elizabeth as she is trapped within the walls of her palace, while men fight and die for their country. Although Elizabeth has brought stability to England, she still has doubts and fears. She gives a rare compliment to Dee for his wisdom and he in return gives her confirmation that her greatness is not in being a queen, but in being a woman in a man's world.
Context: When newly turned vampire Elena Gilbert shuts off her humanity and goes out of control, the Salvatore brothers go the absolute extreme to save her.
Review: The Vampire Diaries had its fair share of incredible moments that were combined by great writing and equally wonderfully acting. This scene stands out as one of the best. Matt's plea for the girl that he's loved for so long, Elena's intense emotional response to the loss of her oldest friend, Damon's brutality that melts into mercy and Stefan's gentle council makes this one (if not the) most memorable scene in the entire show.
The Avengers (2012) - German man stands up to Loki
Context: When Loki tries to subjugate a crowd of people in Germany and waxes eloquently of power over the weak, an elderly man stands up and refuses to let history repeat itself.
Review: The Avengers was the first Marvel film I ever saw and during my first viewing (I saw it twice in theaters), I thought it was ok. Good but not great. Until this scene. An elderly German man (possibly Jewish too) was probably a child during Hitler's regime and remembers it all too well. He is willing to die than watch as his country is taken over once again by a tyrannical ruler. Adding this small but powerful moment in a superhero film gave it immense depth that carried through the rest of the franchise.
Context: Prince Arthur discovers the answers to the death of his mother, Queen Ygraine, and that his father is responsible when he used magic. Arthur in his anger challenges him and may even kill him.
Review: For being a children's show, the season two episode, The Sins of the Father, was a turning point in the Merlin series. Secrets, lies, betrayal, loss and love are all wrapped up in this storyline. Merlin is willing to lie to protect a man who hates people like him and his loyalty to Arthur is felt deeply in his words, lies though they may be. No moment in the series can compare to when Arthur breaks down and cries in Uther's lap. And his father, not a man of emotion and sentiment, comforts his heartbroken son.
Context: When Prince Bertie finds himself the unexpected king of England, he believes that he will be a failure. Lionel Logue, his speech therapist, has witnessed Bertie's many unspoken strengths and gives him encouragement.
Review: Powerfully emotional in it's simple and understated writing. Lionel's kindness and warmth both nurtures Bertie's confidence and settles his fears. To have somebody believe in you and tell you that you're allowed to be your own person without the world's permission can have a powerful impact.
Context: Elrond fears for his daughter's future if she chooses to remain in Middle-Earth to marry a mortal man. He tells her of a life of sadness and loneliness upon her husband's death and if this love is worth him losing her.
Review: While Arwen and Elrond's background storyline was created for the films it added so much emotional context for Aragorn's role. While many people may have found Elrond, cruel, unfeeling and heartless to Arwen's plight, as someone who watched his own wife suffer, Elrond will not have his only daughter face the same fate.
The Count of Monte Cristo, Loki+The Avengers, Merlin, The King’s Speech are all *chef’s kiss*
Especially after reading The Count of Monte Cristo and getting to rewatch it with that perspective I couldn’t stop being amazed over the script and dialogue which are incredible.
Ack, I mean, just poor MERLIN, who constantly has to lie and say things he doesn’t believe in order to protect people??? He is SUCH a good character because he does what is right, not what he wants. Especially in contrast to Uther who is a character who ONLY does what he wants and isn’t above lying to save his /own/ skin. Meanwhile poor Arthur is caught in the middle as he struggles with what is the “justice” he has been taught versus what he perceives it to be, making him a foil to Morgana who is perceiving it all a different way. THAT is what makes the show incredible for 5 seasons. I’m still in the middle of rewatching it which is why this scene is hitting so deeply AGAIN as I know what’s coming. *cue the tears*
And for being a movie called The King’s Speech, they absolutely nailed the script and every single speech. <3
Now that I’m basking in all of those I can’t think of any other favorites. XD But this was a great post!
The Count of Monte Cristo, Loki+The Avengers, Merlin, The King’s Speech are all *chef’s kiss*
ReplyDeleteEspecially after reading The Count of Monte Cristo and getting to rewatch it with that perspective I couldn’t stop being amazed over the script and dialogue which are incredible.
Ack, I mean, just poor MERLIN, who constantly has to lie and say things he doesn’t believe in order to protect people??? He is SUCH a good character because he does what is right, not what he wants. Especially in contrast to Uther who is a character who ONLY does what he wants and isn’t above lying to save his /own/ skin. Meanwhile poor Arthur is caught in the middle as he struggles with what is the “justice” he has been taught versus what he perceives it to be, making him a foil to Morgana who is perceiving it all a different way. THAT is what makes the show incredible for 5 seasons. I’m still in the middle of rewatching it which is why this scene is hitting so deeply AGAIN as I know what’s coming. *cue the tears*
And for being a movie called The King’s Speech, they absolutely nailed the script and every single speech. <3
Now that I’m basking in all of those I can’t think of any other favorites. XD But this was a great post!