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Isn't it
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a bop_radar.
You know what really is? The fact that this is my most hated song ever. Followed closely by 'Say My Name'.
In other news. I hate my job. And! OMG, this season has been a total borefest. Until episode 3.11! Which totally rocked! I can't express my happiness that Dexter asked Deb to be his best man! He should have, of course, done this from the start, but apparently they needed to write a whole season of boredom or something. *shrug* Deb as best man = perfect! Also, Deb all choked up about finding out Harry cheated on her mom was pretty amazing. I could not believe that Dexter let that slip... I mean, I see the psychology that led him to do so, but I still can't believe he was that sloppy. But who am I to complain when it means there is actual tension back in the series again (at last! I couldn't give a fuck about Miguel and found this season as unsuspenseful in inverse proportion to Season's 2 riveting).
That scene... where she found out! *heartthump* And then the one where Anton talked about the skinner... eeek!
And omg, how much do I love that DEB is now the one with a pal in the records department?!! \o/ She is THIS CLOSE. *makes squinty close fingers* I'm finally excited about the show again--pity there's only one ep left. :/
Of happyfulness is All He Wants For Christmas,
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mskatej's delightful exploration of Clark's feelings for Lois, Christmas 2008 (season villain notwithstanding)!I use this icon in honour of Lee Week, which is most happy-making and which I insist is still continuing because:
a) I was terribly busy and need to catch up on some of the posts, and
b) it's always Lee Week.
Also, I may have succumbed to the gayness of both Merlin and Crusoe. Somebody saaaaaaave meeeeeeeee! (Oh whooops, wrong gay show.)
The eclectic-ity of this post is brought to you by South Australian shiraz and a really REALLY bad day at work.
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Maybe this isn't a show "where the slash writes itself". Maybe it's just that half the characters do.
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...you've been horribly spoiled by Smallville? :P
they both act like ten year olds?
I don't think they -- at least, not Arthur -- act ten years old. I am deeply relieved they've ceased pushing the Arthur/Morgana romance, because the poor things really did get written as 10-year-olds for that, and it was cringe-inducing and frightening, considering the maturity and responsibility of their positions.
I'm not a complete believer in the slash yet. 1x04, 1x10, and 1x11 are thick with it, but then others like 1x07 are heteropositive sorry, couldn't think of a better word.
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Definitely true. *g* It was hard to fight the 'it's not that slashy' thoughts. ;)
I don't think they -- at least, not Arthur -- act ten years old.
I guess I was thinking of Merlin. :p Though perhaps it would be more accurate to say the plotting is childlike, and the characters only as a consequence of that.
I would have been there for an Arthur/Morgana romance, tbh. (I think I may already hold several Merlin fandom Unpopular Opinions!) But it did seem pointless because clearly the show wasn't going to go there.
And yeah, I find the slash patchy too. But since I'm mainly watching for Morgana, then Arthur as a character, and the slash only third, I'm happy for it to remain sprinkling.
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I think I may already hold several Merlin fandom Unpopular Opinions!
Ooh, what are this fandom's popular opinions? It's best to learn these things ASAP; I've been scarred in the past. (And what are yours?)
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True, true...
Actually I cannot speak with ANY authority on Merlin fandom, but knowing my track record, I'm likely to be out of line with the mainstream. The only thing I've picked up is that they love the Arthur/Merlin (duh!). So here are the things I *think* may be (my) unpopular opinions about the show:
1. This show is clearly written for ten-year-olds and consequently the plots are pathetic and illogical and the characters don't really make sense as adults.
2. It's a really TERRIBLE interpretation of the Arthurian legends, but charmingly unapologetic about being so, which kind of wins me round.
3. Morgana is the best thing about the show. (I'm so sure fandom hates her--purely because I like her!)
4. Gwen is an annoying insipid character, very much in the mould of Chloe or Rose. The 'plain, ordinary' girl who will eventually, implausibly, get validated for being nothing special by getting the guy. I hate that trope.
5. Uther is strangely sympathetic.
6. Merlin is a nitwit.
clearly, I dont speak for Merlin fandom as well
#1: have yet to see a fan in merlin, who thinks the show is genius. all just think, its way more genius than Robin Hood. the genius thing is not being the stories, but the casting of .. err the cast ;D
and the dragon, of course *g*. and the slash, that is TOO gay for US already:
http://www.afterelton.com/bgwe/12-05-08?page=0%2C2
http://community.livejournal.com/merlinbbc/55898.html?format=light
http://blog.pxe.co.il/afterivri/2008/11/14/hello-world/
#2: Negotiating the Boundaries of Legend, or, yes Merlin pays close attention to Arthurian Legend
http://icarusancalion.livejournal.com/824859.html?format=light
#3: I love morgana, and I am mainstream. so far, not seen any hate troops against her. she is pretty and she can kick ass!
#4: I think, Gwen is bland. but cute. I wish they had cast someone more pretty.
#5: Uther is NOT lionel. and after that certain ep, fandom likes Uther. even if he is evil, and kills more magic people then I have ever seen lionel killing aliens.
How Merlin is like Smallville - except not in the stupid, break our hearts kind of way
Papa Uther actually so far, as we can see, loves his son, and no creepy touches, thats why there arent galore of incesty fics. though there are. just not in tons like luthorcest.
#6: Clark wasn't all that bright as well, so thats nothing to speak against merlin ;D
so. ops i did it again! I failed saving you :D
please fall with us *g*
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2. My favourite character is Prince Arthur. Prince. Um. I'm sure if Merlin had tried at all to be true to any version of the myth, I'd end up Having Opinions and stomping off to find another show. For example, imagine if we had ended up with another M. Z. Bradley copycat. *stabs things at the mere thought*
3. I was pretty meh about Morgana, but now that you say you like her, I'll have to hate her. *stages a mini
4. Gwen! Nooo! Her smile, her sense of humour, her unflagging good nature... If you want a stereotype for her, she's not the plain, ordinary girl, she's the angelic sweetie a la Jane in Pride and Prejudice. I was worried at first that I'd find her insufferable, but I just find her adorable.
5. Uther is, but the writers need to be smacked for having him make a number of decisions that are nonsensically stupid.
6. Merlin is called an idiot twice an episode (this is a real figure), but as far as I can see he isn't all that dumb. He's no genius, but then neither are any of the other characters.
The opinions I hold that I suspect are unpopular:
A.) Gwen is adorable, and surprisingly beautiful.
B.) Gaius is awful, and consistently makes wrong decisions.
C.) While it has potential for extraordinary slashiness, it does not yet have any remarkable amount.
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True, true, good point. Actually have thought more on this and my problem is not that it's a weird interpretation of the myth but that its own universe is so implausible--I know it's not even trying to be a realistic medieval society, but I still find myself constantly trying to work out how it functions. And it's just so cleancut and cheery! Class is all but irrelevant since everyone acts like equals--ok, occasionally Merlin calls Arthur 'my lord' but that is about it. In the last episode I watched they brought up gender as an issue and made it seem like women weren't allowed to fight in this society... but Morgana could fight! And then they DID allow women to fight, totally undermining their own universe construction and rendering the whole problem useless. But if it's ok for Morgana to fight and ride around like a guy, why does she have to spend so much time in frocks? It just makes no sense!
she's not the plain, ordinary girl, she's the angelic sweetie a la Jane in Pride and Prejudice
*ponders* Yeah, they're the same thing. Methinks you just like the 'Jane' type better (I always found her insipid and annoying and not very bright).
having him make a number of decisions that are nonsensically stupid
Yeah. But ALL of the characters have done that so far. Which is where my problem with the 'writing as if the audience are ten year olds and won't question this stuff' comes in.
as far as I can see he isn't all that dumb. He's no genius, but then neither are any of the other characters.
glkjsdklgj klsj glkjsdkl'gj l'kj jdk OMG, he is completely DENSE. His naivety about his magic is particularly galling to me. He constantly uses it! Does he not see how dangerous it is/could be? Not just to him but to passing bystanders, the people he tries to help, ANYONE... His argument for using his magic appears to be 'but I wanna!' Yet he understands nothing about it--not where it comes from, not what the consequences of using it are. I feel a brighter character would stop and think 'this stuff is really scary, I should be careful'. The fact that he is textually refered to as stupid helps.... except that it usually arises from misunderstanding and is not a true commentary on his actual stupidity (which is hidden).
A.) Gwen is adorable, and surprisingly beautiful.
Oh no, I think you're mainstream there--I have already seen the buzz about Gwen, even outside of cut-tags.
B.) Gaius is awful, and consistently makes wrong decisions.
Ahhh.... that partly explains why you don't find Merlin stupid. I side with Gaius on most things.
C.) While it has potential for extraordinary slashiness, it does not yet have any remarkable amount.
*nods* On that we can agree.
Basically, I want Morgana to get her own show. Arthur can be in it occasionally, that would be fine, but no Gwen please.
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You've never watched Xena, have you? ;) We haven't seen peasants wearing fine gauze to show how poor they are, so it's doing pretty well in my book. The key is standards -- specifically, not having them. Didn't Smallville teach you that?
I like what they're doing as far as class is concerned. They're presenting a society where the social classes are of fairly recent vintage (c.f. the explanation in the Lancelot episode), so people individually relate on a fairly equal level, as long as the lowborn don't start expecting to have a say when Real People are conferring. It helps, of course, that any instance of Merlin's uppitiness being tolerated by Arthur gets whisked away, labeled and indexed, and stored carefully in the slash cabinet for future reference in proof that their relationship is Special. ;)
but Morgana could fight! And then they DID allow women to fight, totally undermining their own universe construction
YES! God, that annoys me. Most of my problems with Morgana revolve around how her behaviour and attitudes just don't make sense for who and what she is. Her and Gwen wearing trousers and fighting -- hot, but ...bzuh??
they're the same thing.
They aren't, at all. Chloe was the ordinary girl. She was distinctly not sweet or angelic. Lana's the one who fits that role in Smallville.
The only real complaint I have with Merlin's intelligence (above and beyond that of the entire cast) is why he's listening to the goddamn dragon. Why would anyone trust its knowledge, let alone its intentions? (Isn't anyone even afraid it will eat them?)
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