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aeroport_artJust rewatched the show (IT'S FIVE THIRTY IN THE MORNING. WHY AM I STILL UP). Seeing the interactions between Merlin and Morgana really highlighted all the reasons why Arthur/Gwen grosses me out.
As a disclaimer, I'm not arguing why Merlin/Morgana > Arthur/Gwen. Different strokes for different folks. I'm only describing why I personally enjoy Merlin/Morgana more than Arthur/Gwen.
POWER
To start, I love how Merlin and Morgana are complete equals. In their interactions, they maintain eye contact with each other (and long, smouldering looks to boot) and hold meaningful conversations that go back and forth, neither of them lecturing the other or biting back something they'd like to say but feel is inappropriate just because of who they are. In physical/magical power, they're equals as well.
Arthur and Gwen are NOT equals. In their interactions, Gwen constantly looks down, avoiding eye contact, and her body language is entirely subservient except during her outburst at Arthur, which she quickly remedies by shuttering herself again. As for Arthur, he just talks and talks and talks, while Gwen either humors him or holds herself back. The healthiest interactions they've had with each other so far extend to small talk and light banter, and that's about it. As for physical power, Arthur obviously has his awesome sword skillz, but what does Gwen have? She's great at her job? Ugh, lame.
So why does it even matter if they're "equals" or not? This is where personal preference comes in. I just DON'T think it's cute when two individuals pursue a relationship wherein half the partnership is is accepted as more influential/powerful than the other. It's sick. It's full of mind-fuckery and weird self-confidence issues, exploitation, manipulation, etc etc. In short, it's dom/sub, and not in the fun, kinky way.
ATTRACTION
I love how Merlin and Morgana are drawn to each other by something more than physical attraction or perceived power. They're drawn because they understand each other. Both are hiding their true selves in plain sight, affecting outward personas that they MUST construct. The only alternative is execution, and having such high stakes makes for a thrilling, electric source of bonding.
Arthur's attracted to Gwen because he wants to learn humility and thinks that she can give it to him. Also? BOOBS. As for Gwen, I can't really figure out what she sees in Arthur other than the superficial. He's a good guy at heart? He's hot? Sure, all true and perfectly okay reasons to like someone, but not the stuff legends are made of (and as an aside, I like Gwen/Lancelot much better. They're a boring couple, but totally suited for each other. Very Ron&Hermione-esque). Also, her reactions to Arthur make me wonder if she doesn't have some self-confidence issues or something. I mean, when Arthur's being a dick she's appropriately vexed, but when he does the slightest thing that seems sweet she just GOES for it, beaming and thinking he's wonderful and truly contrite for whatever. She switches between the two emotions so much in 2x02, it just smacks of an abusive relationship :P She's always ready to forgive him, even in the instances where he doesn't deserve it.
In short, Merlin and Morgana have something very real between them as an anchor for a relationship. They respect each other, confide in each other (well, Morgana does, and Merlin wants to), and have crazy nutso magic that is POWERFUL and HOT.
Arthur and Gwen's relationship so far is based on boobs, idealized perceptions of each other, and creepy dom/sub mechanisms.
To glibly address the possible rebuttal that Gwen is perfectly confident and only acts subservient around Arthur because of their stations, I don't buy it. The show is obviously modernized, and the relationships with it. Merlin is a servant too, yet you don't see him being achingly deferential around Morgana or Arthur, right?
Anyway, that is all. It is now six AM and WHY? WHY DID I DO THIS?
To summarize my ships: Merlin/Morgana because it's perfect, Merlin/Arthur because it's hot, and
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 09:59 am (UTC)Bwahahaaa, yes.
I, too, enjoyed the Merlin/Morgana sparks. And yeah, I'm taking a wild guess here, but maybe it's because it makes sense for them to relate to each other.
Also, I've caved. I'm joining the club of people who are deeply pained by Arthur's cringeworthy characterization this season. After three episodes and him mooning over Gwen in the preview, I'm almost certain it's not a fluke. Amazing how much lame writing can hurt. And no amount of sophisticated fanfic can explain it away.
I don't buy it. The show is obviously modernized, and the relationships with it.
Yes. Thank you. At what point did commoners become servants to royalty anyway? Merlin, having saved Arthur's life, makes a tiny bit of sense. But a blacksmith's daughter tending to the princess instead of a noblewoman? Unheard of in this social-status-history TPTB are so fond of quoting when it suits them.
Gosh, the lameness! It hurt a lot less last season, when TPTB weren't taking themselves so uber-seriously and it was mainly campy fun.
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Date: 2009-10-04 03:26 pm (UTC)Sooooooooo true. I feel like that's a downfall on a lot of sophomore seasons--once the show's had some success, they start wanting to OUTDO themselves when it's like "Um, hello? I loved your show because of how it was, not how I want it to change".
So suddenly with Merlin you have more serious serious!scenes and more slapstick slapstick. both are okay, just...like you said, they Really don't need to take themselves so seriously. I don't watch the show for the writing or meta--that's what Mad Men is for.
I'm joining the club of people who are deeply pained by Arthur's cringeworthy characterization this season.
Yes, I just keep like...giving the show the benefit of doubt. As in when Arthur's decent, I'm like "there he is!" as in this episode. But when he's being retarded as in ep 201 or 202, I just like, look the other way and pretend children accidentally wound up in the writing room and it was all some big mistake. *sigh* SELF-DELUSION CAN ONLY GO SO FAR, THOUGH.
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Date: 2009-10-04 10:06 am (UTC)My first love is Arthur/Merlin.... because how could you not want that kind of hottness? Definitely on more equal ground than Arthur/Gwen....because lets be honest. Merlin can hold Arthur down with. his. MIND! Thats the hot dom/sub stuff we like!!
My second couple of choice is Merlin/Morgan because.... of all your reasons. The chemistry. The Power. The Respect and Understanding..... and the fact that its more likely to happen on the show than my OPT is a plus. It's always nice to have visuals. Except for with A/G.
I think the reason why I don't really like the A/G interaction in the show is cuz, ya she ends up queen, but she also ends up betraying Arthur and running off with her knight in shining armor. It's doomed to fail and its never fun to know the ending before you've even read the first chapter. They are boring. I like mystery, spunk, bickering (real bickering!), and learning eachother! I love Arthur, but I'm hating his screen time romance with Gwen.
Loved the flower scene with Merlin though. Now if merlin only said 'Well Sire, next time I'll pick flowers just for you. Tell me would you like daisy, or pansy's?"
Well it's 3 am here. I need to SLEEP. Good night. As usual I love reading your reviews and opinions of the show.
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Date: 2009-10-04 03:30 pm (UTC)YES. SO FREAKING TITILLATING.
I like mystery, spunk, bickering (real bickering!), and learning eachother!
Totally. I LIKE SPUNK (NOT LIKE THAT. WELL, MAYBE LIKE THAT?). If I wanted to see women roll over and defer to their mensfolk, I'll go and watch My Fair Lady (which I LOVE, but what was up with that ending??).
Loved the flower scene with Merlin though
Oh yes. Completely. There was tons of Arthur/Merlin to grasp onto, which was the second reason why the episode was so great XDXDXD
As usual I love reading your reviews and opinions of the show.
Aww, thank you! I thought I was just sitting here, blowing hot air and possibly stirring up wank. I'm glad people so far haven't been taking this meta the wrong way <3
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Date: 2009-10-04 10:27 am (UTC)You've basically summed things up perfectly - may I link to this?
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Date: 2009-10-04 03:31 pm (UTC)You're right, I do write a lot of meta/arguments after midnight :x except oh noesss now my sleep schdule is so messed up! bah. imma just have to not drink any coffee today and hopefully that'll make me dog tired, haha.
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Date: 2009-10-04 01:45 pm (UTC)I haven't watched the ep yet, but I'm actually looking forward to it, whereas I am *still* avoiding episode 2 like the plague. The small parts I have seen made me cringe a bit, because now all of a sudden Arthur is attributing all he's learned about goodness and humility to Gwen? 'Scuse me? WAS HE NOT AROUND ALL LAST SERIES WHEN IT WAS MERLIN TEACHING HIM THESE THINGS????
*ahem*
And anyway, aside from all that, I don't think Bradley and Angel have the chemistry to even make Arthur/Gwen believable. Whereas, to me, Colin and Katie just have that whole smoldering, dark-Irish HOTNESS thing going, and I get it. I really do.
All that being said, I will now retreat to my happy little Merlin/Arthur box, where Arthur is only kind of a prat, and where they worship each other in that non-acknowledged way we all know and love so much.
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Date: 2009-10-04 03:40 pm (UTC)YAY! Never change. And I'm still all about the Arthur/Merlin, I just really love Merlin/Morgana as that secondary pairing in a fic meant just to make the other guy crazy jealous. Because jealousy is fun to read about *__________*
I haven't watched the ep yet
Eek watch it!! I TOTALLY understand dreading 2x02. If you have the ep on your compy, I would totally recommmend just quickly hopping through the Arthur/Gwen scenes to get the gist but not actually have to sit through the mire. I kind of watched with horrified eyes, just to know what was going on (and be properly informed when I started dissing A/G, I guess). But yeahhh...there's a cute Colin scene in there or two <3 BUT WATCH IT AND THEN WATCH 2X03. BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME.
WAS HE NOT AROUND ALL LAST SERIES WHEN IT WAS MERLIN TEACHING HIM THESE THINGS????
SRSLY RIGHT??????? A/G is basically a poor man's version of Arthur/Merlin, with twice the relationship progression crammed and stuffed into two episodes rather than a slow, organic development over the span of a season, like with our boys.
I don't think Bradley and Angel have the chemistry to even make Arthur/Gwen believable.
TRUE. They're just so CLINICAL. AND FULL OF BORING GOODNESS AND LIGHT (well, their portrayals on the show at least). Which is annoying because Arthur and Gwen are not full of goodness and light. Just...I don't believe the the characters' chemistry, no matter how much you call in the orchestra for backup :P And the actors too. Bradley has more chemistry with Colin and Katie. The only person I see Angel really come alive around is Katie.
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Date: 2009-10-04 02:56 pm (UTC)Loved your analysis of the two ships and completely agree. While I adore Arthur/Merlin, I'm hoping more Merlin/Morgana fic appears now. A lot more. And more Morgana-centric episodes would be completely fine with me, too!
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Date: 2009-10-04 03:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 04:05 pm (UTC)How I dislike the A/G parts of the series, I try to ignore the bits but it's so hard when it seems to always manage to centre around the pair of them. I've tried to endear myself to this pairing but I don't think it'll ever happen. M/A will alwys be my pairing and L/G will always be the pairing for gewn to be in.
It just seems so rushed, one minute Arthur doesn't care at all for gwen but in one episode he manages to fall for her. grr.
Yes I can see how Merlin/morgana could possibly come about. The both have magic annd they look so alike. Dark hair, blue eyes, pale skin!
But why has arthur gone back to being a twat??? The writers really need to think about it. I suppose you could say that Arthur is distencing himself from Merlinso his father doesn't get rid of his servant. But I think I'm just trying to make excuses that can't really be justified.
At least there were more slashy parts im this episode. "Where are my flowers" Arthur was almost jealous!!
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Date: 2009-10-04 04:30 pm (UTC)And yeah, the slash was definitely present this episode XD SO FRIGGIN CUTE, BOYS.
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Date: 2009-10-04 04:43 pm (UTC)HAHAHA! Yes. I can't wait for next episode to see what happens. Because no mater what you say, I love boring couples, and the fluff that comes with it. Like Lily and Marshall in HIMYM. SO cute I die sometimes.
Is it weird that if no one would have mentioned it I would not have noticed the GWEN!BOOBS?
I don't hate the Gwen/Arthur just yet. It did feel rushed at first, but they still have 10 episode to make Gwen more comfortable around Arthur. I do think you are right about the way she's submissive around him and that it's not fun/good and I hope they correct it later on. (We DO NOT need an Edward/Bella in this fandom! DDDXXX Please no.)
We didn't get any feedback yet on Gwen's part either. We don't really know how she feels. Maybe they're playing on the fact that she's not attracted to him? It might explain how she's been acting around him?
In conclusion: Creepy Druid boy is creepy.
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Date: 2009-10-04 06:48 pm (UTC)hahahah NO, IT'S NOT WEIRD. You're a gay guy, aren't you? Aren't boobs normally off your radar? XD
We didn't get any feedback yet on Gwen's part either. We don't really know how she feels.
Totally true. I'm just basing my A/G squick on the information we have so far, but I'm assuming/hoping the show has a little more substance down the line in terms of their relationship. You can only survive on ridiculous characterization for so long D:
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Date: 2009-10-04 05:55 pm (UTC)IAWTC.
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Date: 2009-10-04 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 06:31 pm (UTC)I've been wondering whether my strong aversion to Arthur/Gwen is mainly because it's NOT Arthur/Merlin, but the fact that Merlin/Morgana(/Mordred) appeals to me says otherwise, yes? Most of the Merlin/Morgana fics I've read so far have been PWPs that really didn't do much for me, but I think the new material will produce some good stuff.
I wonder if a better scriptwriter could have made Arthur/Gwen more palatable. The way it is, I find it boring yet still contrived as hell. I love Arthur, and I like Gwen, but I will always fast-forward through scenes of them together.
But you know, despite the attractiveness of Merlin/Morgana, what really got me about this ep was how sort of genuinely taken back by the notion Merlin seemed when Arthur suggested it towards the end. There's so much unassuming and compelling goodness in that boy that he sometimes breaks my heart. :(
(ALSO. RE: N. Morgan stalking project. Seems like he lives in Boston.)
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Date: 2009-10-05 10:50 pm (UTC)I've totally wondered that too. But then I made this post, in large part to muddle through my own thoughts on the pairings, and then I realized that NO, ARTHUR/GWEN IS JUST DONE REALLY BADLY.
I love Arthur, and I like Gwen
Word. I don't want to sound like a Gwen hater or anything, but at the same time I'm not going to suck up to the character to convince people I'm not irrational :P
genuinely taken back by the notion Merlin seemed
When you mention it, you're right ;___; it makes the whole thing even CUTER. Romance done right is when neither of the characters realize it until later <3
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Date: 2009-10-04 10:09 pm (UTC)::ahem::
But exactly, the A/G romance is too forced, too quick and too.... baseless. Yes, she occasionaly gets on his shit for being an asshole. Great. Excellent, even. But they really could try to build it slowly over the entire season. The kiss should have been in episode 9 or 10 at the earliest. They're setting themselves up for fans thinking it all happened too soon and getting turned off.
Me/Mo is a ... succulent slow burn. We see them have a great connection that's allowing itself to simmer. Even if it never ends in romance, I'll STILL feel better about the two of them than I will over A/G.
Hope this made sense. I've been up since very early this morning.
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Date: 2009-10-05 10:51 pm (UTC)Hahahah I love it! It totally is <3
Even if it never ends in romance, I'll STILL feel better about the two of them than I will over A/G.
Fosho.
I've been up since very early this morning.
Aw yuck. Early mornings can kiss my ass.
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Date: 2009-10-05 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 07:53 am (UTC)If there not gonna give us Arthur/Merlin, they could at least make Gwen more interesting through the script, not because of her assets.
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Date: 2009-10-05 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 10:53 pm (UTC)I totally couldn't yoink it when it was originally posted bc i knew i'd like, waste 20 minutes a day staring at it.
In the meantime, let me just waste a couple minutes staring at it...*__*
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Date: 2009-10-08 03:03 am (UTC)they maintain eye contact with each other (and long, smouldering looks to boot) and hold meaningful conversations
That says it all for me.
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Date: 2009-11-12 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-21 04:27 am (UTC)Lancelot/Gwen works much better for me even though Lancelot has only been in two episodes. They just make more sense to me... Arthur/Gwen is too rushed and that's a big error on the show's part. They shouldn't have gone that route, but instead they should have built them gradually.
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Date: 2009-11-12 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-30 06:26 am (UTC)im bad at expressing my thought tho.
I added you but there's no need to add me back since I often make a shitty entries XDDDDDDno subject
Date: 2009-11-12 01:55 am (UTC)