Subtlety is for little men...

[astri13]

Courtesy to frogspace, I just watched the newest Merlin preview and I believe something totally unprecedensed is happening here.

I mean, there are lots of shows that feed the slashers in its first Season to cultivate a little fanbase and grab the free online pimping for the show that comes with it. And then, by Season 2, the writers act like "ZOMG, people think our characters are GAY for each other, stop the presses" and then said characters will
1) stop having so much (or any) scenes together,
2) at least one part (if not both) will get a love story with a girl that will be foisted on viewers in unorganic (and often inconsistent) ways, meaning it's on/off according to plot
3) they stop acting like friends even and at least one (if not both) will act completely jerktastic to the other for no real reason
4) just to add insult to injury they will throw the occasional bone to the fans of the slash pairing, making the guys act nice or caring to each other in a grand sweeping dramatic gesture/episode that sticks out even more like a sore thumb because of number 3)

And that's usually how it goes for the remainder of those shows - hello Smallville - but I've honestly never seen a show do what Merlin seems to do this Season. It's like they not only turned that carriage back around again but it's basically trampling over the poor, downtrodden slash fans on its way back. In a good way, you know. :D

It's like doing the anti-number 1-4 and go all in. In Season 1, it was still just goofy and innocent with a lot of subtext, this Season, it's all grabby hands and physicality, it's not even text anymore, it's ACTS. At the rate it's going, I can only assume the Season will culminate in actual Arthur/Merlin sex. Happening onscreen. In highdef and surround sound. While the slash dragon watches. *g*

Comments

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute. Are you complaining? *giggles*
I'm strangely proud of Merlin for doing that U-turn. I have no idea how *straight* fans see those things but as slasher-in-mind i'm happy the show isn't scared to show some progress in slasher way.
And if they will end up having sex who am i to complain? *glues to the screen*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Oh not, not at all complaining. Mostly I marvel in wonder at what they dare to show these days and why, in light of that, they seemed to do the usual "oh noez" during Season 2 and 3. If they are that fearless, why not always?

Still, I'm very proud of my little show. *hugs*

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Maby they needed time to got together nerves and shit to be able to pull this through? Or maybe they just now realized the show has been picked up for 5 seasons (am i right?) and they have nothing to lose and can have some fun? Or maybe they found a very cool stuff to smoke :)

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I hope it's not just a tickle for the slash fans to make room for a heavy Arthur/Gwen S2 kinda train wreck again. If it is, at least we got more than a few crumbs this season and I'm happy! I mean, I don't have to have an outright slash on TV, I just need them to be best of friends!

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I hope it's not just a tickle for the slash fans to make room for a heavy Arthur/Gwen S2 kinda train wreck again.

Oh dear, please no. I mean, I know there will be some Arthur/Gwen, simply because they happen to be doing this part of the legend, with the Lancelot thing to boot but it doesn't have to be the primary pairing.

It's like Smallville, Lana is a canon part of the comics and as such had a place as Clark's first place but the show should have been focused on two great friends becoming enemies and the tragedy of that.

Just like Merlin IMO should focus on Merlin and Arthur's destiny together.

[rheasilvia.livejournal.com]

Okay, you've convinced me. I really will start watching again. (Now if only I can get over my deep mourning for the lovely, smart, kind, courageous spit-fire S1+2 Morgana. *sob*)

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Oh, you will not hear any disagreement from me on the Morgana front. They handled her fall to the darkside very badly. And I still posit everything would be so much juicer and three-dimensional if she didn't just randomely hate Arthur and Gwen like a ackling evil villain. I get Uther, Merlin and Gaius, they have all given her reason to hate them but friends whom she obviously cared about and who have never done anything to her? Explain that character direction to me, show.

But Arthur/Merlin are truly lovely this year. Sighs happily.