What did bother me a bit in this as well as the last episode is that so much of Arthur's character development is now hung up on trying to please and impress Gwen, and her having to shove him in the right direction so much. I wonder what this is saying about their relationship ...
You know I read this post about a week ago and started composing a response slightly disagreeing with this view. HOWEVER after the latest episode I am pretty much wholly in agreement!
Let me say from the outset that I tend to watch Merlin with one eye on the epic fic I'm writing (epic in scope more than anything) and that fic encompasses Arthur/Gwen as a reality (even though it is a Merlin/Arthur fic) because that relationship in no way negates the primary relationship. This broadly means that I really have no problems accepting that Arthur and Gwen eventually marry etc etc since in my fic the meaning there is probably not the meaning the majority of people would lend this event/relationship. That's why I LOVE this show so much - the scope of the thing in terms of fic really is second to none.
BUT I think that the show is getting this a bit...wrong...shall we say - from my POV at least. I think their imagination has failed them in this respect whereas it has served them well in reimagining other aspects of the thing. Once again we see how this need to put romance front and centre in many ways serves only to hurt the writing and indeed the overall concept of the project. I don't blame them for this, but I can't help thinking that their nerve failed them after season 1 and IMO it shows. There is so much scope with the Gwen/Arthur/Lancelot relationship and it's slightly disappointing that they chose to take the obvious route.
The Gwen/Arthur bothers me on a number of levels, but that's for another comment. Let's just call it...disappointing... but understandable, for now.
Totally in agreement with your latest post re DW and TW. I love the bleakness of both DW and TW and not because I'm an angst junkie (the opposite tbh) but because I like good writing; writers taking risks and remaining true to their vision despite everything else. See I don't have to buy what their selling, I'm just interested in being presented a coherent and cohesive view that both entertains and stimulates me intellectually. Just because RTD sees the world a certain way doesn't mean I have to, but I do like seeing his vision presented well and consistently. I'm actually really, really easy to please.
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Date: 2009-11-29 04:12 pm (UTC)You know I read this post about a week ago and started composing a response slightly disagreeing with this view. HOWEVER after the latest episode I am pretty much wholly in agreement!
Let me say from the outset that I tend to watch Merlin with one eye on the epic fic I'm writing (epic in scope more than anything) and that fic encompasses Arthur/Gwen as a reality (even though it is a Merlin/Arthur fic) because that relationship in no way negates the primary relationship. This broadly means that I really have no problems accepting that Arthur and Gwen eventually marry etc etc since in my fic the meaning there is probably not the meaning the majority of people would lend this event/relationship. That's why I LOVE this show so much - the scope of the thing in terms of fic really is second to none.
BUT I think that the show is getting this a bit...wrong...shall we say - from my POV at least. I think their imagination has failed them in this respect whereas it has served them well in reimagining other aspects of the thing. Once again we see how this need to put romance front and centre in many ways serves only to hurt the writing and indeed the overall concept of the project. I don't blame them for this, but I can't help thinking that their nerve failed them after season 1 and IMO it shows. There is so much scope with the Gwen/Arthur/Lancelot relationship and it's slightly disappointing that they chose to take the obvious route.
The Gwen/Arthur bothers me on a number of levels, but that's for another comment. Let's just call it...disappointing... but understandable, for now.
Totally in agreement with your latest post re DW and TW. I love the bleakness of both DW and TW and not because I'm an angst junkie (the opposite tbh) but because I like good writing; writers taking risks and remaining true to their vision despite everything else. See I don't have to buy what their selling, I'm just interested in being presented a coherent and cohesive view that both entertains and stimulates me intellectually. Just because RTD sees the world a certain way doesn't mean I have to, but I do like seeing his vision presented well and consistently. I'm actually really, really easy to please.