So... Merlin.

[stillane]

 
Having been lured in by promises of unadulterated fun and incredible slashiness, my guilty pleasure of the week has been to catch up with pretty, anachronistic, (British? Can we say they're British? Albionan? *ponders*) legendary boys gallivanting about a mythical countryside.

All in all, I have reached two conclusions:

1. My god, they really are that slashtastic. *marvels gleefully*

and

2. I can no longer trust programming originating from across the Atlantic.

See, here's the thing: I fear Torchwood has permanently addled me. I can't tell anymore what's intentionally really, really gay, and what is only made so by the wearing of rather strong goggles. At one time my default setting would have been, Nope. Totally in my head, but these days... You never know when there might be a left turn at Albuquerque involving sudden boykissing. Unexpected canon slash is unexpected, is what I'm saying.

There are certain American shows (or, well, theoretically American shows which are often populated with Canadians, to be honest) which you will never convince me are produced without one or several someones involved aiming straight (hee) for the slash audience. Highlander, for instance; there is no possible way Peter Wingfield and Adrian Paul did not know exactly what they were doing. For those not yet exposed, I dare you to watch the infamous Battle at Carside and its outtakes and provide an alternate reading. I'll wait. 

Other examples include:

House... well. It's House. 'Nough said.

The Sentinel. Um, see above re: House.

The Persuaders, which cannot all be chalked up to "it was a different time" syndrome. Tony Curtis goes for absolute broke, frankly, and Roger Moore skips gleefully along with him. I can't even describe this one, if you haven't seen it. It's technicolor gay gallivanting, people. Whee.

I have my suspicions about Joe Flanigan, too, honestly. Not that I'm going to get all scary tinhat about it, but I'm not entirely sure that he didn't turn around somewhere circa late season three and think, You know what? Why the hell not. This'll be fun, and proceed to play John Sheppard as being head over heals for a cranky, male astrophysicist. He just comes across as that sort of guy. 

For the most part, though, I've always figured slash was what happened in our heads, and with few exceptions would stay there. And then came Captain Jack "Anything that walks, and I'll make exceptions for sentient crawlers" Harkness, and my certainty got pwned. And then there were German soap boys. Now, anything not explicitly stamped with the mark of U.S. syndicated assurance gives me pause. 

So, I'm watching Merlin, and I can't begin to decide what they mean to do and what they don't. I mean, on the one hand, I gather it's intended to be an early evening, family-friendly sort of deal, and so not so much with the swift departure into homosexual adventures ahoy. On the other... seriously, the eyefucking. It's monumental. Then there's the dressing/undressing - which is twice put forth as an explicitly romantic deal, btw - in which Merlin gets a hell of a lot handsy-er with Arthur than Morgana does. They even meet cute, by my standards - although I'm not entirely sure what it means that my standards for this include insulting banter and attempting to thwap one another with sharp implements - and continue to keep each other on their toes. Four episodes in and Arthur's already going to the ends of the Earth to save Merlin, while the latter's whispering Arthur's name on his deathbed. They are soul bonded, folks.

I would worry that my unrealistic expectations of eminent snogging would be horribly disappointed, but I'm having too much fun. So long as they continue to be an exact inverse of the Smallville approach to destiny, I will be thoroughly hooked. 

Now there just needs to be more fic, preferably of the epic-love-and-daring-do variety. Yes. *waits*

Comments

[20thcenturyvole.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm not even ten minutes in, and I'm getting the second episode. I didn't expect it to be so shiny! Or to have so many awesome people in it!

[stillane.livejournal.com]

Hee. How's that working for you? Have you gotten to the later eps yet? I am impatient to get your take on the continued extreme shininess. *g*

[20thcenturyvole.livejournal.com]

Okay, I stopped after two eps because it was midnight and sleep seemed a wiser, if less squeeful choice (witness my responsible adult decisions!), but now I am up again and I am getting the rest of the episodes right now, because that is some shiny, shiny goddamn awesomeness. And Jesus, could Merlin be any more adorable? Going from "Pfah, manservent" to "Squee he is my champion YEAH KICK HIM IN THE GROIN ARTHUR" in, like, ten minutes, and Arthur deciding he really deeply trusts Merlin in about the same space of time (even though his manners could totally have stood to be raised as a commoner, though this is funnier).

I am really wondering how they're going to play out the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot triangle, if they ever do, but OMG, if they do, it totally helps the slash. I want futurefic Lancelot/Guinevere Arthur/Merlin where they play out the whole 'Arthur decides to be really nice to them since they're in love and all' take on the legend with an added angle of 'and also because he was sexing up his wizard SO THAT'S OKAY.' Also, I'm intrigued as to where the characterisation of Uther Pendragon is going - I can't tell yet whether they're going for tyrant (see: first episode; ASH's natural ability for oozing evil), or old-fashioned and misguided yet ultimately well-meaning king (see: actual real concern over Arthur's wellbeing; not slaying Dragon Hurt for as yet undetermined reasons).

Squee! Thank you for your pimping!

[stillane.livejournal.com]

I assure you, it was not at all altruistic. Getting you hooked comes with a whole host of benefits, not the least of which being having squee company. *g*

And Jesus, could Merlin be any more adorable?

He's such a goofball! And sweet! And yet sarcastic to the bone! *adores* I love that his reaction to finding out he's been insulting the once and future king is a very clear internal oh shit and external, "Yeah, and?"

Also, I'm intrigued as to where the characterisation of Uther Pendragon is going

Yeah. I'm conflicted. He does have some very cruel moments, especially when he feels backed into a corner, but... See, I think maybe I'm a hard sell where totally-evil-meany ASH is concerned, because... well, Giles. The thing is, though, I don't think Uther's meant to be especially bad. I think he's just very, very afraid, and powerful men in fear are always scary. Arthur may be destined to lead those who love him, but Uther doesn't know how to get past being feared. There are two things in the world that I think he really cares for: his son, and his kingdom. That doesn't necessarily mean he cares for his people individually, mind you, but as a nebulous mass... yeah. I'm reserving judgement.

I am really wondering how they're going to play out the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot triangle

Me, too. In my perfect world, Arthur and Guinevere have an arrangement, and a warmth between them. They're each other's covers, each in love with someone they aren't allowed to have openly, and she might just be his best friend. And it's messy and complicated and strangely wonderful, and damn the consequences.

Why no, I'm not at all thinking about fic. Nope. *looks shifty*

[20thcenturyvole.livejournal.com]

I just saw the fourth episode.

*dies of squee*

OH MY GOD ARTHUR LUUUUUUUUUUVS HIM. Merlin not only (repeatedly!) calls out his name on his death-bed, he psychically knows when Arthur's in danger and mystically guides him to safety. THEIR LOVE IS SO SOUL-BONDY.

I need a pretty Merlin icon STAT. Know any icon-makers into this show? Because WOW. Also, hey, it's very pretty!

P.S: Please, please write that fic. Even if you have to wait until the next episode to see what they're doing with Lancelot (and OMG is that Caspian?!), I will shower you with affection and puppies. Please.

[stillane.livejournal.com]

*snickers wildly* I knew you'd like that one.

THEIR LOVE IS SO SOUL-BONDY.

It is, it so is. What kills me is that this is the fourth freakin' episode, and already they are like this. Can you imagine what they can come up with by the end of this series? Swear to god, next there'll be an exchange of rings. *waits eagerly*

Alas, I have no special knowledge of iconage, although I've seen some preview stills from the next ep that are making me drool with want. I do know that there's a comm list here, if that helps any.

(and OMG is that Caspian?!)

(Semi)sadly, no, there has been no appearance of the pretty prince, but we can live in hope, right? In the meantime, that attractive manly sort is actually Santiago Cabrera, who you recognize from Heroes. He was Isaac, I think? *really needs to watch that show, eventually*

[20thcenturyvole.livejournal.com]

OMG it is Isaac! I was thinking I knew him from somewhere, I just couldn't figure out where!

I cannot wait to see where the series goes in terms of slashy goodness. I want to know how long the seasons are - 6 episodes? I hope not. 8, maybe? 13 would be ideal, especially if they're trying to fill the Doctor Who-shaped hole in their broadcast. But ugh, the whole destiny and half of a coin and... even the dragon ships them! My new icon proves it!

I am going away now, to amass a pimp post so I may lure others into the sweet sweet goodness. Hurrah for VLC's capture option!

[stillane.livejournal.com]

Oh, and also:

P.P.S. - I'm thinking that fic is going to happen, one way or another. There's that one, and then there's the barbarians at the gates one, and then there's the wild-man-exiled Merlin futurefic, and I have yet to figure out which of them (if any) are the same fic. There are always, of course, the SGA Steel Guitar AU of Doom, and the Methos Is Bear Grylls stories, too. I'm supposed to be studying immunology, you know. Life is hard. *sighs*