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Jun. 8th, 2010 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vanessaramaThe stroppy professor from yesterday emailed our poor bookkeeper last night.
it is now 20:19... where is this book
I have just written an icily polite and slightly scathing email in response, as poor Chez is intimidated by him. I used to be intimidated by people, but now if people are self-important and rude, they don't deserve special treatment, or ultra-niceness, and I refuse to let Chez be upset by them.
On to better things! Here is a Character Meme nicked from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
upthegardenpath.
- Leave a comment and indicate which fandom interest of the ones we share you would like to think about (Merlin, LOTR, Doctor Who both new and old, Buffy and Angel, Lost)
- I'll respond by asking you three questions to satisfy my curiosity that are hypothetical and related to your choice above.
- Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.
My answer to questions fromupthegardenpath .
1. How would you describe Merlin from a moral stand-point? Good, bad, neutral. To what extent do you believe Merlin's moral compass is influenced by Arthur?
Putting aside the show's fairly simplistic black/white morality, because there are no absolutes in life, I still think Merlin is definitely a good 'un, although there are often bad consequences to his actions. One of the criteria by which I judge a person's relative goodness is how they use any power they have. Merlin has great power, but he does not use it for personal gain; although he is sometimes impulsive or misguided, he tries to use it for the good of others.
As for Arthur's influence - that's an excellent question! One of the most interesting themes of Merlin is these two young men growing into their very different forms of power. Arthur's power - the crown and the sword - is used largely in defense of his people; he cares about the "little people" and will now put their comfort ahead of his own pride. That's become much clearer over the time Merlin has known him, and Uther is an excellent contrast to Arthur there.
If Arthur were less worthy, I think Merlin would be less good - less inclined to protect Arthur but also becoming somewhat cynical and jaded about people in general, and therefore more likely to be corrupted by his own growing power.
2. Do you have a particular episode that you would have done differently? What would you change about it?
Hmmm. My flippant self would change the ending of 2.10 to have Vivian unenchanted, if only because it would stop everyone complaining about that ending and let them see the episode as the lovely frothy Shakespearean romp it is. /bitter
But I think really I'd change 2.03. I like lots of things about that episode, but I very much dislike the way just about everyone behaved and think it was somewhat out of character. Morgana shows absolutely no regard for all the people who are being rounded up and (presumably) killed in Camelot because she wants to stop living a lie in her nice comfy castle; Merlin stupidly leads Arthur's lynch mob straight to the Druids and doesn't especially seem to care; and Arthur goes in and (presumably) leads the brutal slaughter of the Druids. I find it pretty OOC that Morgana, who stole food for the poor and fought for peasants, wouldn't care about the killing of innocent people when it was in her power to prevent it, and that Merlin wouldn't feel more remorse about his part in the whole thing.
What I would have liked to see in that episode was:
- Morgana agrees to go back to the castle once Merlin tells her people are being rounded up for her sake
- Arthur is looking for Morgana (rather than just setting out on an extermination mission)
- The attack only starts when Arthur sees Morgana trying to leave the camp and perhaps being stopped by Aglain who wants to know why she's going. Arthur mistakes this for Morgana trying to *escape* the camp and leaps in to "rescue" her. Misunderstandings lead to violence, Mordred is still pissed off and vows revenge.
3. At this stage (end Season 2). Who would Arthur choose - Merlin or Morgana and why?
Oh, dear! I think it depends on the situation. If it was "who would Arthur choose to spend eternity on a desert island with", or "who would he want at his side in a battle" I think it'd be Merlin, no questions asked. Arthur has a solid affection for Merlin which is far less complicated than his feelings about Morgana; he's de-stressed by Merlin being around and he enjoys their interaction.
But if it was "A magic beast is charging at Merlin and Morgana, Arthur can only save one, who does he choose?" I think he'd choose Morgana. Partly because he's Arthur and he's been brought up to be chivalrous and rescue women, and partly because it would break Uther's heart and spirit if he let Morgana die to save a servant, but partly because I think Arthur has an inkling, on some level, that Merlin will be all right. Even not knowing about the magic, and even though he shoves Merlin behind him whenever there are fights, he knows that Merlin tends to be "lucky" and to come unscathed out of attacks which kill fully armed and armoured knights.
That was fun!
it is now 20:19... where is this book
I have just written an icily polite and slightly scathing email in response, as poor Chez is intimidated by him. I used to be intimidated by people, but now if people are self-important and rude, they don't deserve special treatment, or ultra-niceness, and I refuse to let Chez be upset by them.
On to better things! Here is a Character Meme nicked from
upthegardenpath.- Leave a comment and indicate which fandom interest of the ones we share you would like to think about (Merlin, LOTR, Doctor Who both new and old, Buffy and Angel, Lost)
- I'll respond by asking you three questions to satisfy my curiosity that are hypothetical and related to your choice above.
- Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.
My answer to questions from
upthegardenpath .1. How would you describe Merlin from a moral stand-point? Good, bad, neutral. To what extent do you believe Merlin's moral compass is influenced by Arthur?
Putting aside the show's fairly simplistic black/white morality, because there are no absolutes in life, I still think Merlin is definitely a good 'un, although there are often bad consequences to his actions. One of the criteria by which I judge a person's relative goodness is how they use any power they have. Merlin has great power, but he does not use it for personal gain; although he is sometimes impulsive or misguided, he tries to use it for the good of others.
As for Arthur's influence - that's an excellent question! One of the most interesting themes of Merlin is these two young men growing into their very different forms of power. Arthur's power - the crown and the sword - is used largely in defense of his people; he cares about the "little people" and will now put their comfort ahead of his own pride. That's become much clearer over the time Merlin has known him, and Uther is an excellent contrast to Arthur there.
If Arthur were less worthy, I think Merlin would be less good - less inclined to protect Arthur but also becoming somewhat cynical and jaded about people in general, and therefore more likely to be corrupted by his own growing power.
2. Do you have a particular episode that you would have done differently? What would you change about it?
Hmmm. My flippant self would change the ending of 2.10 to have Vivian unenchanted, if only because it would stop everyone complaining about that ending and let them see the episode as the lovely frothy Shakespearean romp it is. /bitter
But I think really I'd change 2.03. I like lots of things about that episode, but I very much dislike the way just about everyone behaved and think it was somewhat out of character. Morgana shows absolutely no regard for all the people who are being rounded up and (presumably) killed in Camelot because she wants to stop living a lie in her nice comfy castle; Merlin stupidly leads Arthur's lynch mob straight to the Druids and doesn't especially seem to care; and Arthur goes in and (presumably) leads the brutal slaughter of the Druids. I find it pretty OOC that Morgana, who stole food for the poor and fought for peasants, wouldn't care about the killing of innocent people when it was in her power to prevent it, and that Merlin wouldn't feel more remorse about his part in the whole thing.
What I would have liked to see in that episode was:
- Morgana agrees to go back to the castle once Merlin tells her people are being rounded up for her sake
- Arthur is looking for Morgana (rather than just setting out on an extermination mission)
- The attack only starts when Arthur sees Morgana trying to leave the camp and perhaps being stopped by Aglain who wants to know why she's going. Arthur mistakes this for Morgana trying to *escape* the camp and leaps in to "rescue" her. Misunderstandings lead to violence, Mordred is still pissed off and vows revenge.
3. At this stage (end Season 2). Who would Arthur choose - Merlin or Morgana and why?
Oh, dear! I think it depends on the situation. If it was "who would Arthur choose to spend eternity on a desert island with", or "who would he want at his side in a battle" I think it'd be Merlin, no questions asked. Arthur has a solid affection for Merlin which is far less complicated than his feelings about Morgana; he's de-stressed by Merlin being around and he enjoys their interaction.
But if it was "A magic beast is charging at Merlin and Morgana, Arthur can only save one, who does he choose?" I think he'd choose Morgana. Partly because he's Arthur and he's been brought up to be chivalrous and rescue women, and partly because it would break Uther's heart and spirit if he let Morgana die to save a servant, but partly because I think Arthur has an inkling, on some level, that Merlin will be all right. Even not knowing about the magic, and even though he shoves Merlin behind him whenever there are fights, he knows that Merlin tends to be "lucky" and to come unscathed out of attacks which kill fully armed and armoured knights.
That was fun!
