Merlin

[blamebrampton]

Oh, look ... at least I didn't download it.

I've spent the weekend recovering and working on an enjoyable but intense beta, so I thought I deserved an hour off, and it was starting on free-to-air TV here, so I succumbed.

All of you Merlin people were completely right, it is absolutely pre-slashed. Was it written by one of Russell T Davies' ex-boyfriends?

On the whole, amusing and diverting and extremely slash friendly, but I will have to turn off my critical brain if I plan to watch any more. Pretty lads aside, it was a case of 'wrong clothes, wrong saddle, wrong architecture, wrong fruit, wrong …'

I should have just focussed on that Bradley fellow. Though he is a wee bairn, is it all right given that I have the same birthday as Germaine Greer?

Comments

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

Germaine Greer's birthday aside - I'm sure it is all right given that it is perfectly acceptable to admire nice bone structure of any age :)
Um, so who is this Bradley person of whom you speak? I didn't watch it....
And isn't Anthony Stewart Head supposed to be in this - you can laos concentrate on him - he's much older but still quite nice to look at.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I meant to concentrate on AS-H, but young Bradley was so blond and shiny and I was hopelessly distracted. In a polite old-lady sort of way, like when Bleddyn used to do my garden without his shirt on. Maybe slightly pervier, since I have no reason to like and respect Bradley James, who you can see here: http://darkaeon.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/s01e00_01_arthur_1024x768.jpg

[old-enough.livejournal.com]

lol Yes, no analytical/critical brain allowed--but it does set up all sorts of fun situations for author-ly types to play with. If there is anything in the story that is correct from an academic point of view, it is a complete accident and in spite of the writers' best efforts.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I did note that the books all at least had the appearance of being handmade. Alas, the bindings were a mix of 15th and 17th century for the most part, and the calligraphy was off ... One interesting point was the mix of accents, which did ring a note of truth with the accounts of the Wessex court, and they did have an authentic start to the idea of wealthy wards, give it a few weeks to turn out to be bonkers.

But yes, I can see how much fun it would be to write for! Pretty Bradley!

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

I can't turn off... I hate it with a passion.

It's like slashing Harry/Dumbledore, and why is James alive and...

They should have made it some generic wizard.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! At least no one had an American accent, you will never know how relieved I was to make it to the end of the episode without one.

I would say it is the dumbest thing I had seen in years, but I watched Robin Hood. Because it had Richard Armitage in leather trousers. At least Richard is only a bit younger than me. I feel dirty. Happy, but drity ;-)

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I reminded myself and C about 10 times this week to set up the recorder for this, just so I could see what all the fuss was about. Did we? Bugger off! I caught the last 8 minutes or so. Enough to go 'wrong clothes, wrong music, OMG EARS, nice hall, EARS ...'

Guess I'll have to download it after all *sigh*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The ears were astonishing, I must say. Is it on Channel 10's website? They have a number of things up there in their rewind/iview type thingy.

[symetric.livejournal.com]

The Bradley fellow looks too much like a pixie (and is blond! Not anything against blondes, just not my type of bloke). Now if you're talking about Morgan...

All things aside, I'm very fond of the show. It is amusing, granted, quite cringe worthy but overall nicely done (disregarding Arthurian legend, of course!). Didn't particularly enjoy Robin Hood but am finding myself loving Merlin. :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I like pixie boys! Admittedly Mr Brammers is more of a stoic Northern type with Scandinavian cheekbones who is a wee bit more on the Colin Morgan side of things, but he can lift very heavy things.

It is a lot of fun, to judge by the first episode. Not sure if I will have time to indulge it, might have to wait for the DVDs!

[sherryillk.livejournal.com]

My chief complaint about Merlin was that it really wasn't about Merlin but after a while, I just stopped thinking it had anything to do with Arthurian legend and thought of it as a separate entity. It's probably the only way I can watch the show without getting upset at it...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OOOH! Good idea! I think it might be about hot blond very young men and me feeling ever so slightly dirty, but in the fun way.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

My mother in law brought it up for me, if you want to borrow it.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

yes please! More blond boy goodness (it reminds me of the lovely toy boy who used to clean the house while I was at work. I miss him ... I am sure he and J could learn to share)

[arobynsung]

And Merlin takes another one!!!
No one watches if for the historical accuracy, at least I don't. I've just never seen anything slash itself so obviously!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Season three Doctor Who is slightly more pre-slashed, but yes ...

Don't think I have the energy to do anything fannish about it (I barely have the time for HP), but it was certainly fun!

[drgaellon]

Yes. Throw out everything you ever knew about Arthurian legend. This is... not that. It's pre-slash fanfic AU from Arthurian legend. I don't quite know how they managed to convince Auntie Beeb to film it, but it's not bad for all of that. Some of it is quite nice hurt/comfort, and some is totally crackified. It really and truly is fanfic... just professionally produced.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the dreadful Robin Hood? Dreadful! And yet, hot boys and amusing bits. I see nothing wrong with professionally produced fanfic, goodness knows I read enough of it ;-)

[tsosh.livejournal.com]

Like Ravenclawbest said above - No one watches if for the historical accuracy. Just like you don't watch Doctor Who for the scientific accuracy.
Besides, those boys are insanely adorable, and Bradley is gorgeous. How can you resist?
And you can see it as AU!Harry/Draco - the brunette brave boy and the spoiled blond with the evil dad, that fall in love against the odds. So it doesn't even feel like cheating on your OTP...

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

IAWTC!!!

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

I love Merlin! (Tv Show I mean). I'm no expert on the whole legend/history thing so it's inaccuracy doesn't bother me. I love the leads and every scene with them together is a slash scene in my mind, lol.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am a bit of a mediaeval history geek, but it was so very wrong that I think it will annoy me far less than if it was mostly right with some errors.

And I can see why you consider it wholly slashy, my goodness!

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

It's produced from Cardiff - same team as NewWho and Torchwood, so either RTD's rubbed off on them (>_< *scrubs brain*), or they were all pervs to start with.

I thought it was pants (but pretty pants) until ep. 5 when they start playing with the actual Arthur mythology in interesting ways.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

EW! Thanks for that mental image. Yes, I am not looking to it for Great Drama, but pretty boys are always good ;-)

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

Yes! Turn off everything critical, it's a hotbed of anachronisms. But so what? It's fun and pretty, the boys are lovely, and underneath all the bad dialogue, lack of historical authenticity, and iffy acting on some actresses parts, there's a truly moving relationship between Arthur and Merlin and some really interesting playing around with the Arthurian legend.

And the fanfic is hot.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I know that you have just said lots of v smart things, but all I heard was blah blah blah Bradley James's jaw ...

[adores-draco.livejournal.com]

Wrong fruit? What did they have? Canned pineapples? (I haven't watched tv for over a year.)

So you were born 1939? Who cares! ;)

I fancy our eighteen year old temp who looks like Draco. It's actually shameful...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Different year! Different year! Though not as different a year as would make it acceptable, he's a few years younger than my most toyboyish toyboy ;-)

And they had tomatoes, Asian melons, modern apples and, though this isn't a fruit, wrong-coloured carrots.

[sorrelchestnut.livejournal.com]

Man, I love that show. I don't really have enough knowledge of the time period for some of the stuff to really bother me... and my suspension of disbelief has been honed to a fine point from years of practice at sometimes incredibly silly shows.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am treating it as a happy slashy show that has nothing to do with Britain and little to do with Arthurian legends. But lots to do with pretty blonds.

[faynia.livejournal.com]

*Gives you a brain OFF switch and dangles pretty, shiny, giggly Bradley in your face*

Excellent. The dark side still has cookies you know. Cookies and historical inaccuracies and damn shiny AU fics. xD

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OOOH! SHINY!

Sorry, are you still talking? Mmmmmm ... Bradley James ...

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

I just pretend it is an AU :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You are wise, my bunny-loving friend!

[glass-violet.livejournal.com]

I watched a bit of an episode at a friend's house on Saturday, not enough to notice anything other than the pretty boy, before being dragged (kicking and screaming, truly!) to see 'Wolverine' at the cinema. Poor little me, a whole afternoon wasted watching the pretty blond boy, and then Hugh Jackman is his singlet and tight pants. Woe is me.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh, hey, you might be interested in the new hobby that shu-shu and I have begun. We call it Boyspotting and there will be official rules and notebooks and EVERYTHING!