Merlin

[kriadydragon]

Merlin has been eating my brain for the past couple of weeks, but now I'm all caught up on the episodes *wibble* I now see why people prefer marathoning, because it is rather fun to immerse yourself in a show and find out what you've been missing. To the point, in fact, that I'm now writing Merlin fic - which for some odd reason I feel guilty about, like I shouldn't be writing for another fandom when I've already got a fandom and I need to write stories for that fandom and not get distracted by a new fandom... you get the picture.

Anyone else ever feel like this? It's not that I'm giving up one fandom for another, just expanding my horizons based on what's present at the time. Variety is a good thing, especially if I don't want to get bored writing for a particular fandom. But I always feel bad for the people who read my fic because I know how frustrating it can be when it seems like a writer has gone to different pastures (I recall feeling rather bitter toward Supernatural for taking a lot of SGA writers away). Which isn't what's happening, but I know it can seem that way.

Can you tell I'm the kind of person prone to guilt trips.

Now onto Merlin itself, which I have really enjoyed. I'm really surprised I didn't get into it sooner, but I chalk that up to first seeing it at a time when I was really particular about fantasy shows (I was writing sword and sorcery fantasy at the time and rather protective of the genre. Now I'm writing unusual/dark/whimsical fantasy so don't really care).

I'm really curious to know if Merlin will end up one of those shows where the writers fight tooth and nail to keep everything as is - thus Merlin never reveals himself - or will open the way for change and actually have a season in which Merlin does reveal himself, and allow the dynamic between Merlin and Arthur to change accordingly. Because the thing is, I think they could totally do a reveal episode and keep the relationship between Arthur and Merlin pretty much the same - that is, keep their usual bantering, but maybe with Arthur showing Merlin some more respect. But I know how some shows despise the idea of messing with what has helped make the show popular. Which I understand, but with Merlin, if the writers were to keep things as is, it would start getting old and frustrating fast (if it hasn't for some viewers already).

One thing I see cropping up in the Merlin stories I've read - namely the reveal stories - is Arthur getting all bent out of shape because Merlin didn't trust him, and Merlin apologizing for not trusting him. This really bugs me since Merlin has ever reason to keep quiet - it's life or death for crying out loud! And Arthur was raised to believe magic was evil. He nearly killed his own father when he thought he had killed his mother. Merlin has every right to be cautious, and it's not something he's going to open up to Arthur so readily about no matter how much he trusts him, because he knows Arthur is the kind of person who takes his duties very seriously. This is something Merlin has to be very careful with, so it annoys me when people chastise Merlin for not being open with Arthur. It's not that simple!

But, well, that's any fandom, really. People like the black and white more than the grays, either because they honestly think the solution is that simple or because it's easier to write, I don't know, but it's what usually ends up being my biggest pet peeve about any fandom.

Rant over, I promise. And it's not something ruining my enjoyment of the show or anything, just something I don't get (but that, too, is fandom).

I'm really looking forward to next season, crossing my fingers that there might be a reveal, but if there isn't that's cool, too. I just want more Merlin ;)

Comments

[nefhiriel.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Totally understand the guilt-tripping. I go through it pretty much whenever I "take on" a new fandom. But I'm finding I'm increasingly good at the juggling act. I mean...there are fandoms that I can be absolutely in love with (i.e., at the moment, Sherlock BBC), but that doesn't mean I'm going to pour writing energy into all of them (I don't think I could brain enough to write Sherlock dialogue, anyway). And then there are those fandoms like WC that pretty much eat my brain, and refuse to let me go.

But I'm beginning to really, really see the value in loving much, even if I only "specialize" in a few. It broadens your knowledge of genre. time period, etc..

All that said: I will hunt you down and....erm...look VERY sad indeed if you stop bringing us WC fic. *big grin*

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Heh, I definitely don't think I'm done with White Collar fic, just that I needed a bit of a break ;) I also suspect that the creative juices for fanfic run much better when the show is actually airing, and tend to dwindle a bit when it isn't.

That said, however, I have a few WC stories I'm hoping to get around to when the Merlin fic is done. They're ideas I've been poking at for a while but are only now starting to actually come together.