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Back during my SGA days I used to be a anti-fan of McKay whump. It's not that I absolutely hated it, but I certainly didn't like it, and not just because I was more a Sheppard fan. For some fanficcers, fanfic is about getting what we don't get on the show, and I felt - at the time - that the show offered plenty of McKay whump and not enough Sheppard whump (which, I will admit, may have been a little tainted by my Sheppard fanning).
However, my dislike of McKay whump pales in comparison to my dislike of Arthur whump. I hate Arthur whump, plain and simple, and I cannot stand woobie!Arthur. At all. And I got to pondering why this is, since there was obviously more to it than simply being a Merlin fan.
For me, a large percent of fanfic really is about giving me what the show hasn't given me (lots more Merlin H/C with an emphasis on the C, for example). And what the show has given us in spades is hurt!Arthur, comforted!Arthur, angsty!Arthur, Arthur in constant self-doubt and in need of constant reassurance, with everyone rallying around him and Merlin forever there to give him that reassurance.
Only for Arthur to throw something at him or call him names in the next scene, or threatening him with banishment in the next.
Which, yes, I know Merlin gives as good as he takes. But even with the Merlin whump in season five, there was still no comfort. There was still no one rallying around Merlin for reasons that didn't have to do with destiny (and surviving it). Merlin got crap handed to him practically every episode and endured both mental and physical abuse from Arthur, and still everything was about Arthur. Merlin may have talked a big game about Arthur being a good man destined to be great, but mostly what we saw was Merlin being great and Arthur not listening to (again) the people he really should be listening to and totally trusting the wrong people.
I'm not trying to bash Arthur, here, I promise. Because he was a good guy, and did do great things. But... as much as I love the show Merlin, it's biggest flaw was how hard it tried to cling to everything staying the same. It didn't really allow for much change, especially where Merlin was concerned, and rather than allow Merlin's and Arthur's relationship to grow it, instead, kind of deteriorated, especially around season four. We got to see how Merlin cared for Arthur in spades, but didn't get to see how Arthur cared for Merlin quite as much. Yes, there were moments where Arthur showed concern for Merlin and helped Merlin (especially in the earlier seasons). But, overall, there were times when it felt like Arthur was merely fond of Merlin, like Merlin were a pet rather than a close friend.
And I think that's why I have this ceaseless craving for H/C fic in which Arthur and the knights rescue Merlin, take care of Merlin, show that - yes - Merlin is as important to them as they are to him. So it's not merely because the show lacks Merlin H/C that I dislike Arthur H/C, it's the lack of balance between how much Merlin does for Arthur and Arthur does for Merlin. Arthur has all this support in his knights, Gwen and Merlin, but Merlin's support either dies, gives him contradictory or crappy advice, or tells him that he doesn't have any choice because destiny said so.
So, yeah, whenever I come across a fic that's Arthur whump, or Arthur angst, with Arthur being a woobie and Merlin comforting him yet again - just like we always get in the show - or stories in which Merlin waxes on about Arthur being a great man - which we also get plenty of in the show - I curl my lip in displeasure, quickly back away, and go find some Merlin whump.
(and, no, this is not meta about why we need more Merlin whump. There is a ton of Merlin whump out there, and I am completely understanding of the Arthur fans lamenting over there not being more Arthur whump, because there really isn't. This is just me understanding why I dislike Arthur whump more than I disliked McKay whump).
However, my dislike of McKay whump pales in comparison to my dislike of Arthur whump. I hate Arthur whump, plain and simple, and I cannot stand woobie!Arthur. At all. And I got to pondering why this is, since there was obviously more to it than simply being a Merlin fan.
For me, a large percent of fanfic really is about giving me what the show hasn't given me (lots more Merlin H/C with an emphasis on the C, for example). And what the show has given us in spades is hurt!Arthur, comforted!Arthur, angsty!Arthur, Arthur in constant self-doubt and in need of constant reassurance, with everyone rallying around him and Merlin forever there to give him that reassurance.
Only for Arthur to throw something at him or call him names in the next scene, or threatening him with banishment in the next.
Which, yes, I know Merlin gives as good as he takes. But even with the Merlin whump in season five, there was still no comfort. There was still no one rallying around Merlin for reasons that didn't have to do with destiny (and surviving it). Merlin got crap handed to him practically every episode and endured both mental and physical abuse from Arthur, and still everything was about Arthur. Merlin may have talked a big game about Arthur being a good man destined to be great, but mostly what we saw was Merlin being great and Arthur not listening to (again) the people he really should be listening to and totally trusting the wrong people.
I'm not trying to bash Arthur, here, I promise. Because he was a good guy, and did do great things. But... as much as I love the show Merlin, it's biggest flaw was how hard it tried to cling to everything staying the same. It didn't really allow for much change, especially where Merlin was concerned, and rather than allow Merlin's and Arthur's relationship to grow it, instead, kind of deteriorated, especially around season four. We got to see how Merlin cared for Arthur in spades, but didn't get to see how Arthur cared for Merlin quite as much. Yes, there were moments where Arthur showed concern for Merlin and helped Merlin (especially in the earlier seasons). But, overall, there were times when it felt like Arthur was merely fond of Merlin, like Merlin were a pet rather than a close friend.
And I think that's why I have this ceaseless craving for H/C fic in which Arthur and the knights rescue Merlin, take care of Merlin, show that - yes - Merlin is as important to them as they are to him. So it's not merely because the show lacks Merlin H/C that I dislike Arthur H/C, it's the lack of balance between how much Merlin does for Arthur and Arthur does for Merlin. Arthur has all this support in his knights, Gwen and Merlin, but Merlin's support either dies, gives him contradictory or crappy advice, or tells him that he doesn't have any choice because destiny said so.
So, yeah, whenever I come across a fic that's Arthur whump, or Arthur angst, with Arthur being a woobie and Merlin comforting him yet again - just like we always get in the show - or stories in which Merlin waxes on about Arthur being a great man - which we also get plenty of in the show - I curl my lip in displeasure, quickly back away, and go find some Merlin whump.
(and, no, this is not meta about why we need more Merlin whump. There is a ton of Merlin whump out there, and I am completely understanding of the Arthur fans lamenting over there not being more Arthur whump, because there really isn't. This is just me understanding why I dislike Arthur whump more than I disliked McKay whump).
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 03:44 pm (UTC)From:There are, after all, SO many episodes where he just needs a hug, or needs someone to notice that he's exhausted and beat-up.
Of course, there's some really well-written Arthur-centric H/C out there, and there's nothing wrong with it, but it's just not my thing.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-18 07:24 pm (UTC)From:Yes! Enough muscle bound heroes and more skinny-boy underdogs, please!
Yeah, I'm not against the existence of Arthur whump, but when I read a story where Arthur is the one woobiefied or Merlin is constantly thinking or saying how great Arthur is, it sometimes makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I mean, don't get me wrong, the show did a good job showing their friendship, but the portrayal of their devotion toward each other kind of, sort of, tended to come across as more one-sided - with Merlin the devoted one and Arthur merely just fond or doing what a prince/king would do for any of his people. It was easy to sympathize with Merlin but, at times, difficult to sympathize with Arthur.
So, for me, reading stories where Arthur does things for Merlin not merely because Arthur is fond of him, or would do the same for any of his people, but because Arthur really is just as devoted to their friendship, helps to create that balance somewhat lacking in the show.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-21 10:00 pm (UTC)From:This is why I too want fanfic where Merlin is recognized as being important outside of his status as manservant and warlock. I also like fanfic where Arthur is portrayed as being smart and wise instead of having the potential of being those things.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-22 02:26 am (UTC)From:Exactly. Shows really need to stop being afraid of branching out and trying knew things, even just a little. Merlin could have benefited quite a bit from a competent Arthur rescuing Merlin because Merlin was his friend, not because it was his duty.
This is why I too want fanfic where Merlin is recognized as being important outside of his status as manservant and warlock. I also like fanfic where Arthur is portrayed as being smart and wise instead of having the potential of being those things.
Yes! As much as I love the angsty reveal fic I also really enjoy the ones where Merlin's magic is revealed and Arthur is immediately understanding because he takes the time to see it from Merlin's point of view, rather than assume the worst. In other words, the ones where he thinks before he reacts.