Merlin thoughts
Dec. 27th, 2012 08:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marguerite_26So... MERLIN....
I've been trying to get my head around this episode for a couple days now. And honestly it's still just a crazy mountain of feels. D: I definitely have a lot of mixed emotions about it, but I'm not ready to go into the negative bits. I think it's easiest for me to just spew out a bunch of happy thoughts and maybe post tomorrow a few more thoughts on where some disappointments lie.
but for now, I have so so many good things to say.
I went in pretty spoiled and expecting to be disappointed. All the bits I was expecting happened, but not in the way I expect. Not at all.
I'm really pleased that Merlin's end game pairings were:
Merlin/Arthur - honestly, without question this is canon. Even if we only talk platonic love between two men, there is no greater love story in this show. It is a thing of beauty that goes so far beyond sexual attraction I can't even think of their love without teary up rn.
Gwaine/Percival - wow. unexpected canon there. Also Gwaine/Merlin unrequited love. <3
Gwen/Leon - without question, it's totally gonna happen in my mind. I was left feeling very hopeful for their future together. Also I was so pleased Gwen got to fight a wee bit! and that she figured out Merlin on her own, therefore her lifting the ban on magic is a possibly next step.
More importantly, I am so grateful that they gave us M/A for almost the entire episode. That was such a surprise and it worked brilliantly to allow the reveal to happen (and it happened beautifully) and then the gradual acceptance of Arthur. It was like watching Arthur move through the seven stages of grief (like the friend he thought he had had died) and slowly accepting that Merlin still was that same man, even if there were parts of him Arthur hadn't known. That Arthur actually loved him all the more for who he truly was because understanding Merlin FULLY, Arthur had no choice but to love him more. Merlin was more clever, more resourceful, more humble, more loyal than Arthur had ever imagined. How could he do anything else but love and accept 'the real' Merlin once he understood. That they writer actually managed to walk us through that process (no matter how rushed) was simply shocking. That they even attempted it was impressive. That they were successful --- well I can hardly process that.
There were moment I felt like I was watching the best fanfic reveal. Not in a terribly cheesy way that some M/A scenes read like fanservice, but this was like how people (ie: usually FANS) really, really 'got' both Merlin and Arthur and understood their relationship at a deep level would write a reveal. And THAT's what the merlin writers gave us. Colour me fucking shocked. For that, I will forgive A LOT. (but I'll save that for a different post)
I loved Morgana's death. IDEK. It worked for me. It was simple, efficient and full of pity more than revenge. I love that it was merlin who struck the final blow, and that Arthur watched. And that he was basically like: fuck you. I have my own dragon's breath sword. Had it FIRST.
Love the hand in the lake (yes, in my head it's totally Arthur's hand - not believing anything else) grabbing the sword. I love what that meant. A starting over of sorts, preparing for the next time.
I hate that I was spoiled for weeks for the present day ending. :/ It would have been a great surprise, if a bit corny. Still. It would have had more impact. Instead it was a bit more a punch in the gut that Merlin wanders alone for a thousand years for Arthur. La! not going to cry. fuck.
Basically, I can't function on tumblr due to all the amazing gifs... Just so many emotions. I can't. (also being ill and fevered totally doesn't help my emotional state!)
I've also got a to read list of every post-finale fic getting posted but I can't handle actually reading those words right now so I am saving them all for another day when I am stronger.
so... I was wondering if anyone has decided to run a fix-it/reincarnation fest? If it would encourage ppl to write, I might be interested in hosting. BUT if people are already writing and drawing and inspired then a fest is not necessary. If I were to do one it would be prompt based (with an option to write your own prompt) and self-posting (ie: not anon). SUPER CASUAL. Any thoughts?
Yay. Covered. Check out![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fuckyeah`s ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
merlin_redux!
Also, if you happen to read/write see/draw fic or art inspired by the merlin finale, let drop me a note here and i,ll start a masterlist for those of us (me) who need a few days to process it all before we dive in.
I've been trying to get my head around this episode for a couple days now. And honestly it's still just a crazy mountain of feels. D: I definitely have a lot of mixed emotions about it, but I'm not ready to go into the negative bits. I think it's easiest for me to just spew out a bunch of happy thoughts and maybe post tomorrow a few more thoughts on where some disappointments lie.
but for now, I have so so many good things to say.
I went in pretty spoiled and expecting to be disappointed. All the bits I was expecting happened, but not in the way I expect. Not at all.
I'm really pleased that Merlin's end game pairings were:
Merlin/Arthur - honestly, without question this is canon. Even if we only talk platonic love between two men, there is no greater love story in this show. It is a thing of beauty that goes so far beyond sexual attraction I can't even think of their love without teary up rn.
Gwaine/Percival - wow. unexpected canon there. Also Gwaine/Merlin unrequited love. <3
Gwen/Leon - without question, it's totally gonna happen in my mind. I was left feeling very hopeful for their future together. Also I was so pleased Gwen got to fight a wee bit! and that she figured out Merlin on her own, therefore her lifting the ban on magic is a possibly next step.
More importantly, I am so grateful that they gave us M/A for almost the entire episode. That was such a surprise and it worked brilliantly to allow the reveal to happen (and it happened beautifully) and then the gradual acceptance of Arthur. It was like watching Arthur move through the seven stages of grief (like the friend he thought he had had died) and slowly accepting that Merlin still was that same man, even if there were parts of him Arthur hadn't known. That Arthur actually loved him all the more for who he truly was because understanding Merlin FULLY, Arthur had no choice but to love him more. Merlin was more clever, more resourceful, more humble, more loyal than Arthur had ever imagined. How could he do anything else but love and accept 'the real' Merlin once he understood. That they writer actually managed to walk us through that process (no matter how rushed) was simply shocking. That they even attempted it was impressive. That they were successful --- well I can hardly process that.
There were moment I felt like I was watching the best fanfic reveal. Not in a terribly cheesy way that some M/A scenes read like fanservice, but this was like how people (ie: usually FANS) really, really 'got' both Merlin and Arthur and understood their relationship at a deep level would write a reveal. And THAT's what the merlin writers gave us. Colour me fucking shocked. For that, I will forgive A LOT. (but I'll save that for a different post)
I loved Morgana's death. IDEK. It worked for me. It was simple, efficient and full of pity more than revenge. I love that it was merlin who struck the final blow, and that Arthur watched. And that he was basically like: fuck you. I have my own dragon's breath sword. Had it FIRST.
Love the hand in the lake (yes, in my head it's totally Arthur's hand - not believing anything else) grabbing the sword. I love what that meant. A starting over of sorts, preparing for the next time.
I hate that I was spoiled for weeks for the present day ending. :/ It would have been a great surprise, if a bit corny. Still. It would have had more impact. Instead it was a bit more a punch in the gut that Merlin wanders alone for a thousand years for Arthur. La! not going to cry. fuck.
Basically, I can't function on tumblr due to all the amazing gifs... Just so many emotions. I can't. (also being ill and fevered totally doesn't help my emotional state!)
I've also got a to read list of every post-finale fic getting posted but I can't handle actually reading those words right now so I am saving them all for another day when I am stronger.
Yay. Covered. Check out
fuckyeah`s merlin_redux!Also, if you happen to read/write see/draw fic or art inspired by the merlin finale, let drop me a note here and i,ll start a masterlist for those of us (me) who need a few days to process it all before we dive in.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:11 am (UTC)If you haven't read this review, you should. It's amazing and pretty much says everything about M/A that you could want. Because theirs is the story of love. http://www.hypable.com/2012/12/26/a-merlin-retrospective-the-platonic-love-story-of-merlin-and-arthur/
I was very glad that I was spoiled for both Arthur's death and the modern scene. I don't think I could have handled it otherwise. To think Merlin was wandering alone for centuries waiting for Arthur just fills me with such melancholy.
However, knowing that Julian Jones was going to write the finale and that he thought it was the best thing he'd ever written (more than Last Dragonlord), I was pretty excited to see what he'd deliver. And boy did he ever.
It is actually my favorite of all the shows, heads above the others even Last Dragonlord which I love. Are there things I'd do differently? Probably not except not let Arthur die. I loved it!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:19 am (UTC)This was my favourite ep too. I mean... The reveal... God. So well done. :)
And yeah, arthur dying while poetic actually leaves me with a lot of issues. Primarily the complete dijoint with earlier seasons and the overall theme of merlin's destiny. :/ but yeah, still so well done. And i,m impressed with how they handled gwen. I mean honestly, the best her character has ever been written, imo.
Kudos to him for pulling off something like this. I didn,t expect it to be half so good.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:23 am (UTC)I also have severe issues with the disjoint from the other series in the notion of destiny and how they never achieved what they said Arthur was supposed to do - golden age, anyone? But yeah, this episode was my absolute favorite.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 06:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:27 am (UTC)Mordred struck the killing blow. Arthur lay, abandoned. Merlin cries, alone.
Forevr Ago (PG-13) http://archiveofourown.org/works/607754
Every Monday, Merlin walks around the lake of Avalon and then had a drink at the pub. He does this because he's waiting, waiting for the rest of the world to fall into place.
Weep Not For Roads Untravelled (PG) 1,800 http://night-lyx.livejournal.com/30951.html
Wherein Gwen produces an heir and Merlin spent his long years of his life looking after Arthur's descendants.
Forever (PG) 1,100 http://corilannam.livejournal.com/177949.html
Merlin returns to Avalon.
Chances at Happiness (G) 800 http://abitttersilence.livejournal.com/4975.html
Centuries later, they find their way back to each other; this is not the end. 'He's more then just a bit broken, after spending eternities alone and unloved, but for now it's good enough to box it all up as best as he can and live in the moment.'
A Future In Three Days (Gen) 771 http://archiveofourown.org/works/608047
Merlin spends three days and nights on the shores of Avalon, unable to leave the closest thing he has to his king's side.
(and all they needed was more time) (G) 478 http://archiveofourown.org/works/608912
If only they'd had enough time. (Merlin reflects as Arthur's boat disappears).
Hold My Heart Until it Beats @ AO3 http://archiveofourown.org/works/610871 Arthur dies and waits for Albion to need him again. But most of all he waits for Merlin.
Fan art - this is not goodbye http://nachte.livejournal.com/67088.html
Old Love, But In Shapes That Renew And Renew Forever http://leopardwrites.livejournal.com/7165.html#cutid1
People accept that an old man might live alone. People accept that he might have lost the greatest love he has ever known.
Fan art - http://25.media.tumblr.com/7c61c13a7fe029f94c2f2cf551203959/tumblr_mfnb4g3cjC1qeip55o1_500.jpg
we have the chance to turn the pages over http://archiveofourown.org/works/611229?page=1#comments It doesn't take Merlin long to figure out that he doesn't age the same as everyone else.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:12 am (UTC)I,ve been trying to keep track but there have been so many. You,re a beautiful person. <3
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 12:06 pm (UTC)I've been so outskirty with Merlin fandom that I was left flailing when I needed someone to hold me at the finale. I've found some huggers, but still didn't know where to go for fic, so thank you :)
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:35 am (UTC)First, I'm so sorry to hear you we're all sick for Christmas. That's so much worse than a solo sick person or even two. I'm glad you made it home though - and you can all be as gross/comfy as needed to recuperate. ((hugs))
My holidays have been mostly tainted by Merlin. I loved a lot about the episode and am not ready to complain *just yet* but I'm basically a wasteland of feelings and I find myself thinking about it/getting teary at random/inopportune times. I'm not ready to say goodbye and the Merlin/Arthur scenes were so beautiful. Just...too much emotion to deal with right now, I guess. I've read a few fix-it fics but I'm mostly avoiding so that I can wallow fully when I'm home next week and don't have to deflect questions about why I look so sad!
Hope you and yours are on the mend. ♥
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:24 am (UTC)We are goad to be home! But still icky sick. Boo. Don,t hug me! You may catch this nasty thing! ;)
Yeah, i understand about waiting. The idea of reading and getting all emo with a house full is just... Sigh... I,d rather not.
Maybe in two weeks when the kids are back to school.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 03:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 05:24 am (UTC)I love this post, btw, especially the pairings bit (though that could be the shrieking Gwaine/Percival shipper in me - in my head Perc totally gets Gwaine back to Camelot in time to save him - and yes, I am prompting that at every fix-it fest that I can find), all three/four sets are great.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 02:09 pm (UTC)As a Gwaine lover, i was really pleased that he got a bit of a meaty story the last couple eps and such great gwiane/percival bits! I can see why you'd be thrilled. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 09:15 am (UTC)And YES to Gwen/Leon - I've never considered it before, but I can TOTALLY see it now, especially after the last scene.
I'm still to emotionally fragile to watch the episode again -- just the sight of gif sets on Tumblr sets me off. I'm hoping at some point to be able to do a whole 5 series rewatch, but it might be a while!!!
In terms of fests, there has been a murmuring among a few
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 12:13 pm (UTC)Ooh, Lancelot, I didn't think of that. After I realized it couldn't be Arthur's (or so I thought - I mean, shouldn't his body have been sailed across the water first, or has grief muddle my memory?), I thought it was just some random lake denizen. Aw, Arthur and Lancelot, hanging out again. Hmm...
it might be time for a new round - a reincarnation special, if you will
*hopes*
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 10:23 am (UTC)I've read spoilers and mostly I'm just grateful fandom hasn't collapsed and I'm hopeful this precious escapism of mine that is Merlin fan fic & Colin/Bradley vids/fic will be around for a while. Hopefully as long as I need it to be.
I've actually been writing quite a lot, making good progress on a couple unfinished stories that have been in my drafts folder for too long. Helps that I've got two weeks off from work :)
As to how to process the finale, I'd LOVE you if you start a masterlist!!! I used to not be a fan of reincarnation fic, but I feel like, with the right kind of writing, I could really grow to love it :) (But reading is for *after* I've actually watched the finale)
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 10:46 am (UTC)I felt like I was watching the best fanfic reveal.
There were times that I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. The fact that they were brave enough to write it like that and the actors were brave enough to do it and it just felt so true and real. I'm starting to sniffle again just thinking about it.
I think
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 11:25 am (UTC)I agree. I've been saying that I think one possible reading of the finale is that it was the episode where Arthur finally fell head over heels in love with Merlin. Of course, he already trusted and loved Merlin, had done for most of the decade they knew each other, and there were moments in the show where Arthur definitely appeared intrigued by Merlin, attracted even, but I'd never seen him look at Merlin quite the way he did in this ep after the reveal. So completely lovestruck and full of wonder for this man who'd do (and had done) everything for him. And that makes sense to me and doesn't invalidate the relationship that came before, because Arthur's epiphany would've been in response to his eyes finally having been opened to the real Merlin (who is even more Merlin than he thought).
There were moment I felt like I was watching the best fanfic reveal. Not in a terribly cheesy way that some M/A scenes read like fanservice, but this was like how people (ie: usually FANS) really, really 'got' both Merlin and Arthur and understood their relationship at a deep level would write a reveal. And THAT's what the merlin writers gave us. Colour me fucking shocked.
Me, too. While I enjoyed 501 - 503, I also wasn't as invested because a lot of the M/A scenes ventured too much into fanservice territory. Whereas here, it felt real and earnest and like the writers for the show actually for once saw the characters and their relationship the exact same way I did.
I hate that I was spoiled for the finale, too, even though I wasn't 100% sure whether to believe they'd be accurate. (I had hope up until the very end that somehow Arthur would be saved, and the rumors would be wrong). But I guess I'm also maybe relieved since I think I would've been really crushed if I'd gone into the ending completely unprepared for Arthur to die.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 12:47 pm (UTC)Too many feelings. Too many. I think we're all going to need weeks if not months to get over this. *hugs, hugs, hugs*
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:42 pm (UTC)Also, your thoughts on how impressive it was that the writers managed to walk us through the stages of reveal as the fans with the best understanding of emotional and character-driven journeys have imagined it (i.e., as one would imagine the reveal of a monumental secret between two long-standing friends would go, with all the hurt and anger and fear and compassion and forgiveness it would/should entail) - YES. My thoughts exactly.
And now, I'm off to some more weeping...
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 10:34 pm (UTC)Anyway, it's days later and I'm still full of feels. I'm writing a WIP as well. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 10:37 pm (UTC)Sorry to hear about you being sick! It seems a lot of people are under the weather, including myself, so you have my sympathies!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-29 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-30 03:51 pm (UTC)Anyways, FEEL BETTERER! *hugs*