Merlin: A Study in Fandoms
Oh, Merlin. Merlin Merlin Merlin.
Merlin is such a special series for me. It got my largest output fic-wise since, er, X-Men (or possibly even Digimon, depending on how you're counting these things). I fell in love with its characters, and genuinely cared about what happened to them. It was the last time I was really, truly into a fandom (Sherlock's come close, but I dunno, I just feel like there's a barrier there - not to mention that it is terrifyingly huge and I have no idea where to start with it). When the words `Merlin will return` came up on the screen, I squeed for glee, and awaited the second series with great anticipation.
And you may have already noticed the problem: `the second series`. As in this was all based on the first series.
While I stuck with the fandom over the year, when the second series got going I found myself in a highly awkward place. 1) The first episode bothered me in a way that episodes don't generally do. The closest equivalent I can think of was some episodes of the second series of Torchwood (and the first, actually), where I wanted it to be awesome, but my brain just wouldn't should up. Also, there was the small matter of 2) I managed to spread watching this series over an entire year. Seriously. I watched the first two or three episodes, then I started uni and lost track of pretty much everything, and watching it at home could get awkward because there was some agreement about watching it with the family and Doctor Who and all that. The main result of which was that I had to drop out of the fandom, just because I had no idea what was going on.
Dropping out of the fandom was probably the real killer, since that's what got me properly into the show. True story here: after the first three episodes, it occurred to me that this was a brand new show, and logically a brand new fandom had appeared. A Google search confirmed this (yes, Merlin was also what got me onto LJ), and I took on what was supposed to be the role of the detached observer. ...And then I went native. (I blame the fact that the next episode was the one where Merlin gets poisoned and Arthur goes on his Epic Quest and there's character development all over the place and the M/A community exploded.)
So, leaving the fandom had an immediate impact on the show for me, since I got quite detached. Also, it had something of an overhaul in the Series 2 year, so there was also that weird feeling when you go back to a town or something you used to know quite well, only to find that it's changed a lot and you just want things the way they were except that's never going to happen. Furthermore, by the time I got to the end of series 2, I was...mildly vexed about what was taking place before my eyes.
I wouldn't describe Merlin as a `good` show, in the same way as, say, Sherlock. It is fun entertainment, and once I'd accepted this, I adored it for that. Also, it had the admirable idea of focusing on character development, since because nothing of consequence particularly happened - although Nimueh was a fantastic villain and Morgause and Morgana combined can't match up to her - what people said and did in everyday life meant a whole lot more, and when there were hints that things could change - seeing as you had no idea what kind of series had been thrown at you - there was some sense of tension.
Again, series 1. Series 2 just decided to screw all of that and essentially jump to where it wanted to be. Suddenly character development was a secondary concern, and people just...existed where they needed to be. Series 3 had the time jump, which annoyed me but I thought I could see the reason for it, until we got it again in Series 4, and I realised it was mostly being used as an excuse to get characters to necessary points without actually bothering to show it happening. Series 1 made me think Arthur/Gwen would be this slow, elaborate thing building up over time; Series 2 opened with her landing on him in a low-cut dress. (And feminism marches on.)
I know I'm not saying anything new, but this has all been on my mind with the launch of Series 4. I have to say, the first two episodes (as far as I've got) were fantastic. Really. You had character moments and interaction and a decent thing of peril and actually a pretty good twist at the end. It's also done the job that 2 and 3 never really managed: it's made me think that maybe I should just suck it up and move on. Okay, so I have a ridiculous amount of fic ideas, and okay, they're all based around series 1, especially in the character dynamics department. I'll never get to write those alternate endings, or a Sigan!possessed Merlin Series 2 AU, or carry on my god!fic (on account of Merlin having acquired a definite-not-a-pagan-god!dad) or anything where Morgana helps save the day through pure Awesome, because that's just not where the show is anymore. Maybe I just have to accept that. Because I do miss the fandom, like I'd miss a warm blanket or a mug of tea or something else comforting I've abandoned due to circumstances partly under my control and now don't want to go back to. (A better analogy might be Disney movies, which I now feel old enough to go back to without shame.)
I don't know if anything will come of this. Maybe I'll float back there, maybe not. It is kinda sad when you realise you miss something that much but feel that not only will you not go back, but you also can't go back. And Jesus, now I'm getting all mopey, because I decided to write this after 2am. Goddamn it.
PS. Re: Series 3: I thought it was a definite improvement and a sign of the show finding its feet again. It often got a bit repetitive, but again, all this has been said already and much better. Still, it had some brilliant payoff in the finale, and gave us Gwaine, for which I will always be grateful.
PPS. I would so read a Merlin Western!AU. Gwaine's scenes in series 3 always made me think of them, and the image of Merlin!bar-room brawls and guys riding off into sunsets and having shoot-outs at high noon and all that jazz is rather beautiful.
PPPS. It is my current head!canon - I know, this show does this to me even when I'm not in fandom - that both Gwaine and Lancelot keep flirting with Merlin, and he flirts back, and Arthur gets all pissy about this because dammit Merlin is his, and Gwaine and Lancelot are all `dude, if you're not going to make a move, then make room!` and Merlin is all beautifully oblivious and Arthur keeps having to Assert himself, only after the events of the opening ep he's all `omg, I have proof Merlin loves me!`, which is why he was so very mopey and then when Merlin got back he dragged him off to be all awkward and Lancelot was all `yay, I need to make sure this sticks` only it will all backfire because after being all heroic and walking off into the land of the dead and all Merlin is like `Laaancelot` and pouty and Arthur doesn't know how to handle this and Gwaine has a very good idea and oh my God I need to stop writing because this is seriously all one sentence.
PPPPS. It is now my theory that there are only two possible ways Arthur doesn't react to Merlin's magic, even when he's casting spells in the middle of an entire group of knights: 1) he already knows, because he's not a moron, and is Just Not Mentioning It and even helps to make sure nobody else ever follows through on what they've noticed, or 2) Merlin's magic is reacting subconsciously to his desire not to be caught and so is, I dunno, editing people's minds or making them look the other way or doing whatever it takes to make them Not Notice.
PPPPPS. In conclusion, no matter how much it might piss me off and make me cry and make me question all of my values regarding concepts like `decent writing` and `character development` and `plausible deniability`... In spite of everything, Merlin owns my soul.