Women? Relevant to Merlin's Plot? Surely You Jest!

[bana05]

Took Julian Murphy three series to realize this...but he's still missing some key points...

One of the biggest revelations of the series was how great an actress Angel Coulby is as Gwen. You suddenly realised how underused she’s been before now.

“I think she has done fantastic stuff. It’s always difficult with those kind of characters. In the

Comments

[yalegirl03]

Very on point rant. There is really so much that can be done with Gwen's character beyond the romance. I appreciate how some of the writers play up her friendship with Merlin and give her some agency beyond eye sex with Arthur. The Eye of the Phoenix was great for that. It could have easily been another episode that was Gwenless. The same could be said for The Coming of Arthur Part 1. But the writers chose to show Gwen being observant, clever and brave apart from Arthur. I hope we see more of that in the finale.

[bana05]

It would make me SO HAPPY! It's just disrespectful how they've treated BOTH lead women; like, why hold them back to their full potential? Because they can be relevant and autonomous from the menfolk? Are you kidding me?

I'm a big fan

[kohanaflux]

Hi! This is my first time commenting on your LJ but your posts are so much truth I just had to say something. I found your LJ a few weeks ago when I was reading your Martha Jones meta and I loved it so much. I'm really tardy to the party, I only watched Doctor Who for the first time a few weeks ago when they were showing series 3 reruns.

Anyway, I've not seen all of this season of Merlin but I'm getting really into it as well and I heart everything you've said in this post. As you said, what exactly are the bounds of "fantasy credibility"? The boundaries that say sorcery and magic is totally credible but a woman picking up a sword isn't? It still blows my mind that you can give someone a fantasy genre to run with and the best that they can give you is a majority white cast and tired gender stereotypes.

Re: I'm a big fan

[bana05]

Welcome! And wow, that meta...but it still serves me well, and I'm glad you thought it worthwhile!

If you're in the States, Series 3 will be shown in its entirety on SyFy starting in January, so we'll all get to watch it again!

And the producers are suffering from severe blindness when it comes to fully fleshing out the characters without penises, and it's to the entire show's detriment. How much better would the show have been if we'd gotten more insight into Morgana AND Guinevere without it being through Merlin's eyes?

Re: I'm a big fan

[kohanaflux]

I'm American but I live in the UK now so I'm getting through series 4 on BBC 3. I'd rather be watching series 3 lol. Yeah, and the very few episodes I've seen of Merlin didn't have much of Gwen in them so that was a bit disappointing as well as confusing to me considering how important she is to the premise. Still, I'll try to watch the entire series so I can get a fuller picture.

Re: I'm a big fan

[bana05]

Regarding Gwen, that's not going to change much, unfortunately. But when she is present, she lights up the screen, doesn't she?

[angelfireeast]

*head desk* at this whole interview. They really just don't know what to do with women. It's clear they don't understand how to write female relationship as they just dumped all over Morgana and Gwen's relationship this season.

Beyond the confines of 'fantasy credibility' just makes me want to hit my head against my desk over and over again.She's a blacksmith's daughter. I picture her learning to fighting with her brother in back yard. Testing her father's blades, helping her brother to practice while learning to defend herself.

[bana05]

But why would Gwen know everything about armor and yet nothing about a sword? Are you serious, exec producers? I can't with this interview...

[angelfireeast]

*gap* you asking for logic! Don't you know Captain Logic isn't steering this tugboat?

It interview is just group of crap ass excuses not write female characters beyond tiny boxes they created. Love interest and evil, there is much more to these girls. I'd rather have episode giving me reasons for why Morgana turned on Gwen and Arthur then Gasius's love life. Least give Angel more to act with. I love it when she working problem side by side with Merlin. Or activity on her own. And as you said Morgana Le Fay in the legends “smirked” Camelot to its doom.

[bana05]

OMG, if they had just GIVEN US that episode wrt Morgana, the series would've been BEYOND epically better. Because those "filler" episodes...definitely didn't have to be if they focused more on the WOMEN in the DAMN LEADS.

[lostinlace]

I have opinions on this too. I remember once you said not to give the writers too much credit: getting upset about inconsistent!Gwen being inconsistent when it comes to self-defense is giving them way to much credit. When was the last time a show remembered a female character's cannon that they themselves made up.

*smh* so hard right now...

Also I clicked on your tumbler link and OMG YOU WATCH LAW AND ORDER UK!!!! I just want to take a moment to squee about how much perfect Matt Devlin is as a character. It's not just cause it's Jamie Bamber. Really it's not, I swear. It's just he's so naive and shining knight-like. And his crush is so totes adorbs and genuine (Lol Alesha doesn't know he exist sometimes). Even though he's borderline Marty Stu, I loves him.

[bana05]

I've just started L&O:UK, so I don't quite have the handle on the characters yet, but I'm excited to sink my teeth into something, esp since Merlin is coming to an end (of the British run).

But ew, I think I wasn't prepared for the blatant disregard this particular producer has for the female leads and it offends me greatly. I didn't know how offended I was until I started writing a comment on OaF and felt a rant coming on!

[lostinlace]

Woah woah woah...you don't know about the lovely little Matt/Alesha awesomeMcballsness. This is the stuff fandom is made out of, but for some reason the majority of fans push James/Alesha even my sister. Too much power and class imbalance if you ask me. James has too many issues for me to sail his ship. Oh and he's too damn arrogant with no redemption on the way. Matt on the other hand will and has ripped his arms off for Alesha. If you haven't seen 1x07 yet, hold on to something. It's a roller coaster.

Here's some interesting sites: http://community.livejournal.com/bamber_news/, http://community.livejournal.com/louk_mattdevlin/, http://fuckyeahmattandalesha.tumblr.com/ (<- my favorite)

[bana05]

the people i follow reblog that last tumblr all the time. I'm easy though; as long as my girl is being respected and loved, I'll sail the ship, definitely!

[bosoxqt]

*hugs your rant because there's nothing else to add*

[bana05]

great points!

[twinkling_moon]

You made some fantastic points Bana05!! There have been some majorly ridiculous plot holes in the show, and you pointed out some great ones regarding how the lack of use of the female characters really makes no sense. I often wonder if the fact that the show has all male producers (and I think all their names begin with a "J") contributes to some of these nonsensical storylines.

And regarding fanfic, I have to say, you are so right! I have noticed that for many of my fave shows, the fanfic writers do a far superior job than the so-called professionals! I feel like shouting at the writers sometimes and asking "do you even know the characters you're writing for?"

Sorry...rant over!