Thoughts On Princess Mithian...

[ravenya03]

Holy moly is this thing huge. What started off as a little meta that tried to pinpoint why I was so fascinated by this character's role ended up expanding into this giant essay. I'm not sure how it happened, only that it did. And after I told myself to take a break from "Merlin." Ah well. Maybe now I've finally purged it from my system.

Comments

[roh_wyn]

Fascinating stuff. I'm impressed with your commitment! :)

I'd like to comment in detail, but I honestly don't have the time. And to be honest, I just don't care about Merlin that much. I like it as mindless weekend entertainment, but that's about it.

Reading your post was the most time I've spent thinking about the show since the end of S3, and to be honest, it simply fails to be even remotely good enough for me to spend time meta-analyzing it. (And yes, I'm aware that residual loyalty to Robin Hood--despite its many faults, a vastly superior show--keeps me from indulging any deep thoughts about MerlinBut I appreciate that other people care about the show, even if that level of interest befuddles me personally

[ravenya03]

Heck, I'm rather confused myself as to why I did this. Even writing it, I kept thinking - "why am I doing this?" Yet this episode had been haunting me a little (as well as my frustrations with fandom), and I wanted to get it out of my system. And yes - I do feel better now!

Though most of my analysis concerning Mithian/Gwen IS probably wild speculation with no bearing whatsoever to as to the writers' intentions, all the pieces were fitting together to a point where I simply wanted to join them together and throw them out onto the internet. (Plus, I didn't note this in my post, but I'm currently working on another writing project that mirrors the difference between expectations and reality, and working through this meta helped me figure out some issues I'd been having with that - in fact, one of my characters now bears a striking resemblance to Janet Montgomery in my mind's eye!)

[roh_wyn]

mirrors the difference between expectations and realityI think all of human experience can be explained by the difference between expectation and reality, lol

[ravenya03]

I think all of human experience can be explained by the difference between expectation and reality, lol.

Have you seen the expectations vs reality split-screen scene in "500 Days of Summer"? ;)

I'm fascinated by fan reaction to particular characters, notably Gwen.

Bingo - a lot of the writing of this helped me get over my frustrations with fandom (we've both been there). Gwen is so unlike any female lead I've ever seen in a fantasy show and Mithian so EXACTLY like any female lead in a fantasy show that the subversion in crowning one and not the other fascinated me somehow - whether or not it was the writers' intent; it happened. I probably would have been just as interested by the subversion had it happened on any other show/film/book.

Plus, this episode just got under my skin - I wouldn't say I'm part of the fannish obsession for the show so much as just this particular episode. (And after you've worked on something for a certain amount of time, you feel the need to complete it or else it feels like a waste! This meta kept

[ext_1181123]

Personally, she was a prop for me. She was there to make merls and arthur look good. For people who say, she is what gwen should be, clearly did not compare the two, because Mithian and gwen have the same personalities. Humble, kind, knowledgeable, and lovable. The only difference is status, height, and skin color. Now, on her return, she is only there to do one thing, make our main characters look good, like all the others do. Their appreciation for her just stems from hate of Gwen, but in the end, Mithian's endgame doesn't not matter, because it won't involve Arthur.

[ravenya03]

Thanks!

I'm looking forward to seeing in what capacity she'll return in series 5. It would be great if it involved a creating a friendship with Guinevere, though I'm dreading that it'll instead be an uncomfortable scenario of "oh, I almost married this woman" with Arthur.

[horacemaggie]

I was totally captivated by this entire article. Just amazing. So well done, and I only could wish these writers could have even had it in their minds to achieve what you've put forth here. I totally can appreciate the point that Mithian was booted primarily because of the fact that Merlin, the main character, decided for Guinevere. His love and devotion for Gwen was the deciding factor. In this show, it's what Merlin decides that matters.

I did think this episode, by a new writer, was more beautifully written than most.

[ravenya03]

Thanks!

Honestly, I think that the writers were simply going for the idea that Merlin would attempt to break-up Arthur/Mithian, only for him to realize it was hopeless, and then for Arthur to find his own way back to Guinevere without Merlin's help (through finding the ring and deciding to send Mithian away).

However, I love the Merlin/Guinevere friendship (possibly more than any other bond on the show) and Merlin's impotency seemed to be a theme for the first half of the episode, which was gone as soon as he came into contact with Gwen. Either way, Gwen definitely has Merlin in her corner, and that was the deciding factor here.

[horacemaggie]

We've had a nice discussion about your article at the Arthur and Gwen Fanpop club. You might enjoy reading it here:

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/arthur-and-gwen/links/30914445/title/amazing-interpretation-princess-mithian#comments

[ravenya03]

Ah, so that's where all these hits have been coming from! Thanks! Unfortunately, the link doesn't seem to be working (perhaps the thread has been removed?) I'd quite like to read the discussion there, if it can be re-found.

Wow

[ext_1224370]

I just have to say wow. I also agree with the comment that you gave the writers too much credit. They are not that deep. But then again, they probably are that deep and are finding subtle ways in each episodes to tell certain factions of the "fandom/dandumb" to take that. I really appreciated your analysis.

Re: Wow

[ravenya03]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm under no illusions as to the fact that there's no way the writers planned out this episode as deeply as I describe it, but in saying that, I also think that once a book/film/episode is released, a viewer can take what they want out of it. In this case, a lot of frustrations that I was having with fandom seemed to be reflected so perfectly in what was happening between Mithian/Guinevere, and generally speaking I was just fascinated by Mithian's arc (namely that it was cut-short after starting out as such a "perfect fairytale").

I'm tentatively looking forward to how they'll handle her when she returns in series 5.

[tassja_g]

I love this meta...this episode has been haunting me as well, and your articulated my feelings perfectly. Contrary to popular belief, I do think this episode was a finer moment for the writers, with the farewell scene between Arthur and Mithian evoking a simplistic elegance that's unusual for this show. I concur wholeheartedly that Mithian's lighting, costuming and grand arrival scene were all conscious props to subvert the 'ideal Guinevere' trope. What's sad was how many fans missed the subversion and went right to 'but whyyyy can't Mithian be Gwen???"
I also have lots of thoughts on how Mithian spend the entire time in very modest white-gold robes/clothes while Guinevere was compelled to wear a not-so-subtle harem costume. I may have to write my own meta ;)

[horacemaggie]

Honey, I would LOVE to read your thoughts on the Mithian/Gwen attire thing. Why not do an article at the Arwen club? Nanna (a/k/a HumbleQueen)

[ravenya03]

Thanks!

It's a fine line between giving credit to the show/writers for what they've purposefully done, and writing in-depth meta for things that may or may not exist, but I think in this case there were several scenes in which clear thought had been put into presentation.

The scene where Arthur finds the ring in the forest, for example, may well be one of my favourite scenes in the entire show, simply because they let the actors tell the story without spelling out the obvious (Merlin/Arthur's deep gaze, Mithian being out-of-focus in the background - it's all there).

And besides, even if it was all accidental, it doesn't mean that a valid interpretation isn't there for the viewer to pick up on if they so chose.

I'd love to read a meta concerning Mithian/Gwen's clothing. I have a sneaking suspicion that Guinevere will continue to wear purple as her primary colour throughout S5 (to denote her new station), whilst Mithian will stick with white/gold.