Let's just pretend it hasn't been eons since I last posted, ok?

[ishtar79]

I'm excited for the new Merlin after two weeks, but as usual, part of fandom continues to suck beyond the telling of it.

Check out this latest gem:


merlin_denial



Their userinfo is basically a lot of whining about season 2, and a list of all the terrible things about it.

Some choice quotes:

"Remember the glorious time before season 2? Before the producers became aware that the relationship between their two leads could be interpreted as romantic and took some desperate measures? Before...

...they made Gwen the new Merlin (and a floozy)?"

First off, I am beyond tired of the bashing and slut-shaming of any female character who dares to have a love life. Secondly...who the fuck still uses "floozy"?

WHY SO MISOGYNIST, MERLIN FANDOM?

Comments

[anehan]

Ishtar, why does Facebook keep suggesting you as a friend for me? (At least, I'm pretty sure it's you.) It's stalking us!

[ishtar79]

Facebook is CREEPY with its advanced Internet stalking!

(Also...feel free to add me, if you wish)

[anehan]

Ok. Let's hope it really is you.

[anehan]

So I got it right.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

What in the FUCK?!

the relationship between their two leads could be interpreted as romantic and took some desperate measures?

Do they mean desperate measures like when Merlin sneaks into Arthur's bedroom or when he tells Arthur, "You've still got me," or when Arthur keeps flashing Merlin his chest all of a sudden or when Merlin got all jealous and possessive of Arthur when another servant tricked him out of his position? Those desperate measures?

Also, I must have missed the part where Gwen suddenly developed magical powers, talked to the slash dragon all the time, bonded with Gaius and grew a penis.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

It's...special, isn't it?

Do they mean desperate measures like when Merlin sneaks into Arthur's bedroom or when he tells Arthur, "You've still got me," or when Arthur keeps flashing Merlin his chest all of a sudden or when Merlin got all jealous and possessive of Arthur when another servant tricked him out of his position? Those desperate measures?

Apparently nothing short of Merlin and Arthur having onscreen sex right after declaring their hatred of those icky girls will be enough for some people.

And yeah, Gwen=the new Merlin? What the fuck?

[rahael.livejournal.com]

...they made Gwen the new Merlin (and a floozy)?"

First off, I am beyond tired of the bashing and slut-shaming of any female character who dares to have a love life. Secondly...who the fuck still uses "floozy"?

Perhaps they actually had a bit of a think and decided not to go with the first word they thought of. For which we must be grateful.

I've always known that people come to slash fandom for very different reasons - but the way that women characters get talked about really bemuses me. BY which I mean, I get shocked and wary.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Perhaps they actually had a bit of a think and decided not to go with the first word they thought of. For which we must be grateful.

...good point. And this is not helping with the RAGE!

The misogyny in fandom is astounding, sometimes.

[heather.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes.

I especially love
...Gwen had no characterization apart from crushing on Merlin and being awkward?

GWEN SAYS FUCK YOU VERY MUCH. (And so do I.)

That place has been ticking me off since it was first advertised. And the Gwen-as-female-Merlin thing never fails to amuse. Clearly they weren't watching the same season 1 OR season 2. WHATEVER, FANDOM, WHATEVER.



Arthur says haters can move to the left AND the right.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

GWEN SAYS FUCK YOU VERY MUCH. (And so do I.)


THIRDED. I must have hallucinated that scene where she told Arthur off in Ealdor (or all the asskicking she and Morgana did).

Clearly they weren't watching the same season 1 OR season 2.

It's possible that season 2 just makes it more difficult for some people to ignore the ICKY GIRLS. And yeah, they're watching a whole other show.

That macro speaks the truth!

[mordyn4]

Well yeah, I really disliked the first two eps and what they did to Gwen's character, but I couldn't be arsed to join a comm just to hate on it. If the eps hadn't improved I just would have stopped watching. *shrugs* There are other fandoms.

I never did get around to reading HP Book 7. I always said I'd read it when I ran out of fanfic, hahahahahahahahaha.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I actually loved the first two eps, but YMMV. But yeah, seriously, when you reach those levels of bitter, maybe it's time to check out.

You're not missing much with book 7!

[nuvolanera.livejournal.com]

I had to look up "floozy" on the dictionary, never heard it before.
That said, since when is she slutty? Just because of Lancelot? ...Also, do they know that Arthur/Gwen & Lancelot/Gwen are actually canon pairings?... I've seen other people on my flist react this badly to the new season, but I stll don't get it :/ The only things I didn't like in S2 is how the men behave with the girls.. not viceversa!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

That said, since when is she slutty? Just because of Lancelot? ...

Female characters are not allowed to have a romantic life, don't you know?

And canon? Arthurian legend? Goes right over some people's heads.

The only things I didn't like in S2 is how the men behave with the girls.. not viceversa!

Like Arthur and Lancelot making all the decisions for Gwen and Gaius and Merlin LYING to Morgana because teh feeble wominz can't handle the truth? Yeah.

[miranda-skye.livejournal.com]

I don't like things about S2, I think the Arthur/Gwen relationship was rushed (I would have liked to see a bit more build-up) and the early episodes were at times very badly written with poor characterisation.

But then I think the writing of the female characters generally has been weak (with occasional exceptions) from the start and, at the end of the day, it's just a tv show. If people hate it *that* much, why not just stop watching?

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I don't like things about S2, I think the Arthur/Gwen relationship was rushed (I would have liked to see a bit more build-up) and the early episodes were at times very badly written with poor characterisation.

...as opposed to the stellar writing from season 1? I love the show, but let's face, I don't watch it for its superior literary value.

[miranda-skye.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone does but I still have an opinion on it *shrugs*

At the end of the day, it's just a tv show. I watch it because I find it interesting; I don't have a particular OTP in this fandom and I'm not inclined to go looking for anything deep and meaningful in the show. It is what it is - light entertainment and escapism on a Saturday night. If people want to start comms to complain rather than just stop watching it ... good luck to them

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I watch it for the escapism too. In fact, my motto for Merlin is 'it's stupid, but FUN!'.

[aegflota.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see some Lancelot-bashing. He's such a disappointing DRIP.

No member of my OT3 should make me want to head-desk repeatedly, ffs.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Lancelot could have been better. I like him more in S2 though.

[aegflota.livejournal.com]

Omg, really? I have to say I liked him more in S1. In the one episode he's been in in S2 I've found myself despising him a little. I mean, really, he couldn't find anything better to do with himself than become one of Hengist's cage-fighters? Seriously? With all those unscrupulous bandits & defenceless villages in need of a hero, THAT'S the best he could do?

Guinevere is way too good for him.

[liluv.livejournal.com]

Ah I couldn´t be bothered to read all the misogynic whining, but I´ve come across a lot of that rot too. Isn´t the trend of slasher fandoms to bash the female characters totally creepy? I wish it could amuse me but honestly? It upsets me. And I do´t get it either. I mean literally. I don´t understand where it comes from and why.

A floozy? Sheesh.

And funny how the author of this poor epistle above (not you of course the original author) suspects homophobia as a reason to push Gwens story, but can´t make an argument without jumping on another -phobia to make a point.

Have to say though, the "Gwen as the new Merlin" thing is new to me. But wow, now I totally see it. They are exactly alike. It will be hard to tell them apart soon...

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

In the interest of fairness, het shippers can bash female characters too, if they get in the way of the OTP (or even the female part of the ship, as demonstrated by all those Spuffy shippers who seemed to hate Buffy). But in het it's somewhat mitigated by the fact there's (usually) one female character they like, and it's not an attempt of total erasure of women. And I have no idea where it comes from-internalised sexism/misogyny? Sexual jealousy of strong fictional female characters?


And funny how the author of this poor epistle above (not you of course the original author) suspects homophobia as a reason to push Gwens story, but can´t make an argument without jumping on another -phobia to make a point.

It's disgusting that they hijack gay rights in order to push a sexist agenda. And it's not homophobia-they wouldn't give a rat's arse if, say, there was suddenly a gay relationship between two unattractive male characters. It's all about teh pretty boys!

[liluv.livejournal.com]

In the interest of fairness, het shippers can bash female characters too, if they get in the way of the OTP

Yes, good point. I particularly remember the slut-calling Buffy received for something I´ve even forgotten.
It seems to me though - but I am not exactly a multi-fandom connoisseur - that het pairings shippers are narrow-minded in their own right and won´t even refrain from homophobic comments (remember "Iz"?), but as you said there is usually one woman they like and they have no problems bashing male characters just as well. It seems less 'directed' somewhat.

And I have no idea where it comes from-internalised sexism/misogyny? Sexual jealousy of strong fictional female characters?

Probably a fatal mix of both. Maybe it´s easier to be jealous of a female character than another male, because it´s closer and then it´s very convenient to fall back on social inherent misogyny to express it. At least that´s how I interpreted some of the Torchwood Gwen-hate. With Merlin I think it´s even more horrible, because the "race" card is pulled and thrown into the mix. Rather disgusting really.

It's disgusting that they hijack gay rights in order to push a sexist agenda. And it's not homophobia-they wouldn't give a rat's arse if, say, there was suddenly a gay relationship between two unattractive male characters. It's all about teh pretty boys!

Ain´t that the truth! It´s probably a bit like a guy watching endlessly lesbian porn saying he does it for feminist reasons...

Very accute observations, my dear. :-) As usual.