/o\

[elisi]

Miss M and I have abandoned tonight's Merlin, feeling like this (No No No Cat):

(Miss M chose the icon & the mood! I am cynical and don't trust writers. Plus, I already survived throwing a teenage birthday party today. I only want NICE THINGS now.)

Comments

[cmattg.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, because of my friends list and the LJ Youtube bug, this comes up as a video called "The Day The Earth Nearly Died".

[elisi]

Really? How odd. I'll put in a direct link, because it's a fabulous little thing. Thank you! :)

[kerkevik.livejournal.com]

I took one look at ASH and his acting and abandoned it a long time ago :-)

Ray.

[elisi]

LOL.

I never watched it until very recently and it's VERY PRETTY, but... not pretty enough to distract from the most recent plot twist. (I rather enjoyed ASH chewing the scenery though - I thought that a plus!)

(By the way, a letter has arrived for Miss M - would it be from you? We've not opened it yet, as it's not her birthday until Monday.)

[kerkevik.livejournal.com]

Not from me no, I still have to write that fic *ssh* ;-)

I might watch the Dr Who xmas story again this year though probably not the series again. No Rory; no Amy; no me watchee :-)

Though I have an idea for a River meets Ace story in my head :-)

Ray.

[elisi]

Not from me no, I still have to write that fic *ssh* ;-)
Don't worry, I've not breathed a word! *wonders at mystery letter*

I might watch the Dr Who xmas story again this year though probably not the series again. No Rory; no Amy; no me watchee :-)
Aw. I hope you enjoy the Christmas story though. <3

Though I have an idea for a River meets Ace story in my head :-)
I would give my right arm to see that on screen - although the 'verse would probably implode from too much awesome. Looking forward to seeing what you might come up with though.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

I watched a couple of episodes of Merlin a year or two ago. I think I would have loved it at age 10, but the lack of logic made it too frustrating at this point in my life.

But very pretty!

[elisi]

I've not really watched until this season, partly because everyone's grown up now and the stories are richer... And then they go and introduce Annoying Trope Number 23 and I get grumpy. The pretty probably won't be enough.

Ah well. That's life. :)

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Hee. I gave it a try because a lot of people of my flist seemed to love it. Meh. Even with ASH chewing his way through the scenery it was just too Meh. though I find myself wondering which trope is annoying #23?

[elisi]

I can sort of see the appeal (everything is fairy tale like - pretty knights in red capes and sword fights, bromances through the roof etc etc), but the writing just doesn't capture me. 'S not really the show's fault, it does what it does very well.

And the latest twist is (SPOILER ALERT!) that Morgana (Arthur's evil sister) has turned his wife evil too and she's trying to sabotage everything from the inside. It's just not my thing, and I don't really care enough to see where they're going with it. (/Apologies to any long term fans.)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*HUGS YOU TIGHT*

That cat is hilarious...omg, that was MAD...whew...

[elisi]

Aw thanks. *curls up*

And the cat NEEDED to be shared. Am off to bed now... Zzzzz.

[promethia_tenk]

And here I was just thinking that I really need something to hate-watch again.

I might go au courant, though, and make it Teen Wolf.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Always, bb *kisses*

Night-night *tucks you up*

[elisi]

Oh you can't hate-watch it. It's much too sweet for that. Everyone is adorable and cute. <3

(So try Teen Wolf, yes?)

[elisi]

Zzzzzzzzzz

[promethia_tenk]

Oh you can't hate-watch it. It's much too sweet for that. Everyone is adorable and cute. <3
*smirk* Excuse me, have we met?



(So try Teen Wolf, yes?)
I might yet. The perfect relationship between hate-watching show and hate-watcher is a subtle and unpredictable one. It is difficult to say what will make for just the right combination of elements.

[elisi]

But they're so EARNEST! (Merlin lies all the time, but he does it very EARNESTLY. Bless.)

And I hope you find a show that is just right! <3

ETA: Oh you added a gif! Heeeeee!

ETA2: Re. Merlin. I don't think you could hate it. Was just talking to Darcy and described it as 'Pretty and stupid', and he said 'Pretty stupid, sounds about right!' *g*

[cmattg.livejournal.com]

Oh I wasn't complaining! It's something to do with the embed process that broke a couple updates back, the right video comes up when I go into comments. I just thought it was funnily appropriate.

[elisi]

I was just happy for the heads-up! :) And yes, it was funny.

[lonewytch.livejournal.com]

I have never ever watched Merlin.

I'm just here to say how awesome the cat video is :)

[promethia_tenk]

Put the first few eps on in the background this evening to take a look. There was a brief, glorious moment in which Gwen Cooper was trying to seduce Giles, evily, so that was a bonus.

But Elisi, I could hate this show with both hands tied behind my back. 'T would be easy and natural! You're right, though, in that it might just be too insubstantial to be really satisfying hate-viewing. * ponders *

[elisi]

No worries - indeed where would the internet be without cat videos?

[elisi]

There was a brief, glorious moment in which Gwen Cooper was trying to seduce Giles, evily, so that was a bonus.
Really? I've only seen a scattered handful of episodes from the earlier seasons (although I've sadly seen the one with the troll FAR TOO OFTEN. /o\). Anyway, King Giles is fabulous.

But Elisi, I could hate this show with both hands tied behind my back. 'T would be easy and natural! You're right, though, in that it might just be too insubstantial to be really satisfying hate-viewing. * ponders *
It would be a little like hating The Sarah Jane Adventures... Plenty of material, but they are trying very hard. And I don't think there's a single metaphor.

[promethia_tenk]

But they're so EARNEST! (Merlin lies all the time, but he does it very EARNESTLY. Bless.)
:-\ I have a fraught relationship with earnestness. It's completely intoxicating when someone gets it right *because* most things do it awful.

ETA2: Re. Merlin. I don't think you could hate it. Was just talking to Darcy and described it as 'Pretty and stupid', and he said 'Pretty stupid, sounds about right!' *g*
Hehehehehe.

[promethia_tenk]

I've only seen a scattered handful of episodes from the earlier seasons (although I've sadly seen the one with the troll FAR TOO OFTEN. /o\).
Why is that always the way? My mom likes to complain that the only episode of Iron Chef America she's ever seen is LOBSTER BATTLE! I am not quite sure what the problem with this is, though, as it features both William Shatner and and OTT crustacean/cleaver action.

Anyway, King Giles is fabulous.
Also looks good in one of those circlet crowns.

It would be a little like hating The Sarah Jane Adventures... Plenty of material, but they are trying very hard
Not an obstacle, I assure you.

And I don't think there's a single metaphor.
Metaphors are always nice, but not really necessary for a hate-watch show. You do need *something* enjoyable in the mix, though, so that you are watching some little bit in a sincere manner. Musical numbers also work (Glee), and I've certainly hate-watched enough soapy things, though I do tend to burn out of those after a season or two (Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy).

I'd forgotten that The Arrow just started. I could get in on the ground floor!

[promethia_tenk]

How went the party, by the way?

[elisi]

It went pretty well. I made them watch The Princess Bride and am very pleased that I have contributed to their cultural education.

[elisi]

:-\ I have a fraught relationship with earnestness. It's completely intoxicating when someone gets it right *because* most things do it awful.
Ah yes... Dunno where this would fall for you.

Hehehehehe
I've mentioned that I love my husband, right? *g*

[elisi]

I am not quite sure what the problem with this is, though, as it features both William Shatner and and OTT crustacean/cleaver action.
Anything with William Shanter is automatically awesome. *firm nod*

Also looks good in one of those circlet crowns.
Oh yes.

Not an obstacle, I assure you.
LOL. Now I want you to watch it, just to enjoy the hating. Clearly I am a BAD person...

Metaphors are always nice, but not really necessary for a hate-watch show.
Oh I just meant that it's one of the reasons it doesn't hook me at all.

I'd forgotten that The Arrow just started. I could get in on the ground floor!
*is lost*

[promethia_tenk]

Ah yes... Dunno where this would fall for you.
Oh, that's no guessing game--it will be awful. Knew that much before I even started watching * nods *

I've mentioned that I love my husband, right? *g*
Once or twice, lol.

[niyalune.livejournal.com]

Funnily I have stuck with Merlin for 4 whole series (and some pretty annoying plots) because of the pretty, my fondness for fix-it fic, and redscharlach's hilarious reviews... Also it's good fun.
But this year I've only managed to watch the first four episodes... My interest has almost disappeared, which annoys me a bit, because I hate to give up shows. Oh well, maybe I'll catch up anyway when I have more time !

[promethia_tenk]

LOL. Now I want you to watch it, just to enjoy the hating. Clearly I am a BAD person...
Oh, the worst ; ) I may need to find a timeline, though, so I can know when the proper hating can start, because it is basically petty right now, it's true. But no worries! I'm sure they'll ruin Morgana and discover angst soon enough, and then it's just a matter of time before they run through their store of serviceable plot lines and then we're golden!

Oh I just meant that it's one of the reasons it doesn't hook me at all.
Gotcha. Yeah, not an excessively deep show, for all appearances.

*is lost*
The Arrow is a super-hero show that just started this season, with all the marks of something I could hate very well. And then, think, I could say that I hated it first!

[promethia_tenk]

That is a service to humanity. I will never get over the time I made an Inigo Mantoya joke and half a room of ninth graders stared back in incomprehension. Scary.

[elisi]

You know, I'd actually be interested in knowing what you think of the most recent developments...

Although if something's not working, it's not working. There's no way of fixing that.

[elisi]

It should be on every curriculum in the world. *firm nod*

[elisi]

But no worries! I'm sure they'll ruin Morgana and discover angst soon enough
Oh TOTALLY. Am still not sure what happened to Morgana. (As in how she developed the way she did. I've not watched it though, so it's possible that there's an explanation somewhere that I'm unaware of.)

Gotcha. Yeah, not an excessively deep show, for all appearances.
Not at all. Although you can play 'spot the trope/cliche' if you get bored. ;)

The Arrow is a super-hero show that just started this season, with all the marks of something I could hate very well. And then, think, I could say that I hated it first!
LOL.

[elisi]

Oh, that's no guessing game--it will be awful. Knew that much before I even started watching * nods *
*snerk*

Well I hope you enjoy your hating if you decide to go for it. Updates in the usual place, please. :)

[promethia_tenk]

I think we can all kinda sense which shows we should not watch. You know it, in your gut. I've just . . . gained a sick fascination in watching them anyway.

Also I like to complain about things. Will keep you apprised ; )

[elisi]

I think we can all kinda sense which shows we should not watch. You know it, in your gut. I've just . . . gained a sick fascination in watching them anyway.
Snarking is good for you? ;)

Anyway looking forward to updates. And sorry I'm so slow in replying, but life is /o\ at the moment. So busy omg.

[promethia_tenk]

Snarking is good for you? ;)
If that's true, I am going to LIVE FOREVER.

Anyway looking forward to updates.
Shall see how it goes. Though I'm finally off for Thanksgiving \o/ And a proper four-day weekend it is too. And I feel like I have been herding five year olds all day, so drinking and insulting television shows sounds like just a fantastic idea right now.

And sorry I'm so slow in replying, but life is /o\ at the moment. So busy omg.
*gloms you and feeds you grilled cheese sandwiches* It will get better sometime, I am sure. Don't you worry about me.

[niyalune.livejournal.com]

(wow late reply, sorry)

Thing is, I liked some things in each episode I watched. But in 5x05 we have Merlin knowing about the future again (it happened in series 2 and 3 from what I remember), it just doesn't feel new. I'm tired about him trying to avoid bad things happening and causing them/they happen anyway. It could be good drama I guess, but it just doesn't seem that way. Then we have Uther coming back, which felt pointless after his death episode from last season, which I though was good. I know Uther's character went back and forth from somewhat layered to totally caricatural, but this was ridiculous. I haven't seen the next episodes, but since I'm on tumblr often, I was spoiled for 5x05 and 06, which killed my motivation to continue. Apparently Merlin had to chose between preventing Arthur's death and the return of magic ? I hate when he shoots himself in the foot in this way (it also happened in 2x08, kinda). I've also heard that Morgana enchants Gwen to kill Arthur, which makes me sad, because I liked how she was in the first episodes this series.
On top of all of this, and it's probably what annoys me the most, there is the fact that Arthur still doesn't know about Merlin's magic and it's way past time. The writers have dragged it out for so long, it makes no sense. And now the show is ending, and I can't imagine how they're going to finish the series. I will probably watch it to the end for closure's sake (I might even like it !) but I'm sad because I was hoping for something better when I started watching back in 2009.

[niyalune.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't realize I had written so much ^^ I guess I still take this show too seriously for my own good.

[elisi]

No worries, late responses are fine! :)

And yeah, I hear you. All of this is a) Why I'm happy I never really watched the show before and b) Why I'm happy not to be invested. If I was, it'd be ridiculously frustrating.

Although re. Uther coming back, then I felt that was very much about Arthur, and being able to finally let go of his father's shadow/influence. (The girls ADORED that episode incidentally.)

Mostly, then I love Mordred, because he's the only ambiguous character on the whole show. I'll watch just for him.

Oh and re. magic reveal (or the lack of, rather), then there is always the delightful possibility that Arthur will SERIOUSLY lose it when he finds out. I like Merlin, but if Arthur decided to just cut his head off, I wouldn't blame him... (I am so callous. Sorry. I do like the show, honest. Plus, it's terribly, terribly pretty.)

/it's late, I'm tired. Hope any of this makes sense

[niyalune.livejournal.com]

I like that about Mordred, too. It's refreshing in this show !

Haha, Arthur losing it would be interesting (minus the decapitation ;)), but if there is a magic reveal, you can be sure it'll be at the end of the season, and there won't be any time for the fallout (geez, I sound bitter, don't I ?).

The pretty is indeed a definite plus :)

[elisi]

I predict that the reveal will come at the end of the penultimate episode.

*nods firmly*