Merlin, Mother's Day & stuff

[wiseheart]

So, I'm six episodes into Merlin, and liking the series more with every new episode. The settings are beautiful - I never heard of Chateau de Pierrefonds before, but it's a gorgeous place - I like the playfully anachronistic air about the whole thing... I even like the monsters, even if some of them are a bit too dinosaur-like. And Lancelot is HOTTT˘.

Erm... yes... I needed to get that out of my system. The young regulars are pretty enough, but a bit too young for an old hag like me to be really interested. Which is okay, since the show's made for young people, so they are the ones who need to identify with the main characters. And while I might still be sweet 16 in the heart of my hearts, sadly, reality looks a little different.

Where was I? Oh, yes, liking Merlin very much. My only complaint is that while they do have a middle-aged male regular (Giles... erm, Uther Pendragon), and even an elderly male regular (Gaius), there isn't a single mature female character on the show. Yes, I know there's Merlin's mother and that she'll reappear in the second half of the series, but that's just not enough.

We not-so-young women are annoyingly misrepresented in the media, and if there is any character of that sort, it's usually evil, mentally challenged or ridiculous. Considering that we carry more than half of the workload that keeps society working, I find that insulting. Modern interpretations of old myths ought to be a bit more open-minded about that, IMO. They could have make Nimueh an attractive mature woman instead of a girlie fatale.

It does have a bright side, though. It means I won't feel the urge to write Merlin fanfic any time soon, which is a relief. My plotbunny kennel is overcrowded as it is.


So, Mother's Day coming up, Mum and I visited this café again:



It's a lovely little place and they have gorgeous cakes. Mum decided that an invitation would be much better than some useless present she doesn't need, so we made ourselves pretty and went there to have espresson and cheesecake with fruit jello. It was delicious, and we had fun.

We also shopped for groceries - hurrah, asparagus season is there again! We'll have asparagus with ham and cheese sauce and parsley potatoes for dinner. Yum!

The next part of Wishverse and the first chapter to "Atlantis Café" have been posted to otherworlds_lib, in case anyone is interested.

And now off for a while to watch more Merlin!

Comments

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Episode 7 is the weakest (in my opinion), but after that there's a run of strong episodes until the end of the season. So just endure #7 :)

there isn't a single mature female character on the show. Yes, I know there's Merlin's mother and that she'll reappear in the second half of the series, but that's just not enough.

I hadn't thought about this, but you're right, of course. And Nimueh could have been presented as an older woman (although I suppose it might then have been harder for her to be seductive towards Merlin).

And Lancelot is HOTTT˘.

He is very nice. I think the actor is also a regular on Heroes.

Glad you and your mum had a good time - the cafe sounds lovely!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That's the Sidhe episode, right? Watched the extras first, I actually like the makeup - the flapping ears are funny - so I'll endure it somehow. Oh, and the dragonfly wings buzzing... yeah, I'm weird, I know.

Re: Nimueh
It's a common misunderstanding that attractive elder women can't be seductive towards inexperienced young boys. Actually, the opposite is true. But perhaps they were afraid of getting hate mail for it, even though I'm told the UK isn't half as prudish in this area as the US are.

I don't watch Heroes. I started, but I got so utterly confused that I gave it up. Just like Lost. What I liked in Lancelot, though, was the fact that he wasn't a boy. Yes, he was young, but he was a young man, not some adolescent. I adore the boys, don't misunderstand me, Merlin's ears are the cutest thing I've seen since I got my teddy bear (the one called Little Shithead), and I even like the brat prince, but as I said, they're generally too young for me. Lancelot, on the other hand - well, he could be my son, too, but I don't feel so much like a cradle robber when I find him hot. *g*

The café is lovely. Should you ever find your way into our backward little country, I'll take you there. It's very near to our house, we could even walk.

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

It's a common misunderstanding that attractive elder women can't be seductive towards inexperienced young boys. Actually, the opposite is true.

Maybe it's just the way I see Merlin - because he has to be watchful, I imagine him being more responsive to the advances of a seemingly innocent, 'non-threatening' girl. Arthur, on the other hand, I can imagine having had an older lover.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I was more thinking along the lines of being impressed, actually.

But I agree with you about Arthur the Brat Prince. *g*

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

>>We not-so-young women are annoyingly misrepresented in the media, and if there is any character of that sort, it's usually evil, mentally challenged or ridiculous.<<

You've got a very good point. Perhaps we ought to make our feelings about this fact known to the powers that be. We do, after all, constitute a large, influential section of the market.

Glad you enjoyed the visit to your fav cafe.

>>We'll have asparagus with ham and cheese sauce and parsley potatoes for dinner. Yum!<<

Yum indeed! It sounds downright mouth-watering. :-)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You've got a very good point. Perhaps we ought to make our feelings about this fact known to the powers that be. We do, after all, constitute a large, influential section of the market.

They would just ignore us as always. The same way as they ignore the fact that while they always aim with sci-fi at males between 15 and 45, the majority of the viewers are females between 20 and 120. So they give us big CGI and sparkling special effects and no characterization, which is the reason why the overwhelming majority of fanfic writers are female. We need to get our fix somewhere, too. *g*

As fort he asparagus, I gave up on the cheese sauce and made it instead with roast ham, boiled eggs and roast breadcrumbs, but it was yummy nonetheless. The ham needed to be used up before it got wrong. We've had it for a week or so already.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

>>They would just ignore us as always. <<

Maybe. Then again... maybe not. Did you hear about the Kenyan women's boycot? lol

>>As fort he asparagus, I gave up on the cheese sauce and made it instead with roast ham, boiled eggs and roast breadcrumbs, but it was yummy nonetheless. <<
Even better! Cheese sauce can be a bit much, unless one is really, really hungry.

PS: PM heading your way in five minutes.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Hey, what is it with your icon being too sexy to display? ;))

You can come to me any time you want. But what's about the Kenyan women's boycot? I haven't heard about that.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

lol - it's a neat icon, isn't it? Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's an empty boast.

>>what's about the Kenyan women's boycot? <<

Here ya go: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f2b087e-35db-11de-a997-00144feabdc0.html

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. I think they have the right idea in Kenya. A disturbingly great number of men seem to be thinking with their "other" head.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

>>A disturbingly great number of men seem to be thinking with their "other" head.<<

*snorts* You are absolutely correct.

I thought the boycott was real cool. Wonder if it worked?

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

They would just ignore us as always.

If you send a comment to the BBC, it is (supposedly) noted in a regular report that's sent to the Powers That Be. The BBC is publicly funded so it has an obligation to listen to feedback. (Of course, it might not act on the feedback.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

*Of course, it might not act on the feedback.*

That's more likely, I'm afraid.

[ajmckay.livejournal.com]

I never saw the whole no mature female thing. Being of an age group that can appreciate both Arthur and Merlin in all forms...with each other...also Lancelot and Uther...I guess I don't look too far into what the show could be missing. *is shallow*

I wish we had little cafes like that. Not that the US doesn't have its fair share of cultural little places, just not where I'm at. =(

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

No, not shallow... just young. Wait a few decades and you'll arrive where I'm now. At twenty-something, things like that didn't bother me, either.

[artemis10002000]

Yep, asparagus session. We had asparagus on Saturday and Sunday, too. Asparagus with melted butter and Semmelbrösel (don't know what that's in English! XD) is very yummy, too!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Asparagus is the food for the gods. It also inspired me to write my very first Hobbit story last year, as you know, so I guess it's inspiring, too. :)

[artemis10002000]

*laughs* And it has less calories than the other inspiration food, chocolate, too :D

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but chocolate is always available!

[artemis10002000]

True, true, and it's so goooood!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

And damn the calories!

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the lack of appreciation in modern media storytelling for mature, powerful women. As a remedy, I shall have to send you "How to Make an American Quilt," at least in book form. I'll try to find the DVD in a version you can view. The film is beautiful, and it has so many delicious, talented, mature actresses: Alfre Woodard, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan, and [sigh] Maya Angelou. And Winona Ryder as the girl-on-the-cusp-of-womanhood is just right: I envy her the opportunity to work with so many fine, mature women in her field. The music is likewise lovely in a quiet, mature way. Mmmm. [must find for Wiseheart]

And I'm with you at that charming cafe, too!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Any time, my friend, any time. It would be my greatest pleasure to introduce you to that little place.

I'm not sure you should burden yourself with hunting down the abovementioned movie for me, though. You know that I hardly ever read or watch contemporary stories; and while I don't doubt your word that it's a great one, I'm just not sure it would be my cup of tea. Many thanks for the thought nonetheless. *hugs*

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Happy Mother's Day to Mum!!

And Merlin, haven't seen or even heard of it here, nevermind, we Aussies will get it no doubt next year.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Jillian! You're back! *hugs tightly*

You'll love Merlin, I promise. I'm going to post a longer analysis of the first season as soon as I've ordered my thoughts a bit (work is being stressy again).

Mum sends her love.