hi, have you met me?

Hope everyone had a good American Thanksgiving if they celebrate it. I've been sleeping a lot and eating a lot of food. (The joy of having divorced parents means you get two ridiculous meals but you also have to listen to them bitch about splitting the cost of flying your sister home because what, they can't afford it? Oh wait, no, they're both just incredibly petty about money.)

ALSO, lillianloop and wordweaver06 are coming over today and circa_eve and I are pimping them into Merlin!!

So far, since we don't have time to watch the whole series, we're thinking 1.01, 1.04, 1.07, and 1.10 in terms of the essentials. (And maaaybe 1.08 if we have time mostly because Morgana is awesome in it and everyone needs to share in my ridiculous crush on her.)

Any other recommendations? We'll possibly show them the DVD extras as well, because Meg and I need someone else in RL to understand why we're saying "Je suis LOSER" all the time now.



ALSO ALSO, more Merlin fic recs, most of which y'all have probably read already, BUT:

Anniversary by thehoyden (Arthur/Merlin, PG)

Such a charming little story, and it perfectly captures Arthur's emotionally stunted way of expressing affection. Great Arthur voice all around.


August by rageprufrock (Arthur/Merlin, NC-17)

More Pru fic, wherein Arthur and Merlin go back to Merlin's village for a visit. There's a lot of amazing things going on here. Pru writes a great Hunith, and those flashes of King Arthur and the Camelot to come that make me wibbly without fail. Also, naturally, she does a great job with the boys' relationship. Basically I wanted to curl up inside this fic and fall asleep. Definitely a must-read.


Lastly (but not least!), moonythrestrals WROTE MORE FRATBOY!AU. Just as wonderful and delightfully cracked out as the first (WITH A SURPRISE PAIRING NEAR THE END THAT IS AWESOME). I am making dolphin noises here! Go read it!

Or, why yes I am reccing fairly incesty het porn. (WTF Self I thought this day would never come. :)

I know, I know- BUT. It's by shetiger and it captures both Uther and Morgana wonderfully, as well as- best of all- the strange dynamics of their relationship. And it's pretty hot. If you're in anyway inclined to like Uther/Morgana (which hey, anyone who's watched the show has probably had at least one head-tilting moment of "Huh" with them, don't lie) I completely recommend it.

Amour Courtois by shetiger (Uther/Morgana, R-NC-17ish)

On the chance that some people on the flist are either a) wondering WTF is with this Merlin show I keep blathering on about, or b) already watching Merlin but haven't read this yet, I give you:

mistful's REVIEW OF MERLIN SO FAR (Vague but hilarious spoilers through 1.08)

It's hysterical and cracky and so very, very spot on. For example:

MERLIN: So, Guinevere. Arthur or Lancelot?
GUINEVERE: Why on earth would I ever have to answer that question? Besides they’re not my type.
MERLIN: Oh Guinevere, you wouldn’t know your type if it was standing right next to you, blithering about other men, wearing a ridiculous neckerchief and being beakily and unconventionally good-looking!
GUINEVERE: Bet you one million dollars?

Anyway, go read! And thanks to lillianloop for the pointer even though she SWEARS SHE'S NOT IN THE FANDOM. (Suuuuure.)

Probably all of you have read this already, but she posted the second part last night, so it's finished now!

Three Castles- Part 1 and Part 2 by rageprufrock (PG-13)

Pru has written Merlin fic! (Do I need to say anything else?) Hilarious and touching and cracky all at once, as all of Pru's best stuff is. Go read. Now! (YES THIS MEANS YOU, lillianloop.)


Also, a vid rec!

Everything You Want by anime_fangirl_3, (Merlin/Arthur)

I have an 90s, 90s, Oh the 90s love for this song anyway, but besides that, this is one of my favorite fanvids to come out of this fandom so far. The editing is excellent, but more importantly, I really like how the story here is not a saccharine or schmoopy. It's Merlin and Arthur still trying to figure out their Epic Gay DESTINY what they are to each other. Loved it.


(Also, krazykipper, we still need to hash out things! If you want to email me, I'm at merelyn25 (@) gmail.com.)

Seen around the flist, snagged directly from gaffsie:

1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture in your LJ, NOT under a cut tag, of something pleasant, such as an adorable kitten, or a fluffy white cloud, or a bottle of booze. Something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.





I know it's not kittens, but come on. ADORABLE. If I ever decide to become a more bright, sunshine-y person (stop laughing, miripanda) I would totally take Merlin as my inspiration.

Thanks to neptuneskisses for the screencap!

Also, jeez I'm posting a lot lately. Don't worry, I'm sure it will pass and I'll go back to updating this journal once a month.

Slow day at work, so y'all get treated to my blathering about TV. (Count yourselves lucky I will probaby never finish and post my in-depth 7 page essay on High School Musical.)

( I’m going to get my cranky out of the way early and make a brief comment on SGA 5.13 )

ETA: On the other hand, THIS is awesome. *wishes she knew how to quit show, etc. etc.*


Went to a Mad Men Finale Viewing Party with the roommates last night, hosted by the ladies from Basket of Kisses. It was surprisingly fangirly. And Matthew Weiner came by at the end! For serious! Very cool.

( Mad Men season finale spoilers. Also, I met Matthew Weiner OMG. )


Lastly, and a happier note, I finally bowed to the collective will of my flist and started watching Merlin. Loving it so far. The premise is intrinsically slashy, and everyone’s adorable and Anthony Head is it and there’s crappy CGI and clichés and ridiculous magic storylines of the week and it’s totally my fandom happy place right now. I really hope that more writers start coming over to play, because I feel that the universe lends itself beautifully to those of us fleeing coming over from a Fandom O’ Crack like SGA. (Note to self, must get icon.)

Also, Merlin fic recs!

There’s janne_d’s And None But We Can Be Such Kings. This one is really adorable, with good oblivious!Merlin. I also really liked reveal moment near the end- pitch perfect.

One of my very favorites so far is paperclipbitch’s Next Time, I Will Remember This And I Will Say 'No'. It actually has a good plot (one of that totally should be an episode). Even better, what could have been just an amusing set up for wacky hijinks and mistaken identities turns into a seriously interesting examination of power and the power dynamics between Merlin and Arthur in particular. It’s not saccharine or schmoopy and it does an excellent job of showing-not-telling (a problem with a lot of fic I’ve read in this fandom so far). Highly recommended!