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IMHO "Merlin" (1.10): Merlin decides to come out!
Finally! NBC aired two episodes of Merlin last night, and after ten episodes, they finally showed one with a fair amount of hoyay (or gay subtext). Merlin's home village is threatened by a warlord, but when his mother comes to Camelot asking Uther for help, he turns her down. So Merlin decides he must leave Arthur and go back to the village. (Incidentally, what about all of Merlin's vows in earlier episodes to protect Arthur — his answering of the dragon's call, and that their destinies are completely intertwined, etc. etc.? All completely forgotten, at least for this episode.) Anyway, the hoyay is soon flying fast and furious. Why did Merlin leave his village in the first place? "I just didn't fit in anymore," he says. "I wanted to find somewhere where I do." When Merlin talks to the former village bully, the bully says, "Why did you leave? I wouldn't have told anyone." Later, Merlin says, "If Arthur doesn't accept me for who I really am, he's not the friend I hoped he was." In the show, Merlin is talking about his secret ability to do magic. But he's really talking about being gay, right? "The moment of truth" from the appropriately-named title is the moment when Merlin decides to use his magic to save his village — despite the fact that Arthur will then know the truth. Basically, Merlin decides to "come out" to Arthur about being gay a sorcerer. The problem is, when Merlin finally does use his magic, he conjures a wind that sort of blows the warriors away. Seriously? Wind? Then, before Merlin can admit the truth to Arthur, the dying warlord tries to shoot him with an arrow, and the former village bully throws himself in front of it, not only saving Arthur's life, but also declaring, in his final breath, that he, not Merlin, is the gay one the sorcerer. (But, um, why doesn't Merlin use his magic — the magic that he just used — to save him?)
Anyway, the show finally gave me some reason to justify my writng all these recaps (other than the geek-lectable Colin Morgan!). But can I just say? I think the hoyay on this show was wildly over-stated. American shows like Smallville and Xena: Warrior Princess were doing more subtext than this ten years ago. Were our U.K. readers just overly excited because someone was finally doing it with an English accent? There was also a second episode last night, "The Labyrinth of Gedref," that pretty much proves my point: almost no hoyay whatsoever. So I'm not even going to review it. Neener, neener, neener! Submitted by on Mon, 2009-08-17 10:45. |
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100% in agreement
not only is the hoyay overstated...
the show is also kindof awful. your example of merlin not using magic to save someone pinpoints the problem i have: the characters are STUPID. they just don't ever seem to act rationally.
Up Arrow Indeed!
I shared deegeezee's sentiments when I saw episode 1 of this show. I almost completely wrote it off and believed it would be cancelled. NOW, I Love and embrace this show and am begging After Elton readers to watch this show and try to keep it alive. My reasons:
1) Hoyay or not, the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur is getting better with each episode. Remember when Friends started out? The chemistry was pretty good, had potential, and eventually became the stuff a hit show requires. It is the same with this show. Merlin and Arthur are bouncing their lines and their aggravated glances quite well now.
2) Awfully great! This is where our Mommie Dearest, Valley of the Dolls, and Showgirls senses come in. I won't pigeon-hole/stereotype us by saying we gays all have the innate sense of separating plain awful (ABC Family's My Life as a Teenager) from awfulicious (like the movies I previously stated), but many of us do have this sense and I believe this show definitely fits into the latter category [awfulicious].
3) Both Merlin and Arthur are getting cuter with each episode. Episode 1: "Well, they're both definitely unconventional, but are they cute?". Episode 10: "I want to pillow talk with Colin Morgan all night. I want Merlin and Arthur to fight over my affections for each of them." Colin Morgan climbed to my personal Top 10.
4) All of the actors/characters are getting better. Guinevere's and Morgana's roles are getting better. Unfortunately, Uther needs a few more layers added to his character.
5) It's fun! I was definitely weirded out in Episode 1 with how they completely threw the familiar Camelot Lore out of the window. After Episode 3, I realized the writers were saying "So what? If you can't set aside what you know (which isn't even fact, anyway) about this lore, you can't have fun with it." Thus, when familiar characters like the hot Lancelot come in, just take comfort in knowing the name, and then let the writers tell their own story. They actually do a good job.
Well, I was waiting for this thread just to say all that. Catch back episodes of this show on hulu, keep an open mind, and be entertained.
Regards,
The Wire Hanger
Merlin
No Hoyay in Episode 11? I
I'd agree with that
I also thought that episode 11 showed a great bond between them, and was a good follow up to episode 10. The Merlin/Arthur relationship was crucial to both these episodes. In ep 10 it was interesting to see the "tug of war"over Merlin between Will and Arthur. (I saw Will as more of an old friend than a former bully, by the way.) It seemed that, at the end, Merlin chose both of them together, but Will had to give his life so that Merlin could completely dedicate himself to Arthur. I was so sad to see that character die. It seemed a gratuitous plot device, just to give Merlin some cover. But it did remind me of how in action shows where there is UST between two main characters, old flames that resurface tend to die off.
In episode 11, Merlin and Arthur's bond was critical. Merlin sort of represented Arthur's other half. Arthur was the brave hero, full of courage. But that courage could get him into trouble when he used it without wisdom or mercy. Merlin was the wise hero who has compassion and uses his brains before his sword. Arthur needed Merlin in order to get in touch with that part of himself. When he failed, it was Merlin that allowed him another chance. And in the final challenge Arthur succeeds by combining courage and compassion to be a whole complete hero. Arthur needed Merlin to become his whole self. You could say that Merlin needed Arthur the same way, because who knows if he would have found the courage to enter the maze if he didn't care for Arthur so much.
I didn't think either episode was fantastic, but I thought they were both quite good in the context of the series. I don't think Merlin is looking to be high art. It can be cheezy, and the characters suffer from excessive genre-blindness. However, I still think it's fun, and I do see some interesting character growth over the season. And something about the character of Merlin keeps me interested in watching it again.
fetish?
what was with Arthur sticking his bare foot in Merlin's face before they went to sleep?
wait... why were they going to sleep in a 69 position?
this may be kinkier than we think...
oh, btw, it is a pretty foot.
Merlin Sleeping
HoYay and Subtext
Hoyay and subtext aren't really the same thing. Hoyay is really just two actors who have chemistry together. It's an eye of the beholder thing. Subtext isn't completely objective, but it is at least something you can make a case for or against.
Personally, I don't really care enough about the show to try to build up a for or against argument. It was a perfectly acceptable if mindless way to kill 42 minutes a week, but it wasn't much more than that.
I agree.
HoYay
Agreed. As I've been reading these recaps, I've been wondering if I have a different definition of HoYay. It seems like there's too much focus on the lack of undeniable gay subtext. HoYay to me has always been much more of a subjective, in-the-eye-of-the-beholder, they-have-chemistry-or-they-don't thing. More of an overall impression of the relationship, that can then be supported by even the smallest glance or slightest inflection on a line. I think intentional or unintentional subtext, as Dave mentioned, requires at least something in the scenes that can be objectively argued.
Oh, and I think that the second episode had very strong implications for their relationship, whether it be friendship or something more. Whatever other reasons behind who drank, they both were willing to sacrifice themselves for the other.
I don't know...
Really, the show is just fun entertainment, I agree.
But yeah, the first of the two episodes really had that 'coming out' sort of vibe. Although I don't think his friend (Will?) was a bully... they hugged like 2 seconds after seeing each other.
But the second episode, I just felt like Merlin and Arthur were a couple. I'm not even sure why. The way they interacted, and the story really revolved around just the two of them. They just felt like a couple to me. Like they've been together a little while, y'know, a bit past the honeymoon/ new love phase, and were now pretty comfortable/ secure with each other, and they depended on each other.
Of course I could easliy be projecting or somesuch! 8)
Part of me wonders whether
Part of me wonders whether the reason Merlin is going down so poorly in the US is because you guys don't seem to GET Arthurian legend in the same way. It's a very British thing, a romanticised image of honour, saving the princess, relying on your friends.
You got cowboys. We got knights.
It's such a large part of our culture that seeing it subverted like this is very interesting. Especially the relationship between Arthur and Merlin. The hoyay is not overexaggerated, it's just THERE. There are so many little lines and hints (even ep.10 had Will, the ex-boyfriend) and the looks alone are enough to set more lights flashing than so called obviously gay characters like Will and Jack from Will and Grace, who are just silly cliche tropes.
And btw, episode 11? One of the most hoyay episodes out there - what about the ending where Arthur is willing to die for Merlin? The whole episode is about balance, how much they need each other, etc etc.
Merlin/Arthur
I love love love this pairing, but I have never heard of "hoyay" before. How is it pronounced and what does it mean?
Anyway, I have to agree that the Moment of Truth is by far the slashiest/most gay subtext filled episode, though the one after with the unicorn is sweet too.
HoYay