>:(

[such_heights]

This interview with Julian Murphy is so aggravating.

One of the biggest revelations of the series was how great an actress Angel Coulby is as Gwen. You suddenly realised how underused she’s been before now.

“I think she has done fantastic stuff. It’s always difficult with those kind of characters. In the first two series with Gwen and Morgana it was hard to give them big and meaty roles. Now Morgana is evil it’s much easier to give her proactive, proper stories. And in Gwen’s case, now that she has a real status of being Arthur’s future queen – well, potentially – and her role a growing and increasingly important one, I think you can see what Angel really can do as an actress.”

Angel and Katie McGrath (Morgana) still complain in every interview that they want to do more swordfighting.

“Yeah, they’re always saying that.”

So, are you going to let them?

“I do let them do a bit. Well, Morgana. They did do a lot more riding in this series. But, yes, I’m conscious of it, and I’d love for Gwen to do more action, but I think for the audience we’ve always got to stay within the bounds of fantasy credibility. If we can engineer it, we’ll do it. If we can’t, we have to be realistic.”

...



Eesh, I cannot wait for this season to be over so I can get on with my life. And not even touching all the 'ew, fans' stuff because WHATEVER.

Stupid show with its stupid yet adorable characters who I am still invested in and thus cannot let go! OPEN CANON FANDOMS ARE STRESSFUL, ACK. But tomorrow is the finale and then, sweet sweet hiatus.

Comments

BEST GIF EVER

[glass_icarus]

OMFG WHAT. All of this is just so infuriating, I can't even-! So evil women get to be proactive, I see! FASCINATING. Also, a real status of being Arthur’s future queen

a real status

A REAL STATUS

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!? GRRRAAAAARRGH!

Re: BEST GIF EVER

[such_heights]

SHE'S ONLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO MARRY A RICH WHITE GUY. D:

[gloss]

we’ve always got to stay within the bounds of fantasy credibility
I lol forever and EVER at the idea that the show has any fantasy cred. That's part of the charm, isn't it?

Also, that gif is pure win. <3

[such_heights]

Hahaha, I KNOW. This show is srs business so delicate ladies can't have much to do, obvs.

[allothi]

I, um.

*weeps*

[such_heights]

*holds* I know, I know.

[netgirl_y2k]

Oh. Dear. Every time I start to think that pulling way, way back from this fandom was a mistake something like this pops up.

Also: If we can engineer it, we’ll do it. If we can’t, we have to be realistic.”

Can I just say. Giant. Talking. Dragon. That is all.

[miarrow]

Not to mention it's already been previously established that she can fight. You know, well enough to kill a dude with a spade and steal his weapon offscreen. THEN AGAIN who cares, since no one on this show gives two shits about continuity or how many gender fail issues they have.

[such_heights]

The giant slash dragon of the patriarchy is a much more realistic fantasy tropes that girls with swords. Obviously.

Your decision to totally pull out is looking more appealing by the day!

[glinda]

The only appropriate response to that interview is your gif. *nods*

[such_heights]

I also deeply enjoy your icon's views on the subject!

[glinda]

Tis a good icon - and sadly one I have to use a lot. (I feel your Gwen 'what is this fuckery' icon says it better but, I can use this one in 'polite' company)

Zoe would also like to express her displeasure.

[wildestranger]

Why is that people in charge of wonderful programmes are so often wrong in the head? *smites them all*

[such_heights]

Right?! ESPECIALLY when it bleeds through more and more into said programme, ugh.

[bradcpu]

This exchange in the comments was quite interesting:

(From a fan): I’m not a slash fan myself but calling any portion of your fanbase “that lot” — really, what were you thinking? So, to the interviewer — did the comment lose something in the translation? Is it possible he didn’t mean to sound a derisive as he did?

(From the interviewer): Hmmm, yes, the slash comment was a direct quote but I can see now that written down it comes across as a more brutal than Julian meant it. Certainly he was laughing at the time, and just expressing amazement at what people see in the show rather than condemning anybody for doing so. I’ve now edited it to tone it down to avoid any misinterpretation

[such_heights]

Huh, I wonder what it said before the edit, then! Honestly, I do appreciate that some sections of fandom can be a little, uh, overwhelming for the people involved in the show, but it's getting to the stage where I'm reasonably sure I don't want to listen to creators talk about their fanbases any more, it always ends up making me cranky.

[woldy]

I got to that section of the interview and it made me so angry I couldn't continue reading. I wonder if he realizes that whole section shouts "I'm a sexist asshole! I'm a sexist asshole! I don't care if my sexist assholery undermines the characterization and plot of my show, and my professional relationships with the actresses!" What a fucking moron.

[such_heights]

I don't care if my sexist assholery undermines the characterization and plot of my show, and my professional relationships with the actresses!

Seriously! What the actual fuck?

[grlnamedlucifer]

I think for the audience we’ve always got to stay within the bounds of fantasy credibility.

Because in a show about wizards and talking dragons and monsters, what's really going to throw people out of the story is a girl holding a sword. What the hell. Even if I could buy that argument for half a second, aren't chicks with swords pretty much a basic component of fantasy?

[such_heights]

As your icon rightly demonstrates, yes! EOWYN DOES NOT APPROVE OF THIS SHIT.

[isagel]

So women can only have significant roles if they are a) evil or b) love interests? And they can't sword fight without straining credibility too far? I'm so glad I was informed.

Dear lord, that's the most offensive thing I've read in some time.

[such_heights]

I know right? A woman! With a sword? That's just crazy talk! Which, you know, doesn't even make sense given that THIS SHOW has women with swords on it not infrequently - Morgana, Morgause, sometimes Gwen. But no, steady, don't give them too much power there!

*facepalm*

[suaine]

What an utter cock.

I saw the interview on my flist earlier and I couldn't bring myself to read it, because I already knew it was going to piss me off hard. What did he say about fans? Because he can ask Brad Wright what happens if you tell your fans to get the fuck out...

[such_heights]

Basically the interviewer asks about 'The Coming of Arthur' and wasn't that kind of a double entendre and so Murphy's all 'lol no it's a srs mythological title and *those fans* just see innuendo in everything but whatevs'. I've seen worse, but still. EPIC EYEROLL.

[suaine]

Oh, *those* fans? Like every twelve year old boy with a grasp of English? Because that's the kind of level that sort of innuendo is and quite frankly the rest of us are a little more sophisticated than orgasm puns. To pretend that they didn't think of the pun at all, however, is making me wonder if they're all brain dead in that writing room. I just... I understand it's a joke, but pissing on your fans like that is stupid. And the only way to stay afloat if you're that much of an asshole is if you're really smart. But it looks like Murphy is just a stupid asshole in a long line.

[gorgeousnerd]

So, in terms of ~fantasy credibility~, Lord of the Rings can't have Hobbits of Color, and Merlin can't have fighting women unless they're evil. GOOD TO KNOW. And pandering to the fans in terms of slash? Really?

This is telling me that everything I like about the show comes a) purely by accident and b) from the hard work of the actors. Brb, running off with Angel and Katie forever.

[such_heights]

Fantasy: all about the white dudes. SIGH.

And, yeah, it's always frustrating when you realise that you are not watching the show that the writers are making. I look forward to seeing what these kids do next, and hope it's awesome!

[happydork]

Every time I thought it couldn't get worse, it did.

[such_heights]

Yep. /o\ I enjoy the skeptical look in your icon, though!

[kel_reiley]

...how is letting them do more swordfighting not realistic?

HOW IS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SHOW REALISTIC?!!! WHAT?

[such_heights]

NOTHING ABOUT THIS MAKES ANY SENSE.

[kel_reiley]

you said it, gwen!
(awesome icon)

[anatsuno]

what an utter moronic ass. AUGH.

[such_heights]

Pretty much! It does explain so much about the show, though. Sigh!

[lorax]

Oh ugh. WHY do people in charge of shows end up being such utter dicks so often?

[such_heights]

NO IDEA. But this is indeed why we can't have nice things!

[liseuse]

If we can’t, we have to be realistic.

REALISTIC? SERIOUSLY? YOU WERE GOING FOR REALISTIC? WHEN?!!

*kickity kickity kickity*

[such_heights]

SINCE IT CAME TO PUTTING LADIES IN THEIR PLACE, DUH.

I don't even know. *cries*

[ontology]

oh God I just want to hurt everyone ever right now WITH MY TEETH

(except Gwen and Morgana; they get MUFFINS OF SYMPATHY)

BRB I THINK I NEED TO WRITE ABOUT PRETTY GIRLS SWORDFIGHTING TO GET THIS ROT OUT OF MY HEAD D':

[such_heights]

YES PLEASE. I am comforting myself by thinking about Kahlan and Cara and their swordfighting ways. :D

[xenakis]

Appropriate GIF is omg appropriate.

D:

[elanorelle]

HI RANDOM LURKER.

SO, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT REALISM, JULIAN: how realistic do we think it is, in the ~medieval period this is set it, that an illegitimate FEMALE WOMAN would have had a legitimate claim to the throne? I mean, I know Morgana's got the crown through nefarious means, but as far as I can tell NO ONE so far, not even Uther at the end of ep 12 has actually pointed out the whole ILLEGITIMATE and also a WOMAN aspect. WHICH, YOU KNOW, COOL, but don't talk to me about realism, then, you fucking douche.

It's also not terribly realistic that a woman would be allowed, however talented, to fight the Crown Prince (I'm looking at you, Morgause), or in fact be able to keep her own house when there were no men involved (though I guess Gwen does have Arthur to thank for that, but STILL. It makes very little sense). THIS IS WHAT I HATE. In some respects, they've sidestepped some gender issues quite neatly. But then in (most) others ... they're still so completely fucking awful. RAAAAAGE.

[miss_haitch]

Within the bounds of fantasy credibility? Within the bounds of fantasy credibility??? What does that even mean? There's magic and dragons! But a female character picking up a sword - can't be having that!

[fizzyblogic]

THE GIF IS BOTH NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. *FACEPUNCH*

[lunarwolfik]

Wow, that is made of some incredibly large amounts of EPIC FAIL.

:( :( :(

I don't think there's enough grumpyface in the WORLD to express how many things are wrong with that interview. (your gif is very apt)

[briar_pipe]

SGA taught me to never listen to a word the producers say if I want my blood pressure to stay where it's supposed to be. Merlin has simply reinforced that.

That gif is awesomesauce, btw.

[timeasmymeasure]

Now Morgana is evil it’s much easier to give her proactive, proper stories. And in Gwen’s case, now that she has a real status of being Arthur’s future queen – well, potentially – and her role a growing and increasingly important one, I think you can see what Angel really can do as an actress.

That part killed me dead. I found it hard to believe that there were fans around squeeing over his responses.

Appropriate GIF is appropriate.

[yue_ix]

That first part infuriated me but I tried to move on.

Then the next part, at his “Yeah, they’re always saying that”, I had a long white blank while trying to see something after that sentence. Surely it must be white text on white background. No way he'll just say that and stop there.

Had I been the interviewer, I would have snapped the next question, or maybe try to say it really slowly. Then possibly do exactly like in that gif, at least mentally, at his answer.

Thank you so much, Katie and Angel, for bringing much more into the show than what this guy can ever imagine for you.