{ late late late. }

[delga]

There is not enough time to make the post I want to make today, so I will scrawl down a few things and then run for my bus.

--

I very rarely talk about Mad Men other than to talk about how much I love the ladies. Sally Draper's character has some of the best growth I have ever seen on a show, and she's a child. I have to admit that with some episodes, I skip portions of the show. I have no shame about that. But this week I wanted to make a small comment on the guest appearance that was extremely pleasing to me. (If you're watching as this airs in the UK, don't hit the cut; thar be spoilers.) Firstly, Peggy's relief at knowing she wasn't going to be fired was hilarious, and I am enjoying the manner in which Don quite obviously wanted her approval. Secondly, Sally Draper broke my heart, being so sweet-natured with Bobby, and at the end, still not really being rewarded for her good behaviour.

Thirdly: MIDGE DANIELS. Oh, hey, so, how about how this episode neatly pairs off with Smoke Gets In Their Eyes? Midge Daniels calls Don the big, bad ad man way back in the pilot; she's there when he comes up with the way to get Lucky Strike back on board. She's his port in the storm at that moment in time. Now, she's run down, and when Don is furious about that stink of desperation that lingers around SDCP, it's such an obvious callback to that same stink around Midge. Midge, whose asshole partner tried to pimp her out. Midge, who seemed so free in the pilot, and who, all this time, has had a downward spiral of her own. (I was always fond of the character; how telling was it when she wouldn't go to Paris that this woman who was always talking to Don about not having ties was the one who was tied to New York and that man who she loved but probably didn't love her?) So, of course, when Don breaks up with tobacco, the illusion that was Midge Daniels falls apart, and becomes dirty. Rosemarie Dewitt was lovely, as ever, and it was just a really good mirror of the pilot in that way. She is forever that idea, now: the muse who brought about it's roasted goes up in smoke.

Lastly, Pete Campbell, hahahahaha. "Why have offices at all? Why not just work out of a cab?!" He and Trudy are a matched pair.

--

Merlin has been terribly good this year. It's not a quality show by any means - it's battling that line between children's show and young adult arena quite a bit, and it's dogged affection for some of the root mythology whilst it disregards the easier bits make it somewhat misogynistic at times: such is the curse of the BBC, sometimes, but also this set of stories in particular. There was a furore a week or so back by one girl who had heard about Camelot (to which my primary response was, how are you only hearing about this show now? And then I remembered how I am the only person invested in Claire Forlani's career) and the responses to that post were fairly typical - people mostly failing to take the hyperbole into account; people failing to see that it's going to be an entirely different show; people using that as a springboard to be bitchy about what is, in general, a kind-hearted production. Merlin is ridiculous because it is written with a certain slapstick bent in order to appeal to little people. Baby Cousin loves it whenever Arthur throws things at Merlin.

I don't like to talk about the show too much because it's a lot of fun, and because I don't think ploughing the depth there does the show favours. Plus, the fandom is stupid beyond belief; either violently pro-women to the extent that they don't remember that Morgana is a villainess, and the story hasn't even remotely been pitched to be about Gwen, or violently anti-women, and sickeningly misogynistic in a way that is worse than the show's causal attitude to its female cast (I'd rather camp with the former, natch, but anyone who doesn't love all four is exhausting for me to interact with). I am not doing that tumblr pledge. a) because tumblr fulfils some basic immediate needs I have, and b) because it is Merlin season, and for me that stays confined to screencaps of joy.

--

(Okay, editing from phone. Please ignore typos; will fix later.) But, anyway, despite the cries from all camps, I genuinely enjoy yhe lighthearted fare, moreso even than Hipster Who a lot of the time. And it has nothing to do with anything but an open affection for the cast. I have loved every episode of S3, and whilst I too wonder why you don't get both leading ladies can't be in an episode with equal weight (ugh, I miss you, S1) (truly, for me, the best conclusion to this show would be a reconciliation with Morgana), I have had fun. There is nuance in the strangest, smallest places - Uther's fatherhood; Morgause's campaign; Arthur's face; Gauis' history. It's such an odd show. And then there are tall, bearded men who wield swords.

I'm just saying: I'm glad Merlin isn't a rapist who gets locked in a tree.

--

I have more to say but I am LATE. Remind me to talk about Spooks, guys.

Comments

[eleigh.livejournal.com]

There was a furore a week or so back by one girl who had heard about Camelot

I saw a bit of that on Tumblr and I just did not get it. I'd heard about the series awhile ago and then I forgot. Because I don't care. Frankly, I always like new takes on Arthurian legend because I like to see what people do with it and, in my opinion, Merlin has been one of the more interesting interpretations. At least in the visual media arena. But then again they're also treating Gwen and Morgana with respect, for the most part, which rarely happens and I'm easy to please.

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

I saw a bit of that on Tumblr and I just did not get it
Me neither! I didn't get HER response, and I didn't understand the wave of petty unkindness that followed it. I get having an opinion, but if you're just going to scorn someone else, why reblog their post to do it? It wasn't even reasoned debate; it was just mean.

(Unrelated: hope your mood has improved. I was irritable ALL DAY, so I feel your pain.)

[eleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I even saw all of the responses to the initial post.

(It's mostly better. Or at least I'm trying. Now I just have a headache I think because it's trying to be all stormy and rainy. I just want to go home and take a nap.)

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I was more sad about Midge's terrible state or Faye being like 'why would we go out to drinks, Peggy?'

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Yes! That whole conversation with Faye was something else.

Oh god, but Midge - to go from what she was to what she is, oh goodness.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

Though despite the drugs, I do think Midge's art has improved. Of course, Peggy's the one running around with the art scene that Midge would love to be part of.