Woe be the Day Where it All Ends

                                                      The King In Disney's Tangled

Every great reign has got to come to an end, and it seems that the end of the King Arthur class will be included in this great ending. I will miss this class and everything it was able to teach me about the man and the legend. It explored the depths of the beloved king who I grew up with in writing and through the screen of the television. He was the king that I thought all kings were supposed to be like, and as a small girl of eight watching Quest for Camelot, I thought that our country should also have a king like Arthur. Even when my mom explained that not all kings were good I did not believe her. Even as a kid, I still swore loyalty to King Arthur and even though he was not tangible, his beliefs and charisma had captured the heart of that little girl and continues to hold it to this day. So I was overjoyed to find and take this class on my beloved Medieval King, read about something that was consistently present through my life, and analyze texts for their relevance and believability.  

               

               

                        Tristan (top) and Galahad (bottom) in the King Arthur movie 2004

When I first began this class I thought that I really would not learn much more about a topic that I was well versed in. I believed that King Arthur was just one man with many knights, an evil son, a weird sister, a magical wizard, a loose wife, and a great kingdom. However, there are many faces and portrayals to the King Arthur legend and the king himself. Overall,  I enjoyed learning about his fellow knights the most. This is why the reading of Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory was my favorite reading of the class this semester. This is depicted above with Galahad and Tristan (or Tristram) as they fight their way to victory. I enjoyed hearing about the men who protect the king and are usually left in the shadow of Arthur or the other two well known knights: Lancelot and Gawain. In Malory's book he explores two knights that I had barely heard of before and it refreshing because with the new knights that I was learning about, there was a new adventure and story. There was a grail of greatness and a religious aspect to King Arthur that had nothing to do with war and defending God through combat. Also, Galahad was Lancelot's son, which frankly, I never read about the knights of the Round Table having children. There is a story of a boy of relatively noble birth fighting for greatness and honor without revealing his name because he had killed the son of the liege who he stayed with to heal. So Sir Tristram and his secretive name Tramtrist was a humourous and exciting twist on the King Arthur legend. It delves into the mind of a man and his journey to become a knight, much like the story of the Grail and how Galahad had refrained from fighting and sin to achieve holy goodness. They were exciting stories because they were new, and different, and although they were dry at times, I liked their message and story!

             

                                           Arthur's death  in the TV show Merlin

Although this class has explored the many faces of Arthur, including the child, teenager, adult, and old man who explored different gateways and personality traits like being righteous, honorable, lazy, ambitious, dependent, and wise I have realized that in the end, Arthur always dies. That he is human and not a machine that keeps going into time and space as an immortal shell of a man. He dies from flesh wounds just as his men do, and that makes him real, a leader that risks his life, and can die by the hand of a sword. Just like he is depicted in the Merlin series above; Arthur dies and his good friend Merlin watches him drift off as preparations for his Viking funeral. However, besides getting to read about Arthur's knights and their stories on becoming a chivalrous representation of the Round Table (and sometimes not) I was really happy to see this vulnerable side to Arthur. Although he may have Excalibur, steel armour, and a barrier of knights defending him he still fell because he was still a man who bled. The difference between Arthur and other kings also became apparent through this class. Arthur wanted a kingdom full of people; not an empty kingdom full of wives and children waiting for fathers, brothers, and sons to come back from a battlefield.   

Knight Life

I actually found myself weirdly liking this book. I know we didn't read all of it (we so don't have the time for that)  but I think we managed to get a general feel for the book.
It's a totally ridiculous setting for a King Arthur story but it also seemed to work. While I think it's bizarre (even with today's explanation) that Arthur would not run for an office in his own damn country, I guess New York is as good a place as any for a man with no believable history to start over. And then immediately run for office. Plot holes. So many plot holes.

I think the biggest problem I have with this story is probably Gwen. I can accept Arthur's nonsensical run for office and the fact that he knows nothing about politics or society. I can accept a reverse aging Merlin and scaly demon people. I'm just so fed up with lame, bitchy, treasonous renditions of Gwen.
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This is my Gwen. I'll admit it. I think she's one of the best renditions of Gwen ever to be presented. As such I have trouble accepting other versions at times. I understand that the Gwen/Lance love story will always be a thing, although the lack of it in Merlin and therefore the lack of it in Angel Coulby's portrayal may play a part of why I love her so much. This Gwen is brave, smart, beautiful, and loyal. She makes mistakes but she's humble and is always willing to figure her shit out. The Gwen in this book (who unfortunately has been given Angel Coulby's face by my mind) is mediocre at best. And then, seemingly out of no where (who knows what happens in the missing pages) she betrays Arthur for Morgaine of all people? Where did that come from? (I suppose it probably has something to do with Lance but we know nothing about him).

Book Gwen, "Gwen Queen" as if that isn't the most obvious name ever seems like she was dropped into the campaign and is basically a coffee fetcher. Which is so totally uninspiring. She gets one good speech about politics and it's ruined by her tendency to talk "like one of the guys". She's a woman who is clearly being written by a man and it's boring and not very believable.

Sassy nine year old Merlin (who's presence no one seems to question?) is more believable in this campaign than Gwen is. Which, while hilarious, is frankly unfair.

Why is no one questioning the presence of this on the campaign? 
Furthermore, why is no one questioning it when he suddenly disappears!
The book makes me laugh, especially the whole bagel thing (and one other section that I'm totally forgetting) but it also is ridiculous and filled with plot holes and totally uninspiring female characters. So that's my thoughts. Sorry for the two posts in one day thing. That's obnoxious of me.

Knight LIfe: Yet Another Gwen

I’m curious what other people think of Knight Life’s Gwen.  Of all of our readings this semester, Peter David’s Gwen is my least favorite version of her.  David’s Gwen is a sneaky, not too bright, liar. "Adultery Gwen" is not nearly as annoying as duplicitous, in league with the enemy, Gwen.   Gwen’s dialog  makes her sound a little dim with “you guys” and “y’knows.”  Morgana dupes Gwen into being a distraction and knowing participant in yet another act of betrayal.

“Aging backwards” Merlin is okay but scaly monsters magically disguised as waiters?  This book reminds me of a Kinky Friedman novel.  Or better yet, Art Penn running for mayor is sort of like the real life Kinky Friedman running for governor of Texas in 2006. Now, Friedman is running for the Agriculture Commissioner of Texas. If you add together Will Rogers, Raymond Chandler, pot smoking, cigars, an acoustic guitar, and a shot of tequila  you'd get something that sounds and looks like Kinky Friedman.  Friedman is a novelist, a musician (Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys), and a politician.  Kinky Friedman has a  line of merchandise and is a master of self-promotion.  Many of Friedman's You Tube clips contain offensive language. 

Why Merlin's Guinevere is the best Guinevere

During my Merlin presentation I repeatedly mentioned that it was my favorite and in my opinion the best representation of Guinevere I’ve encountered so far. Reading the excerpts from the Mist of Avalon has just reaffirmed that opinion. Gwenhwyfar is apparently the picture perfect beauty, so much so she causes the proud and strong Morgaine to become self-conscious, but all I see in her description is a wimp, a lost little girl who is pretty pathetic, especially in comparison to Morgaine. I hate that she fits snugly into the “damsel in distress” category.  I prefer a Guinevere with more bite to her.  I’d say I liked T.H. White’s Guinevere a tad more, but she tended to be too whiny and self-centered, much like the other Guineveres we have seen in our readings.

Movie wise I have yet to be impressed by a Gwen. With the exception of Keira Knightley’s Guinevere in the 2004 King Arthur movie, most other film depictions of Gwen make her meek and a very flat character, yet again a damsel in need of constant saving. And honestly the only reason I slightly like King Arthur’s Guinevere is because, well, it’s Keira Knightley and I think she is nice to look at and I’m not afraid to say so!

Anyway, Angel Coulby is by far the best Gwen recorded either by pen or film. (Also, I see it fit now to warn you all that spoilers of the show may follow in my rant about how great she is). 

First off, she is not the typical image of Queen Guinevere, which is one thing I truly love. I don't think I have to explain much in the way of how she is different, it's pretty obvious, but I will make the comment that part of her appeal as Gwen is that she isn't the traditional pale skinned beauty that most other adaptations described her as. BBC provides us with a unique and beautiful Gwen, which is truly refreshing. 

We don’t know much about Gwen’s background besides that she has a living father (for the first few episodes) and a brother who becomes one of Arthur’s knights of Camelot.  She serves as Morgana’s servant but their relationship is not so formal, they are best friends in truth, rather than mistress and servant girl. Not only is she mentioned to be a gifted seamstress, but she also knows a great deal about how to mend armor and work with weapons because her father is a black smith. In my opinion she gets major bonus points for such a skill. Merlin’s Gwen is not afraid to break social barriers that usually constrict women. And although she initially is timid and awkward, as the series goes on she begins to grown in self-confidence. Initially finding Arthur to be unapproachable and unlikable, as time passes she begins to open up to him. However, she never becomes doe eyed and enamored with him, or even Lancelot (with one exception, but she was under a spell so it doesn’t quite count). Gwen doesn’t fit the girly type. She’s brave and loyal and everything I want in a leading lady.

And let’s not forget that she eventually becomes the queen of Camelot. Talk about climbing the social class ladder! 

I’m not saying it wasn’t a very challenging climb, the director of the show tried to make it as believable as possible (or as believable as any BBC show about magic can be), but she made it none the  less and stood up against the nay sayers, the principle one being Arthur’s own father. When she does become queen, she rules alongside Arthur, and in his absences she is strong willed ruler. we can also assume that after his death she continues to rule Camelot as Queen Regent, which shows how respected she is despite her "low" birth. She does not shirk away from the responsibility.  She also has a darker, manipulative side to her, which I absolutely LOVE. I want a Gwen who isn’t perfect, a Gwen who gets a little power hungry and creative with her royal liberties from time to time. That keeps things interesting!

Anyway, that is my rant about Merlin’s Guinevere. You should all give the show a try, if not for the best Gwen yet, then at least to hear Olivander’s voice come from a cheesy CGI dragon.

2 of 5

Noah's Tardis Emporium? What?

Alright, I’m not going to lie. I haven’t read as much as we just did in The Once and Future King in any other book since summer. Yay for college work overload!

Anyway, I think this reading has been my favorite so far. To be honest, I have grown up thinking of Merlin as some old dude with a long beard and a robe covered in stars. Of course he’s a funny character because who can take a man seriously with that fashion sense? Also, Arthur has never been that brawny and such a handsomely awesome death machine warrior king. I guess I have Disney’s Sword in the Stone to thank for those associations because I’ve never taken an interest in the adult versions of King Arthur stories. I know I’m a terrible human being, but I’ve missed a lot of “classic” movies. So needless to say, it was a relief to read something I’m used to visualizing instead of some demonic creepy baby nonsense and assuming Arthur never started from the bottom (sorry Drake ruined that phrase for everyone).

I like reading about Arthur as a child before he became king because he actually does stuff instead of sitting on his throne chowing down while some form of the oddest entertainment takes place. Wow, I thought my Netflix weekend marathons were lame.

So did anyone else think Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium meets Noah’s Ark while reading about Merlin’s hoarding problem? Except, Dr. Who let Merlin use his tardis to accommodate all that random stuff in such a small place. Wow, my nerdy-childish side is showing. That’s embarrassing. Anyway, apparently Merlin borrowed Marry Poppins' bag as well and used it as a hat. So dead mice and worms… no wonder he doesn’t mind Archimedes pooping everywhere.

Overall, I like the comedy in this reading. Other stories have had humor, but it’s usually funny because something is happening that is very unrealistic.