{Do you believe a man can fly, Clark?}

[ardensregina]

+ I'm ~~almost done catching up with Merlin. atm, I'm waiting for megavideo to let me watch the rest of 1x10 because apparently I've watched 72 minutes of megavideo today and have to wait 54 minutes before I can watch 72 more. (It doesn't make any sense to me either.) So far, it is without a doubt the slashiest show I have ever seen. Ever. I mean, I'm really not a slasher by any means and even I am like OH MY GOD THE MERLIN/ARTHUR HAS SLAYED ME DEAD. And Anthony Head's presence still has me all like ~~GILES!!!~~ and the parallels to Smallville never, ever end. Seriously.

So while I'm waiting to be allowed to see what I have great suspicion (please neither confirm nor deny) to be a ~reveal of epic proportions, I give you my pic!spam detailing the parallels, in case anyone didn't believe me.

Smallville and Merlin are both television shows based on already existing mythology which is generally known by the audience. They both center around a well known character in culture as a teenager. They both feature as protaganists a young man with a great secret which he must keep hidden from the world for fear of his life. Both Clark Kent and Merlin befriend men in positions of power, Lex Luthor and Arthur Pendragon respectively. Both feature great nods to the mythology that their based off of and both are both told in a genre that is somewhere between cheese and crack and epic awesome.



THE HERO. Merlin and Clark Kent. Total dorks. Seriously, the dorkiness at times underminds the heroicness, but at least it throws people off the trail.

btw. That picture of Clark? Amazing y/y?



THE POWERFUL FRIEND. Arthur Pendragon and Lex Luthor. Both are heirs to the own empire and both have destiny's completely linked with the hero's. Powerful, cocky, famous and surprisingly kind hearted.




THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. Lady Morgana and Lana Lang. Beautiful, strong willed, independent, kind. Both are orphans and both owe their lives on more than one occassion to the hero, but are not aware of this.



THE SMART GIRL. Giuenevere and Chloe Sullivan. Smart, quick witted, funny and in love with the hero.

(Please excuse the Lionel in the Chloe pic. Would you believe that all of Allison's early promo shots are horrendous, despite her goregousness.)



THE FATHER FIGURE. Gaius and Jonathan Kent. They guard the hero's secret and serve as a constant reminder that it must remain a secret at all costs.



THE MEANIE DAD. Rupert Giles Uther Pendragon and Lionel Luthor. They run their empires mercilessly and feel that in order for their sons to be up to succeeded them, they must be very harsh fathers. These two recover the hero's secret is the hero's greatest fear.

(haha NO I CAN'T GET OVER THE GILES THING! I sit there like GILES STOP BEING MEAN! No really. I literally say that to my computer screen.)



THE METOR. The Great Dragon and Jor-El. Both non-human characters who know the hero's destiny and try to set him down the right path.

(heh, the Fortress was the only way I knew how to picture Jor-El, okay??)



THE YOUNG LOVE. Merlin and Gwen and Clark and Lana. These poor ships are so, so doomed. But so, so adorable.



THE SLASH. Because these are the two slashiest shows I have ever, ever watched.
(and according to chickadilly the creators of Merlin based Merlin/Arthur on TEH CLEX. It is obvious.)

(and please excuse the Tom & Michaelness. I couldn't find a decent Clark & Lex pic and the awesome of that one is legendary.)

RUPERT GILES ANTHONY HEAD AGREES WITH ME.

And Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Keira Knightly are twins. Look:



And just because I wanted to post this. Because it is awesome.




I'm totally officially on Thanksgiving break, btw. I go home tomorrow night. :D

Comments

[svgurl.livejournal.com]

Everyone keeps recommending this show ... I have to see it. :D

I love how you compared the characters and it fit so perfectly. That's awesome.

That first picture of Clark IS adorable! :D

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

It's really good.

Those comparisions were begging to be made, it seriously scary.

OMGIKR? I CAN'T GET OVER IT.

[chickadilly.livejournal.com]

Well, that's what I was told by someone who's a fan but IDK for sure.

You got me all curious to watch now. :D

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

I just wouldn't be suprised at all if they modeled the whole show on Smallville, I couldn't help but post this because the similarities are so, so striking. It's incredible!

If you like early SV, you'll like Merlin. :D

[iamlillykane.livejournal.com]

OMG I LOVE YOU

I LOVE THIS

KEIRA & KATIE <3

AWW, GILES.

AND THAT LAST PIC? I SO HAVE THAT. ITS EPIC

i cant decide whether i should use a merlin or smallville icon...

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

HEE! I THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE IT.

btw, when I was watching The Beginning of the End I totally saw Merlin/Morgana sparks. :D It's easy to ship just about anybody on this show.

[iamlillykane.livejournal.com]

:D :D :D

i know, right? you can ship everybody with everybody. lol.

your icon makes me giggle.

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

:D

[syxstring.livejournal.com]

Everyone keeps raving about this, and I still have yet to watch it.
But oh my god RUPERT!!!

Thanks for sharing this!

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

It's very good. If you like the early days of SV, you'll like Merlin.
IKR?

hee, you're welcome!

[snowlullaby.livejournal.com]

And Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Keira Knightly are twins.
yes yes yesss <333

I love the comparisons you made!

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I thought everybody would be like "no, you're crazy" but I look at her and I'm like KEIRAAAAAAA.

thanks! :)

[rizny.livejournal.com]

GILES IS PENDRAGON WHUT?!?!

OMG, I need to watch this. *goes to look it up on Wikipedia*

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

YEAH OMG HE'S TOTALLY KING UTHER IT'S TOTALLY AMAZING.

[canneverbe.livejournal.com]

What?! I thought I dropped a comment here! Guess now is a good time. lol

This is excellent. *squishes* I love Smallville comparisons and juxtapositions with other materials. Thanks so much for sharing! XD

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

lol don't you hate it when that happens? :)

thanks! :D It was begging to be made, the similarities are so striking!

[starry-dawn.livejournal.com]

OMG OMG OMG OMG. This, it is PERFECT.

The Morgana/Lana comparison saddens me, but it's true. :/ The dragon/Jor-El comparison is the best one! *snort*

So, if Merlin/Gwen are Clana, Arthur/Morgana are ... Chlex? \o/

Also, YES on the Keira Knightley resemblance. It's CRAZY.

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

So, if Merlin/Gwen are Clana, Arthur/Morgana are ... Chlex? \o/

Oh dear! Maybe?

WHAT ICON TO USE????

[starry-dawn.livejournal.com]

*stares* That one's good enough, I think! :D

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

ISN'T IT EPIC?

[starry-dawn.livejournal.com]

YES. YES IT IS.

[stewardess.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was especially pleased to see the Lionel/Uther parallel.

Lucas = Mordred
Kryptonians = Sorcerers

Hmm. Merlin needs a Pete Ross. I suppose Gaius fills that role a bit. Oh! It's Lancelot! The friend who knows about the power...

I hope the Merlin writers do not make the mistake of Smallville, and try to stretch the story out over too many seasons. Both Superman and Arthur have tremendous amounts of "canon" to draw on, but I want stuff to happen: Arthur learning about Merlin's magic, Gwen and Arthur's relationship, Morgana's power...

[burningqueen.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
And you're absolutely right about the Lancelot/Pete thing. (Man, I miss Pete.)

[euraylie.livejournal.com]

Here by the way of hils LJ.

I love how this show resembles SV so much. Smallville left a huge hole in my heart which Merlin is slowly healing (although nothing could quite ever match the chemistry Clark and Lex had).

I love all the parallels you've drawn. Lionel and Uther are both magnificent bastards who screw with their sons' heads.

A looong time ago I used to like Lana, as I do now Morgana. I hope she never goes the way of the pink squirrel.

"haha NO I CAN'T GET OVER THE GILES THING! I sit there like GILES STOP BEING MEAN! No really. I literally say that to my computer screen.)"

I have massive problems with this as well. It's like I'm all loving Uther but then suddenly it makes me sad that he can't be more Giles like.