Gwen on Merlin

[oddball888.livejournal.com]

I was watching Merlin for the first time this week. Who else cheered when Gwen not only died once but twice. I feel horrible about it but I did.

Comments

[sandysan2013.livejournal.com]

I cheered as well, but only because Eve Myles was playing an evil witch trying to destroy Uther and Arthur Pendradon. I dislike the character of Gwen Cooper in Torchwood. Eve Myles, the actress who plays Gwen Cooper, doesn't evoke strong emotion in me. I think she's clueless about how and why the character she plays is perceived so negatively, but then, it is working for her to have a writer as influential as RTD in her corner trying to make her a star. I don't blame her for taking advantage of the help. I just wish a favorite TV experience hadn't been ruined by the plan to promote her.

[wanda1969.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, however whenever I've seen EM in anything else- DW, Framed, Merlin- I've found her rather uninspiring. Part of the blame lies with me- I find it hard to see past 'Gwen Cooper', as I've seen more of her in TW than anything else! I suspect quite a few people feel the same way, too, if they've watched TW, as Gwen was so overbearingly awful.
In fact, at first I didn't even give Merlin the time of day as I thought that she was going to be in the whole series!
And yes- TW was a favourite TV experience ruined by RTD constantly pushing her to the fore.

[sandysan2013.livejournal.com]

As it happens, I saw the first episode of Merlin before I ever saw one episode of Torchwood. Then I watched all of Torchwood in a matter of days. In fact, I originally subscribed to Netflix so I could watch Torchwood! I got tired of trying to scrounge around on the Internet to watch it. My lack of patience is demonstrated by the fact it took me less than 24 hours to get "too" tired.

I don't think Eve is a great actress. Too shouty for me in Torchwood and the whole batting of the eyes and such as flirtatious behavior is a little overplayed for someone of her obvious age as far as I'm concerned. It works if you're 12 or maybe 1, but as someone at the far end of her 20s and more likely over 33, its a bit "precious." I didn't think her work in either Merlin or Dr Who was memorable.

I only just got cable on a one-year, really low price deal so if she shows up on BBC America or any other station the showcases British programming I may see enough of her to make another judgement. But, I agree that we're not looking at an actress of any great talent. I just hope Gareth David-Lloyd's new management get him some better acting roles. I'd love to see him. He's got a subtlety about him that is so amazing. He does reserved and internally-conflicted very well. I'd love to see him play loud, outrageous, and very masculine. Kind of like he played smart and snarky in Torchwood but w/more smiles, laughter and obvious sexual interest and happiness.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't watch Merlin when I saw she was in it, but then.....buh bye. Made me happy. LOL

[wanda1969.livejournal.com]

I'm with you! I only caught up with Merlin after the first series because of that very reason!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, I saw her in Merlin before I'd see her in TW, and find her performance overdone and self-satisfactory and altogether bad.*g*

BTW, I'm seriously working on a Merlin/TW crossover, which starts with the opening scenes of "Exit Wounds" and will result in everyone seeing Gwen in Merlin's magic mirror as the ugly, evil witch that she is, and she'll die a similar death. ;)

[sandysan2013.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see this. Gwen is a great character for creating conflict, tension, and drama.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'll post a link when the story has moved beyond Chapter 1. :)

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

I acted as a child and was in some minor German movies, so I think I have a vague idea of what constitutes good acting and Eve is OK but that's all. There is something lacking, to me anyhow, in her acting.

Great actors can convey exactly what they are thinking and feeling with just a slight change of facial expression. We are with them then and feel what they feel. Eve seems unable to deal with emotional scenes in what I perceive as a moving way.

Watching her in Torchwood I was aware from the start that her acting lacked that certain something. This, in my opinion, is hard to teach. Some people seem to be born with it. Others have to work very hard at it.

Getting the Torchwood role and being told constantly how great she was was bound to have an effect on Eve, as it would anyone. Maybe now she's free of RTD she will improve. I don't know.

I have never watched Merlin, mainly because I find it hard to get interested in anything to do with King Arthur. Perhaps I missed a great experience but when you have 8 kids you have to pick your viewing very carefully and weave it around your kids and their doings.