In which I am completely predictable

[norwich36]

So anyone who has been around for a while knows I have a long fannish history of falling for bad dads (or let's call them, um, flawed authority figures): Lucien Lacroix, Lionel Luthor, John Winchester, etc. And so it was probably inevitable that after weeks of completely despising Uther Pendragon (to the point that I had to actually turn off the sound during his scenes), I would eventually decide he was the most interesting character ever. I blame "Excalibur," which gave him depth and layers--suddenly his crazy anti-magic paranoia makes perfect psychological sense, and it turns out he really does love Arthur, and damn. There I go again, falling for the somewhat-abusive-yet-psychologically-complex father figure. And the fact that I've always had a huge crush on Anthony Head doesn't hurt.

So anyway, now I'm looking for good Uther-centered fic--preferably where he is not a *complete* bastard but in fact has layers. Gen, het or slash, I don't really care. I'm actually rather surprised there's not more Uther/Gaius, to be honest, though I read a really good one by hils. pandarus just recommended a great story that was mainly Merlin/Arthur, but had background Uther/Morgana, which really sold me on the pairing, and I'd love to see more of it. I'd also be interested in Uther/Igraine or even Merlin/Arthur stories that had an interesting characterization of Uther. And I'm always up for completely gen Uther-centered stories, assuming such things exist in this fandom. Anyone have recs for me?

Comments

[starry-dawn.livejournal.com]

HEE. I always thought Uther was the kind of character you'd appreciate, so I was surprised you didn't automatically like him. But now that you're here, welcome. It's an odd feeling, liking someone who is so idiotic and self-centred most of the time. But seriously, isn't that little moment in "Excalibur" where Arthur teases him about his fighting skills and he threatens to show it to him right then and there, making Arthur flee like a cute little boy just your favourite scene ever? ♥ ♥ ♥

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that's completely cute. Though really my favorite part was where Arthur basically said he always thought Uther thought him a failure, and Uther said Arthur was worth more than the whole kingdom.

I am disappointed by the total lack of Uther recs here. No one besides us is a big Uther fan, I guess.

[ciaan]

There is some excellent stuff with Uther and Morgana near the end of the season, if you haven't gotten to it yet. But I don't actually read enough in the fandom to have recs for you.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Good to know, since I watching it on NBC for the first time.

[ender24]

I haven no fics at hand, but if you can sneak some broadband somewhere else, or have your dial up modem running anyway, here some wonderful uther vids!

http://community.livejournal.com/camelot_recs/12971.html

http://community.livejournal.com/camelot_recs/15706.html

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Ender!

[shardsofblu.livejournal.com]

Uther has always been the character that I love to hate, with his... controlled unhingeness on all things magic. But in comparison to Lionel, I have a far, far easier time believing his sincerity when he said that he loved his children.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that's certainly true. I think of Uther as basically a good man whose monomania concerning magic has turned him into a tyrant at least on magic-related issues, whereas Lionel is just a high-functioning sociopath who deluded himself late in life into thinking he was a good man because he did a few good things.