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+Expo is exhausting. EXHAUSTING. I had forgotten just HOW draining it is, especially on a Saturday. OH.MY.GOD. The noise, the crowds, just - NNNNGH. I'm completely drained and I was wearing reasonably comfortable shoes (unlike dr_dischordia, whose HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PAIN is well documented in the video diaries I kept today).
+Queueing to get into the panel room was a bit insane. Expo really need to sort out another system for getting people in to Merlin panels, because for a while the atmosphere at the front of the queue was NASTY because of how anxious people were about getting in and getting seats. It wasn't fun, in fact at one point I was worried it was genuinely going to turn dangerous (it looked like there would be a stampede inside the moment we were allowed in, and if someone tripped and fell in that, people weren't going to stop to avoid standing on them). Many of the stuards were young, inexperienced and totally ineffective at keeping people calm and civilised (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
doylefan22 was the ONLY steward there who was worth her salt - I'm fairly sure something very unpleasant would have happened if she hadn't been there at the front managing people). We did eventually get in safely thanks to some of the firmer handed of the stuards and the compare insisting that anyone running to seats would be chucked to the back of the line, but it was hairy for a good wee while there.
+The panel itself was great - although Bradley hadn't been able to make it, and it was clear that Colin, Angel and Katie were exhausted. Angel particularly looked tired. They'd apparently been doing nightshoots last night, poor bbs. I felt REALLY bad for them. The fact that they made it at all, and were smart and funny and engaging anyway, was a miracle.
+Cringe-worthy moments were mostly minimal and luckily well-handled by the compare (who was good at making jokes over the tension and moving things swiftly on). One girl asked for a hug (WHY? WHY would you ask total strangers for physical contact? ugggh. It's NEVER appropriate to do that - if the cast chooses to hug YOU it's another matter but you don't ASK for that sort of thing); the compare swiftly told her no and moved on - although Katie clearly felt bad for her and told her it was nice of her to come (the girl was from outside the country - I forget where). One girl mentioned slash (okay, somewhat more acceptable but still a tad cringe-worthy when it's asked sincerely).
+Lots of good questions and some awesome responses - Katie's favourite guest star is still Asa but she says he 'may' have been displaced by Emelia Fox (HELLO, RPS), who she really likes. Me anddoylefan22 were most pleased by this news. Colin and Katie almost broke off in the middle of a question as to who would win in a fight between Merlin and Morgana to settle it by wrestling. (Clearly, this is the method of resolving conflict that Katie favours over all others, given that she did something similar with Angel in that interview at the BFI last year).
+Mine was the second question asked - I was lucky, in that I DID end up in (one) of the front rows (the chairs were set up in sort of a square formation around the front of the stage) so I got noticed by the compare pretty quick. I asked Katie about Hugo (obviously) - she said he is still integral to her character and not going anywhere (I told her 'peachy') and then asked: 'on a scale of one to ten, with one being a slap and ten being the loss of two or more limbs, exactly where will Morgana's terrible and bloody vengeance against Merlin fall?' Katie sporfled and said that as it turns out, the vengeance against Merlin is not as strong as she would like.
+She nettled Colin about Merlin killing Morgana repeatedly throughout the panel - it was very funny.
+Angel clearly has her eye set on doing some work in America as her next career goal - I think she sees being in Merlin as a gateway to that (and I hope she manages it).
+Katie says she rarely gets recognised in public (once had a full on arguement with someone on the tube about whether or not she was Keira Knightly; and was once out with Colin - Colin got recognised and a girl came bouncing up to ask for his autograph and a picture but had no idea who Katie was).
+If Katie wasn't an actor she'd want to write books about dead people (LIKE ME). Although I think she means more as a historian (which makes sense given that she has a history degree); whereas I like writing books about zombies.
+We saw the new action figures - there will be Gwen and Morgana ones too and I WILL want those. Also, there were Merlin STAMPS on sale at the expo - proper collectable postage stamps with the cast on. I was VERY tempted but they were £25 and I'm not sure it's worth it.
+I have autographs! ^_^ Still gutted about the lack of signing session but like I said, the guys were clearly exhausted and it was just good they made it at all. And the signed mini posters we got were VERY pretty - season two promos signed with silver sharpie. NICE.
+I bought a crazy 'beanie boo' (like beanie babies but with CRAZY huge eyes - meant to look super cute but really look a bit evil). I think it's meant to be a racoon. I have named him Milo. He is awesome.
+WATCH THIS SPACE FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO CLIPS.
( MANY, MANY panel pics: )
+Queueing to get into the panel room was a bit insane. Expo really need to sort out another system for getting people in to Merlin panels, because for a while the atmosphere at the front of the queue was NASTY because of how anxious people were about getting in and getting seats. It wasn't fun, in fact at one point I was worried it was genuinely going to turn dangerous (it looked like there would be a stampede inside the moment we were allowed in, and if someone tripped and fell in that, people weren't going to stop to avoid standing on them). Many of the stuards were young, inexperienced and totally ineffective at keeping people calm and civilised (
doylefan22 was the ONLY steward there who was worth her salt - I'm fairly sure something very unpleasant would have happened if she hadn't been there at the front managing people). We did eventually get in safely thanks to some of the firmer handed of the stuards and the compare insisting that anyone running to seats would be chucked to the back of the line, but it was hairy for a good wee while there.+The panel itself was great - although Bradley hadn't been able to make it, and it was clear that Colin, Angel and Katie were exhausted. Angel particularly looked tired. They'd apparently been doing nightshoots last night, poor bbs. I felt REALLY bad for them. The fact that they made it at all, and were smart and funny and engaging anyway, was a miracle.
+Cringe-worthy moments were mostly minimal and luckily well-handled by the compare (who was good at making jokes over the tension and moving things swiftly on). One girl asked for a hug (WHY? WHY would you ask total strangers for physical contact? ugggh. It's NEVER appropriate to do that - if the cast chooses to hug YOU it's another matter but you don't ASK for that sort of thing); the compare swiftly told her no and moved on - although Katie clearly felt bad for her and told her it was nice of her to come (the girl was from outside the country - I forget where). One girl mentioned slash (okay, somewhat more acceptable but still a tad cringe-worthy when it's asked sincerely).
+Lots of good questions and some awesome responses - Katie's favourite guest star is still Asa but she says he 'may' have been displaced by Emelia Fox (HELLO, RPS), who she really likes. Me and
doylefan22 were most pleased by this news. Colin and Katie almost broke off in the middle of a question as to who would win in a fight between Merlin and Morgana to settle it by wrestling. (Clearly, this is the method of resolving conflict that Katie favours over all others, given that she did something similar with Angel in that interview at the BFI last year). +Mine was the second question asked - I was lucky, in that I DID end up in (one) of the front rows (the chairs were set up in sort of a square formation around the front of the stage) so I got noticed by the compare pretty quick. I asked Katie about Hugo (obviously) - she said he is still integral to her character and not going anywhere (I told her 'peachy') and then asked: 'on a scale of one to ten, with one being a slap and ten being the loss of two or more limbs, exactly where will Morgana's terrible and bloody vengeance against Merlin fall?' Katie sporfled and said that as it turns out, the vengeance against Merlin is not as strong as she would like.
+She nettled Colin about Merlin killing Morgana repeatedly throughout the panel - it was very funny.
+Angel clearly has her eye set on doing some work in America as her next career goal - I think she sees being in Merlin as a gateway to that (and I hope she manages it).
+Katie says she rarely gets recognised in public (once had a full on arguement with someone on the tube about whether or not she was Keira Knightly; and was once out with Colin - Colin got recognised and a girl came bouncing up to ask for his autograph and a picture but had no idea who Katie was).
+If Katie wasn't an actor she'd want to write books about dead people (LIKE ME). Although I think she means more as a historian (which makes sense given that she has a history degree); whereas I like writing books about zombies.
+We saw the new action figures - there will be Gwen and Morgana ones too and I WILL want those. Also, there were Merlin STAMPS on sale at the expo - proper collectable postage stamps with the cast on. I was VERY tempted but they were £25 and I'm not sure it's worth it.
+I have autographs! ^_^ Still gutted about the lack of signing session but like I said, the guys were clearly exhausted and it was just good they made it at all. And the signed mini posters we got were VERY pretty - season two promos signed with silver sharpie. NICE.
+I bought a crazy 'beanie boo' (like beanie babies but with CRAZY huge eyes - meant to look super cute but really look a bit evil). I think it's meant to be a racoon. I have named him Milo. He is awesome.
+WATCH THIS SPACE FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO CLIPS.
( MANY, MANY panel pics: )
