Shippers' Page
At first glance (by which I mean the opening titles, and parts of episode 1), Blazing Dragons might seem to be a cartoon about King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table, but no! At its heart, Blazing Dragons is a love story, starring Squire Flicker and Princess Flame. Forbidden love stretching across a class divide is a classic formula; Aladdin and Lady Chaterley's Lover spring to mind. It is a story generally confined to the classics shelves of the library, and not often seen in a cartoon aimed primarily at children.
As far as cartoon love goes, Flicker and Flame's relationship is unique. Both are perfectly aware not only of their own feelings, but of each other's as well. The only thing keeping them apart is their social status. They have formed a good friendship despite this; they talk to each other as equals, and will occasionally indulge in a little chaste touching. Flame is even so bold as to kiss Flicker on the cheek in some episodes. At times, Flame may seem more eager than Flicker, but this isn't so. She's just more demonstrative, while Flicker knows that he must not openly declare his love for the Princess while he's still only a squire. His desire to improve his (already rather perfect) character and attain his dream of knighthood is one of the show's most compelling aspects. We, as viewers, want him to get there almost as much as he does - and soon!
As far as cartoon love goes, Flicker and Flame's relationship is unique. Both are perfectly aware not only of their own feelings, but of each other's as well. The only thing keeping them apart is their social status. They have formed a good friendship despite this; they talk to each other as equals, and will occasionally indulge in a little chaste touching. Flame is even so bold as to kiss Flicker on the cheek in some episodes. At times, Flame may seem more eager than Flicker, but this isn't so. She's just more demonstrative, while Flicker knows that he must not openly declare his love for the Princess while he's still only a squire. His desire to improve his (already rather perfect) character and attain his dream of knighthood is one of the show's most compelling aspects. We, as viewers, want him to get there almost as much as he does - and soon!
It isn't just that his knighthood would allow Flicker to marry Flame. He wants to be a knight of the realm for its own sake, and while he plods patiently
towards his goal, we viewers share in Flame's frustration and want to see the thing resolved. Of course, we do not see it resolved, which I found
very annoying at first, but I soon found out that there simply isn't enough time to be annoyed with all the TV shows that go to the dogs. Too few cartoons are finished off properly, but at least we fans can be sure of the outcome, and imagine it for ourselves in whatever way we like.
When I say Blazing Dragons is at heart a love story, I'm really only talking about Series 1. Flicker and Flame's relationship is prominent in most Series 1 episodes at some stage, if not all the way through. I can't go into everything here, but I've picked out a few episodes that shippers might want to watch over and over again, and analyse to the Nth degree.
towards his goal, we viewers share in Flame's frustration and want to see the thing resolved. Of course, we do not see it resolved, which I found
very annoying at first, but I soon found out that there simply isn't enough time to be annoyed with all the TV shows that go to the dogs. Too few cartoons are finished off properly, but at least we fans can be sure of the outcome, and imagine it for ourselves in whatever way we like.
When I say Blazing Dragons is at heart a love story, I'm really only talking about Series 1. Flicker and Flame's relationship is prominent in most Series 1 episodes at some stage, if not all the way through. I can't go into everything here, but I've picked out a few episodes that shippers might want to watch over and over again, and analyse to the Nth degree.
Tournament Day
The relationship between Flicker and Flame really comes to the fore in this, episode 3 of the series. They can be seen fishing together at the beginning of the episode, and then again at the end, after they've had some trouble and sorted it all out. Queen Griddle actually has Flicker thrown into the dungeon when she finds him in what appears to be a compromising position with Flame, but Flame helps him to escape, and Griddle doesn't think of it again. She does however organise a jousting tournament, of which the prize is Flame's hand in marriage. Flame asks Flicker to enter, though she doesn't expect to marry him just yet; she seems to imply that she only wants him to win and then vanish so that she doesn't have to marry anyone: 'Just keep down the visor and no one will be the wiser.'
If Flicker did enter the joust and reveal himself, he might be in some trouble, as King Allfire's Code of Chivalry forbids him from impersonating a knight. This demonstrates how completely Flicker believes in the Code, as he is prepared to put it before something so important as the prospect of Flame being forced to marry. He begins to suffer with severe stomachaches, however, when Flame starts going silly over a mysterious Black Knight who has entered the joust. Flicker then discovers that Count Geoffrey's Evil Knights are entering the tournament in disguise, and it is at this point - when he believes them to be the Black Knight - that he enters the tournament himself incognito. In doing so, he shows that when it comes right down to it, he really will do anything for Flame - even break the Code of Chivalry. Only when he is facing the Black Knight in the arena does Flicker discover that it is, in fact, Princess Flame herself. She says she'll throw their bout and let Flicker win, but he won't have it, and starts going on about the Code again.
If she didn't expect Flicker to reveal himself, Flame could have gone the way of Princess Sarah in A Kid in King Arthur's Court, who reveals herself as the winner of the tournament for her own hand. King Arthur lets the princess choose her husband after that, and I seem to remember she marries some sort of servant, as Flame would like to do. However, she and Flicker decide instead to go fighting off over the hills and disappear into legend, so as to maintain the status quo. At the end of the episode, as they tip their disguises into the moat and settle down to an evening's fishing, Flicker comes close to revealing his true feelings by telling Flame, 'You can make my stomach hurt a whole lot more than even a third helping of Chef Turnspit's chile.'
If Flicker did enter the joust and reveal himself, he might be in some trouble, as King Allfire's Code of Chivalry forbids him from impersonating a knight. This demonstrates how completely Flicker believes in the Code, as he is prepared to put it before something so important as the prospect of Flame being forced to marry. He begins to suffer with severe stomachaches, however, when Flame starts going silly over a mysterious Black Knight who has entered the joust. Flicker then discovers that Count Geoffrey's Evil Knights are entering the tournament in disguise, and it is at this point - when he believes them to be the Black Knight - that he enters the tournament himself incognito. In doing so, he shows that when it comes right down to it, he really will do anything for Flame - even break the Code of Chivalry. Only when he is facing the Black Knight in the arena does Flicker discover that it is, in fact, Princess Flame herself. She says she'll throw their bout and let Flicker win, but he won't have it, and starts going on about the Code again.
If she didn't expect Flicker to reveal himself, Flame could have gone the way of Princess Sarah in A Kid in King Arthur's Court, who reveals herself as the winner of the tournament for her own hand. King Arthur lets the princess choose her husband after that, and I seem to remember she marries some sort of servant, as Flame would like to do. However, she and Flicker decide instead to go fighting off over the hills and disappear into legend, so as to maintain the status quo. At the end of the episode, as they tip their disguises into the moat and settle down to an evening's fishing, Flicker comes close to revealing his true feelings by telling Flame, 'You can make my stomach hurt a whole lot more than even a third helping of Chef Turnspit's chile.'
Newt for a Day
While Flicker generally remembers his place and doesn't make it too obvious that he's in love with Flame, she is often demonstrative about her feelings for him. This episode shows her being jealous of the damsel Cassandra, whom Flicker has saved from a spider. When Cassandra asks Flicker if the Princess is a friend of his, he replies, 'Yes... until a moment ago,' implying that he is well aware of Flame's feelings. Flame is in a bad mood when she meets Cassandra, and starts being much nicer about the whole thing once she's out of the ridiculous costume given to her by the designer Pierre Un-Deux-Trois. She even gives the outfit to Cassandra, who likes it, so that she can go to the high fashion ball. That's nice to see, rather than Flame being stereotypically catty about the whole thing.
What is particularly interesting about this episode is that it leaves us in no doubt as to whether Sir Loungelot is aware of the close friendship between his squire and the Princess. When Flame comes to Flicker's room, hoping to be cheered up after her encounter with Un-Deux-Trois, Loungelot is there in the form of a newt and can't help hearing everything that's said. When Loungelot is present, Flicker doesn't tell Flame what has happened, but he doesn't hesitate to tell her the whole story when they're alone together later in the episode. She then volunteers to go and ask the Hag of Giss, who cast the newt spell on Sir Loungelot, to reverse the magic. When she offers to do this, she makes it quite clear to Flicker that she is doing it 'for you', to which Flicker replies, 'Thanks, Flame. You're the best!'
What is particularly interesting about this episode is that it leaves us in no doubt as to whether Sir Loungelot is aware of the close friendship between his squire and the Princess. When Flame comes to Flicker's room, hoping to be cheered up after her encounter with Un-Deux-Trois, Loungelot is there in the form of a newt and can't help hearing everything that's said. When Loungelot is present, Flicker doesn't tell Flame what has happened, but he doesn't hesitate to tell her the whole story when they're alone together later in the episode. She then volunteers to go and ask the Hag of Giss, who cast the newt spell on Sir Loungelot, to reverse the magic. When she offers to do this, she makes it quite clear to Flicker that she is doing it 'for you', to which Flicker replies, 'Thanks, Flame. You're the best!'
Robbing Hoodlum
In this episode, Flicker must stop Robbing Hood from winning the hand of Princess Flame in an archery contest. His facial expression and tone of voice, when he reveals Robbing's chosen prize to the knights, are understated but brimful of emotion. Sir Loungelot is Robbing's opponent, but Flicker is taking all of his shots with a crossbow whilst concealed inside a haystack. We may suspect that Flame is well aware of this arrangement, knowing Flicker and Loungelot as she does, and we can be certain by the way she face-palms when Loungelot is announcing the silly trick shots 'he' is going to attempt. Flicker, despite insisting that the crossbow is only designed for simple shots, pulls all of them off. He disappears from the competition when he works out that Robbing Hood is, in fact, the Sheriff of Nothing-But-A-Ham in disguise, and so Loungelot loses the contest and the wedding almost takes place. When Flame is about to be kissed by the giant snorting chicken, she calls out Flicker's name, and he appears at once with the real Robbing Hood. Perhaps he shouldn't have shouted 'Flame!' right in front of everybody, but there you are.
Sir Hare
While Flicker and Flame's relationship is not the primary focus of this episode, it can be seen starkly at the beginning and the end, when Flicker is dreaming of knighthood. At the start of the episode, the audience sees Flicker's daydream, which features Flame looking on in admiration as Flicker sends Count Geoffrey and his Evil Knights to the dungeon. Flame then turns up, and tries to get Flicker to say that he intends to marry her when the time comes. Flicker, however, won't admit to this. One could debate for hours whether this is due to shyness or a sense of propriety. Personally, from what we know about Flicker and his openness with Flame, I think that he keeps quiet mostly because he knows it would be overstepping the mark to say explicitly that he is in love with the Princess. Of course, shyness may be part of it; Flicker is very unassuming.
In the middle of the episode, Flame is trying to persuade her father to see some of Flicker's inventions, and to convince him that he'd make 'a wonderful knight'. Allfire says that he'll 'have to keep an eye on the boy', and we have to hope he means it. The final episode in the series, 'Bleepin' Beauty', does not at first seem to follow on from this. However, in this episode Flicker accepts the credit for saving the day, and Allfire acknowledges this: 'It is thanks to her [Beauty] and the squire that we still have Camelhot.' Finally, it is Flicker's rocking bed invention that puts Beauty back to sleep. Let us hope that Allfire really was making a special effort to keep an eye on him!
In the middle of the episode, Flame is trying to persuade her father to see some of Flicker's inventions, and to convince him that he'd make 'a wonderful knight'. Allfire says that he'll 'have to keep an eye on the boy', and we have to hope he means it. The final episode in the series, 'Bleepin' Beauty', does not at first seem to follow on from this. However, in this episode Flicker accepts the credit for saving the day, and Allfire acknowledges this: 'It is thanks to her [Beauty] and the squire that we still have Camelhot.' Finally, it is Flicker's rocking bed invention that puts Beauty back to sleep. Let us hope that Allfire really was making a special effort to keep an eye on him!
We don't see a great deal of Flicker and Flame's relationship in some episodes, including episode 2, 'A Gift for Griddle'. However, it contains a very nice, understated moment that certainly deserves a mention. Flicker and Flame are both present when Loungelot tells King Allfire that he has discovered it's Griddle's birthday. Throughout the scene, Flicker stands silent at Sir Loungelot's side, while Flame joins in the conversation but knows she mustn't take any notice of Flicker.
However, when Flame leaves the room behind her father, she throws Flicker a smile over her shoulder...
...and Flicker smiles back, before getting on with the rest of the episode.
Series 2
In Series 2, the dynamic between Flicker and Flame diminishes. As the overall characterisation loses a great deal of depth, Flicker and Flame converse openly as equals without fear of any consequences (in much the same way as the changes allow Flicker and King Allfire to laugh at Sir Loungelot, together). In a few of the earlier episodes, Flame works alongside Flicker, helping to expose the evil plots in 'A Killer Makeover', 'The Age of Retention' and 'The Lost Ruby Hat of Omar the Ham'. By the next episode, her role has diminished significantly, but she and Flicker can occasionally be seen wandering around together and helping each other out with walking over cowpats ('The Reign in Spain'), being squashed under heavy objects ('Whine and Roses') etc. Flame gets to do a little more detective work with Flicker in episode 7a, 'MacBreath', but the closest they come to the remnants of their Series 1 relationship is in episode 11b, 'Geoffrey's Evil Pancakes'. Flame is present near the beginning of the episode, when she expresses her fury at Flicker having to go and work for Count Geoffrey, and again at the very end, when she gives Flicker a backwards hug and expresses her delight at his return. This doesn't sound like much, and it isn't, but in the closing seconds of the episode, Flame reveals that she has revised her father's Code of Chivalry to create the loophole that allows Flicker to return to Camelhot. So, it seems Flame still has some of her spark after all!