aaand-read-all-over - Tumblr blog

aaand-read-all-over · 3 months

Text

It may be simply Mordred refusing to see that Kara was executed for attempted regicide not being a magical Druid. Or that he is a teen blinded by rose-tinted glasses in regards to Kara's behavior.

But I believe Mordred knew very well about her beliefs and why she's in trouble. When Merlin confronts Mordred, the latter only brings up Kara being a Druid to correct Merlin about her being a Saxon and to appeal to him emotionally. When Mordred says Arthur will kill her, he knows it would be for attempted murder.

So why continue to vouch for her and even break her out? One, it's because she's his childhood crush, but also he knows exactly how she feels. Remember in s2, child Mordred was pissed at Merlin for trying to kill him. Since Arthur led his men to raid both camps, which threatened his life twice, it's safe to assume Mordred also hated Arthur at least somewhat. Of course, he eventually forgave by s5 and saw the kind of person Arthur is.

Mordred also likely met other sorcerers who held hate for Camelot for the Purge & continued persecution. So, Mordred knows where Kara's head is at, and if she continued to fight, her life would be on the line. That's why he was trying to convince her Arthur is a good man and things would change. Mordred was there when Arthur first interrogated Kara. When Arthur brought up Morgana, Mordred probably thought that Kara's words may be similar to Morgana, but many good people feel that way (him included at one point). Mordred's been out and about in the world, interacting with the rest of the magical community, Arthur has not.

Even so, Mordred still believes that he can make Kara more aware that Arthur is not Uther and that things can change, change her mind, and have her life spared.

"This girl, she is a danger. Not just to me. She's a sworn enemy of Camelot, ruthless to the cause." -Arthur

"No. I will change that. She'll listen to me." -Mordred

When Kara dies, Mordred doesn't turn to Morgana because "oh he killed her cuz she's a druid/has magic, so now I must avenger her" it's because he realizes this situation happened because of the ban. Because Arthur kept the ban in place, ppl still live in fear. Because of the fear, some ppl turn to violence to escape oppression. Mordred realizes that will never change. (When Kara asked if Arthur doesn't kill those with magic, he doesn't refute that but switches points) More ppl like Kara will turn to violence, get caught, and die. The only way to stop that is to destroy the system aka kill Arthur.

24 notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 5 months

Text

I agreeeeeeeeee.

What I also find interesting is how Arthur spends so much of their time together over the years trying to (unsuccessfully) close the gap of their relationship. Arthur is aware that there is no piece of him that Merlin does not know and has not seen at his most vulnerable, but Merlin does not open up to him in the same way.

Merlin and Arthur discuss many times how, if they had been born to different circumstances, they would have been “good friends” (S2E13, S4E1). When they have these conversations, Arthur views the emotional space between them as a result of his station – as though the space between them is his fault. Arthur knows that Merlin knows more of him than he can ever know of Merlin, and he has no alternative but to think that it is his own doing. Conversely, when Merlin initiates these conversations, he says “if things were different” because he knows that the space between them is his own.

A specific instance of this is S4E4, when Arthur is hurt to hear that Merlin met his father and never told him about the experience. As far as their previous conversations had gone, Merlin had never met his father (S2E8). Merlin could not tell Arthur that his father was the Dragonlord who saved their lives (S2E13), and he apparently decided that he could never tell Arthur anything about it. As they had bonded over each of them growing up with just one parent, it seemed like a conversation Merlin might initiate. Arthur had to grapple with the ever-apparent fact that he shared so much more with Merlin than Merlin would ever share with him.

Arthur says a few times over the series that he doesn't believe that Merlin tells him everything, but he still views Merlin as above suspicion. So, when it became clear to Arthur that what Merlin wasn't telling him was so foundational to their relationship, how could his perception not be broken?

If he had truly seen Merlin as Dangerous, he would never have tried to send Merlin back to Gwen and to Camelot -- he would have tried to send him anywhere else. Arthur was too heartbroken to have Merlin nearby, but still knew that Merlin would keep Camelot safe.

Here I am about to talk about another clip from Merlin because once again I can’t NOT discuss it.

Arthur’s FIRST response to Merlin telling him he has magic isn’t fear. It’s not anger. It’s disbelief but not even at the notion of Merlin being someone who practices magic but that if he did Arthur would know.

And it could be read as Arthur meaning “I would know you had magic because I would have figured it out” but I read it as, “I would know because you would have told me this.”

It’s just so telling how important Merlin is to Arthur and close he considers them to be that Arthur doesn’t get angry or fearful right away. He’s just denying it because it breaks his perception of the world.

Because Merlin not telling him means they weren’t as close as he thought. That their friendship and bond perhaps meant more to him than it did to Merlin. That he trusted Merlin with his life completely but Arthur wasn’t trusted in the same way.

I think that’s why Arthur gets so cold towards Merlin after and even shows to be a little fearful with him and distrusting. Because to Arthur, Merlin HAS turned into a stranger. It’s broken his entire conception of their relationship.

970 notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

Strength and Courage (3x04 / 3x08)

“The melee is the ultimate test of strength and courage.” -Arthur

"Then you must be courage."

"Ah, finally! Strength has arrived." -Grettir

Always meant to find each other <3

#bbc merlin #merlin #merthur #mergwaine #gwaine #sir gwaine #arthur friendless loser pendragon #arthur pendragon #arthur x gwaine #strength and courage #grettir #the fisher king #3x04 #3x08 #the trio of destiny

52 notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

2K notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

5K notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

MERLIN 15th ANNIVERSARY Favourite Friendship - Gwen & Merlin

3K notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

The funny thing is that Arthur is always portrayed as some popular jock in modern au fics, when in canon he is a friendless loser.. all his friends are just Merlin’s friends who just started accepting that Arthur was there and ordering them around because Merlin was busy giving Arthur cow eyes when he wasn’t giving big speeches about how great of a King Arthur would become/is

Okay Leon was kinda Arthur’s friend before Merlin, but even that rule-fkn-following knight adopted Merlin when he got the chance… mr giving Merlin advice on what weapon to kill the king with

#arthur friendless loser pendragon #uther paid the lackeys in S1 to hang out with Arthur idc #he made merlin arthur's servant bc his son had no friends lol #love him though heheh

2K notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

Windows: Notes on Prejudice and Consequences

A recurring theme that I think is found in Merlin is the use of windows as a symbol for watching the impacts of Magic and the prejudice against those who have it from a (seemingly) safe distance. As if the effects of persecution don't cut deeper than the purge it attempts.

1x01: Morgana turns her face away from the beheading of Thomas Collins in defiance and denial, as she watched from her window. While she has not yet accepted that she has Magic herself, she acts as a fiercely outspoken ally to those who were persecuted in the great purge. Morgana also turns her face away as she tries to deny her inherent qualities and avoid suffering the same fate.

Referenced in 1x04

“I can’t stand by and watch him die.” “Then don’t look.”

Arthur is recognizing the extent of his father’s elitism and rigid views, which enrages him and inspires him to defy Uther.

Callback to Morgana turning her face from the window in S1E1 because she cannot bear to see Thomas Collins die.

Arthur and Morgana know that they cannot stop the horrible fates that await those who have Magic, and Morgana cannot bear to watch.

1x09 Morgana and Arthur speak at the window in half-light, as she begs Arthur not to fight the Black Knight. Morgana knows Arthur’s future is dire, but she can’t tell why she feels that way. Morgana has an innate ability to sense the dark Magic that revived Tristan's spirit.

The half-light represents the half of herself that Morgana has to hide not only from herself, but also from those she loves.

Merlin and Arthur look down through the window to where the Black Knight stands still, not eating or sleeping. There is no uncertainty that the Black Knight is conjured from Magic, and that the Magic is sure to kill whomever blocks its path.

2x07 Morgana watches the building of the Witchfinder's pyre outside her window. The punishment for sorcery has only increased in severity in the time that she started to accept her true nature. The glass of the window represents the final, fragile barrier between Morgana and the fate she would suffer if she were found out.

(Gwen is so afraid for Morgana to be found by Auredian because she is always and forever an ally.)

2x08 Arthur must convince himself that Magic has no place in Camelot and that he was wrong to think it ever could. As he stands at the window, half in darkness, he separates himself from Magic and can’t look Merlin in the eye.

“I am indebted to you, Merlin. I had become...confused. It is once again clear to me that those who practice magic are evil and dangerous. And that is thanks to you.”

Arthur can sense that what he is saying is wrong, but Merlin does not usually lead him astray. Merlin has always been his voice of honest advice and earnest reason. If Merlin tells Arthur that Magic cannot be legal in Camelot, he has no choice but to believe him. Arthur is fighting his instincts to embrace what he knows is right and fair because of the judgments from those around him.

Arthur looks out the window, away from Merlin, looking down on and keeping himself carefully separated from the people he started to believe he should protect.

4x03 Merlin watches Uther’s vigil through the same window where Arthur declared all Magic was evil in S2E8. This time, Arthur joins Merlin at the window and suggests that they use Magic to save Uther’s life.

If Magic can save Uther’s life, Arthur may change his attitude, and Merlin has real hope for the first time that he could be able to finally live freely.

Arthur would not confide this desire in any other person because he knows that Merlin holds no judgment toward others.

“If you were me, and it was your father, would you use Magic to save his life?” Merlin’s answer is immediate and confident, giving Arthur all the resolve he needed.

The vulnerability and openness in Arthur’s face is as fragile and clear as the glass of the windows they stand by -- so delicate that Merlin is afraid to blink. If he blinks, Arthur's vulnerability might crumble. If he changes his mind, the opportunity might be lost forever.

5x11 Arthur stands at the window and contemplates if he should free Mordred and Kara, despite their Magic. This time, he claims it is his decision to make.

Arthur stands on his own, and Merlin is proud of him for choosing to give Kara a chance to repent. Arthur chooses to pardon a person with Magic, so long as she repents for killing innocent men.

Kara refuses to apologize and seals her fate.

“I’ve made a terrible mistake, haven’t I?”

Arthur sits at the window and recognizes his error. Arthur could be referencing any number of things. He may be regretting his decision to execute Kara, not making an exception for Mordred, or the lasting impacts of his lifelong position on Magic.

I maybe could expend on this a bit, as it is all very precariously pieced together at the moment. Feels like it should ultimately be more of an essay than a list of notes like this? idk lol

#merthur #morgwen #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #morgana pendragon #guinevere pendragon #please I literally can't stop talking about Merlin #all of my friends are going to cut me off if I don't stop #windows symbolism

24 notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

People who make this mistake like to leave out that Merlin's kill count rivals Arthur's LOL

Like we all know his puppy eyes are enough to make Arthur melt, but that is just part of the charm.

people who mischaracterize merlin as some innocent boy who is entirely helpless to arthur are soooooo unserious because the entire show is the both of them spiting each other all the time and then saving each other from random situations that could have been avoided if they listened to each other more often. merlin straight-up murders people weekly to protect arthur. and arthur defends merlin in front of god and everyone and the entire court and everybody just sees it and just goes "he's in love with that stupid disrespectful servant but okay!" merlin is NOT nice and innocent and neither is arthur. AND they are stuck together until they're not. that's the point of the show.

#I mean literally from day one #merlin #merthur #bbc merlin

1K notes · View notes

aaand-read-all-over · 6 months

Text

Merthur and Arwen: Love and Coexistence

There is no shortage of evidence that I interpret Merlin and Arthur as sharing a connection beyond the platonic relationship explicitly portrayed on screen. They have spoken to my heart in new depths with each rewatch of the series, of which there have been... many.

However, I do not believe that an established romantic relationship between the two men would have been a productive or believable choice within the canon events of the show. In fact, due to the availability of characters and the qualities they possess, Arthur and Gwen sharing a romantic connection was the only effective choice for Arthur in his canon journey.

To suggest that Arthur would overcome the emotional barriers of breaking down his father’s prejudice toward those with Magic, his learned classism and misogyny toward his knights and servants, and the historical prejudices against LGBTQIA+ individuals over the course of just a few years would be unreasonable. Within the constraints of the show, Arthur does make great strides in his character, but he is not given enough time to overcome every emotional obstacle he is raised to have. Arthur is able to, in part, overcome his classism toward the non-nobles in his kingdom. Through his interactions with Guinevere and Merlin, Arthur can see the value and wisdom of their counsel. The insight that an individual who has one foot in the world of the average citizen and one foot in the world of the nobles has is incomparable. Gwen and Merlin have their eyes on many components of noble life and can pinpoint the disparities between what the nobles believe and what the average individuals in Camelot know to be true about their kingdom.

Gwen, Arthur, and Merlin, especially toward the middle seasons of the show, have a similar dynamic to Jem, Tessa, and Will in The Infernal Devices (sort of, kind of, bear with me). Each member of the group loves the other two equally, albeit in different ways. For Arthur, Merlin is absolutely the only constant in his life. At no point over their time together does Merlin betray him, leave him for long periods, or otherwise push him to the side. Merlin considers Arthur to be his destiny – his reason for existence – and regularly refers to him as such during their lifetime together. Gwen loves Merlin dearly; the two of them had an instant connection (and potential attraction) upon his arrival in Camelot. Their friendship runs deep and transcends their vastly different paths in helping Arthur achieve his destiny. Gwen is the logic to Arthur’s and Merlin’s rash decision-making skills. More than just a steady presence and a kind word, Gwen is strong and capable, and she does not allow others to silence her when she knows what is right.

In Arthur’s desire for a romantic connection, Gwen is a spectacular choice, and their love for each other is genuine to every extent. Each of her qualities is a supplement or complement to his own, and they form a beautifully well-rounded pair.

Gwen and Arthur have the ability and opportunity to open themselves to each other, and to Merlin, completely. A successful romantic relationship requires all parties to participate equitably, providing comparable levels of support and vulnerability to each other to the greatest extent possible. Because of this, Merlin and Arthur could not be romantically involved within the events that take place in the show. A romantic relationship requires both parties to open themselves to each other.

Arthur is open to Merlin, completely. There is no component of Arthur that Merlin has not seen, and Arthur has surrendered to his vulnerability consistently in Merlin’s presence. Arthur’s trust in and honesty with Merlin is a cornerstone to Arthur’s development, and he relies on Merlin’s constant presence and counsel to be an effective leader. Conversely, Merlin can never be completely open and truthful with Arthur. A primary component of Merlin’s identity is a component that he could not safely reveal to Arthur. Arthur references that Merlin is a mystery to him on many instances, and Merlin cannot fill those gaps for him without placing himself in an unsafe position. There is no possibility for a relationship without the capacity for complete openness and honesty, which are not qualities Merlin can provide to Arthur without revealing his Magic.

If Merlin was to place himself in that unsafe position, he would, without a doubt, completely surrender to whatever sentence Arthur laid upon him. If the sentence were to result in Merlin’s death or banishment from Camelot, he would not be in a position to protect Arthur and support him on his path to fulfilling his destiny. To Merlin, the potential of not being in a position to help Arthur is absolutely unacceptable and would invalidate his entire reason for existence. For that reason, he would never tell Arthur of his Magic if he had any other choice.

Ultimately, Merlin could never have a romantic relationship with anyone while Arthur was alive because he would have to put Arthur above that other person every single time. His destiny is Arthur, and while Arthur is a living presence in his life, he could never provide his romantic partner the attention and prioritization that they would deserve.

In fact, it does not seem that Merlin and Arthur are entirely aware of their apparent romantic feelings for each other at all. In their time together, Merlin is aware of the destiny he and Arthur share, and he dedicates every moment to bettering and supplementing Arthur’s life. Merlin’s catering to Arthur is quite extreme, almost ridiculous, but Arthur does not believe it to be so. Arthur grows reliant on Merlin’s care and assistance in every step of his day. The man who once maintained that he did not need or want a manservant became so reliant on Merlin’s presence that he lost much of his independence in functional skills. By the end of their time together, Merlin dresses Arthur, washes Arthur, and combs Arthur’s hair, not to mention orchestrates many of the events and gestures Arthur makes toward Gwen. The bond shared by Arthur and Merlin is constantly questioned, then accepted, by friend and foe alike.

Nevertheless, Merlin and Arthur do not view this as unusual. Merlin’s identity is half-hidden, kept away so as to be in the best position to serve and protect his most precious relationship; the side of himself that he can reveal to others is also completely devoted to Arthur, publicly and privately. He was born to serve Arthur, from combing his hair to holding him in his last breaths. Because he can explain away their love and connection as friendship and destiny, Merlin never notices that he does not form romantic bonds with other people. Merlin will occasionally notice a person’s aesthetic appeal or respond to flirting from a stranger, but he does not reciprocate or initiate romantic connections with anyone (save Freya, which was a different situation entirely). This is not to necessarily say that he does not have romantic tendencies, because his behaviors with Arthur compare to any romantic gesture depicted elsewhere in the show. Merlin’s lack of canon romance is a direct result of his complete devotion to Arthur.

Arthur knows that he and Merlin share a bond beyond the line of duty. Save Gwen, Arthur affords no other person in his life the care and devotion he does for Merlin. Without Merlin, Arthur feels lost, ungrounded, and frantic until they can be reunited. Arthur was not provided with the emotional tools to break down and process his feelings as a child; this stunts his ability to express the feelings he has for others as an adult. Arthur makes a marked improvement in his emotional expression as he learns and grows, but he makes an effort from the beginning to, at a minimum, express the inherent trust he has in Merlin. In Arthur’s view, Merlin is above suspicion, even more so than Gwen is. No matter how many times Merlin is caught red-handed, confesses to crimes, or absolutely obliterates the line of professionalism (bordering on treason), Arthur explains away Merlin’s behaviors, trusts in his pleas of innocence, and breaks the law to help Merlin escape from Camelot alive. Arthur knows and expresses that Merlin does not open himself up to the same extent that he opens up to Merlin, and regularly feels that he has to press Merlin for his feelings and troubles. Despite the secrets Arthur knows Merlin keeps, in Arthur’s mind, there is no wrong Merlin could be capable of committing that would separate them forever, and there is no circumstance that would cause Merlin to abandon him in his time of need.

In their final days together, Merlin and Arthur must face the consequences of their secrets and unaired emotions. Only when all cards are on the table can the two of them recognize the depth of their feelings for each other. Prior to this honesty, recognition of their romantic feelings would be unlikely, and acting on those feelings would be unbelievable (not to mention out of character). Arthur and Merlin do not take liberties with each other’s bodies. They use physical contact to express themselves to and connect with each other, but they are attuned to and respect each other’s boundaries. If the two men are not in a place to express themselves emotionally and they are not willing to overstep boundaries by acting on physical chemistry and cues, they would also not initiate a romantic relationship.

In the event of Arthur’s return as the Once and Future King, in a world where relationships of all structures are accepted and celebrated by the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be an avenue for Merlin and Arthur to explore their romantic chemistry. Arthur and Merlin would never abandon or betray Guinevere, but in the event of her future absence, or a future where the three could romantically love each other together, the two might find themselves in a position to explore their love and vulnerability in new ways.

Undoubtedly, Merlin and Arthur share feelings for each other that are more significant than platonic. Within the context of the show, Arthur’s romance with Gwen was the most believable and productive decision for their time together, while also maintaining Merlin’s significance in both of their lives <3

(Ideally, in my view, Gwen and Arthur would find themselves resurrected, and all three of them would love each other romantically and passionately for a lifetime and beyond. That's besides the point lol.)

#merthur #arwen #argwen #merlin #bbc merlin #sorry this is so long #merthur is my otp #but i love arwen so much #merlin emrys #emrys #merlin x arthur #arthur x gwen #arthur x guinevere #arthur pendragon #merlin bbc #arthur x merlin #merlin x gwen #mergwenthur #mergwen

53 notes · View notes