In honour of Merlin trending for literally no reason today, I would like to share my theories that I came up with during my recent rewatch. (I'm only up to season 3 right now so there really aren't that many theories yet.)

1. Merlin and Arthur 100% fell in love with each other in season 1, but they aren't aware of it at all.

2. Merlin is so gay. I'm not sure if he knows it or not, but Merlin is not attracted to women. Every time he's seemed interested in a woman, it's because she's been a powerful sorceress or a magical creature. Speaking of Freya; his only real female love interest, what he loves about her is that he sees himself in her. He feels a sense of kinship towards her as someone who is trapped and hunted for something out of her control. I don't think he feels any actual romantic love for her. He loves her, sure. But I think he's confusing romantic love for something else. (But idk I could be wrong.)

3. I don't think the Morgana we got back after her disappearance is the same Morgana we had pre S2E12. I think she probably died and came back wrong. Because otherwise the personality difference is too drastic. Her relationship with Gwen for instance. It makes sense if she didn't forgive Merlin for what he did, but why is she so mean to Gwen?? Gwen was her best friend and maybe even her first love? Morgana was never classist before season 3, but afterwards she acts like Gwen is lesser than and it just doesn't make sense. Anyway that's my in-universe explanation for her terrible shift in character.

4. This is the most important one. Merlin doesn't realize he's in love with Arthur until some time shortly before the season 2 finale. Before the finale, Merlin is happy to cheer on the romance between Arthur and Gwen. Two of his best friends fell in love! Why wouldn't he be happy? Even if they think there's no future for their relationship, he's more than happy to help them get together because Merlin believes in loving who you want to love.

Now, I could go on about how falling in love with Gwen is basically Arthur's way of expressing his repressed feelings for Merlin since Gwen and Merlin are of the same social standing and since Gwen is a woman he can experience the love he could have had with Merlin if it was allowed, but I won't do that. This ain't about him. What's important is that Merlin, in the season 2 finale- knows he's in love with Arthur, and that Arthur can't love him back. After the finale, he's still happy to help his friends in their affections for each other, but his bright goofy smile is gone. It's replaced with this melancholy smile and a hesitant voice.

I'm so serious right now. If you don't believe me, just go rewatch seasons 2 and 3 and see the shift in his demeanor yourself. He actively avoids them when they're interacting in season 3. In- I think it was the changeling episode, at the end, Arthur and Merlin walk into a hallway at the bottom of the staircase. They both see Gwen on the staircase, and when Arthur starts up the stairs, Merlin immediately leaves. It's not a "I'll give them their space" moment. It's a "I can't be here right now" kind of moment. He doesn't even try to stick around to protect Arthur on their date in the episode where Morgana frames Gwen for witchcraft. (and don't even get me started on that episode of my god.) Normally, he would stick around in the shadows to make sure nothing goes wrong and they aren't attacked or anything. It's weird that he doesn't try to stick around!

And oh my God. There are so many moments where Colin Morgan's acting just makes my heart ache. In the crystal caves, Merlin trying to banter with an unconscious Arthur while trying desperately to heal him makes me want to cry. And any time he's encouraging Gwen to follow her heart and be with Arthur just makes me ache. In the "...you still have feelings for him." And the "you like him. He likes you. Isn't that all that really matters?" I just can't.

Honestly, I could go on, but this post is already wordy enough. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

Happy Merlin finale anniversary to those who celebrate :)

I'm taking a small break from the comic for the holidays, see you in late January with Part 8 and a new story arc!

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Round 4 - Poll 4

Yoo Junghyeok & Han Sooyoung & Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint) vs Merlin & Arthur (Merlin BBC)

I still remember watching Merlin for the first time on some shady website that let you comment and towards the back end of season 1 I saw a comment that said

“Arthur knew the whole time that Merlin had magic. it’s revealed at the end. spoiler.”

and I was so angry that such a huge reveal had been spoiled and I watched the rest of the show thinking that it would happen any minute that I’d get some sort of tease or hint that it would happen.

end of show. Arthur dies. NO REVEAL.

not only was I PISSED that arthur died. i also was angry that I got a FAKE FUCKING SPOILER

whoever you were. on the illegal website. in 2012. posting fake spoilers.

i. still. remember. you

I hope somebody fake spoils your death so you turn at every passing car until you die of old age

Guys (/nb), we need to fucking talk!

"Have him (Merlin) take word to Camelot."

Guys, GUYS. Why is no one talking about the fact that after the reveal, after Arthur sent Merlin AWAY, after he just told Gaius that Merlin is a SORCERER, Arthur STILL TRUSTS Merlin to take word to Guinevere???????

okay, sure, he says: "I want him gone", too. But he STILL TRUSTS HIM to go back to GUINEVERE! His wife, his kingdom, while Arthur is DYING!!! (I assume he wants him to return with the insignia, as Gaius later does) I am going FERAL over here!

Why I'm randomly watching the final episode you ask? Because it's almost Christmas, obviously.

Top Merlin and Arthur's hugs

Did you see that we have? We are undebatable rich, you can make yourself sure about that

Some people's tags on one of my previous polls got me thinkin'...

Christmas? Don't know her I only know Arthur death day anniversery

Warning: Spoilers for the end of BBC Merlin Ayo, ao3 (and the internet in general) spoiled me for SO MUCH in Merlin, but somehow not for the fact that GWAINE FUCKING DIES???? HELLO??? AND IN SUCH A HORRIBLE WAY TOO??

i- ... i just finished merlin. all of it.

let me tell you i have never cried more over a piece of media than the end of merlin pahaha

Anytime Merlin is in awe of magical creatures or places it makes my heart swell with love for this man, he looks so happy, soft and just in awe of magic, as a character who has been deprived and unable to know about his own culture and people it is so beautiful to add these details in. The scene where he hatches a dragon egg and sees a baby dragon for the first time, It literally looks like when you hand a newborn child to their mothers, he is crying tears of joy, or when he describes a unicorn as "the most beautiful creature I've ever seen". Or when he meets other druids and sorcerers, most times they don't get to bond over their magic as he has to fight and stop them from killing either Uther or Arthur and it is just so heartbreaking. He would've loved to learn from them, to have someone to look up to, especially since he is a teenager when the show starts and at the age of 16 he is thrust into these horrific events that scar him for life.

Everytime he feels pride and joy at using magic to save someone or finding any excuse to use it for poking fun at Arthur, lighting fires, creating flowers and butterflies, it feel so precious and meaningful. It shows just how much Merlin loves and cherishes this part of himself, Merlin loves magic so deeply that he would rather die than use it for evil means, almost any scene where he has to use it to hurt someone he dies inside just a little.

Despite everything that happens to him seeing and using magic rekindles his will to live

Round 3 - Poll 3

Kiyotaka Ishimaru & Mondo Oowada (Danganronpa) vs Richie Tozier & Eddie Kaspbrak (It) vs Merlin & Arthur (Merlin BBC)

When I say I’ll make anything I watch about Joshua I really mean it—

That Merlin scene reminded so much of Tarbor (no, I’m not obsessed with how good Joshua looked during that scene. How beautiful, kissable, adorable he—)🥹 especially the way Arthur looked at Gwen.

The great tragedy of Merlin is that he always put Arthur first and it ended in tragedy. But if he'd put his people first, it probably would have ended well for all involved. :(

So like, I barely watch Merlin, but my partner got me into it so i had to post these memes i made. @localspacelesbian

Strawberries