"Oh, cheer up, will you?" - Arthur Pendragon (A farewell post...until next time)
I watched a bunch of Merlin related videos/interviews, and considering I missed the very last episode of Merlin, I am dying to watch it!
I read this amazing review about Merlin and Arthur's relationship. It was written by a fan, and she captures their story and turns it into so much more, then what is merely being told by the actors themselves. I'm surprised I held myself together when I read this. Halfway through reading this, I was expecting to be a blubbering mess, while watching happy Merlin videos on youtube to try and make myself feel better.
My Favourite parts:
This was a story of Merlin and Arthur’s relationship coming full circle. It was a story of their joint destiny, of the fact that even death could not separate them, and of the fact that they would always find each other. And there can be no greater story than that, nor one more worth telling.
“You’re not going to say goodbye,” Merlin told him. “No, no,” Arthur replied. And neither of them ever did.
I watched this right after I read that, and my heart just melted to a puddle and I was like "OKAY, I MUST SEE THE LAST EPISODE" *FRANTICALLY SEARCHES THE INTERNET*. But I have seen pictures, and VERY BRIEF (really brief, Merlin didn't even finish confessing his secret to Arthur before I was like "Nope not spoiling it" *clicks exit*) clips of Arthur's death.
Click to viewThen I started roaming youtube for more, and yep I found more
(Remember this episode?)
Then after repairing my broken heart, I went to search for updates of the rumoured spin-off series and turns out there may not be a spin-off series/movie/sequel thing at all!
Colin Morgan predicts there won't be a a spin-off series, even if there is, the original main cast (colin, bradley, katie, and angel) will not be part of the project. They all said in their own words, they will leave their roles from Merlin, and gladly offer the roles to the new generation. I understand, that they have invested 5 years of their lives to Merlin and would like to branch out in the acting business. Acting, is after all, tuning into someone else, and animating a character into real life. However, they wanted to end the series with a "BANG!" and leave viewers wanting more, which is what they achieved. Creating a whole new series would probably be difficult to top the ending of series 5. Whether or not they will create something more from Merlin, I think the crew will be taking a huge risk, by re-casting all the characters.
I think a lot of the fan-base is heavily devoted to the Colin-Bradley chemistry just as much as to Merlin-Arthur. Changing that cast can fumble with the entire harmony that Colin and Bradley have built up over the years. They will have to find two actors that can genuinely have that similar bond Colin and Bradley have. A lot of the Merlin and Arthur companionship are directly channelled from Colin and Bradley's friendship. The friendship on-off screen from the two are the same, just expressed differently.
A possible way where casting new actors for the roles and not jeopardizing the core Merlin fan-base, would be for a reincarnating series, where all the characters die, but are reborn into a modern world.
Other than that, they could always re-cast the knights or have a new cast (p.s. I had no idea Gwaine died in Series 5! Q_Q) for the main roles and just start another series. Either way, I just hope they do make another series. Even Alexander Viahos is hopeful for another series/sequel/spin-off/movie/whatever of Merlin.
I do agree that they ended the series well, and adding on to it might just be dragging it on. Although, I think filming a movie, rather than a series is worth while, since I personally think it will mark an official end to Merlin altogether and will hopefully give the fans a satisfied ending with closure.