"I'm really attached to that armour": On Merlin and Arthur in two seasons

[selenak]

I’d hardly be a Merlin watcher if I hadn’t some thoughts on the Merlin-Arthur (or Merlin/Arthur, be that as it may) relationship. Summed up from various discussions with

Comments

[kathyh]

This is fascinating and you really show what a complicated relationship (my favourite kind *g*) this is, but I don't have time to say more because I'm about to go out.

[zahrawithaz]

Amen to this. The character development in S2, all the growth and complexity it gives them, is now most of why I'm watching the show.

[veritykindle]

This is a very interesting post! Thank you for writing it up.

Firstly, I’ll start with a somewhat heretical thesis

Really? This is considered a heretical thesis? I've always thought that Season 2 showed progress in the Arthur-Merlin relationship, rather than regress. As you said, Arthur in Season 2 seemed a lot more willing to actually pay attention to Merlin's feelings, which is something Season 1 Arthur never really did. I think the difference between Arthur's obliviousness to Merlin's mood n episode 1.13 and Arthur trying to tease Merlin out of a bad mood after Freya in 2.9 is really striking. And in 2.13, it actually seems to almost physically disturb him, to see Merlin so quiet and upset.

when Uther orders him to arrest Merlin in 2.06 he misleads the guards and sends him away instead

One thing that really struck me about that moment Arthur misleads the guards and sends Merlin away was that it looked to me like Arthur actually thought that Merlin was guilty, and he still protected him immediately, which I see as a huge deal

[zahrawithaz]

I like your points here, especially about the show (and Arthur) caring more about Merlin's feelings in S2. But I think the reason Arthur backs off in both 2x09 and 2x13 is because he thinks he's figured out what's wrong--he thinks Merlin is upset over their quarrel in 2x09 because he himself is, and in 2x13 he's like a dog with a bone--he doesn't give up until Merlin tells him what's wrong. When Merlin claims he's worried about everyone back home, Arthur believes him instantly--because of course he himself feels the same thing. (It's Arthur's sweet spot, too--not being able to protect his people.) The way he goes still as soon as Merlin mentions it always struck me powerfully.

And adding evidence to your magical attraction theory, he is pretty dazzled by Catrina when he first meets her in the marketplace, and (if I remember correctly) before it's quite clear that she's on par with ladies like Morgana and Sophia.

[veritykindle]

he thinks Merlin is upset over their quarrel in 2x09 because he himself is

Hm, see, I thought Arthur was teasing Merlin when he asked him if Merlin was upset because Arthur yelled at him about the water - trying to draw Merlin out of his funk, rather than seriously suggesting that Merlin was upset about the bath water. (I loved that scene, by the way! ♥ ) But you could be right about that. It would be like Arthur to assume that he knows what is going on, even when he doesn't. And certainly, it would make sense for Arthur to come up with his own explanation for Merlin's behavior, given that Merlin doesn't really give him much to go on.

I'm not saying that Arthur consciously knows that Merlin has magic. I don't think he does. I just have this feeling sometimes that he subconsciously realizes that there is something Merlin isn't telling him, and he sometimes goes out of his way to avoid learning what it is, possibly because he's afraid that it might wreck his budding friendship with Merlin. That scene where he helps Merlin escape from

[selenak]

Really? This is considered a heretical thesis?

I have of course been catching up in the last two months and might have missed something, but the impression I got was that the majority regards the s1 relationship as the golden age of Merlin/Arthur-closeness and anything later as regression.

I think the difference between Arthur's obliviousness to Merlin's mood n episode 1.13 and Arthur trying to tease Merlin out of a bad mood after Freya in 2.9 is really striking. And in 2.13, it actually seems to almost physically disturb him, to see Merlin so quiet and upset.

*nods* On a more mundane level, he also notices immediately when Merlin is slightly wounded in 2.12. and binds up said wound.

One thing that really struck me about that moment Arthur misleads the guards and sends Merlin away was that it looked to me like Arthur actually thought that Merlin was guilty, and he still protected him immediately, which I see as a huge deal for Arthur, and I am always surprised that this moment isn't mentioned more by all the Merlin/Arthur

[zahrawithaz]

I love this

[selenak]

And also the point that Merlin drinks the poison to protect Cara as well as Arthur. (I'm not the only one who noticed how much Cara and Freya have in common!)

Yes, I'm amazed that didn't get more comment. I haven't seen anyone mentioning that Merlin both felt attracted to and protecting of Nimueh-as-Cara. (Btw, and speaking of class issues and/or Merlin's instinctive response to magical beings, it's interesting that when Arthur meets Nimueh later in the same episode, and she basically acts out the same Cara persona for him, he is protective but gives no sign of being attracted.)

what we saw of him after 2x09 indicates he believes more than ever that Uther is right that all magic is evil. (Let's not forget that he's the one who killed Freya, and he did so knowing she was a girl as well as a monster.)

Indeed. Though it's also important to note he saw the dead bodies Freya left behind first - the two lovers and the two soldiers. He didn't kill her on magical reputation alone.

In part I think that's because Arthur believes people

[zahrawithaz]

Oh I agree that Arthur knows what Freya is a legitamite danger--after all, she'd just killed Halig in front of him--but he also saw her attempts to warn them off, and think the whole incident is another indicator that Arthur thinks (not wholly without reason) that magic is evil

[selenak]

What I find really interesting is the fact that Merlin doesn't know that Arthur killed Freya is interesting--it's the one place where Arthur potentially has a counter-reveal. (Especially since the sword she's guarding is for Arthur.) Alas, I doubt the show is going to go there when they bring Freya back.

It would be fascinating, though. I mean, Merlin isn't stupid, and he knows Freya was killed at the very least on Arthur's orders and by Arthur's men hunting her down, but presumably that still feels differently than knowing for sure Arthur did it personally.

I'd also say that Merlin's willingness to leave Camelot with Freya can be read as him leaping at a chance for an alternative destiny at a point when the first one has lost a lot of its initial appeal--using his magic to protect her seems to offer him a similar sense of mission.

*nods* that's the interpetation I was going for in Sui Generis - also protecting Freya was something he not only could do but could do without guilt (and without having to fear she'd turn against him,

[andraste_oz]

Wow. This is a really wonderful analysis of the progression in s2 and the increasing complication of Merlin's situation. Beautifully done. You've articulated and put into a cohesive argument all the vague notions I've had about s2 and added plenty of others I hadn't considered. Thank you :)

[selenak]

You're very welcome, and thank you for reading! Joining a new fandom is always odd because one can never be sure that it all hasn't been said already and better, so I'm glad the essay spoke to you regardless.