Merlin: 5.13 Commentary
I hadn’t quite intended on commenting on Julian Murphy’s eye-popping commentary on 5:13 because…well I thought it pretty much spoke eloquently for itself. But I reckoned of course without the formidable powers of denial and provocation within the Merlin fandom. And the nagging powers of gatepromise :P So here I am again, dander up once more
Frankly, some of ( Read more... )
My thoughts exactly. I saw some of that Once and Future Queen nonsense, too, and to be honest, if I'd shipped Arwen and been a big Gwen fan, I'd probably write the hell out of all kinds of AU fics to fix how the A/G was written in S5 and give her some big ~destiny, too. (And let's be honest, 99% of all reincarnation fic that's ever been written in fandom had all the other characters reborn, too, so it's not like this inclination is new or anything). But I'd acknowledge that I was diverging from canon.
In that same vein, I've noticed some other fans stating it as fact that Merlin returns to Camelot eventually and helps Gwen and Camelot. And I've read a couple such post513 fics that were well-written and were able to get me to buy such a scenario, but canon itself gave no indication whatsoever that Merlin would ever return. And yet I've seen some fans proclaim adamantly that of course, Merlin would return and serve Gwen!
As an aside, the more I've thought on the finale, the gladder I've been that in the final exchange between M and A, they didn't have Arthur ask Merlin one last request - to look after Gwen/Camelot for him. Considering all the previous times when Arthur thought he wouldn't make it, he did just that, I'm really glad they broke that pattern when it mattered and had Arthur thank Merlin instead of putting even more weight and duty on his shoulders. Because if Arthur had asked or even hinted at the corners of such a thought, Merlin would had felt compelled to spend his every waking moment from that point forward making good on that promise to the man he loved.
He was being honest in a jokey way, which is a very different thing.
Yeah, having finally listened to it myself (instead of just reading the commentary someone wrote up), I completely agree with your assessment. If it had just been a stray comment here or there, I think the they-were-just-messing-with-slash-shippers sentiment would've had more credibility, but to have the bulk of the entire commentary for the last episode ever center on Merlin and Arthur's love, makes that highly unlikely. And as you said, Julian also was given a lot of 'outs' by Katie to laugh it all off and he never did.
Me - I actually voted for Colin AND Merlin purely because of 5.13. Which makes me a sap who forgives at the drop of a hat but… it’d have been nice to see the guys (Bradley, Colin and the knights) up there getting something for the joy they gave us over the years. And yes… even with Capps and Murphy up there with them.
I did, too. I would've loved to have gotten to see them all up on stage one last time.
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Some fans are really Mary Sue.
Merlin said in the episode by himself: "Camelot is nothing with you, Arthur". "There will no one like you". "I have magic and I use it only for you, Arthur". Let's be honest, Merlin is Arthur's and other things just doesn't matter to him.
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But as you said, Merlin makes it pretty clear (repeatedly) in 513 that he doesn't look at it quite that way. They made a point of having Merlin distinguish between Arthur and Camelot...they weren't interchangeable to him. And I didn't get the impression Merlin had any allegiance to Gwen whatsoever. In some of the earlier seasons, Merlin seemed more big picture oriented, but in S5 it was like they stripped away every other priority until just Arthur remained.
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My thoughts exactly. I saw some of that Once and Future Queen nonsense, too, and to be honest, if I'd shipped Arwen and been a big Gwen fan, I'd probably write the hell out of all kinds of AU fics to fix how the A/G was written in S5 and give her some big ~destiny, too. (And let's be honest, 99% of all reincarnation fic that's ever been written in fandom had all the other characters reborn, too, so it's not like this inclination is new or anything). But I'd acknowledge that I was diverging from canon.
Just exactly what I said to Thien above. I sort of understand the urge having seen it a lot but writing fix it AU fic is one thing, claiming it fits canon is something else. Somehow though, Im not surprised :P
In that same vein, I've noticed some other fans stating it as fact that Merlin returns to Camelot eventually and helps Gwen and Camelot. And I've read a couple such post513 fics that were well-written and were able to get me to buy such a scenario, but canon itself gave no indication whatsoever that Merlin would ever return. And yet I've seen some fans proclaim adamantly that of course, Merlin would return and serve Gwen!
Yeah I agree - again its a wish thing. They wish Merlin would do that so they decide of course he would have done. I think the show would have made it clear that was going to be Merlins choice by having him prominent at Gwens 'long live the Queen' moment. But he wasnt there. In fact through S5 they made it very clear that Arthur was what counted not Camelot and not Gwen as witness his less than enthusiastic participation in saving her from the Overcompensation Arc. I think in S5 we were shown that Camelot and Gwen were important to Merlin only because Camelot and Gwen were important to Arthur.
As an aside, the more I've thought on the finale, the gladder I've been that in the final exchange between M and A, they didn't have Arthur ask Merlin one last request - to look after Gwen/Camelot for him. Considering all the previous times when Arthur thought he wouldn't make it, he did just that, I'm really glad they broke that pattern when it mattered and had Arthur thank Merlin instead of putting even more weight and duty on his shoulders. Because if Arthur had asked or even hinted at the corners of such a thought, Merlin would had felt compelled to spend his every waking moment from that point forward making good on that promise to the man he loved.
Oh me too! But I think they deliberately broke the mould in that episode - they shed all the old protective things they used to do to tone down the intensity of Merlin/Arthur 'we're going to die' stuff like by having Arthur always bring up Gwen - the shows very obvious security blanket. In 5.13 they didnt do it; Gwen was given the royal seal and the only mention was of her making a good queen and Camelot would be fine with her (though I doubt it personally :P). After that, with Camelot and Gwen safely shuffled off, it became and remained about 'the love story between two men'.
Yeah, having finally listened to it myself (instead of just reading the commentary someone wrote up), I completely agree with your assessment. If it had just been a stray comment here or there, I think the they-were-just-messing-with-slash-shippers sentiment would've had more credibility, but to have the bulk of the entire commentary for the last episode ever center on Merlin and Arthur's love, makes that highly unlikely. And as you said, Julian also was given a lot of 'outs' by Katie to laugh it all off and he never did.
Precisely.:) I dont think either of us are prone to forcing ourselves to see whats not there in the face of all evidence to the contrary. ;-) Plus - theres 5.13 itself - there the proof right there how it was played!
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