Merlin: 5.13 Commentary

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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

Comments

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Thats a fascinating reply actually. I agree too that A and M were dysfunctional on both sides - a product of the opportunistic writing of course which made Merlin lie when he didnt need to (Arthur would chop his head off??? Come on!) and Arthur mysteriously forget all of Merlins aid and wisdom to treat him like the laziest and most useless servant on the planet. In the end though Arthur trusted Merlin more than anyone, relied on him, needed him around him ALL the time and yes - loved him. I think, as Bradley said, only Merlin and Gwen would have been guaranteed a good hearing if they'd confessed long time sorcery to Arthur.

I think Arthur DID love Merlin; I think he was also obsessed by him. But he was never going to show it in the way he'd show 'true love' to Gwen - ie courtly, best behaviour romantic gushing stuff. His love with and for Merlin was warts and all, closer than anyone else in his life. I loved the scene when he wakes up after Camlann - he's been badly wounded, hes killed Mordred, he doesnt know if the battle is won or lost, or who's dead or not, and he sees Merlin (whose dream voice he bizarrely also obeyed without question) and all you can see is his relief and joy that he has him back. In my view Bradley played emotionally repressed, screwed up Arthur as in love with Merlin, as Colin played vice versa - which B and C showed without a veil in 5.13. I don't think we were meant to believe that Arthur only loved Merlin once he knew all he'd done for him with magic; I think he loved him when all he knew was what merlin had done for him as a man- the bravest man he'd ever known. JMO though :)