Merlin - The Kindness of Strangers
The Kindness of Strangers (Season 5, Episode 10)
Well hello there, Alator. Good to see you.
I see Morgana’s getting more creative with her magic. No throwing people backwards this time?
More picnics, Arthur?
“I sometimes forget how beautiful Camelot is. But never how beautiful my Queen is.”
*Gwen laughs*
Merlin: Psh.
*blinks* OMG WHAT. What is this? Merlin the unfailingly enthusiastic Arwen shipper is, dare I say it, TIRED of Arwen?
“There’s a special punishment reserved for such impudence.”
After seeing this photoset, I can’t think of anything else in this scene.
Gwen’s not going to help Merlin set up their picnic? Mithian did more to help Merlin. And Mithian is a proper princess. Where’s the people’s queen?
“It’s rutting season.”
Oh my god, did Arthur really just say that? Mind à gutter.
Babies. Merlin really has become an advisor, hasn’t he? He doesn’t even hesitate to give Arthur his opinion, and Arthur doesn’t wave him off. I love that Arthur and Merlin are exchanging their own views while Gwen sits there looking pretty. Arthur, by your own definition of what you want in a queen, I’m pretty sure Merlin fits the bill better than Gwen. 1) Good counsel. Definitely Merlin. 2) Solid support. Merlin. 3) Not spending the days floating around the castle. Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. 4) Doesn’t agree with his every word. *laughs* No one fits THAT better than Merlin.
Wait, so Morgana was THIS close to Camelot, and NO ONE knew about it? Arthur, what are you guards doing?
OMG FLOWERS SCENE. I wanted so badly since summer to see this scene with Merlin gathering the flowers. And they’re for Gwen? Talk about anticlimactic.
(x)
Cutest scene ever. Colin Morgan, you are no longer allowed to have a face.
Haha. Knights playing keep away with Gwaine’s helmet. And Arthur joining in! Little moments like that. Precious babies. Arthur being the kind of king people can love and not fear.
Finna, I love you. Thank you for showing Merlin some respect. “Great one!” SQUEE! People bow to Merlin like they bow to Arthur. Just… a different group of people. Match made in heaven, I’d say.
Oh yes, good plan, Merlin. Let’s burn Camelot’s knights to stop them. Not like they’re your allies or anything. Did it really have to be a wall of fire. Not that it’s not nice that we’re getting more advanced magic than throwing people back. But… if there was ever a time for that, it would be now. With Merlin trying to be merciful to people on his own side. Fire is for enemies. Throwing people back should be for… er… friends.
“There are how many of you. Six? Against one old woman.”
Arthur, you idiot. Do you still not understand that a hundred knights are STILL no match against one sorcerer?
Hugs! Yes! Give Merlin more hugs!
I cannot believe Alator left that note lying around in his cell. Just… what? You didn’t eat it? You have magic! Conjure up a flame and burn it!
Oh hello. Alator’s broken neck. Well. This is new. And surprisingly brutal. Impressive.
“Well you were grateful enough for it when Gaius cure your palsy.”
“It wasn’t palsy.”
“I was being polite.”
I love that Merlin can tease the knights like this. Even Percival. Who, on screen at least, I think Merlin’s had the least contact with. Oh bromance. You make my day.
I feel like all the knights are just herding Merlin to stay in their circle. Merlin tries to leave and they just start blocking him. Great. Now I’m picturing lamb!Merlin. And he’s so cute!
Merlin, sweetheart, you’re lucky Mordred was on watch. Also, don’t be an idiot. Someone’s always on watch. Why did you think you could sneak away?
Every time Merlin and Mordred have a conversation, my heart breaks a little more. Poor Mordred. All he wants is for Merlin to love him.
“I thought I’d lost you.”
“You doubted me?”
Sweetheart, your face. Cocky!Merlin? I like it.
Colin, why do you play being in pain so well? Stop breaking my heart for once, can’t you?
Does no one know healing magic? Seriously. Merlin still doesn’t. After all the times Arthur’s been injured, I’m appalled that Merlin still hasn’t learned. And Finna doesn’t either? I dare say healing magic is the most useful magic. Was Alice the only person ever to practice it? Come on, people.
“It won’t always be like this. Things will be… better.”
Oh god. That little smile. He looks so hopeful but so bitter at the same time. It’s like believing this is the only way Merlin can make himself go on. The only way he can justify his own actions. Except he looks so hopeless too. After all these years, I don’t know where his hope comes from. A lesser man would’ve broken under the strain. That in itself speaks volumes about Merlin’s strength.
Merlin’s half-delirious and he STILL remembers to say “thank you.” You sweetheart. How could anyone not fall in love with you?
“Leave me your sword.”
No, Finna, nooooo! I don’t want you to die!
“It has been a privilege to know you, Emrys.”
I feel like, for once, Merlin is feeling the same burden Arthur feels. Arthur knows that people will die for him. Will die for him just because of who he is. And he has to carry that guilt. Merlin’s never known that. Many have died for him to protect his secret. Many have died at his hand. But for once, Finna is dying because… Merlin is a cause worth dying for. Finna is dying for HIM. The same way people die for Arthur. And Merlin has to just live with that.
Sigh. I knew Finna was going to kill herself. But whyyyyyyy? Why can’t these characters not die for once? Finna was so epic. But her killing herself was very fitting. Very keeping with her character. You know, from what I could get of her character from the twenty minutes she was in the episode.
“If you’re ill I can heal you.”
You can what, Merlin? YOU CAN WHAT? EXCUSE ME? YOU CAN /HEAL/? WHAT. But OMG that tone. More cocky!Merlin. I love cocky!Merlin. Please stay cocky!Merlin.
“I am old, Emrys. My time has almost come.”
What is going on. Why is the Great Dragon dying. WHY. WHY WHY WHY. The Great Dragon isn’t ever supposed to die! I never even liked you that much. But noooooo! You’re not allowed to die! So ending Merlin isn’t enough? And probably killing most of the characters we love isn’t enough? All on Christmas Eve. And you have to kill the Great Dragon too? Stop it. Fuck you writers.
“Let loose the hounds of war.
Let the dread fire of the last priestess.
Rain down from angry skies.
For brother will slaughter brother.
For friend will murder friend.
As the great horn sounds,
A cold dawn at Camlann.
Prophets do not lie,
There Arthur will meet his end,
Upon that mighty plain.”
Love the poem. But… no new info. Thanks so much. More lack of plot progression. Yay!
Well hello there, Alator. Good to see you.
I see Morgana’s getting more creative with her magic. No throwing people backwards this time?
More picnics, Arthur?
“I sometimes forget how beautiful Camelot is. But never how beautiful my Queen is.”
*Gwen laughs*
Merlin: Psh.
*blinks* OMG WHAT. What is this? Merlin the unfailingly enthusiastic Arwen shipper is, dare I say it, TIRED of Arwen?
“There’s a special punishment reserved for such impudence.”
After seeing this photoset, I can’t think of anything else in this scene.
Gwen’s not going to help Merlin set up their picnic? Mithian did more to help Merlin. And Mithian is a proper princess. Where’s the people’s queen?
“It’s rutting season.”
Oh my god, did Arthur really just say that? Mind à gutter.
Babies. Merlin really has become an advisor, hasn’t he? He doesn’t even hesitate to give Arthur his opinion, and Arthur doesn’t wave him off. I love that Arthur and Merlin are exchanging their own views while Gwen sits there looking pretty. Arthur, by your own definition of what you want in a queen, I’m pretty sure Merlin fits the bill better than Gwen. 1) Good counsel. Definitely Merlin. 2) Solid support. Merlin. 3) Not spending the days floating around the castle. Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. 4) Doesn’t agree with his every word. *laughs* No one fits THAT better than Merlin.
Wait, so Morgana was THIS close to Camelot, and NO ONE knew about it? Arthur, what are you guards doing?
OMG FLOWERS SCENE. I wanted so badly since summer to see this scene with Merlin gathering the flowers. And they’re for Gwen? Talk about anticlimactic.
(x)
Cutest scene ever. Colin Morgan, you are no longer allowed to have a face.
Haha. Knights playing keep away with Gwaine’s helmet. And Arthur joining in! Little moments like that. Precious babies. Arthur being the kind of king people can love and not fear.
Finna, I love you. Thank you for showing Merlin some respect. “Great one!” SQUEE! People bow to Merlin like they bow to Arthur. Just… a different group of people. Match made in heaven, I’d say.
Oh yes, good plan, Merlin. Let’s burn Camelot’s knights to stop them. Not like they’re your allies or anything. Did it really have to be a wall of fire. Not that it’s not nice that we’re getting more advanced magic than throwing people back. But… if there was ever a time for that, it would be now. With Merlin trying to be merciful to people on his own side. Fire is for enemies. Throwing people back should be for… er… friends.
“There are how many of you. Six? Against one old woman.”
Arthur, you idiot. Do you still not understand that a hundred knights are STILL no match against one sorcerer?
Hugs! Yes! Give Merlin more hugs!
I cannot believe Alator left that note lying around in his cell. Just… what? You didn’t eat it? You have magic! Conjure up a flame and burn it!
Oh hello. Alator’s broken neck. Well. This is new. And surprisingly brutal. Impressive.
“Well you were grateful enough for it when Gaius cure your palsy.”
“It wasn’t palsy.”
“I was being polite.”
I love that Merlin can tease the knights like this. Even Percival. Who, on screen at least, I think Merlin’s had the least contact with. Oh bromance. You make my day.
I feel like all the knights are just herding Merlin to stay in their circle. Merlin tries to leave and they just start blocking him. Great. Now I’m picturing lamb!Merlin. And he’s so cute!
Merlin, sweetheart, you’re lucky Mordred was on watch. Also, don’t be an idiot. Someone’s always on watch. Why did you think you could sneak away?
Every time Merlin and Mordred have a conversation, my heart breaks a little more. Poor Mordred. All he wants is for Merlin to love him.
“I thought I’d lost you.”
“You doubted me?”
Sweetheart, your face. Cocky!Merlin? I like it.
Colin, why do you play being in pain so well? Stop breaking my heart for once, can’t you?
Does no one know healing magic? Seriously. Merlin still doesn’t. After all the times Arthur’s been injured, I’m appalled that Merlin still hasn’t learned. And Finna doesn’t either? I dare say healing magic is the most useful magic. Was Alice the only person ever to practice it? Come on, people.
“It won’t always be like this. Things will be… better.”
Oh god. That little smile. He looks so hopeful but so bitter at the same time. It’s like believing this is the only way Merlin can make himself go on. The only way he can justify his own actions. Except he looks so hopeless too. After all these years, I don’t know where his hope comes from. A lesser man would’ve broken under the strain. That in itself speaks volumes about Merlin’s strength.
Merlin’s half-delirious and he STILL remembers to say “thank you.” You sweetheart. How could anyone not fall in love with you?
“Leave me your sword.”
No, Finna, nooooo! I don’t want you to die!
“It has been a privilege to know you, Emrys.”
I feel like, for once, Merlin is feeling the same burden Arthur feels. Arthur knows that people will die for him. Will die for him just because of who he is. And he has to carry that guilt. Merlin’s never known that. Many have died for him to protect his secret. Many have died at his hand. But for once, Finna is dying because… Merlin is a cause worth dying for. Finna is dying for HIM. The same way people die for Arthur. And Merlin has to just live with that.
Sigh. I knew Finna was going to kill herself. But whyyyyyyy? Why can’t these characters not die for once? Finna was so epic. But her killing herself was very fitting. Very keeping with her character. You know, from what I could get of her character from the twenty minutes she was in the episode.
“If you’re ill I can heal you.”
You can what, Merlin? YOU CAN WHAT? EXCUSE ME? YOU CAN /HEAL/? WHAT. But OMG that tone. More cocky!Merlin. I love cocky!Merlin. Please stay cocky!Merlin.
“I am old, Emrys. My time has almost come.”
What is going on. Why is the Great Dragon dying. WHY. WHY WHY WHY. The Great Dragon isn’t ever supposed to die! I never even liked you that much. But noooooo! You’re not allowed to die! So ending Merlin isn’t enough? And probably killing most of the characters we love isn’t enough? All on Christmas Eve. And you have to kill the Great Dragon too? Stop it. Fuck you writers.
“Let loose the hounds of war.
Let the dread fire of the last priestess.
Rain down from angry skies.
For brother will slaughter brother.
For friend will murder friend.
As the great horn sounds,
A cold dawn at Camlann.
Prophets do not lie,
There Arthur will meet his end,
Upon that mighty plain.”
Love the poem. But… no new info. Thanks so much. More lack of plot progression. Yay!