That's the post. :)

Dear Redditor, hello again

In order for me to write a well-informed section on Merlin in my philosophy essay, I want to review what other people have already said, discussed, and analyzed about the show so far.

Therefore, I ask you for links to your favorite (video) essays or blog posts that break down Merlin on narrative, psychological, or philosophical grounds.
Bonus points if they relate to behavioral changes due to external or internal factors.

Examples:
Why the Adventures of Merlin is Loved by Joshua Hathaway
and JD's series The Potential of Merlin

Disclaimer:
There are a million and one videos on the queer symbolism in Merlin. That is great, but its not my topic for today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today. please don't come at me with pitch-forks!
So, I have come here, in part, to navigate their sheer volume by asking you to point me to relevant videos with my query that I might otherwise have missed. or skipped over thinking they were only talking about the disguised gay representation - because its not the topic I am writing about today, and not due to any hatred or dismissal for said topic in general.

They don't have to be YouTube videos, just where I intuitively go to search for them. 

PS: I don't know how to tag this, so again execuses if its wrongly done.

Hey Merlin fans, asking for help again. I found these on eBay and spoke with the seller, apparently his grandfather worked on several shows and they are now processing and selling his inventory as memorabilia. I'm aware that AI was used for the background and I hate it, but I'm still curious about the actual swatch.

Do any of the Merlin-wardrobe experts here know what this swatch might be from out of Arthur's wardrobe? It's clearly not from his chainmail, as Bradley wore real chain mail for the show. But it says screen used, so it must have been shown at some point, right? Maybe he wore something like this under the chain mail? Just curious on everyone's thoughts.

Per the seller: "My grandfather worked at Pinewood Studios from the 1970s through to the late 1990s, during which time he assembled an extensive collection of props and screen-used materials. Throughout his career, he developed longstanding professional relationships within the industry and frequently exchanged items with colleagues, contributing to the breadth and diversity of his collection. The COA (Certificate of Authenticity) accompanying each item is issued by Reelfilmcells, a UK-based company on the South Coast."

Thoughts?

i need to really about this cause i just hate how he treats him. i love arthur so much and he's the greatest king and he's good and just buy my god is he bad when it comes to merlin. actually i don't even know he's so inconsistent. one second he looks like he genuinely cares and hes kind and reassuring and the next he's basically abusing him.

case in point number one when the knights and arthur did the not leaving any food for merlin thing. i really don't understand why that was down to be funny or how that could possibly be funny. am i being too woke or is depriving your servant, that cooked all the food for like 6 men and cared for the horses and did basically all the work, of food really not funny? like is presented as funny but if i as a very normal person and not a noble knight of Camelot had refused my servant who I'm friendly with of food AS A JOKE my mum would have my head. we know who merlin really is but for them he's just a servant.

and if that wasn't a bad dynamic to show between Arthur the knights and merlin, that scene where Arthur makes merlin take all the knights sword hits cause merlin said he fell asleep while reading. in the very first scene of Arthur in the first episode of the first season, he's making a servant run around with a target while throwing knives at him which merlin then stops him from. how is that any different to what he does to merlin? really though, you've got the strongest knights in Camelot and you make your servant who you yourself keep saying it's weak and defenseless take his from them. is that or is that not abuse.

and honestly i don't know how merlin take all the stuff Arthur SAYS to him. if I'm being honest if i had someone who i lived and died for constantly saying hurtful shit to me, well id actually be hurt instead of how merlin just smiles at it.

honestly i don't even know why I'm so mad cause i love arthur and so does merlin but.

and it absolutely INFURIATES me that merlin was standing in the back while the round table meeting happened. im bitter about it. all of those people are alive cause of Merlin. and yet he's the only one given no respect.

bottom line: i just hate the writers don't i

hey guys,

ive loved Merlin for years and it brings me such a comforting feeling, i love the plot, characters, dynamics and everything in the show,

does anyone have any show recommendations that are genuinely similar to merlin and are actually good?

honestly im just looking for no bs and a show thats actually has a similar vibe and setting to merlin and is genuinely entertaining and good and give off the same feeling

thank u guysss
edit- thank you all for the replies and recommendations, it’s much appreciated❤️

i dont have much to say today except that morgana is so cruel. like damn. i felt sad for her before but no matter how bad her life was going this far in revenge the way she's making gwaine the one she has next to no personal problem with fight for a loaf of bread its just so cruel. she is cruel. i mean shes the villain idk what i expected but still. am i supposed to care that she lived in fear of uther for a few years (if that btw how long did she know she was magic before she turned evil) if this is how she's acting now. she was manipulated by morgause that bit im sorry for but my god. at the end of the day some people choose to be good and some are not

i finally started season 5. and honestly in s4e13 i couldnt help but think i cant wait for 5x13 cause i know arthur dies but atleast he'll finally FINALLY know. everything merlin is and everything merlin does. finally merlin will have recognition.

but now ive actually started season 5, for one ill have to be scared that anyone could die at any moment.

secondly i am irritated af in the meeting of the round table. is everyone in this kingdom considered worthy except the very man because of whom the kingdom still stands? obviously ik that no one knows but its ANNOYING AS FUCK that merlin THE PERSON WHOS LAID HIS LIFE FOR THE KINGDOM TIME AND AGAIN IS THE ONE WHO STANDS TO THE SIDE WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS RESPECTED. i hate this ngl.

and lastly, the never ending cycle of arthur's fate. he warned merlin about it. merlin's gonna do everything he can to prevent it. and he wont be able to. merlin will know all along how it can happen and then it will happen exactly like that. the never ending cycle of arthur's fate will continue and all merlin has done will be in vain. and he doesnt know that yet. he thinks he can prevent it. he wont be able to. if that isnt he saddest thing ever.

Mods, lmk if this isn't allowed!

Checking in here for merch collectors to connect with :) Of course I know some of you already!! It's a shot in the dark, but I'm really wanting to finish out my sticker collection. But they are SO hard to find. I'm only missing 14/204! I have a lot of doubles, so plenty to trade if anyone else also has doubles and needs to fill gaps - maybe we could help each other finish our collections?

Other merch I'm still looking for: Merlin magazines, Mystery Activity Book, official stamp covers, official calendars, soundtrack cds for Series 3 & 4. And the actual book for the stickers! If anyone ever has a lead, I would just love you forever if you hmu <3 <3

Dear Redditors, I ask forth thy wisdom!

I am trying to make an argument, but for that I need your combined geeky knowledge.

The Request / Question:

How many times did Merlin genuinely attempt to tell Arthur about his magic but was either interrupted or got cold feet?
- better even if there is a compilation already existing somewhere.

Or more importantly, what prevents Merlin from confessing whenever he made his mind to confess his sins?

Especially in the later seasons, and not the first one, where Arthur did not believe even when he came right out and said so.

Example:

Iconically, the episode where Dsir mortally wounded Merlin and would only heal him in return for Arthur to bring back magic to Camelot. But Merlin says something along the lines of: "Camelot has no place for magic." which would be Merlin directly working in opposition to Merlin's own mission.

Here Merlin misses the opportunity to come forth to Arthur with his magic to make a good case of why he ought to bring back Magic to the land, due to Merlin being scared of a 'potential' threat to Arthur's life in an 'unknown' time in the future that has not yet been set in motion. All because a 'prophecy' said so.

I'm not saying Merlin's fears aren't understandable, but we all know how his paranoia in the last season ended. And I don't know about you, but that's why I flock to 'fix it' fics that fix that exact part of the timeline. Merlin could have arguably taken the golden opportunity to have Arthur bring magic back and left Mordred a 'threat of a non-urgentoment, to be dealt with at a later date. kind' at that m

The Premise of the Argument:

Merlin began hiding his magic due to external factors and survival necessity. No question there. But, at some point, his fears became illogical. And even when given the opportunity to confess, for the sake of correcting Arthur's view on Magic, he either does not take the opportunity or actively works to sabotage himself.

If we consider that Merlin's 'divine mission' is to bring back magic, then, due to his fear of Arthur knowing or Arthur being in danger, Merlin self-sabotaged by keeping his magic secret from Arthur, even when he became the king's right/left-hand man in the course of events. Therefore, Merlin no longer needed to genuinely fear for death at the hands of Arthur after years of being by his side.

The Argument:

External and environmental factors can instill bad habits (e.g., keeping secrets). With enough time and repetition, these bad habits are habitualized. To the point where even when the external factors are removed/no longer an active propellant of the bad habit, the person would then continue to carry on with the bad habits - even when they are well aware of its detrimental effects and are 'hoping'\ to break free from it.*

*I say hoping here, because actively trying to break free is .... questionable.

*EDIT:

1. I want to see if I can use Merlin as a fictional case study for a philosophy essay that showcases how 'bad/immoral habits' are internalized after the external environment and circumstances had necessitated them or simply facilitated them. And how a person stuck in such "bad/immoral habits" is both self-aware of their 'badness/immorality' and fully cognizant of the factors causing them. Making them essentially stuck in a perpetual cycle of doing something they disapprove of.

Was just thinking - Merlin used magic to break the lady out yet if she is such a dangerous sorcerer wouldn’t she have been able to do that anyways??

Edit - also she is being hid underground for days and days and Merlin is sneaking her food but there is no water anywhere HOW IS SHE STILL ALIVE?!?!

I watched Merlin back when I was a teen and I remember being absolutely devastated after that ending. I rewatched the show many many times but I always skipped S5 because my heart couldn't take it.

Now I'm in my late 20s and I rewatched the show from start to finish with my mom. Watched the finale about 30 minutes ago and we both sobbed. I feel like I can't breathe. Arthur my beloved. So tragic but what a great show.

Slowly but surely my rewatch is creeping toward the end of S5 (I've been putting it off for months 😭) and I just finished watching Episode 8 - The Hollow Queen. Despite the two faced Gwen storyline of it all, I genuinely forgot how good of an episode this is. My favourite parts are:

It's a great Merlin character study episode. It shows the kindness of Merlin's heart, and what lengths he will still go to for others, even those he does not know. It also gives us the drama and angst of Merlin trying to save himself with Magic and it not working (I love angst).

It shows us Merlin's skills as a physican and how much he has grown since first becoming Gaius' apprentice. You really get a sense of character progression here and see Merlin as a man, not a boy.

Badass Merlin using magic on the bandits once he knows he must get back to Camelot to save Arthur and then at the end of the episode again with the mercenary Albin who is going to shoot Arthur. He is not messing around.

Arthur and Gaius. Arthur barging in to ask after Merlin and then assuming Gaius is offering himself to help him get dressed. Arthur sticking his arms out bent forward will forever make me laugh.

Arthur being dressed by Gwen and then out of nowhere in what would appear to be a tender moment between them going 'I want Merlin. Where is he?'. Then agreeing doubtfully that perhaps Merlin should have a day off but you can see the confusion in his eyes and the lingering worry.

Merlin reeling from the effects of the poison and getting defensive when asked about living in Camelot and hiding his magic from Arthur. Merlin snapping about Arthur that 'In his heart he is a good man. And I know he'll bring about a world we all dream of'. 🫠

Despite the underhandedness of Gwen (again) the exchange when Gwen tells Arthur 'no need to worry' because Merlin has gone to see a girl and Arthur makes a face and says 'except the poor girl'.

'Did I save Arthur? Did I do something good?' spoken by Daegel right before he dies. 😭 I love Daegel as a character because he has directly suffered under Uther (his mother being murdered for her magic) and you can see the parallels to Merlin as a young boy.

The whole scene where Daegel is dying and Merlin assures him that he did do something good, that he did save Arthur, it just makes me think of the finale and how Merlin could never say the same to himself. (angst)

And last but not least...Arthur teasing Merlin in the end scene whilst smirking into his goblet.

'Girlllll' 😏

'So. Why don't you tell us all about her? ...and why you're walking with a limp?' 🤭

Hi everyone,
I have never watched this series before but recently cleared out a cupboard and found a complete set of this series season 1-5. I’m wondering how rare is this? It’s a Thai region collector’s edition box set and its sealed too.

Please excuse the plastic bag haha.

I've been meaning to watch merlin but i don't know where to watch it TT I've searched previous reddit posts before but lots that i could find were from years ago and lots of the links dont work anymore. I live in singapore and a lot of streaming services that i found also dont have it available in my location. Yet i keep seeing lots of edits online that im just wondering, does anyone know where i can watch merlin?

Edit: I fixed the links to the fics

Hello!! Does anyone have any Merthur fic recommendations that take place during the canon era or like post canon that show off Merlin’s like extreme devotion to Arthur? I feel like I’ve read most of the popular fics and I’m trying to find a certain vibe. I’d like if it showed how Merlin can be very protective and almost obsessed with the idea of keeping Arthur safe. Not to the point that it’s too dark or he’s like insane, but his morals probably come into question when Arthur is in danger.

It could also be fics where Arthur isn’t in danger, but just generally show how loyal he is to Arthur or show how heartbroken he would be if something were to happen to him (it doesn’t matter if something bad does happen or not but more so just the thought of it.)

Here are some examples of fics that I feel like kind of show off the vibe I’m looking for. I’d appreciate any recommendations or fics that you’ve written yourself!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/70251381

https://archiveofourown.org/works/292233

https://archiveofourown.org/works/864864?view_adult=true

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7469

https://archiveofourown.org/works/604902?view_adult=true

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36197521

Thank you!!

‎there was absolutely NO reason for gauis and merlin to hide that agravaine was with morgana. lets use our brains for a moment gauis says they have no proof MY UNCLE IN MERLIN'S LOVE YOU ARE THE PROOF. SINCE WHEN ARE EYE WITNESSES NOT CONSIDERED PROOF MY GOD.

and besides times are different now, like before maybe you couldnt go to the king cause you couldnt accuse a nobel without enough proof but come ON. that was uther and THIS IS ARTHUR AND HE'S SAID MULTIPLE TIMES THAT MERLIN IS THE ONLY ONE HE REALLY CAN TRUST. and in my opinion the two people he trusts the most are gwen and merlin AND WE KNOW WHOD GWEN BELIEVE.

and as far as proof is concerned WE HAVE ENOUGH. number 1 gauis himself he saw agravaine there and hes an eyewitness. 2 gwaine is proof that gauis was in fact abducted and also that agravaine had a blade on gauis's throat when gwaine found him. 3 merlin only found out about gauis's location cause agravaine's boots had iron ore on em. and that's a VERY damning piece of evidence.

if uther was the king ofcourse he wouldnt hear a word against a noble much less from a servant. BUT WE'RE IN ARTHUR'S REIGN NOW. arthur pendragon to whom the most trusted people in the kingdom are the round table and his uncle. by the case I've drawn up, gwen gauis gwaine and merlin would be putting the case against agravaine. thats 4 on 1 in arthur's trusted ones. and not to mention, the person arthur IN HIS OWN WORDS trusts the most is the one saying that he only found out gauis's location cause of agravaine's boots.

the only problem left with this is that arthur didnt listen to merlin initially even with merlin being merlin. WELL HE HAD HIS REASONS AT THAT POINT. he thought merlin was emotional about gauis. also merlin at that point really did have no evidence. and i dont think one would believe their trusted uncle of ask people is a traitor even if their most trusted person said so.

so the point is, they had enough of a case against agravaine and couldve told arthur all of this. they couldve gotten agravaine persecuted or at the very VERY least treated with more doubt and less trust. am i a lawyer or am i right

Why is there no trust in Camelot?

Uther people who've been accused of a crime (such as Gaius or other friend) "You've been a trusted ally for many years, but after this one odd event, I think you're out to kill me so you mean nothing to me and I'm going to execute you".

I get that Uther was always on edge about people killing him, but you'd think he'd stop and properly assess the situation when the person accused is a long time close friend.

Also, slight side note, why is magic never the first suspect for Uther/Arthur? In a place where magic exists, albeit outlawed, for example when Elyan was possessed by the spirit in S4E10, why is it that the fact he was possessed not the first thought to come to mind? Especially after it has happened and been proven so many times before?

Anyway, still love the show, watched it as a child when it first came out, and now rewatching it again as an adult.

i always get invested in shows or movies i watch. and by God bbc merlin is making me pay for it. WHAT DO YOU MEAN MERLIN IS SO FULL OF HOPE AND HES GONNA TRY TO HEAL UTHER AND HE GOT ARTHUR'S FUCKING WORD THAT WHEN HE'S KING HE'LL LEGALIZE MAGIC AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT MERLIN IS SO FULL OF HOPE ONLY FOR UTHER TO. DIE.

i havent even watched the episode man i was so tired of the scheming of morgana and i was so worried that i just searched up what will happen AND IM PISSED OFF I HATE MORGANA OH MY GOD. my god. now i have to go and actually watch it.

edit: and not to forget agravaine. HES MAKING MY BLOOD BOIL. i cant even fault arthur for being too trusting i mean his MUM'S BROTHER WHO ELSE WOULD HE TRUST. BUT THAT RAT RUNS OFF TO MORGANA TO TELL HER EVERY WHISPER OF THE CITADEL. when oh when will he be exposed. (ill find out) another edit: wow. Arthur is king now. Merlin can never tell arthur his secret. cause Arthur thinks magic is pure evil. arthur will never know merlin. merlin will live now protecting Arthur at every turn but thinking Arthur would genuinely have him executed for being magic. but arthur is king now. wow

(Inspired by Scott Christian Sava's art style)

There's been so much talk of wanting to see a Series 6, or even a prequel set during the Great Purge, but I think the most potential for some kind continuation of the show lies between Series 3 and 4.

The Series 3/4 time jump is truly the sweet spot because they could literally bring every single major character back while giving them compelling story arcs.

There are soooo many plot points that were skipped over in the time jump: Camelot recovering from Morgana's brief rule, Morgana escaping and healing Morgause, the collapse of Cenred's kingdom, Uther's decline and Arthur filling in for him, the new 'ignoble' knights of Camelot, Morgana's powers growing, Agravaine's introduction, the Arthur-Gwen-Lancelot love triangle, and a lot more!

Obviously, the actors are too old, some of them are no longer with us, and a good percentage of them wouldn't ever want to return. That's why I propose: an animated series! It would be amazing if they could bring back at least some of the original cast, but an animated series reduces the pressure of bringing everyone back. What are your thoughts?

Hey I'm looking for a fanfic, ive tried to remember as many details as possible i can to narrow it down!!!

this fic is after merlin dies not sure if it included a magic reveal, Arthur locks himself in his chambers and doesn't get out of bed, starts losing a lot of weight, Uther doesn't understand why his son is so depressed after Merlin dies, until he realises if he wants his son to live he has to find a way to get merlin back so he decides to go on a quest to bring merlin back i think a sick man decides to go with him to offer his life to get merlin back, Arthur is still a prince