#bbc arwen

[knightofmordred]

happy first day of spring ☀️🌸

[cabbageheadss]

picnic date 🌸

[kairennart]

and isn't it just so pretty to think all along there was some invisible string tying you to me?

[kissme-withyour-cherrylipstick]

Merlin + @screenshotsofdespair

[scionofguineverependragon]

[merlincersei]

Merlin BBC UK TV Show - Opinion Piece Part 23 - Who Is Arthur Really Talking About In This Scene?

Time and again when I revisit this particular scene between Arthur and Merlin (referenced below) I can't help but notice how much "Merthur" has been implicitly queer coded in this show.

______________________________________________________________

The scene I am talking about is in the Season 2 Episode 4 titled "Lancelot and Guinevere" .

This episode can be summarized as follows:

Gwen is mistaken for Morgana and is kidnapped by Hengist. Uther refuses to pay the ransom or send a rescue party to save a servant. Arthur defies his father and sets out with Merlin to rescue Gwen. ______________________________________________________________

After Arthur and Merlin escape from the Wilddeoren, they have the following scene:

While the casual viewer will look at this scene and state it is Arthur confessing his love for Gwen, however LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT THEME PLAYS FROM 0:55 SECONDS ONWARDS IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS SCENE.

The theme it plays is Merlin's Arrival to Camelot:

Now ask youself why would the show put in "Merlin's Arrival to Camelot" theme in the background of a scene where Arthur is confessing his love for Gwen?

Especially when Arthur and Gwen already have a theme song called Gwen & Arthur Romance Suite.

Shockingly, the Gwen & Arthur Romance Suite is actually played in the background of a scene between Gwen and Lancelot when they kiss for the first time and Gwen states " As long as I live, my feelings for you will never fade."

Refer scene at 1:22 in the clip below:

____________________________________________________________

Going back to the scene between Merlin and Arthur, dont you think Arthur's description of Gwen can also be used for Merlin.

[EXT. FOREST, STREAM – DAY] [Arthur and Merlin wash off the Gaia berries by a stream.]

ARTHUR Gaia berries worked. Huh.

MERLIN You didn't know if they worked?

ARTHUR Not for sure.

MERLIN Now you tell me?! Oh! Oh, what's that Wildren eating? It's all right. It's just Merlin. You trying to get us both killed?

ARTHUR I'm sorry. I shouldn't've risked your life like that.

MERLIN Well, they do say love makes you do strange things.

ARTHUR What are you talking about?

MERLIN Why can't you just admit your feelings for Gwen?

[Arthur scoffs.]

MERLIN It's so obvious. A blind man could see it. Is it really that hard to admit you like her? Just say it. (MERLIN THEME STARTS TO PLAY)

ARTHUR I can't! How can I admit that I think about her all the time. Or that...I care about her more than anyone. How can I admit that...I don't know what I'll do if any harm comes to her?

(DID ARTHUR NOT RISK HIS OWN LIFE FOR MERLIN IN SEASON 1 EPISODE 4 THE POISONED CHALICE.

DID ARTHUR NOT FOLLOW MERLIN TO EALDOR IN SEASON 1 EPISODE 10 THE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR A MERE SERVANT)

MERLIN Why can't you?

ARTHUR Because nothing can ever happen between us! (HOW TRUE! BBC SIMPLY WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED MERTHUR TO HAPPEN!) To admit my feelings knowing that...hurts too much.

MERLIN Who's to say nothing can happen?

ARTHUR My father won't let me rescue a servant. Do you honestly believe he'd let me marry one?

(IN SEASON 1 EPISODE 4 THE POISONED CHALICE. UTHER FORBADE ARTHUR TO RESCUE MERLIN AND EVEN HAD HIM IMPRISONED WHEN HE BROUGHT BACK THE CURE FOR MERLIN)

MERLIN You want to marry Gwen?

ARTHUR No! No...I...I don't know...It's all talk, and that's all it can ever be.

MERLIN When you're King, you can change that.

ARTHUR I can't expect Guinevere to wait for me.

MERLIN If she feels as you do, she'll wait for you.

(IN THE END OF THE SERIES, IT IS MERLIN WHO HAS BEEN WAITING FOR ARTHUR FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!!)

ARTHUR We don't even know if she's still alive.

MERLIN No, she is. We will find her.

ARTHUR Come on. We've got a long trek ahead. Oh, and Merlin...if you dare tell anyone about this, I promise I will make your life a living hell.

MERLIN You mean, more than you already do?

ARTHUR Yeah.

MERLIN We could talk about your feelings while you walk.

ARTHUR Shut up, Merlin.

______________________________________________________________

I also managed to get a snapshot of a commentary Bradley James and Colin Morgan did for this particular episode and it is available on the DVD. Bradley's commentary is indeed very telling.

I REST MY CASE !!!

[educatingmerlin]

I see a lot of posts these days with the Merlin fandom - Merthur shippers especially since they make up most of the current fandoms - congratulating themselves for how well they treat Gwen. A lot of it feels hollow to me, since they absolutely do not engage with thoughts or content about her other than - she was too good for Arthur, Lancelot or Morgana were better for her etc etc - It just often leaves a very bad taste in my mouth, especially since in show canon - neither Lancelot or Morgana end up treating Gwen with the respect that she deserves.

Maybe the fandom now treats her better but that has absolutely NOT been the case since the show has been airing. This fandom has been one of the worst in terms of racism and POC. I remember thinking, many years ago while the show was airing - poor Angel!

Like the booing, the threats, the petitions, the absolute lack of support for her from any of her castmates or showrunners - I hope she never has to go through that again.

Anyways, I’ve come across some people who are willing to engage in this discussion but also refuse to accept that it’s been a problem in the past. Thus, I was wondering if you had a list or links for of all the things/experiences that Angel went through and how awful it was?

For example, I very much remember the photoshop petition, where people harassed a photographer for doing a Colin, Bradley and Angel photoshoot so much that the shoot itself got cancelled. And I remember Angel once said she got death threats? But is there a compiled list anywhere?

Thank you for your question and also for sharing the racism you saw/experienced within the fandom.

Having reminders like this is so important. It is so easy for people to forget how bad things were (and still are) for Angel.

As far as I am aware, I don't think there are any threads or a list complied of what Angel went though/evidence of racism. At least, I have not come across any! It would be good if it did exist somewhere. It's unfortunate that people have to see evidence to believe it was real, that it happened, but I know that sometimes being able to see how bad things truly were can be a wake up call too.

From what I know, a lot old Merlin content seems to no longer exist on the internet e.g articles, videos, posts etc.

However, posting this may bring things to light if there are any lists/threads, or even people coming forward with receipts! If there are, I'll try to compile them in a post to make it easier to access.

[kiarpennington]

Kia’s Commentary Rants: Here I give my commentary on romance and shipping culture in media! For full episode, check out the Kia’s Commentary podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!