austinfillmore

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MORGANA'S POISONING

Merlin Secrets and Magic Ep. 12 The Dragon’s Den

Colin Morgan: You see Morgana become so impassioned and ehm, so against Uther that it’s actually becoming quite dangerous and very worrying.

Katie Mcgrath: She becomes a vessel for a spell that is cast over all of Camelot.

(scene shows Kilgharrah saying. “The source of this pestilence is The Witch, the Lady Morgana”)

Colin Morgan: He is put into a position where he has to make a decision which is …very out of character.

(scene shows Merlin offering Morgana the poisoned water bag)

Colin Morgan: He has to uhm, literally poison a friend, you know, kill a friend, ehm, but for the greater good. It’s… (Smiles) It’s not an easy decision.

Katie Mcgrath: He can either save Camelot or let me live. So in order to save Camelot and Arthur and the Once and Future King, he has to kill Morgana.

Johnny Caps: Does he poison somebody that he, in a way, cares about but is suspicious of or does he let her live and therefore let the rest of Camelot die? Either decision is really difficult for Merlin.

Katie Mcgrath: He kills her because he believes he had to and he kills her because Morgana’s magic has taken her somewhere that his magic never would and Merlin and Morgana can’t be friends because of that. They started all from the same place but they’ve gone completely opposite directions and their friendship isn’t going to come back from that.

Johnny Caps: And we liked that because, you know, let’s push Merlin into uh, making a very very difficult decision and it is an awful decision that he has to make but there is hope there for Morgana because Morgause takes her away and there absolutely a sense that Morgause will save Morgana. And that creates for us a delicious dilemma because when Merlin gets to meet Morgana again, what would her attitude be towards Merlin, what would her attitude be towards Camelot, and what has Morgause been telling her?

Colin Morgan: It was important to get that right and uhm Jeremy Webb and director was great because he uh completely pushed us and spent the time on it.

Katie Mcgrath: I hope I never have to do it again. It was horrible. I made Colin cry, well I made Merlin cry but it’s the same thing.

[tiodolma]

Colin Morgan and Katie Mcgrath DVD Commentary on Merlin and Morgana's Relationship in S1x08 "Beginning of the End" (Mordred Episode)

featuring

Colin Morgan, BBC Merlin Katie Mcgrath, BBC Morgana Julian Murphy, Producer Angel Coulby, BBC Guinevere

S1x08 Merlin and Morgana watching over Mordred who was behind the curtain

COLIN: This is one of our few scenes together. KATIE: Actually this is one of my favorite scenes. JULIAN: Yeah, mine too. KATIE: me and you JULIAN: I think when you think about the whole sort of texture of the legend about what, who these people will become COLIN AND KATIE: MHHM JULIAN: Or what we think they may become. We’re pretty sure about Merlin but we don’t know about Morgana. And then it has a real resonance. KATIE: It’s just really nice, this… do you remember we played it two different ways? COLIN: Yeah.. KATIE: there was one other way that’s ah.. JULIAN: It’s a little bit too sexy, really. KATIE: Yes! There was a lot of eh.. COLIN: It was… JULIAN: I was like hang on wait a second you’re smiling at him too much! COLIN: It was a bit too flirty, wasn’t it.. as in... KATIE: (Squeaking) I thought it might have been an interesting sort of sideline story but apparently not. COLIN: MHHM MHMMM JULIAN: No, I came in and stamped on that. KATIE: Yeah… that was... that was my idea was obviously useless. COLIN: HEH HEH It’s good though the undertones of this because you know I know about you at this stage and it’s funny that you’re sort of picking up on on on things as well but you know, you know not quite sure so it’s... there’s loads going on thinking... the scene is just cool JULIAN: Just trying to test each other on you COLIN: mmm JULIAN: Find out what each other is about. You’re also hoping that you, that you may have found a kindred spirit. COLIN AND KATIE: mmmhm COLIN: Well that’s oh yeah finding one like you and she mean hers and ehm you know, if there’s wrong and what if, you know, magic chooses you. It’s exactly what you’ve/he’ve been looking for. KATIE: And it’s sort of I’ve been speaking directly to you as it were. I’m saying exactly what it is that you’re thinking, you know? But you’re still a coward and don’t tell anyone anything. COLIN: Thanks, Katie KATIE: You’re welcome COLIN: …. KATIE: Saw you’re all being serious there. COLIN: (chuckle)

Scene: Gaius and Merlin treat Mordred's Malady

KATIE: ..that they’ve done it as well because everybody knows what Mordred ends up being and what Morgana ends up being and this connection here, you wonder if the connection is because they’re magical or if it’s because they’re ultimately evil. COLIN: MHHHM KATIE: You know, Which is why I asked you whether you and you felt Mordred were similar COLIN: Yeah. KATIE: You know, Whether the connection is through magic or through or (whispers) our ultimate evildoing. COLIN: (surprised laugh) Well suppose that’s where, you know, if, if there’s sort of Morgana-Merlin thing was any further there’d be a point, you know, where we’d possibly do come together at some point but again ultimately going completely different directions. KATIE: See, I’ve come to the conclusion that in, in Merlin and in Camelot that magic isn’t good or it’s bad, it just is and it’s the person, what they take it . COLIN: YEAH KATIE: You know, So I feel Morgana does the, the right thing for the wrong reasons. JULIAN: Well I think that’s what we kinda decided. COLIN: Well suppose you don’t, you don’t have a mentor whereas Merlin’s got Gaius here to really steer him KATIE: And you guys know I’m magical and yet you leave me! COLIN: (laughing) KATIE: So it’s really your fault that I become evil! Without your guidance! ANGEL: …besides you COLIN: Well you’re the king’s ward. ANGEL: YEAH COLIN: He’s gonna believe you over us. KATIE: But I don't even know!

notes:

the (in)famous interpretation of colin and katie portraying merlin and morgana with more romantic undertones and getting blocked by the producer

katie telling colin that merlin is a coward.

colin morgan projecting what a merlin-morgana conflict would look like if mergana actually did happen.

both of them hoped for mergana to happen

[tiodolma]

Merlin Secrets and Magic Episode 3: Casting the Magic

Katie Mcgrath: Episode 3 is the first time you really see Morgana having an active power. Before her powers have been sort of confined to seeing the future in dreams and now it’s sort of moved out from inside hear head to outside and she starts still not being able to control them so it’s quite a violent manifestation of her powers as opposed to Merlin’s which are sort of calm and very controllable.

Colin Morgan: He knows Morgana has magic. He knows that she doesn’t know about him and Merlin desperately, desperately would love to confide in her and Merlin feels that she needs guidance, she needs a hand because Merlin very much views Morgana as being a friend, as being close he wants to look after, he wants to, he wants to make sure she’s going to be okay.

Katie Mcgrath: Merlin slyly sort of tells her that the way to go is “go seek out the druids, they help people who are magical,” so she does.

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tumblr meme vs colin/katie (mergana)

lol (source under cut)

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Interestingly, Colin summarized the relationship between Merlin and Morgana in a bittersweet way. He said Morgana was the love Merlin could never have.

“Morgana was the love Merlin could never have.”

“It was a little too flirty wasn’t it?”

“Between Merlin as himself and Morgana there’s such a history there ��� it’s everything from the betrayal of hope, of love, of friendship. It’s very, very complicated”

“There is no more love between them anymore.”

“They aren't two peas in a pod. Well, maybe they were but Morgana was the bad pea that rolled away.”

“(On merlin and morgana falling in love) Together? Them? Yeah yeah that would be interesting.”

“Merlin would totally be into it (hooking up with Morgana.)”

On their rapport as actors:

“I…I think hugely. It’s a…It’s a brilliant transition, when you think of how…um…a huge amount of it is the work Katie has done on that, I think she’s really changed Morgana. She does it in a really heart-felt way sometimes I think, you know, It's not…it’s not just evil villain”

“That’s what I’m saying about Katie, we see so many levels in her.”

“Katie’s hovel is awesome!”

“Her sword action is really good! It’s really good!”

"Good thing she brings a lot of tea from back home so I don’t really get homesick much.”

"I can do English accent but if I’m with Katie and other Irish actors, I slip back to my accent.”

Etc. Etc.

“Everybody that Merlin loves dies.”

They wanted it. Colin Morgan wanted it.

[tiodolma]

Katie Mcgrath (s1): Morgana becomes a she-wolf character.

Colin Morgan (s5): Merlin's like an irish wolfhound!

......

It's the intimacy, the violence, the danger of the hunt and the desperation in the fight for survival bro.

I can't be normal about this anymore bro

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Fans: we don't know whom co/lin morg//an shipped in bbc merlin

Meanwhile Co/lin Morg//an:

"Then there is the love that Merlin can never have which is Morgana”

"What? Merlin and Morgana? Together? Them? Yes that would be interesting.”

"There’s so much between Merlin and Morgana. There is a betrayal of trust of hope of love of friendship. It’s electrically charged.”

"There’s no more love between Merlin and Morgana anymore.”

"What? Merlin would totally be into hooking up with Morgana.”

(To katie and julian) "That was too flirty wasn’t it?”

(To katie, most likely) "yes merlin and morgana gotta embrace each other when he kills her.”

Angel Coulby: Didn’t Merlin fancy Morgana at one point?!?

Bradley James: Everybody fancied Morgana until they didn’t!

**note that not all of this is in verbatim. U get the gist

Bonus

Colin Morgan: If Katie is Rogue then I’m gonna be Gambit ☺️😘

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It’s funny how the actors wanted Morgana and Merlin to hook up, be together and what not.

ISTG THEY ABSOLUTELY DO

they just love their characters and the dynamic so so so so much. The work they put in the dynamic is so striking, even the showrunners had difficulty toning down their chemistry on screen (even in post production) cause both of them just couldnt help make merlin and morgana so goddamn compatible to each other ToT

Colin Morgan especially never forgot to mention how just in love Merlin was with Morgana. like. seriously. in a lot of interviews. he says it.

Katie just wanted Morgana and Merlin to do magic together and communicate and ToT

Both of them advocated for mergana very very early on it's so kkdfkdh

THERE MUST BE A REASON WHY THEIR “BEHIND THE SCENES” FOOTAGE ARE UNDER LOCK AND KEY. THERE MUST BE. ISTG.

Colin Morgan (probably): I am the master of my ship, I am the captain of my soul.

[tiodolma]

colin morgan be like

"Merlin was a poodle in the early seasons!"

Poodles were originally bred for waterfowl hunting.[18] Despite this history, they are currently classified as companion dogs by the FCI.[18] Since the late 1980s, some breeders in the United States and Canada have been selecting for dogs with drive for birds in order to revive the breed for hunting, with some success.[30] Poodles are highly trainable dogs that typically excel in obedience training.[22] Historically, they were a popular circus dog. In addition to hunt tests, they do well in agility and rally.[11] They are among the most popular service dog breeds.[31]

"But then in the later seasons Merlin becomes an Irish Wolfhound!"

The Irish Wolfhound is an Irish breed of large sighthound. It is among the largest of all breeds of dog. It was developed in the late 19th century by G.A. Graham, whose aim was to recreate the old wolfhounds of Ireland, which were believed to be extinct. These had, by their presence and substantial size, inspired literature, poetry and mythology;[2][3][4] according to tradition, they were used as guardian dogs and for the hunting of wolves.

Irish Wolfhounds have a varied range of personalities and are most often noted for their personal quirks and individualism.[33] An Irish Wolfhound, however, is rarely mindless, and, despite its large size, is rarely found to be destructive in the house or boisterous. This is because the breed is generally introverted, intelligent, and reserved in character. An easygoing animal, the Irish Wolfhound is quiet by nature. Wolfhounds often create a strong bond with their family and can become quite destructive or morose if left alone for long periods of time.[34]

good old colin morgan quotes

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Colin Morgan: Merlin loved Morgana tho :(

Me:

Katie Mcgrath: Morgana’s ideal partner would’ve been Merlin. They would’ve spent their time learning and practicing spells.

Me:

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I like how Colin Morgan always expresses that there was love between merlin and morgana.

Katie Mcgrath doesnt really headcanon it the way like he does but to her, Morgana couldve been better if she was just given the truth and also support.

There is so much disconnection sddggnjk

Anyway Merlin was definitely besotted with her for a long time. These two were so so close to getting there. I’m just gonna cry here.

duty is the death of love

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on blooper reels

colin morgan: those did not make it into the show for a reason! those were our mistakes!

katie mcgrath: i make no mistakes, ever. i'm a professional.

......

even on interviews they are darkness to your light lol