#arthur and uther

[adhd-merlin]

hey, remember when arthur met his mother's ghost and the first thing he did was literally apologise for his existence? haha, and remember when he broke his own moral code and used magic just to speak to his dead father one last time because he missed him so much and uther just listed all the reasons why arthur was a disappointment and a failure? haha

[the-king-and-the-druidess]

«He thinks this is not his father, not this burnt-out husk barricaded behind castle walls, sitting dark-eyed and feverish on the throne in hysterical judgment. As far as Arthur is concerned, Uther has been dead for years»

In thy orisons

[adhd-merlin]

ARTHUR: I care about her...

UTHER: I cannot allow this. I forbid it.

ARTHUR: You can't forbid my feelings any more than I can. I won't deny them any longer, I love her. I love Guinevere.

UTHER: You leave me no choice; she's banished from the city.

ARTHUR: You can't do that.

UTHER: She has three days to leave. To return is on pain of death.

ARTHUR: She has nowhere to go! Her, her life is in Camelot.

UTHER: You have caused this to happen, Arthur. My decision is final.

ARTHUR: Please, do not banish her. I give you my solemn word that I'll never see her again.

UTHER: You have made it clear to me that you cannot control your feelings for this girl.

ARTHUR: No! I...

[Arthur grabs Uther's arm, pauses when he sees Uther's expression, and lets go.]

— Queen of Hearts, Ep. 3x10

There are plenty of questionable moments throughout Merlin but one thing they did super well is Arthur and Uther's relationship. Uther's an abusive father, but Arthur loves him, and we see Uther's delicate side often enough to understand why.

A moment that really hits hard is in season 3, after Uther discovers Arthur and Gwen together, is when Arthur pleads his case. He scrambles between three different tactics, first sincerity, followed by more princely authoritative force, and then begging and apologizing.

Uther is unpredictable, a trait that makes him so awful as a father. So watching Arthur, who knows him better than anyone, swing wide so fast, within a single conversation, trying to find the right card to play in his father's game, is really heart-wrenching.

It shows a very special emotional intelligence in Arthur, albeit a devastating one.

[tiredcowboyy]

merlin has more strength than me bc if I heard uther pendragon bitch and moan about how magic only brings harm after I just saved his sons life for the ten billionth time that year with my magic and almost died yet again, I fear id accidentally turn him into a log

[jaybirds-chirps]

we fuckin hate Uther in this house but those times he'd look at Merlin and be like "wtf is wrong with Arthur rn??" were so funny

like Uther was very firmly on the you're too close to this boy train but the moment Arthur was doing something weird he'd look at Merlin like "boy fix this rn"

[charliewrites99]

Every fic where Uther assumes Merlin and Arthur are fucking:

[firestarter91]

Both actors are so good here, well played guys!

I love how Uther places his hand on Arthur’s shoulder as he speaks to him to emphasise this sudden deeply emotional moment between both men. Also, his heartfelt admission immediately dissolved all of Arthur’s anger over being drugged, he’s totally floored since it’s clearly something he’s either never heard before or if he did, it was a very long time ago.

Although I find it odd that Uther stepped in here to save Arthur from seemingly certain death fighting a magical being when in Lancelot he seemed quite unperturbed in sending poor Arthur off on yet another suicide mission fighting the griffin. I don’t get what’s different about this scenario that made him act.

Nice touch by Bradley with the head duck and Anthony’s corresponding glance down in reaction to his son’s emotional reaction, both are not used to behaving in this way and it shows. One man starved of love and wanting to receive it whilst the other refusing to give love safeguarding his broken heart over his wife’s death.

Then we get the tonal change as they both can’t be having this carry on and it’s lovely to see them so playful but it doesn’t change the fact that Uther is a terribly dismissive, controlling and manipulative parent and he’s clearly determined to keep Arthur very much under his control by whatever means he feels is necessary.

Merlin rewatch -- S1E9: Excalibur

The scene of father and son

A rare moment where Uther told Arthur he loved him more than anything. It's heart-warming but also very sad because Arthur was so utterly confused.“ I always thought that I was a big disappointment to you.”

Uther only ever showed his love when Arthur was in the blink of death. And ironically, the reason Arthur was in the blink of death was either the villains targeted him for Uther's crime or Arthur tried to live up to the impossibly high standard Uther set up. Their argument in this episode was exactly that. Arthur wanted to follow the knight's code, as he was taught, while Uther, for all his big words, only acted on his own desire.

Regardless, it's a beautiful scene. I liked how Arthur bowed down his head as if to cover his tears, after hearing his father's rare words of love.

Then he changed the topic because he couldn't deal with emotion lol That thing Bradley did with his mouth when he said “Sort out your footwork” was so cute.

Then he just ran off! The first time they acted like father and son. So precious~~ Uther had never acted like this!! Probably never would again. I can't think of another instant right now.

I'm a bit sad though. Arthur was caught up in Uther's show of affection and didn't seem to register Uther's complete dismission of his own rule. I hope he'll realise that his father's approval really doesn't mean that much.

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[chaosbeautiful]

Bbc merlin is such a comedy. Arthur keeps telling Merlin they can’t be friends because they are prince and servant, while Merlin straight up tells Uther they have a special bond and Uther is glad

[dryadalisliv]

I think it would be insanely funny if after Arthur’s death everyone returns back in time to the place they were the day Merlin arrived in Camelot. But like, everyone thinks they are the only ones who has returned. We see it all from Merlin’s pov, who’s traumatised and wondering why the fuck Arthur is so much sweeter to him this time around and keeps saying ‘thank you’. He wonders why Lancelot shows up earlier, why all of a sudden Gwaine is there three years too early, saying he got hurt in a tavern bawl and needs a physician. He wonders why Leon keeps pretending like he didn’t just accidentally see Merlin do magic. Why Gwen keeps giving him these knowing looks. And why Morgana doesn’t seem as afraid as she used to when she was figuring out that she had magic. Everyone is trying their best to change history for the better, thinking they are alone with this duty... and then one day when uther is dead and they are sitting around the round table, merlin steps forward and is like: ‘I need to confess that I have magic, but also that I have returned from the future.’ And everyone just whips around and is like ‘YOU TOO??!’ And then they realise that they’ve all returned and wasted their time thinking they were alone.

[theroundbartable]

I kinda want an episode where Uther realises how useful Merlin is as a spy and just uses him to spy on royal guests.

The poisoned chalice episode and then later the whole thing with the Dark Knight proved to Uther that Merlin is trust worthy, so he approaches Merlin and offers him that job.

Merlin: okay ... That actually works well for me, but I have one condition

Uther: Let me guess, you want more money

Merlin: no. You can't use me to spy on Arthur. He trusts me and I'm not going to abuse that trust.

Uther: ... What would Arthur have to hide from me?

Merlin: that's not the point. I want Arthur to be able to tell me if he like, wants to vent about a royal he's annoyed with without me having to tell you that he's annoyed by them. Or if YOU annoy him.

Uther: do I do that?

Merlin: no comment, but let me tell you something about that: any child is annoyed by their parents sometimes.

Uther: hmm ... Okay, I think I see your point. You're awfully loyal to him

Merlin: he's my friend.

Uther: I see... And that's your only condition?

Merlin: yes actually.

Uther: It's going to be interesting to work with you

Merlin: yeah, also wildly ironic

Uther: what?

Merlin: i said mildly iconic

[xgermankittycatx--commsopen]

uther doesn't approve of bottom!arthur, but nevermind the relationship with his manservant

[ALSO, thank you guys so much for all the love in the last merlin meme redraw, i really didn't think it would get that much attention!! :00 so thankyaa <3 you're amazing]

i'm so glad my parents don't follow me on tumblr

[morganafayes]

because at the end of the day it’s about how love and hate will destroy you equally. it’s about the fact that merlin and morgana both lost themselves because they became so consumed by their love and hate respectively that it made everything else not matter. because merlin loved arthur so much he hollowed himself out for the sake of it and morgana hated uther so much it ate her alive and became all she was

[the-king-and-the-druidess]

And yet, and yet Uther not only poisoned their potential for a full life, but his character even spoiled the potential and intensity of the fight and enmity intended for Arthur and Morgana. He took away those parts of her role that could have become spectacular and dramatic scenes of confrontation between King Arthur and Priestess Morgana. Instead, having spent so much energy on Uther, Morgana and Arthur then simply didn't talk for years. Uther's character took away Arthur's independence and power in being a king; Uther is shown as a more effective and prominent king than Arthur himself; Arthur's three years of a supposed "golden age" don't exist on screen and it speaks for itself. That's why I love it when Uther dies early in fics, it's such a relief, otherwise he takes everything with him and others become one or another reflection of him, not themselves.

[laragomu]

it's always so funny to me when arthur/uther says something like "i don't believe this, it's just a silly tale" when merlin/gaius warns them about some legend because like. my guy. YOU LIVE IN A LAND OF MYTH AND A TIME OF MAGIC.

[wishiwasadruid]

Merlin: I almost got beheaded today!

Arthur: How!?!

Merlin: Oh I accidentally spilled some wine on your father. He pointed his sword at me and said “The person at the end of this sword is an idiot”and I asked which end.

Arthur: This is why I love you

[bigmommycommie]

uther: fuck sorcerers

arthur: alrighty