#mary collins merlin

[vampyreblogger]

grunhilde:

guinevere:

helen:

hilda:

hunith:

isolde:

kara:

lamia:

mary:

mary collins:

[sugar-coated-prat-dragon]

Title: Pages on Spells and Magic 🪄

Tagging: @starrieisdelusional

@tansyuduri

Book references: Merlin Complete Guide and Merlin Villains Guide

Question: I'm interested in things related to the Old Religion, Fate, Destiny, High Priestesses, and Magic itself?

[thesorcerersshadow]

ooh, uther does something very interesting here. the execution committed is apparently on the 20th anniversary of the capture of the great dragon / around the time the great purge “ended” (though ofc it never really ended.) in his speech, he remarks how they ridded the kingdom of sorcery with the help of the people—and while the rhetoric may seem grateful and celebratory, there’s something underneath that, too, something says, you are all complicit, you wanted this, too. and then he declares a feast in celebration as a reminder: “sorcerers get executed=i will reward the kingdom.” (making morgana’s refusal to attend all the more significant.)

but mary collins interjects with her grief and swears she will get vengeance, because, of course, the oppressed class, those left behind in the wake of suffering, will not be so easily swayed by bread and circuses.

[cynthia39100]

Merlin rewatch -- S1E1: The Dragon's Call

About Gwen

I love season 1 awkward Gwen so much. She so genuinely wanted to reassure Merlin but kept choosing the wrong word. She just had the purest “good” ora on her it’s amazing. Sadly Merlin and Arthur were too entranced by Morgana's beauty to notice her...

About Mary Collins / Helen

I like that Eve Myles played it very straight, not comical, not over the top. I also just like the fact that she cast spells via singing. There should be more villains like this.

<- Prev Next -> [other episodes]

[tiodolma]

Merlin Characters as Animated Villain Songs! Part 9

Lady Helen/Mary Collins - Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo (Alameda Slim, Home on the Range)

They call me mean, boys! Depraved and nasty, too And they ain't seen, boys The cruelest thing I do!

You see, I…

Yodel-adle-eedle-idle-odel-oo!

The sweetest way of rustlin' yet devised! 'Cause when I yodel-adle-eedle-idle-odel Why, looky how them cows get hypnotized!

He don't prod He don't yell Still he drives them dogies well, Which ain't easy when your chaps are labeled XXXXL!

Yes, if you're lookin' from a bovine point of view I sure can yodel-adle-eedle-idle Odel-adle-eedle-idle Yodel-adle-eedle-idle-oo!

Edwin Muirden feat. Merlin - Love is an Open Door (Prince Hans, Frozen)

[Merlin:] All my life has been a series of doors in my face And then suddenly I bump into you [Edwin:] I was thinking the same thing! 'Cause like I've been searching my whole life to find my own place And maybe it's the party talking or the chocolate fondue [Merlin:] But with you... [Edwin:] But with you [Edwin:] I found my place... [Merlin:] I see your face... [Both:] And it's nothing like I've ever known before! Love is an open door!

[Merlin:] I've never met someone- [Both:] Who thinks so much like me! Jinx! Jinx again! Our mental synchronization Can have but one explanation [Edwin:] You- [Merlin:] And I- [Edwin:] Were- [Merlin:] Just- [Both:] Meant to be! [Merlin:] Say goodbye... [Edwin:] Say goodbye... [Both:] To the pain of the past We don't have to feel it anymore! Love is an open door! Love is an open door! Life can be so much more! [Merlin:] With you! [Edwin:] With you! [Both:] Love is an open door...

[cherryvampyre]

feminist literature;

i tried to make it online/no download no login as much as possible; a "⚘" means its beginner friendly/good place to start

first wave;

her protection for women - jane anger, 1589

declaration of the rights of women and of the female citizen - Olympe de Gouges, 1791

a vindication of the rights of woman - Mary Wollstonecraft, 1792 ⚘

letters on the equality of the sexes - sarah grimke, 1837 

the times that try mens souls - maria weston chapman, 1837

what time of night it is - sojourner truth, 1853

the destructive male - elizebeth cady stanton, 1868 ⚘

Sex Slavery - Voltairine de cleyre, 1890

woman church and state - Matilda jocyln gage, 1890 ⚘

second link for WC&S (easier to read)

the womans bible - Elizabeth cady Stanton, 1895

the hypocrisy of puritanism - emma goldman, 1911

the second sex - simone de Beauvoir, 1949  ⚘

women as a minority group - Helen Mayer Hacker, 1951

second wave;

the bell jar - sylvia plath, 1963 ⚘

the feminine mystique - betty Friedan, 1963 ⚘

no more miss america - robin morgan, 1968 ⚘

scum manifesto - valerie solanas, 1968 ⚘

sexual politics - kate millet, 1968

the church and the second sex - mary daly, 1968 

redstockings manifesto - 1969  ⚘

women and the myth of consumerism - ellen willis, 1969

liberation from eros - mitsu tanaka, 1970

for the equal rights amendment - shirley chisholm ,- 1970

the bitch manifesto - jo freeman, 1970 ⚘

the dialectic of sex; the case for feminist revolution - shulamith firestone, 1970 

the female eunuch - germaine greer, 1970 ⚘

the liberation of black women - pauli murray, 1970

the first sex - Elizabeth gould davis, 1971

the feminization of society - yoko ono, 1972

what educated women can do - indira gandhi, 1974

when god was a woman - merlin stone, 1976

third wave;  

black feminist thought: knowledge, consciousness and the politics of empowerment - patricia hill collins, 1990

the sexual politics of meat - carol j. adams, 1990

men, women and chainsaws; gender in the modern horror film - carol j glover, 1992

naree - humayun azad 1992

the war against women - marylin french, 1992 ⚘

ecofeminism and the sacred - carol j adams, 1993 

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace Thank you for your beautiful comments! And for the ones that gave me ideas, trust me, I'm taking them into account ;)

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 (You're here) , PART 9

A little more of "The Dragon's Call"

Arthur: (at the feast waiting anxiously because Merlin is supposed to save him from "Lady Helen" to become his servant today and he isn't there yet)

Uther: Are you alright, Arthur?

Arthur: (too quickly) Yeah, right, excelent, never better.

Uther: You've been acting strange lately.

Arthur: (thinking) Well it's not easy to act normal around your dead father and your dead sister who wanted you dead. (says) I just haven't been sleeping well. I had... nightmares. Very long nightmares.

Uther: I see... (Thinking) I hope Morgana's condition isn't contagious.

Merlin: (Finally arrives with Gaius at the feast)

Arthur: (turns and his eyes find Merlin's almost immediately)

Merlin: (Thinking, while he looks at Arthur in the distance) Why is he looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?

Arthur: (Noticing Merlin is without his neckerchief, and he is so young and so beautiful, and he doesn't have his neckerchief on!) Gods have mercy!

Morgana: (enters in her breathtaking dress)

Merlin: (stares at her, but with a mix of longing and guilt)

Gwen: She looks great, doesn't she?

Merlin: (smiling sadly) Yeah...

Gwen: Some people are just born to be queen.

Merlin: (almost shouting) NO!

Gwen: There's no need to sound so disturbed.

Merlin: (composing himself) I'm sorry just... I think she could do better than Arthur that's all. (Thinking) And with someone that is not her brother.

Gwen: He's not so bad.

Merlin: (confused cause Gwen was supposed to agree with him) What do you mean? He was bullying a servant only a few days ago!

Gwen: I remmember. You confronted him about it.

Merlin: See? A total prat.

Gwen: And he also recognised his mistake and apologised. And he didn't arrest you for insulting him in front of his knights though that's technically treason.

Merlin: Okay, maybe not a total prat, but still a prat. (Thinking, worried) He was too nice indeed. Perhaps I was too harsh on him this time?

Morgana: (seeing Arthur is watching in Merlin and Gwen's direction) Have your eye on someone?

Arthur: (Cold) No.

Morgana: (playfully) Is it Gwen? or perhaps-

Arthur: Let's sit. Lady Helen will arrive at any moment (goes to his sit)

Morgana: ... Sure (thinking, while she goes to her sit) What's wrong with him?

Uther: (making an announcement) We have enjoyed 20 years of piece and prosperity....

Arthur: (thinking, resentfully) 20 years of genocide and lies.

Uther: ...It has brought to the kingdom and myself many pleasures but few can compare to the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora.

Lady Helen: (enters while people clap)

Arthur: (looks at Merlin in the distance)

Merlin: (very concentrated with his eyes on the chandelier, waiting for lady Helen to stand under it)

Arthur: (smiling to himself, thinking) So that's how you did it.

Everyone falls asleep, except for Arthur who does feel sleepy but is still slightly awake for some reason, so he gets to witness when all the room is filled with spiderwebs and Merlin uses his magic to make the chandelier fall over Helen, who is soon reveal to be Mary Collins.

Arthur: (confused) What... (thinking) Why didn't I fall completely asleep?

Merlin: (whose magic hasn't been able to freeze time since he traveled back in time, but he doesn't know why) Come on, come on! (Tries again to stop time but doesn't work) Damn it! (Shouts and runs to Arthur) ARTHUR!

Mary Collins: (throws the knife at Arthur)

Merlin: (covers Arthur with his body on time and the knife stabs his back)

Arthur: (horrified) NO! (Holding Merlin as they fall to the floor) No, no, no, no! You idiot, what were you thinking?!

Gaius: (running to Merlin) Merlin!

Uther: Who is this?

Gaius: My ward. (checks Merlin) We need to move him to my tower as carefully and quickly as possible. I can't pull the knife out here, he'll bleed to death.

Merlin: (smiling weakely at Arthur) I did it. (Tears of happiness) I did... (Starts closing his eyes).

Arthur: (panic mode) No! don't you dare die on me! (carries him as Gaius instructed) You're going to be okay, you're going to be okay. Stay with me (thinking) Please, don't leave me again. I just got you back. I can't lose you again.

Time skip. Merlin wakes up in Gaius's tower and with his wound bandaged. The knife didn't puncture anything important, but apparently the blade was poisoned. Fortunately, it was a pretty common one and Gaius took care of it rather quickly. Gaius scolds him for scaring him as expected but then hugs him gently and tells him he must not do any effort for at least 2 weeks and rest. Just as Gaius leaves for some herbs, Arthur enters to check on him.

Arthur: Better do as he says. I can't have my personal manservant injuring himself.

Merlin: Personal manservant?

Arthur: My father, the king, decided to reward you for saving my life by granting you a place at the royal household.

Merlin: (happy inside, but pretending to be annoyed) As your personal manservant? Couldn't he just give me gold or something?

Arthur: (playing along) Most would consider it a great honor.

Merlin: Well, I'm not like most people.

Arthur: (laughs a little) You certainly aren't. (Gets close and checks him out little, cause he's never seen Merlin without a shirt before and damn it! is hard not to stare, but as soon as his eyes land on the bandage, he turns serious) What you did was very brave... and stupid. You shouldn't have done that.

Merlin: (still mocking) If that's your way to say "Thank you for saving my life", well, yeah, I'm starting to regret saving your royal ass.

Arthur: I'm serious. Now you're my manservant, therefore my responsability and my concern. You're not allowed to put yourself in harms way, ever, not even for me. (Thinking) specially for me.

Merlin: (bewildered at the sudden concern) Is that a rule?

Arthur: It is now. Do I make myself clear?

Merlin: (touched, he smiles) Yes, my lord. (Thinking) I would die for you a hundred times over.

Arthur: (Thinking, a wave of nostalgia invading him) "My lord"... how much I missed that. (says) Good. Now get some rest (starts leaving, but stops and turns) And Merlin.

Merlin: Yes?

Arthur: Thank you for saving my life. (Makes a small bow, smiles and leaves)

Merlin: ...

Merlin: Did he just bow to me?!! 😨

...

Some explanation: Arthur is now, not immune, but a little more resistant to some mind spells since his mind is from the future and has already passed for all those spells before. Merlin's magic is kind of weak, because the ritual Arthur did used the magic from the tree, therefore Merlin's magic to do the time travel thing, so lets say his magic is a little exhausted and needs recovering, but it just last a few days.

[queer-ragnelle]

So, there's a lot of books that you complain about being awful (most of which I haven't read), usually because of the interpretation of some character (or many characters).

Is the problem with most of these books:

1. That the character on question has been written as a bad person,

2. That the interpretation differs from the Vulgate Cycle,

3. or the specific combination of those two things?

Or have I completely misread this situation?

See the thing is, yes it has to do with interpretation of characters, but perhaps not as superficial as it sounds! While I do love the Vulgate and prefer a more nuanced Mordred, that’s not really the root of the issue. I want Mordred to topple Camelot. I don’t expect or want authors to follow the Vulgate exclusively, there’s plenty from Chrétien or SGATGK or Parzival or the Mabinogion I’d love to see incorporated and they often are! Yay!

The real answer is a complicated thing that can only be expressed through examples because citing “misogyny” or “racism” doesn’t convey the magnitude or severity of the problem. Medieval society was misogynistic and racist at times, I don’t think those things should go ignored in a retelling. It would cheapen the narrative to pretend Guinevere’s or Morgause’s situations weren’t brought about largely due to the patriarchal systems at play nor do I want to pretend everyone who met Palomides was race blind.

Here’s an exhaustive list of sourced examples to indicate what I’ve encountered that really turned my stomach in retellings…content warning for everything from animal abuse to rape to genocide. This is gonna be long….

Adding more/intentional incest.

Agravaine sexually attracted to his mother Morgause (The Once and Future King by T. H. White) or to his aunt Guinevere (Arthur Rex by Thomas Berger, The Road to Avalon by Joan Wolf)

Gaheris sexually attracted to his mother Morgause (The Wicked Day by Mary Stewart)

Mordred sexually attracted to and raping his mother Morgause (Morgawse by Lavinia Collins)

Uther sexually attracted to his step-daughter Morgause (Igraine by Lavinia Collins)

Kay sexually involved with his uncle Lancelot (Guinevere and Morgan by Lavinia Collins)

Mordred sexually involved with his aunt Morgause (Guinevere Evermore by Sharan Newman)

Morgause attempting to seduce her teenage son Mordred (The Wicked Day by Mary Stewart)

Arthur marrying his sister Morgan (Bedivere by Wayne Wise)

A life-long sexual relationship between Arthur and his aunt Morgan (The Road to Avalon by Joan Wolf)

Mordred and “auntie” Morgan having sex (Merlin and the Sword (1985))

Exceedingly graphic first-person rape of Guinevere by her cousin Maelgwn (Queen of the Summer Stars by Persia Woolley)

Mordred kidnaps and tries to rape his sister Avlynn (Merlin and the Book of the Beasts (2009))

Increased racism.

Using modern slurs like the N word against Palomides (The Once and Future King by T. H. White)

Aggressive and confrontational Safir “restrained” by white characters and called “homicidal Moor” by Kay (The Book of Gaheris by Kari Sperring)

Palomides speaking in broken English mentioned as a “turn-off” for Morgause (Morgawse by Lavinia Collins)

Palomides a former slave orphaned and raised culturally British instead of immigrating to Britain and constantly othered as “the Arab companion” when the others don’t have modifiers like that (Queen of the Summer Stars and Legend in Autumn by Persia Woolley)

Depicting Arab Bertilak as perpetrator of pederasty, random anti-black or anti-Asian allusions, random antisemitism, etc. (Arthur Rex by Thomas Berger)

Tristan wanting to put down “barbarian” Palomides and drives him to madness (The Enchanted Cup by Dorothy James Roberts)

Black face Palomides (The Black Knight (1954))

Adding pedophilia/child brides.

Girls including Morgaine forced into ritualistic sexual situations for “ceremonial” reasons (Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley)

Eleven year old Morgause given to Lot in marriage by her mother Igraine who lied about her age (Morgawse by Lavinia Collins)

Child bride Isolde (Legend in Autumn by Lavinia Collins, Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell)

Merlin sexually involved with fosterling Nimuë and later attracted to young Olwen (The Winter King and Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell)

Morgause preying on minors (The Wicked Day by Mary Stewart, The Book of Gaheris by Kari Sperring)

Pedophile/serial killers Kay and Mordred (Dragon’s Child and The Bloody Cup by M. K. Hume, The Queen’s Knight by Marvin Borowsky)

Morgause sexually abusing Agravaine (Queen of the Summer Stars by Lavinia Collins)

Pederast Arthur sleeping with young Peredur and Geraint (Arthur the King by Allan Massie)

Lancelot grooms young Mordred to be his lover (Mordred, Bastard Son by Douglas Clegg)

Bademagus raping 13yo Lynette (The King’s Damosel by Vera Chapman)

Warp a character into a rapist.

Morgause/Morgan tricking Arthur to sire Mordred (The Once and Future King by T. H White, Excalibur (1981), The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart, Bedivere by Wayne Wise, Morgan by Lavinia Collins, Guinevere by Sharan Newman, Camelot (2011))

Gawain threatening Guinevere with rape then eventually banished from court for raping someone else (Guinevere and Morgawse by Lavinia Collins)

Exceedingly graphic first-person rapes of Morgause by Lot and Mordred, Morgan by Urien (Morgawse and Morgan by Lavinia Collins)

Morgause laughing when she learns how traumatized Arthur is after her seduction of him (Queen of Summer Stars by Persia Woolley)

Agravaine threatening to rape Guinevere (The Road to Avalon by Joan Wolf)

Perceval raping Layla and getting turned on watching the rape of someone else (A Knight’s Tale by Richard Monaco)

Lancelot forcing himself onto Guinevere (First Knight (1995))

Lancelot raping Galahad’s gf (The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell)

Bors tries to rig a dice game in which the prize is sex with Nimuë (Cursed (2020))

“He would not fucking say/do that.”

Arthur, Lot, Geraint, Urien, and Lancelot are wife beaters with minimal to no consequences (Warrior of the West by M. K. Hume, I Am Mordred by Nancy Springer, Igraine and Morgan by Lavinia Collins, Knight Life by Peter David)

Lancelot doesn’t rescue Guinevere leaving her to burn at the stake by Arthur (Fall of Knight by Peter David)

Lancelot used Guinevere for political gain (Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell, The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman)

Lancelot married to Elaine then cheats on her with Guinevere and causes his wife’s death leaving Galahad an orphan (Merlin (1998))

Agravaine skins Elaine’s cat and wears it (Queen of Summer Stars by Persia Woolley)

Gareth helps Gawain torture Pellinore to death (I Am Mordred by Nancy Springer)

Genocide.

Arthur picks up where Uther left off and continues to commit genocide against magic-users, Merlin helps (BBC Merlin (2008-2012)

The red paladins commit genocide against the fay, Lancelot helps (Cursed (2020))

Gawain uses sun powers to commit genocide in the holy land, other knights like Tristan, Mordred, and Agravaine help (F/GO Camelot Wandering (2020) and F/GO Camelot Paladin Agateram (2021))

Lancelot as high king of Britain commits genocide against allies of Arthur to stay in power, other knights like Dagonet, Lot, and Calogrenant help (Kaamelott: First Installment (2021))

So yeah. It isn’t ideal that Lamorak is old in Sword of Lancelot (1963) or Dagonet is stoic and boring in King Arthur (2004). But like, whatever! I like those films! Same goes for replacing Gaheris with Geraint in Sarah Zettel’s series or cutting Gareth out of Gillian Bradshaw’s trilogy. Kind of a bummer, lame even, but not a deal breaker. The things about these bad retellings that drive me mad are much more sinister than that, rooted in really detestable opinions about women and children and people of color.

Can’t Mordred, Agravaine, and Morgan be normal scheming/evil/power hungry like they were in BBC The Legend of King Arthur (1979) or Howard Pyle’s books or Knights of the Round Table (1953) instead of whatever the above are doing? Not to mention the complete violation of Guinevere, Morgause, Lancelot, and Gawain as characters. I’m so tired, man.

Hope this clears things up. Sorry if you made it through that list. I’m sure you hated reading it as much as I hated writing it. But I think it makes it clear the problem here and that I’m not just being picky. The psychic damage is taking its toll.

[the-king-and-the-druidess]

Le Fay: REbirth

Interactive voting game. It is in your power to ascend Morgana to the throne, redeem her, or destroy her! Choose, and her fate will be decided by your votes!

You closed your eyes on December 31st, and when you opened them, you found yourself in a beautiful marble bedroom full of candles and whimsical trinkets. You find yourself in Morgana's body. It's a beautiful and bright summer morning, and soon you realise that you've returned to the twentieth Anniversary of the Purge's end. On the day of Merlin's appearance and the execution of Mary Collins' son.

[kateis-cakeis]

I really could talk about this scene all day. Justt, the music here is something I'd expect to play over one of the villains, not Merlin.

But I think it really fits with what happens here. It’s so different from the tone taken when Kilgharrah burns all the men on Merlin’s orders. This is specifically about Merlin killing Agravaine, Arthur’s uncle.

The way Merlin walks away too, you can see the conflict in his eyes. This is very much the “We can deal with your uncle later”, but not exactly what he meant, clearly. But I can’t entirely see any regret, it’s almost like a sort of revenge, killing Agravaine, after what he did to Gaius, after all he did scheming with Morgana, betraying Arthur.

And aaaah! The way Merlin walks up, the way the camera pans up, it’s definitely shot like a villain looking over the body of a hero (something you see in superhero media for sure). And I think this is really when Merlin comes into his own as an anti-hero at times.

Yes, that’s right! Because Merlin isn’t always doing the moral thing, the good thing, his methods do sometimes lean towards an evil. And considering he straight up uses dark magic later in this very episode (to bind Morgana’s magic), like yeah.

(Not to mention when we get into S5 and Merlin really ramps up attempting to kill Mordred, or how he’s willing to leave the knights behind to protect Arthur, or when he says shit like “I don’t need one [a sword]”, and how he uses Excalibur against the Dochraid, and so on and so forth).

Like this is a Merlin who is tipping on the edge of good and evil. He always has really, he’s been playing that game since he killed Mary Collins in the first episode, but this is where I think his morality shifts, and where the show transforms into a darker version of itself.

This is what leads Merlin into eventually killing Morgana with such a coldness. A detachment almost.

And really? This is the Merlin I love, like here? Conflicted, poor man. In three years’ time? Perfectly fine with it, couldn’t be better in fact.

Ya love to see it!

[gaiusbunnymask]

rewatch commentary: the dragon's call

(look at this shot! I looks like a Renaissance painting)

"If I can't use magic, what have I got?"

Merlin arrives at Camelot feeling lost, inadequate and purposeless and I think that's what makes him vulnerable to Gaius and Kilgahrrah's ideas of destiny. EVEN if what the dragon is saying it's true, the timing is really suspicious.

He used to want recognition too, wanted to be someone. He thinks that his magic is the only thing that makes him special, that gives him power over bullies like Arthur, but since the world sees him as something strange and dangerous and rejects his existence, he wonders if he's a monster that shouldn't exist.

That's why it's so easy for him to believe everything the dragon tells him, because he wanted to have some higher purpose. He wanted someone to tell him he was born like that for a reason. It's the beginning of his tragedy.

"I saw how you saved Arthur's life. Perhaps that's his purpose."

Gaius' dubious beliefs/morality about purpose, destiny, and the purpose of Merlin's magic. He was on board with Merlin using his magic to protect Arthur even though he had reprimanded Merlin for using magic recklessly before, and that Arthur is the son of the man that started the Purge. He equals using magic for good to supporting the royal family, which is... not good actually.

My headcanon is that Gaius was/is against dark magic and the abuse of it, but the Purge did more than just condemn dark sorcerers and destroy objects with dark magic, and it turned into something he didn't expect and didn't fully support. Not saying he supported the Purge but he wasn't as pro-magic as Nimueh, for example. He may have helped others escape but he stayed in Camelot and served Uther for 20 years so that says a lot about him.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son!"

It seems to me that Mary Collins was a dark witch?? I'm guessing that practicing dark magic is what gave her that ghastly appearance (yes they also needed the audience to differentiate her from lady Helen because it was the same actress) but it says something about the state of magic in Camelot that most of the sorcerers we'll find later show the same signs of corruption.

Not saying Uther was right to attack all magic and all sorcerers for that, of course not, but Gaius did say that dark magic was running rampant before the purge, and honestly? It's not a surprise. If magic is a tool then people can use it to do bad things. This was probably what gave Uther leverage to carry on with the purge. Obviously the solution to that would be to have laws that condemn acts of dark magic that hurt people. But instead most dark sorcerers probably were able to lay low and hide whereas people like the druids and less powerful sorcerers where easy to capture and execute.

"When I came to this land this kingdom was mired in chaos."

Uther is a very very smart politician, at least on this episode. He beheads a sorcerer/the son of a witch, and right after the fact the announces a festival. This is a show of his power. It reinforces his authority and the idea that the persecution of magic is a good thing, that he's the savior of the land, the protector of the realm, for ridding it from the evil of sorcery. And since it's the anniversary of the capture of the great dragon, it also serves a a reminder.

"No, I'm his son, Arthur."

Arthur was not present at the execution of Mary Collins' son, nor is he there to welcome "lady Helen". Uther forced Morgana to attend but it seems that Arthur can skip it if he wants. I wonder why Uther allowed it? "Lady Helen" doesn't meet Arthur until the night of the banquet where she tries to kill him. I'm just wondering about Arthur, making it his mission to be absent from as many official occasions as possible.

It seems that he used to spend all his time training and bullying helpless servants. No wonder Merlin didn't recognized him as royalty the first time they met.

"He needed to be taught a lesson."

Merlin is very very impulsive. He falls for Arthur's taunts really easy, and he just got out of the dungeons! I think this is not the first time he put a bully in his place/taught them a lesson. He was at odds with the people in Ealdor, where it seems he used his magic more freely. If he was going around "taking bullies apart with one blow", no wonder Hunith was worried.

"The more brutal you are the more enemies you'll create."

Morgana's conversation with Uther was another scene I liked. It established the foundation of her character quite well. Her standing by the window staring at the chopping block for who knows how long it's a thought that haunts me.

It seems she copes by wearing pretty and scandalous dresses that make her look stunning.

Final thoughts:

I was surprised by how much I liked the episode. This is the third time I watched it and I didn't know I would find it enjoyable, but I did! the music, the cinematography, the script (its lovely plotholes ♥) the acting! (Eve Myles' performance was superb) the peak comedy! There was a lot of foreshadowing too. Merlin and Gaius, Merlin and Gwen, and of course Merlin and Arthur are great comedic duos. overall the first episode it's really fun.

[sugar-coated-prat-dragon]

Title: Part #2 of Destiny/Fate (Merlin’s arrival and the threats to Arthur’s life are no coincidence)

Important: Merlin’s arrival also coincides with the beginning of a series of threats for Arthur (although in a world governed by magic, this is not quite the coincidence it seems; destiny has guided Merlin to Camelot just in time for him to protect the prince).

• Source: Merlin complete guide

@tansyuduri

First mention of destiny: When Mary Collins attempts to kill Arthur in revenge for her son's death at Uther's hand, Merlin uses his magic to save the day. To his horror, he is rewarded with the position of Arthur's manservant. Destiny is showing her hand.

- Merlin's presence seems to act as a trigger for Arthur's transformation from bragging brat to hero.

- Merlin's friendship and the situations that Arthur suddenly finds himself in bring out his true nature.

- He shows himself capable of great loyalty, of heroism and sacrifice, of honour and mercy — the qualities that will make him a truly great king.

[oneirataxia-girl]

Soulmate AU for Lynelda x Merlin, please??

@dancingsunflowers-ocs 💖💜💙

for some reason a vision just appeared before me of hanahaki au with them, but that is neither here nor there… for now. sneaky tagging @supermarine-silvally bc you asked to be tagged for bbc merlin stuff too <3

Merlin and Lynelda are basically (allegedly) unwilling soulmates, but if they were actually bound by fate:

somewhere in the void, the old powers decide that Emrys will need someone strong to stand by him, someone who could know about his burdens and help him with them (aka the ‘old powers give Merlin a bit of support’ au)

that little decision results in the stars aligning to protect Lynelda from Uther’s army without her mother having to sacrifice herself. but she disappears all the same bc the old powers are still allergic to happiness, Lynelda just grows up with less self-hatred

when Merlin arrives at Camelot and Lynelda bumps into him, she can’t help looking back even though she’s desperate to get to Mary Collins. Merlin meets her eyes and they’re both temporarily stunned by the sudden flare of gold/orange in each other’s eyes

Kilgharrah, on the other claw, feels a tremor in the air. something had triggered the first of many dominoes: Emrys and Caelia have met, and the wheels of fate are starting to turn

but to ensure that fate doesn’t turn sour, Lynelda and Merlin must make sure their relationship never does either…

give me an au + oc and I’ll list five things that happen to them!!

[tiodolma]

I've always thought the prophecy was about both striking a balance. Merlin was meant to keep Morgana in check and Morgana was meant to keep Merlin in check.

Me too. Even Alice Troughton in the dvd commentary with Colin Morgan for s4 admitted that love/hate were always coexisted with each other.

Morgana certainly had the power and the invincibility for it, to keep Merlin in check, to draw him out, to make him face his dark and human side, to make him face his wrongs his sins and his victories.

Unfortunately Morgana didn't have the information he had. Merlin had all the information and he used that against everyone. Moreover her magic matured too late (with respect to Merlin's).

I think the real tragedy of Merlin's life was that he was already conditioned to kill from the very start (ep 1x06 Remedy To Cure All Ills ironic title ngl). That episode alone started it all. He was so so new and naive to everything and in that episode he showed absolutely no remorse at "accidentally" killing someone who offered him guidance and knowledge (at the expense of gaius).

And look I get it, he panicked. But after that he never wondered why Edwin was so so righteously angry at Gaius. Remember, Gaius sold Edwin's parents out to Uther and let young Edwin escape. Edwin's gravitas was so justified, you know? Merlin never tried to learn about the things Gaius did to protect "others" and most importantly to protect himself and his position. Even if Gaius thought black magic was evil, he still threw others under the bus for fighting for their lives. He still left Edwin (and Merlin) an orphan.

How does this relate with Morgana? You see from that point on, from episode 1x06 up to "2x03 The Nightmare Begins" Merlin has already killed at least seven people, most of them magic users.

Edwin,

Mary Collins (indirectly but him thwarting her plan zapped her of all energy),

Aulfric,

Sophia,

The Black Knight (who had a reason for it's anger),

Tauren's goons,

Nimueh

Sigan

Hengrist's goon's

plus he almost choose to get Mordred killed... 2 times.

He knew the reasons most of these had, but they didn't matter to him, he was never allowed to properly emphathise with them (Gaius taught him very very very well). Because his orders were always to "eliminate the threat" "kill them" for the sake of his destiny.

As Morgana's magic truly manifested in S2, Merlin was already too far gone and too far deep in the liar and vigilante game. Merlin was continuously performing treasonous and unlawful tasks UNCHECKED for two years! TWO YEARS!

TWO YEARS OF "JUSTIFIED IN HIS OWN HEAD" HOMICIDE AND MURDER WITH NO REAL REPERCUSSIONS.

And also I get why they had resorted to that kind of actions. One of the definitions of extremism from wikipedia said:

In addition, extreme acts are more likely to be employed by marginalized people and groups who view more normative forms of conflict engagement as blocked for them or biased.

That kind of radicalization and extremist training by both Gaius and Kilgharrah was effective as hell.

Morgana only started the proper coups at around mid-s2. She hasn't truly killed anyone for magic yet (aside from Tauren in S1). Even in Fires of Idirsholas she felt guilty of accidentally collaborating with Morgause.

It took 1 year of isolated training away from everyone for Morgana to be fully radicalized, forged in the fires of extremism herself. Even then, even in 3x01 and 3.02 when she killed one guard and she actively helped set in motion Morgause's terrorist attack, she still was willing to hear Merlin out in the crypts. She even laid out all her cards, showed her strengths and vulnerabilities for him to see and judge. Morgana still choose to be diplomatic despite it all.

What Morgana didn't know was that she wasn't dealing with a proper negotiator, she was dealing with a vigilante and secret agent who has three years worth of (1)all the vital information, (2)unchallenged power, (3)unchecked morals, (4)numerous kills, (5)experience in deception and (6)extremist conditioning. And the worse part was that the person who she thought was her friend, Merlin, even with everything he had, genuinely believed he had nothing to offer in exchange for her peace.

I think that's the tragedy of it.

With her truly coming into her full power only at s4, Morgana was too late to have a chance to inspire change in Merlin as a proper equal to him. Merlin has been in that overpowered and unchallenged state for 5 years at most. And by the time Morgana had become truly confident in s4, both of them had gone in the farthest ends of the extremes of their idealogies.

Merlin knew everything about her. But Morgana lacked the most important piece of information, the identity of Emrys.

No one could keep Merlin in check in the proper diplomatic manner anymore.

They have to come to arms.

[lindiloo02]

Merlin Prompts

Merlin watches Mary Collins disappear with interest, but its too slow – Merlin invents disapperation 

[larluce]

How do I think this rewriting would go?

The Poisoned Chalice

Probably when Gwen finds out. While Merlin is in bed dying, she catches him doing the light ball in his hand. She's scared for a second but then she conects the dots: Merlin was the one who cured his father and he was telling the truth when he said he was a sorcerer at court. So she just keeps quiet.

Lancelot

She doesn't know how to approach Merlin with the topic, but she makes sure Merlin knows he can relay on her with anything and that he can trust her. While he's thankful, Merlin believes maybe Gwen is flirting with him, so he doesn't know how to take it, but then she shows interest for Lancelot so he lets it go. Before Lancelot leaves to sly the griffin Gwen insists he needs to bring Merlin with him, though she doesn't tell him why. Lancelot of course finds out later and keeps the secret as well. A Remedy to Cure All Ills

Seeing how Morgana isn't recovering, Gwen finally tells Merlin he knows his secret and begs him to use magic to safe Morgana. After Merlin is reassured by Gwen he won't be exposed, he tells her he really isn't that good at healing spells but he'll do his best. When Edwin arrives and cures Morgana, Gwen is suspicious of him. Later Merlin tells her Edwin is a sorcerer and she advices Merlin he shouldn't trust Edwin so easily. Merlin first takes offense because he thinks Gwen deep inside believes all sorcerers are evil, but then, of course he realices Gwen was right, so he bows to hear her more often.

The Gates of Avalon

They work together on defeating the sidhes and break the love enchantment they put on Arthur. Also Merlin confides Gwen Gaius supicious about Morgana being a seer. Gwen bows to be there for Morgana too. Also a space where Gwen conforts Merlin, because by this point he's killed 4 people (Mary Collins, Edwin, Sophie and her father) and of course he has conflict feelings about that. The Beginning of the End

Mostly the same, but Merlin reveals Gwen he's being talking to a dragon below the castle. She's shocked but goes with it. Also, when the dragon starts telling Merlin these things about Morded being Arthur's doom or whatever, she goes down there and gives the dragon a piece of her mind. And Merlin doesn't doubt as much to safe Mordred thanks to her. She also plants the seed of doubt in Arthur's mind by telling him "Do you think that kid really learned magic? What if he was born with it? He's too young". So Arthur starts questioning his father's thoughts on magic a little. Excalibur

Gwen gives Merlin Morgana's gauntlet to Orwain to put a protection spell on it or something in an attempt to save Orwain from the Black Knight but it fails. They both go reluctanly to the dragon for help and make excalibur. Arthur does fight the knight this time around, but Gwen manages to convince Arthur to give the sword back by telling him it has a "sentimental value" for her family or whatever. Arthur thinks it's weird but accepts it. Arthur watches as Gwen and Merlin go away chatting and laughing and he starts to be more aware of their closeness.

The Moment of Truth

While Gwen knows Merlin can perfectly defend himself and his mother on his own, Morgana and Arthur don't. So she pretends to be sick so Morgana doesn't leave. She has to be more creative when it comes to Arthur though, but she manage to delay his journey. When Arthur finally arrives to Ealdor, Merlin has already taken care of Kanen and his man with his magic. When Arthur asks around how did the villagers do it, they just say Ealdor is enchanted or there's some sorcerer in disguise that helped them or something like that, they themself are not sure, but they're grateful. Merlin is very touched Arthur came all this way for him thought, so he goes back with him to Camelot. Arthur starts to question his father's thoughts on magic more, because apparently, magic can be used for good too? The Labyrinth of Gedref

Don't know exactly what can change, but maybe some jealous Arthur of Merlin and Gwen's relationship, thinking they're courting, but Merlin clarifying him at the end that he isn't, saying Gwen is more like a sister, and maybe even implying he's more interest in men so Arthur doesn't have to worry. Not that is any of his business anyways. Arthur is relieved and overwhelm by the confession for some reason.

To Kill the King

Merlin conforts Gwen after her father's death and they become closer than ever. When Tauren attacks and threathens Gwen, the one he goes to is Merlin instead of Morgana. He lets her sleep in his room for the time being, which increase the rumors they're courting of course, so she's safe. He goes meet Taurent in her place and kills him and his man using the sidhe staff, so Taurent never consorts with Morgana. Morgana starts questioning Gwen about her relationship with Merlin, not demanding as Arthur but curious. She laughs it off and tells her they're just friends.

Le Morte d'Arthur

So remember the scene when Gwen talked to Arthur in his sleep and he was actually hearing? So add to it that Gwen also says something along the lines "you're going to be okey, Merlin is going to safe you like he always does. But, gosh I'm gonna miss him, I don't want him to die, so you better live a long life Arthur Pendragon". When Arthur recovers and asks Gwen about this, she just tells him he's being dreaming, but he doesn't quite believe her. After Merlin says his famous "Just don't be a prat" goodbye and then he doesn't show up, Arthur knows something's wrong so he tries to force Gwen to tell him the truth, he has the feeling she knows something. She explodes in anger instead and calls him out on how of a prat he is to Merlin, how he can't leave him alone even when his mother is sick and that he should be greatful he evens puts up with him.

That's it. I don't know about series 2, 3, 4 and 5. Maybe I'll come out with something later.

merlin rewrite where gwen finds out about merlins magic in s1. so gwen is always there with him whenever something magical happens. also merlin finally has good advice from gwen instead of just gauis and the gecko. gwen also just does things for him no questions asked.

like merlin shows up at her doorstep dripping wet talking about a serial killing merman, and she just goes and brings out a sword and says ok lets go. merlin wasn't even there to ask her to fight but at this point he'll get all the assistance he can get.

everyone in the castle thinks they're dating cause they're always together. and they both go along with it cause it gives them an excuse to wander the town or castle alone whenever theres a magical threat.

arthur finds them in an abandoned room making a salt circle and burning herbs in a bowl and they just go "we're on a date" and "this is how commoners have a romantic date arthur, you wouldn't understand".