#ok he's saying it all to colin morgan

[adhd-merlin]

simon amstell: ben whishaw?? nah what a ridiculous idea what a—- [trips][hundreds of photos of ben whishaw spill out of his pockets] w-what an absurd notion he's so pretentious haha these aren’t mine im just [gathering them up frantically sweating] listen i just happen to like the name benjamin it's got nothing to do with- alright just- listen—-[thousands more pictures of ben whishaw scatter across the floor as simon shuffles about on his knees] shit fcuk im just holding them for a friend just listen okay

[cynthia39100]

Merlin rewatch -- S2E7: The Witchfinder

Merlin was such a sweet kid. He just wanted to play with his magic without being afraid. It was reckless to do magic in the open, but he already did magic in front of Uther every other week and managed to get away with it. Apparently people in Camelot weren't that good at spotting magic. No wonder he became less alert. Also, Uther hadn’t reacted this dramatically the many times evil sorcerers attacked, it was fair to think that a bit of smoke trick wouldn’t provoke him.

Merlin had some beautiful sad faces... Colin Morgan was so good at making glassy eyes. I like his talk with Kilgharrah, though I don't know why Merlin went to see him in the first place considering the dragon had never cared about anything other than the prophecy. But I guess he didn’t have a choice. It’s quite heartwarming that Kilgharrah was so compassionate and provided proper advices, which was also a bit uncharacteristic. He didn't care about Merlin's mother dying even before they had that big fallout at the end of s1. I guess losing someone for the persecution of magic was something he could relate, so he was less sneering?

It's a beautiful line. I hope I am more invested in their father-son relationship because I just want to say yes! Let Gaius go! I know Gaius loved Merlin but he wasn't really a good influence, personality-wise and moral-wise... Also that way Merlin could stand on his own feet without Gaius telling him what to do. Like in this ep. Teaming up with Gwen to save the day.

I’m not sure how I feel about Merlin being so smug about the fact that he framed Aredian as a sorcerer (= condemned his death). It’s not just about saving Gaius. It was revenge. Merlin was doing the exact same thing Aredian did which brought so much agony to himself and Gaius. Maybe Aredian deserved it, but his deeds were already exposed and he would be judged by the law even without the sorcerer element. By doing this extra work, Merlin also endorsed what started it all -- Uther's hatred of magic, and thus made Gaius' big speech to Uther less impactful. Lastly, if an eye for an eye was ok, why didn’t they kill Uther already? (Yes, outright killing him would cause problems, but not saving him definitely wouldn't.)

[S2E7] [other episodes]

[1shadowhole]

Pictures of Colin Morgan in Dead Shot that remind me of Merlin from Following the Beast

Ever since the trailer came out I felt like Colin in this film looks exactly like I imagined Merlin to be in Footloose's Following the Beast, so here's a list of screenshots to prove my point. Long post ahead get ready everyone.

These just give the general vibe:

But also: Alcohol in a cluttered flat:

The very first scene - nay! SENTENCE! Merlin getting strangled after being knocked off his feet (by a tentacle, not a shoe, still counts):

Then later on, when he's about to pass out in the middle of a cross-walk (Lovely spot, btw):

Going to the pub with Mordred following him:

Merlin getting into the cab to take Arthur home:

And, of course, the ✨✨flick✨✨

"What flick?" you may ask, "What are you talking about!? WHY ARE YOU IN MY HOUS-" Those are all good questions. THIS flick, of course:

"A flick of the collar stopped the drizzling rain from dripping down the back of his neck"

(If i knew how to make gifs I'd show you that this is in fact, a flick, but you'll have to trust me on this one: he just flicked up the collar.)

Merlin in the warehouse at Mary's shop:

Being a nameless pervy blighter at Arthur's School (thank you, Tommy):

(The kids would be older, the bars would be higher, and the older kids would also, coincidentally, be higher, but it still works)

Confronting Kilgarrah:

Confronting George, and being shocked that this guy doesn't giveth a fucketh about Merlin's orders:

Merlin being told by Mordred that he is in love (there was a moment where he looked more shocked here, but I couldn't get the right frame):

The next part of that scene, where Merlin gets up after his magic finished healing him and tells Mordred about the trackers he placed (oh look, Mordred is even the same guy as before):

Getting in the car with Arthur's friends, Nephilim, allies, men to go save his ass:

Mordred getting Merlin home after he drank himself stupid (Imagine him a bit more unstable... also look!! Same guy once again!)

On the ground during his fight with Morgause:

Ok so picture him naked and with water all over the floor and this is him after the bath exploded after seeing the future:

Ritual preparations:

In the courtyard, during Uther's speech, looking for who is going to try to kill Arthur in the crowd: (he should be better dressed at this point I think but i don't care just- stick with me here)

How I imagine him to look like after he found Arthur after having killed Morgause and Arthur confronted Morgana alone:

Merlin walking towards Nimueh's house to rescue Leon (just imagine it's raining):

Merlin watching Arthur coming out of Nimueh's home covered in blood and gore, having the only rational reaction in that situation which is, obviously, falling harder and finding the whole thing quite attractive, actually:

Sadly, there is no kiss between Arthur and Merlin given the fact that Bradley wasn't in the film and this is not, in fact, the Following the Beast movie, even though I might have convinced you with these photos and captions. I am sure that someone who has read it had some influence on the look, I swear to God. Btw this is completely how I picture the fic to look like, so maybe I am 100% off and this was all useless.

Also, this dude right here IS Kilgarrah. I swear, they play the same role! If you'll watch the movie you'll know what I mean. And Colin kills him towards the end, which is sorta kinda what happens in the fic... but not really, but TBF it is sort of hinted that Merlin will make the lizard pay for all the bullshit, so really that's the same.

So, I hope I have proved my point today, and also showed once again how unhinged I am about this fic. (or any of footloose's stories, but that's not what this post is about) It's unhealthy.

This post took a while, and it's for the very small demographic of people who happened to watch the film and also read Following the Beast, so some would say that it's a "waste of time" and "you should be studying" and "don't you have four exams in like 5 weeks?", but I would call them haters. So yeah

also, I found this review of the movie:

Really? IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER? Are you kidding me? I know this guy is mentioning a completely different movie, but I'm losing my mind That's all I had to say, so byyyyeee to all of the maybe 2 people who read through all of this.

[none-ofthisnonsense]

Merlin S4E13, “The Sword in the Stone: Part Two”

Merlin reminding us he’s a dragonlord once again! But seriously stop ordering Kilgharrah around. (Though I doubt he minds fighting against Morgana.)

These two episodes really have the “we got a slow-mo camera and are taking full advantage of it” vibe

That face when he says “Me?” Merlin is cute!

Fuck me but I love a super powerful character who rarely uses it. BAMF Merlin my love.

Is Agravaine dead? (Someone remind me what Merlin’s kill count is.)

He did mean it though. I need a supercut of all sincere Merlin and Arthur moments.

…why is Gwaine shirtless?

Sometimes I’m reminded how Gwaine is the best fighter in the Five Kingdoms.

Tristan you’re not helping.

Gaius better not die. At least not without Merlin there.

Just once I want Arthur to listen to Merlin.

The theme tune and the anger and desperation in Merlin’s voice when he calls for Kilgharrah. By the way, what happened to Aithusa?

Colin Morgan has beautiful eyes.

I am loving this Merlin.

EXCALIBUR!

That ray of light on Arthur’s face.

The speech…

Leon I love you.

Merlin’s complete belief and faith in Arthur never fails to blow me away.

Dragoon the Great is such a mood.

I feel sorry for Morgana. She must be lonely.

Tristan stop making me feel feelings with your extraordinary performance

Leon <333

Ok but I love Tristan. (And Isolde, too, but she’s less fleshed out, and more just beautiful.)

Okay I burst out laughing when Gwen hit that guy with the sword.

YEAH IT’S NOT BAD. IT’S BLOODY EXCALIBUR AND IT’S THE MOST PERFECT SWORD EVER MADE

Morgana makes me hurt.

Merlin what did you do/are you doing

Okay but Morgana fighting through the corridors. I’m just saying.

ISOLDE WHAT THE FUCK T’AS PAS LE DROIT DE MOURIR

Merlin I love you.

Shit I’m actually crying. 

I’m having parallels to the coronation flashbacks

Morgana can’t die like this.

AITHUSA?!

Her hair and outfit looks blue and I love it.

Overall S4 was the best season so far. I especially liked the two-parters.

[sylvies-chen]

HEARTSTOPPER SEASON 2 TRAILER REACTIONS

Nick and Charlie are in their domestic blushing boyfriend honeymoon phase and it is absolutely delectable oh my god

TAO AND ELLE IN THE LOUVRE PLEASE BE THE LORDE NEEDLE DROP I’VE BEEN HOPING FOR PLEASEEEEE

I’m so ready for them to become canon and become the ultimate “walk him like a dog bitch” couple to ever exist like Elle is so model gorgeous so sweet so powerful so Barbie, Tao is just Ken and that’s okay too like IT COUPLE FR

Joe Locke in that blue hoodie has never looked more like Merlin before it’s insane idk what it is about the blue but the ressemblance to Colin Morgan is uncanny in that one clip, it’s hitting me in the Merthur feels

Darcy’s birthday party and her difficulty saying “I love you” to Tara because of her parents :’0

I’m pissing myself just thinking about Kit speaking in French this season (* dreamy sigh* if only he’d let me be his French tutor)

only complaint is I feel as though they’re trying to convince me that France is more gay-friendly than the UK which like… girl you guys both suck let’s be real. we ALL suck at that.

oh ok I lied my other complaint (which isn’t really a complaint it’s just me being protective) is that ben hope needs to shut his dumb twat mouth and leave my babies alone every time I saw him pop up in the trailer I gagged (I love the actor though he’s sweet and I hope he stays employed in the industry for a long time ok thank you)

[tiodolma]

You know that moodboard you reblogged of Merlin and Morgana not being able to sleep? You know what occurred to me?

I'm thinking of season 3. These two with their love/hate thing and UST going on and their fights about evil plans, and you know... What if in one of those heating discussions, Morgana accidentally blurts out that she felt something and a lot of things for Merlin before the poisoning fiasco and then Merlin admitting the same.

And like both are in their minds... 😳 Oh, crap, what did I just said? So, both flee from each other, because this isn't good at all and neither can now sleep because of the whole situation. 😂😂

..... ok meta time

I think morgana has been honest enough even in s3 though (heck through s4-s5). Merlin is the more guarded one.

Based on Colin Morgan’s interpretation in many interviews, Merlin was the one who was self-aware enough that he loved her and deeply cared for her at some point. The show confirms that sort of acting decision coz he’s also always revealing his true feelings for her in front of kilgharrah and gaius. (plus the other character/actors have talked about it)

Meanwhile Katie Mcgrath doesn’t characterize Morgana in that way: that Morgana was self-aware enough that she loved him. I am of the opinion that Morgana was still on her way to falling in love with him when Fires of IDirsholas happened. All we know is that she deeply feels for him to the point where even Morgause didn't seem to know the whole depth of her feelings. KM insists that Morgana only wanted Merlin’s honesty and trust. We can see it In the show. Morgana had always told Merlin what she felt about him.

So if there was one who should admit their feelings then it should be Merlin.

Morgana already laid out everything she felt for him from S1-S3: “you are the actual hero here!” “I am your friend” "i don't feel so alone here," "i trust merlin” "you’re a good friend” “i have magic, merlin” “I now know what i am”. “i am afraid merlin” “i get that you only wanted to protect your friends” “i am upset that i was poisoned and you hurt me” “why should i care about people who dont care about me?” “Uther hates me and everyone like me” “you dont know how it is be be an outsider” “i thought we were friends then why are you against me if you understand me like what you claimed” “how can you hope to understand” “i dont really get you.” “Make me understand, merlin” "you're just a pathetic lowly serving boy to me," "you're a thorn in my side," "you condemned me to live in this poor state."

Meanwhile merlin is always like "i care for her", "i trust her," "she should be told that magic can be a force for good and it can be a gift" "she has a good heart," "she’s my friend," "i know her," "i feel sad for her," "she’s undergoing a hard time," "i understand her most of all," "i shouldnt have trusted her," "i dont wanna be bitter, angry and so full of hate like her," "i will never be like her," "i thought we were the same”

---but he says these only To the dragon and Gaius.

See how they contrast? With regards to to his feelings for Morgana, Merlin is only honest to his bosses, meanwhile Morgana is honest of her feelings for Merlin towards Merlin himself.

Merlin and Morgana were never meeting/fighting on the same ground.

It's honestly heartbreaking, especially since Merlin never holds back on saying the same wonderful words of affirmation to Arthur, to Gwen, to the Knights, to Freya, to literally everybody else.. but he could never say them to Morgana's face.

btw saying only "i understand" and not much else sometimes isn't enough anymore.

....

I honestly do not know what else Morgana could say that will push Merlin to honesty. I think she might as well strip herself naked and he still wouldn't give in (and s4 showed us that he can and will use that kind of weakness against her. he already used her nightmares against her after all).

All I’m saying is that Morgana had always been so so so vulnerable and raw in front of him. Normally that would give an opening to the other person to let down their guard and rely on her. (see agravaine, helios, aithusa, mordred)

But Merlin never did that. He had so many chances to tell her the truth and be vulnerable himself but he never allowed himself that kind of right in front of her. We know that he desperately wanted to but he couldn't because had been repeatedly and ceaselessly warned/conditioned/brainwashed/manipulated that it was the worst idea, that going against his job orders will have consequences.

.....

But as they are in s3? where they are just free to pursue whatever goals they have independent of each other... with how radicalized and extremist they both already are? With how Merlin has already lost at least 4 loved ones for the sake of protecting camelot and destiny (sunken cost fallacy and all that)? nah. I can't see him being honest to anyone, especially enemies who have done and said things he morally detests, anymore.

Personally i think the only way for merlin to finally tell her his truth is to trap both them in some situation where they have to work together, or where morgana’s magic isnt enough , or where they both have no magic, or where the have joint responsibility of another life. THEY HAVE TO BE TRAPPED. TRAP THEM TOGETHER.

[bloghrexach]

🤔 … because they think it’s ALL about them, the eternal victims!!

By: Colin Tiyani Anderson, Artist/Digital Fabricator, from LinkedIn …

“Why is it that Jewish people have to monopolise this term of 'semitism', because semitism is not a Jewish specific thing. The semitic languages are more than Hebrew. Arabic is a semitic language. There are African languages that are also semitic, so I find it absurd and actually racist that it is only the Jews that get to use the term “semitism” to describe themselves.

"For example, as Arabs: I am an Arab. One person I was speaking to in Piers Morgan’s show. His name is Unholy Schmuley, and I was speaking to him and he said, “you’re an antisemite”. I said, “I am more semitic than you”, because he is from European extraction.

"In what world is it OK for someone to call me “anti that which I am which, they, themselves are not?

"Now we have people who are European Jews who come from Europe, OK, coming to an Arab, like myself, who speaks Arabic, and they tell me that I am antisemitic. I say, you are racist that you call me this. You have no monopoly on semitism. No monopoly whatsoever."

- Mohammed Hijab

Conflating anti-Semitism with the racist depravity of Zionism is tyranny. If President Biden truly believed that, "...all men are created equal...", he would endeavour to protect ALL Semites. Instead, he gives some Semites bombs to conduct a genocide against other Semites. President Biden is acting in a fashion that is, by definition, anti-Semitic.” … 🤔

#mohammedhijab … #antisemitism … #FreePalestine … @hrexach

[adhd-merlin]

[I've used an image-to-text extractor to copy the interview here:]

Digging up the past

Colin Morgan and Annabel Scholey star in a tense new psychological thriller

DRAMA –  BBC IPLAYER • ALL FOUR EPS AVAILABLE FROM MON 2 SEP

DEAD AND BURIED

In this series, Cathy's (Annabel Scholey) past trauma resurfaces when she encounters Michael (Colin Morgan), the man convicted of her brother's murder 20 years previously, and she sets out to get revenge. Tell us about them both...

Annabel: At the start of the drama, Cathy is relatively calm. She's happily – I wouldn't say necessarily passionately – married, with a small son, who she adores. When she was 15, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, her much-loved older brother was killed in a firebomb explosion, and it shattered her universe. She went off the rails and so she has definitely got a wild side. But at the beginning of this, she's not showing any signs of it.

Colin: Michael is in what I'd say is almost an arranged marriage. He was in prison at a formative time in his life. He came across a pastor who set him on the right path – and it just so happens that his pastor's daughter is now his wife, like the whole thing was some kind of weird rehabilitation programme. I think it felt good for him, for people to give him a second chance- but now, in his mid-thirties, he realises he is in something not of his own choosing. He feels trapped.

And the course of wreaking vengeance doesn't run smooth for Cathy...

Colin: At the end of the day, Michael is getting on with his life. Sometimes we paint a villain in our heads, and we definitely don't want to like them. And I think that's the most disarming thing for Cathy. She's got all this hate for someone she eventually meets up with, and she's like, ‘For f***'s sake, he's nice!’ – you know? It puts her in a weird old place. A quintessentially Northern Irish way of dealing with trauma is often laughing through it, but still feeling the pain underneath. It's a coping mechanism, which we find out as the story goes on.

Annabel: Michael has a lot of charisma. I don't think Cathy expects that. She believes she is completely in control of the situation and goes down the road of becoming obsessed in making him pay for what he's done. So he knocks her off-guard. They have, like, a magnetism between them. Neither of them understands what it is, but it's dangerous and potent. I think there is a sense they're kindred spirits tied together by this trauma. That, in a way, is comforting to both of them in a very dark, twisted way.

Cathy starts off stalking Michael. Have either of you ever had encounters with fans that made you feel uncomfortable? And do either of you hold grudges?

Annabel: I've only ever had people saying lovely things, never stepping over the line. One thing is sometimes they think you are that person, and check if you're OK. Like on The Split, my character lost everything, and I had people going, ‘You poor thing. How are you going to get your money back?’ I definitely do not bear grudges. I'm quite feisty and passionate, and my temper will blow – then it's gone. I can't remember what the row was about a day later.

Colin: I'm not a grudge bearer either. I'm very forgiving, maybe to a fault. And in terms of encounters, I find the whole industry is quite uncomfortable, when you think about celebrity culture, having gone in pursuit of the thing that is in your heart, which for me as a child, was bringing what I did in a rehearsal room with lots of other kids on to the stage for the pure fun of it – bringing that into your adult life and living it. And then suddenly it ends up on a screen. It turns into something entirely different that you weren't prepared for. I was doing a lot of theatre before any film and TV came along, and I was able to go on stage, do my thing, come home. The second you appeared on telly, people were coming to see you for something else. I reckon they saw the show, but I don't know that they were there for the theatrical experience. It's strange to be put in that role when you're not the one who chose it, even though the industry lends itself to it. I hope that makes sense. It’s extremely contradictory, isn't it? But it's something that actors who get into this business for the reasons I did struggle with later down the line.

Martina Fowle

• Also airs on BBC1 Northern Ireland, Monday

Interesting little tidbit. Of course he literally explains why he feels uncomfortable doing any of the promotional work that we all crave lol

[queen-morgana91]

Ok, there is one thing I am really tired of seeing in Merlin fandom: the accusation that Merlin is single-handedly responsible fo the prophesies about Arthur (his death), Mordred and Morgana coming true. Or that he’s responsible for all the bad things in this series.

 Um, excuse you, is Merlin the only member of the show? I'm sure that whole 20 years of genocide thing is just a piece of trivia, and the blatant hypocrisy of preaching equality while practicing outright persecution against a large chunk of your population is just background noise. People go on and on about Arthur, Mordred and Morgana's fragile states of mind, but no one seems to give a fuck about Merlin's sigh

Meh i've seen certain people here say that Merlin is just killing anyone he doesn't like, but quite frankly that is a grievous insult to Colin Morgan's acting skills.

He's had to deal with things that no person of any age should have to deal with. He's carried more burden than even the king. The difference is that when Arthur makes a mistake he can tell people, in fact he usually doesn't have to because everyone knows about it right away, and everyone immediately tries to comfort him. Merlin is just left alone to crucify himself with Gaius and his eyebrow of disapproval. Actually I'm not a great fan of Gaius as a character (i love the actor btw).

[bitsandbobsofwriting]

Sooooo... I've had a thought for a while. How awesome would it have been if they had let Colin Morgan keep actual his Irish accent to remind ppl that he wasn't originally from Camelot? Like, maybe it becomes subtler as the seasons go on but it's always there and when he gets tired or angry the lilt would come out FULL FORCE and ppl that didn't know or forget would be like, yo wtf???

(Headcanon Masterlist) (Full Masterlist)

Ok so I rarely answer asks as soon as I see them but

Anon

I DEDICATE AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR OF EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY THINKING ABOUT MERLIN WITH AN ACCENT!!!!

Like.... I'm turning this into a headcanon set because I need to think about this right now (if someone else wants to expand it that's fine, or if it's popular enough, I'll add it to the next List update).

ANYWAY!!!

Say he's not actually from Essetir, but Ireland (from research I think it was called Hibernia during the medieval ages, or maybe Alba? I'm not sure, so I'll just stick with Ireland), and Balinor ran a little further afield before meeting Hunith, and then returning once things had settled down to live in that skanky cave, so he can keep an eye on how Camelot was doing. Hunith and Merlin travel to Essetir when Merlin is maybe twelve or so?? So the accent and customs (and even the language) is like... heavily embedded. (To cover plot holes... uh... Gaius is also Irish, but travelled over with... relatives(?) when he was so young that he doesn't have an accent, or even really any memories of home. He has however visited and been visited by his sister enough to have a good relationship with her, and they exchanged letters regularly before and after she moved to Essetir. There. Don't think about it too much.)

HOWEVER!! When he moves to Camelot, he covers it up, because Camelot already hates Bastards (check), Sorcerers (double check) and also Gaels (check again). So to make his life easier, he gives himself a generic Essetirian/Camelot accent, and no one really notices, Maybe he has a bit of a lilt here and there, but people chalk it up to him spending lots of time with a diverse set of people, and/or maybe just being a country bumpkin. The lilt definitely comes out more when he's angry, the angrier he is the stronger it is, but, what the majority of Merlin's friends don’t know, is that they've never really seen him truly angry. Annoyed, frustrated maybe, a little pissed off, but not properly angry. Not for the first few years at least, so again, no one really notices.

Sometimes he rants to himself under his breath in Gaels, more so when he's with Gaius because it's not like the guy doesn't already know, even if he can't actually understand (Gaius does mourn the loss of his heritage sometimes, especially because, when delirious, Merlin's accent comes back full force, and Gaius can't understand a word he's saying).

Anyway. I do have this scenario in my head of some poor page running into the Throne room all "Oh CHRIST, My Lord, there's a woman in the courtyard who claims to have killed Morgause and rescued Morgana!! BUT!!! She says she'll only speak to Myrddin??" And the whole room is in uproar and Merlin just rolls his eyes at them and goes "What does she look like?", at the description he just goes "Oh shit" except in Gaels and runs out. All the gang follow to see him embracing this woman and speaking fast Gaels to her. She's introduced as his sister or an old childhood neighbour/friend or something. She couldn't give less of a shit about Camelot's anti magic laws if she TRIED, and fully admits to defeating the two witches with magic, because she herself is also a witch, and basically dares Arthur to do something abut it whilst Merlin despairs. Once the shock passes, someone, probably Gwaine, just goes "Hey, Merls, what's with the accent?? And the name??" and the woman just raises her eyebrow and goes "Aye, Merls, what's with the accent and the name?" And he has to admit that he's Irish and his real name is Myrddin (I know it's actually Welsh but let’s pretend just for now) and talks in his normal accent and everyone just... blue screens.

At least three times a day for the next few weeks, if not months, he has to explain the "new" accent to friends whom he hasn't spoken to since before the incident. Overall it's very funny, and everyone in Camelot suddenly finds Merlin ten times hotter. Arthur is struggling to cope. Leon openly drools. Gwaine is so wowed he can't even flirt right. Gwen trips over every time he speaks.

His accent is naturally really toned down, from years of hiding it and just being around people who don't have that accent, but it still gets strong when he shouts, and is nigh impossible to understand when he's concussed/drugged/suffering from blood loss/exhausted to the point of delirium. He also starts using words like "aye" to mean yes, and "slán" (the original of Sláinte, meaning good health, or cheers), when he says goodbye, and it's very endearing but also very confusing.

Our man is just so much happier being able to be himself and share his culture with no backlash, because Uther's been gone a while, and Arthur made peace with the Gaels ages ago (Merlin was basically just in too deep to back out then and kept clutching straws until the sister/friend arrived and blew it all wide open). Now he just has to do the same with the magic thing.... But then again!! Sister/friend not giving a fuck has maybe done that already. So. Maybe he's already set?

Anyway. Merlin with an Irish accent. Yes Please Please Please :D

[astranix]

i think it's pretty cool that gwaine is the only person that merlin actually ever asks for help from.

like when he's in the knights' room in s3 and gwaine asks him if he's okay, and he says no!! and then later in s5, when merlin actually calls for gwaine (colin morgan's acting in that scene is terrifyingly good btw which makes it even better)

ok granted that that's only because merlin can't use his magic in those situations and if he could, he wouldn't really need the help, but that's also not the point. the point is that merlin feels comfortable enough to ASK for it ... i just think it's neat. that merlin's barely met the man and he seems to trust him.

right from the very beginning.

no complications, no awkward half-hugs, no weirdly charged and ambiguously worded arguements, no sexual tension, no outer conflict ... just. u n me. we get along. we Get each other. we fight off dudes in a tavern. we polish boots together. we bitch about royalty together. u n me . strength and magic. we keep running into each other in every pub we visit and in every situation that seems out of control, we find each other. u help me, i help u. naturally, and without hesitation. ur there for me and im there too. if we really wanted to, we could love each other. we already do . but we like what we are so much that we don't feel the need to change anything at all. because we can't define something that's practically a part of us. we don't even know what it is but i would die for u. I'd kill for u . that sort of relationship <3

[adhd-merlin]

Ok so, @destielification asked about my Simon Amstell joke, and I'm not going to hijack poor @centurieslove's post but...

(Sorry, this isn't Merlin-related but it's tangentially about Colin Morgan, so it is at least Merlin-adjacent.)

Simon Amstell, if you didn't know, is a British stand-up comedian and certified weird little man.

I'm not, like, a Simon Amstell fan or anything, but I do like stand-up comedy. And I became aware of Simon Amstell some years ago after watching one stand-up show of his on YouTube, which is Do Nothing, which is still available, in fact, and you should definitely watch if you haven't because it's pretty good.

Now Simon's openly gay, and in Do Nothing he talks a lot about his romantic life, or lack thereof, and he jokes a lot about the type of men he finds attractive, who he describes as "ill-thin", "timid" and "vulnerable".

And one of the funniest bits in the show is one where he recounts an extremely awkward encounter with one such man — an actor Simon had "fallen in love with", despite never having talked to him.

So Simon went to see a play starring this actor in the hope of meeting him afterwards and maybe talking to him a bit, which didn't happen.

What did happen, though, is that a few weeks later Simon randomly bumped into the very same actor, love of his life, in a shop. And he decides there and then that it's destiny, and he must shoot his shot. (You can skip the quote below if you intend to watch the show, but I'm pasting it here because it's hilarious).

I saw him there, he hadn't seen me. He was about a metre away from me. There, that thin. And what I thought... For some reason, what I thought would be really cool and seductive would be to just stand in the middle of the shop and shout his full name. He turned round, alarmed. I could see the terror in his eyes, but because I'd started at a certain volume, I thought it'd be too odd to get any quieter. So I'm there just shouting about the good reviews this play has had and he's going, "Oh, I don't really read reviews." And he's all timid and vulnerable, which is why I love him. And I think the difference between us, because I think we were both quite shy as children... I say, "I think" — I did a lot of research on him.

And that man's name? Ben Whishaw. Apparently.

Look, I have no idea who claimed it first. I don't know if Simon admitted it in an interview at some point, or what. But it became An Established Fact™️ that the actor he was talking about was, indeed, Ben Whishaw. And if you watch Simon Amstell's show, and you know about Ben, well. It tracks. It makes perfect sense, actually.

Anyway, Simon talks to Ben, gives him his email address with some excuse or another. Ben promises to email him. And then, he doesn’t. Cue sad noises from the audience.

And that could have been the end of it, except that Simon, certified weird man, decided to be weird about it. And instead of letting it go, he elaborates his trauma by incorporating it into his writing.

And in case you think I'm exaggerating — here's what Simon himself wrote about it some time after the fact, in his own book. Straight from the horse's mouth.

A year later, the actor was in another play at the Royal Court. So I thought I’d give myself one more go at making him love me. I felt I’d written and performed all the insanity out of my head and was now ready for something real. I believed this because it would have been unbearable to accept that after all that transformative, healing comedy, I was still the same lunatic. (source)

So what Simon did was write a sit-com, in which he played a fictionalised version of himself, and in it he put a character called Ben Theodore, a pretentious theatre actor and also, basically, Ben Whishaw. (Like, if you know Ben Whishaw, you cannot not see it. That's him talking.)

But hang on, you might say, I thought this was going to be about Colin? Why are you going on about Ben Whishaw?

Well, Simon, in case you don't remember (and at this point I hope you don't) is also the writer and director of the film Benjamin (BENjamin), starring Colin Morgan as the lead and title character.

A Colin Morgan who, I might say, has something of a young Ben Whishaw about him. And he doesn't play a pretentious actor this time — in fact he plays a version of Simon Amstell himself — but the fact remains that he's exactly Simon Amstell's type, kind of looks like the man Simon was admittedly obsessed with, and even bears his name. And Simon cast him in his film to play himself, which is weird but also funny and very on brand for him, because he's self-obsessed like that.

So, to come back to my joke — I just thought the idea of Simon Amstell developing an obsessive crush on Colin Morgan and going to see The Tempest specifically to see him and missing him was hilarious.

But he did get to have him in his own film, so.

(I can't censure Simon too much for his obsession with Ben because... well, same, and also it resulted in Simon giving us Colin Morgan looking Peak Gay and serving cunt in Benjamin — in his own accent! — and I'll be forever grateful for it).

here's another post about it

[minnesotadruids]

Hello there! If it s not too much trouble, how do you feel about media/pop-culture portrayal of druids?

Since the word “Druid” is used a lot to mean “Nature Wizard” would you prefer if people used/make up their own different words for their stories or find it ok to use the term as long as they’re respectful or accurate to Druidism to some degree?

In terms of the "best" media depiction of druids, I think the BBC series Merlin with Colin Morgan is probably the closest we can get to a positive portrayal of the Celtic priestly caste. I still hesitate to describe it as accurate, but at the very least I wasn't balking at the show as much as I did when watching an episode of The Librarians. We'll get to them in a moment.

There's also the fun Australian miniseries Roar that starred a young Heath Ledger. It was full of historical inaccuracies (the premise being about a Roman-occupied Ireland for one thing). But it portrayed the druids in a positive light despite being at a time when they were in decline.

In the TV show The Librarians: And the Rise of Chaos (season 3 episode 1) they have a very brief (2-3 minute) run-in with some angry druids. The mob only shouts and growls but don't seem to speak, all while wearing tattered robes and brandishing wooden farm implements of various functions. They were also wearing cringey cast-resin masks of animal skulls that miraculously fit perfectly on their faces and just looked fake. I should point out this show takes place in the present.

The librarians have to climb a wicker man and solve a puzzle to steal a rune-covered stone artifact. The puzzle is based on a Celtic board game gwyddbwyll AKA fidchell. In the episode, the game pieces are Norse runes (Elder Futhark). Historically, the Iron Age Celts would not have used those runes. The game pieces should be carved figures of warriors instead. Then things get a bit personal with the tree stump inscription.

One librarian translates the markings on the stump which he says are "ancient Gaulish mixed with third century astrological symbols," and somehow reads "when the king reaches the north, the light will reveal itself."

*FACEPALM*

Well the three symbols on the left side are more Norse Elder Futhark (i.e. not even Celtic), the symbol cluster in the upper right corner looks like it could be vaguely Lepontic script (i.e. yes, “ancient Gaulish”) but that specific one is not in the Lepontic alphabet at all. Just for fun they have the symbol for Aries (the aforementioned (but singular) Greek astrological symbol). The Celtic triskele is in the upper middle of the stump and variations of it go back thousands of years, but it doesn't really have a universally accepted meaning.

What upset me the most was the incorporation of the Druid Sigil (bottom center of the stump). It is the official symbol of the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA). The RDNA invented the Druid Sigil in 1963 to be a geometrically simple symbol, yet at the same time - unique. They went through books of symbols to make sure it didn't already exist. The RDNA founders described the Druid Sigil as a symbol for the Earth-Mother, but it is truly devoid of a specific meaning or powers.

In the RDNA, the individual imparts their own meaning into the Sigil, and whatever powers they want it to have if need be. To me the Druid Sigil is a sun wheel, and the two vertical lines represent the Two Tenets of Reformed Druidism. It means something different to everyone, and it is neither ancient Gaulish nor third century anything. The show producers obviously googled “Druid symbols” and that was the extent of their research.

I guess if someone was to make a new show, movie, or other media about druids, I would prefer that it would at least clearly be in the high-fantasy genre if they're going to make them all fanciful magic users, and especially if they're going to be portrayed as bad guys. If the show is trying to be more historically accurate, I'd much prefer that they stick to what's verifiable (though admittedly that's not much). Otherwise yeah, it would be nice sometimes if they used a different term, like sorcerers or warlocks if they're bad guys.

Oh gosh, Warlock! That was a 1989 supernatural horror movie that started a trilogy of gory films. The warlock was a bad guy, and a secret bloodline of druids were the only ones who had a chance of stopping him. The depiction of druids was okay I suppose, and on the plus side they wore plain everyday clothes in the 20th century, 'cause you know it's important to blend in.

See Also:

History of the Druid Sigil

Common Symbols in Druidry

[milfbro]

Please what are your thoughts on Merlin, I haven't thought about that show in 8 years

Forgive me lads for putting Merlin meta in your dash in 2022. I am sorry. But know that this could be much longer

important context tho, is that I find Merlin infinitely rewatchable cause I don't have to like, use my brain. So I pop an episode on sometimes. I must have rewatched the show like, 7 times over the years. Idk it's almost white noise for me

ok I guess my general thesis of the hypothetical presentation on Merlin I'd give on the fly is that Merlin is a show that's constantly in a tug of war against itself. It's already an extremely conservative show where the main theme is that 'things right now are bad, but we can change them for the better by keeping things exactly as they are' which is hilarious to me.

A bbc show for children can't encourage questioning authority and traditional values or the existence of the monarchy but also this show wants to have things to say about all of those topics. It wants to be modern but can't openly critique arthuriana, it's trying to both maintain the nonsense english identity and ideology attached to it over the centuries without embracing the weirdness of the old legends, but also is trying be hip and young, cash in on the freaky england fashion trend americans are going through

So how does that manifest in the show? Besides some vague nonsense with semi-colorblind casting and vague metaphors for every marginalized group possible? Every episode they introduce a new threat that, if they thought about it with the same mindset that they had in the previous episode, should lead them to the obvious conclusion that the monarchy that is currently committing genocide is bad. But they can't have that, so they have Gaius say the opposite of something he said in another episode (Gaius being the moral guide of each ep so we learn the new rules of the universe for the current one) and Merlin reacts as if it was understood that this new stance is the what they'd already had; they fight the threat and save the king. Rinse, repeat

It's a neverending cycle of moving goalposts and a completely fluid morality so that they always reach the same conclusion over and over and over, each episode echoing the overarching story. It's like a big conservative loop with no logic, only the idea that Arthur being king is good and will fix things (the genocide that is currently still happening), even after he is already king and is already not fixing anything. But he is 'the greatest king Camelot has ever had', whatever that means.

BUT there's a turn that happens in the last season that kind of collapses this whole schtick. I need to give context for this in case the person reading hasn't rewatched Merlin six times: Merlin is given the choice to save or kill Mordred, the guy he knows will kill Arthur. For convoluted reasons, saving Mordred will make magic legal. So Merlin has to choose to either save Arthur or end the prosecution of his own people. He saves Arthur, like he does for the entire show, and when he does that he accidentally kickstarts the last arc where Mordred kills Arthur and the show ends with magic remaining hidden for the rest of time. Thanks Merlin! This is kind of surreal coming from this show, and I AM reading too much into it obviously but you asked for it: the final arc is when Merlin has to face the fact that protecting the status quo and maintaining the state that is actively persecuting his people, doesn't do anything to end said persecution. He had the agency in this moment to cause the solution that he'd wanted the whole time but he doesn't do it because he has never accepted that the means to cause change is through change.

Anyway, the very ending of the show features Colin Morgan in old man make-up walking next to what I presume is the M-25 because it would be funny if it was. And we're meant to think that it's bittersweet and he's waiting for Arthur to return and take his place back on the throne, so he can be there to help him usher a new era where magic will be back to Albion. But given the reading I just gave you, the ending of Merlin, thematically, is a sad ending where the main character is still doing nothing to change the current world but expecting and hoping that change will come if we stay still. It's really sad and awfully tragic of the show. This is what will happen if you live your life to guard the institutions that do not love you back.

And that's what I have overthought about Merlin. I have much more where this came from. I'm sorry for this.

[bane-huntress]

The Fall = Watch at 1.25x!

Ok... So I been watching "The Fall" on Netflic (originally BBC2?)

Why? Collin Morgan and Netflix recommended it cos I watch Merlin all the time XD

So, I'm watching this sloooow drawn out crime drama, that does have something of a good story going, even though its like... really slooooow... then Colin comes on screen and I'm like WTF... has he been told to talk reeealllyyy sloooowwwwly or what?... (so after a little whine to a friend who accused me of not liking long things cos I probably have ADHD) I'm like, "He just doesn't sound right!"

"So." says I. and pumps up the speed to 1.25x

AND EVERYONE IS TALKING NORMALY!

Even Gillian Anderson suddenly sounds normal! WTF!

Sometimes ppl forget they have to talk reeealy sloowly, so the speech does seem sped up, but it's rare. It's just a little jaring when ppl move and seem sped up. but at least they sound normal.

Sorry to anyone that watched this at normal sleep, how did you not fall asleep with all the lovely soothing music in the background?

...

BUT... Loved it where Burns (John Lynch) weirdly says Anderson (Colin Morgan) is good looking... not a good detective, smart at his job... no. good looking, I loled, a little Merlin nod? as Lynch played Merlin's dad.

Also... Merlin sleeping with Scully? ewwww... but... kudos all the same lol.

[valjeans]

okay what about top five worst things you’ve ever seen on stage

god this has made me realise that i've seen so much shit :))) i used to do a bit of theatre reviewing but im gonna stick to the five worst BIG shows i've seen bc that's probably more interesting.

1. a very, very, very dark matter by martin mcdonagh at the bridge theatre - literally the most offensive piece of theatre i've sat through. according to rumours the royal court refused to stage it bc it was just so incredibly racist so genuinely fuck knows why the bridge agreed to it.

2. a number by caryl churchill at the bridge theatre - im not SAYING that the bridge produces more bad shows than good BUT...anyway this is a two man show about human cloning. it had colin morgan and roger allam in it. colin morgan was so beyond terrible and poor roger allam was doing his very best but even he couldn't save it. (also the absolutely highlight was roger allam drinking a can of coke throughout bc the man CLEARLY hated coke and his face while he was drinking was genuinely the best thing)

3. nice fish by mark rylance (think this was maybe at the harold pinter?) anyway i still have no fucking clue what this show was about tbh. mark rylance was good but it was just so clearly a massive ego trip for him.

4. everybody's talking about jamie - had to throw in one we saw together and hated. do not understand the hype at all. just an unbelievably generic contemporary musical. we did very seriously consider leaving at the interval which we NEVER do.

5. ok this last one is definitely more about the production but... jesus christ superstar uk tour from a few years back now. it was a bill kenright production so was obvs already going to be cheap as fuck but god it was SO bad. like i love a bit of jesus christ superstar but even i struggled. jesus was fully played by a man who was very clearly in his late 40s and gave us absolutely nothing.

put “top 5” anything in my ask and i will answer ok go