#to add more angst by s3 morgwen is an unrequited love on morgana’s side Tumblr posts

[fluffypotatey]

how do you feel about morgwen's falling-out? haven't seen any talk about that

Ooooh yes good question anon😌

Short answer: their falling out gives me pain, but I also think it had potential to be even angstier.

Long answer:

Ok so season 1 & 2 we have our morgwen happy as can be. They are the best of friends despite status and we have been shown that they will do anything for the other.

Season 3 happens, and we see our lovely morgwen start to fall apart and oh the pain.

Personally, I feel upset about Morgana and Gwen’s falling out because of how close they were to each other in the previous seasons, but then in season 3, suddenly, it’s not as important anymore until the season finale. 

Also, I feel like Morgana framing Gwen as a sorcerer just to get her out of the picture w/o an ounce of hesitation or regret was a little ooc. This is just me of course, but after seeing how much they cared and how far Morgana was willing to go to protect and care for Gwen (for example hiring an assassin to kill Uther after he killed Gwen’s dad and begging Uther to save Gwen in s2 when bandits kidnapped her instead of Morgana)....Morgana being okay to have Gwen be accused of sorcery just because she saw a vision of her on the throne with Arthur feels off. And then she expects Gwen to still be loyal to her once it is found out that it was Morgana who was the one that almost had her executed.

What I’m saying is that based on their dynamic and relationship shown previously to be very close, Morgana should not have been as determined to kill Gwen as she was in Queen of Hearts (ep 3x10). Personally, I feel like Morgana would try to sway Gwen to her side rather than kill her (like she did in the season 3 finale, but that just ended up feeling empty after what happened to Gwen only two episodes before). Gwen already has a vendetta against Uther. He killed her father solely because he housed a sorcerer without knowing said guest was a sorcerer. I highly doubt that Gwen ever forgave him for that. Also, Gwen had already been accused of sorcery in s1, so Morgana could use that to sway Gwen in a way.

I know that by s3 Morgana didn’t care about Uther or Arthur or Merlin, but she still cared about Gwen. Gwen was a constant in her life. Her only friend for a long time, so I doubt she would be so quick as to frame Gwen of using magic.

Anyway, I do think the falling out of morgwen had potential, but I feel like it needed some work. I always get really upset about friendships falling out just because these are people who have been so close to each other for who knows how long, but soon their dynamic changes and they can’t seem to click anymore. It’s angsty, it’s tragic, but it’s a really good relationship arc to see.

In s4’s finale, we can hear the anguish in Gwen’s voice when she asks what she has done to make Morgana hate her. And Morgana only says it’s what Gwen will do that makes her hate her once dear friend. (edit: which is a fucking gut punch of angst and would be even more impactful if s3 gave more focus on morgwen’s falling out).

By s5, Morgana and Gwen are no longer friends. They are far from it, actually, and I doubt that anything from their relationship would ever mend now. Morgana tortured Gwen until she was a helpless pawn for Morgana’s plans. Looking from there to where they started is just tragic, and should have been explore more.

Personally again, I think if we saw more of their relationship drifting apart in season 3 it wouldn’t feel as unnatural and off kilter as it felt in the show. For example: 

Morgana starts noticing how close Gwen is getting with Arthur. This is something that confuses her because Arthur, to her, is enemy by association. Uther is his father and is anti-magic and Arthur has shown not enough proof that he is any different from him. She starts to asks her friend questions. They are subtle at first but as the season goes on they get a little more nosy, a little more accusatory.

Morgana doesn’t understand. How can Gwen even begin to like someone who’s father is the reason why her own is dead? Arthur stood by and did nothing! It was Morgana who fought for her. It was always Morgana who spoke against such atrocities. Never Arthur.

Gwen is upset with Morgana’s questioning. She doesn’t understand why this has bothered her so much. Doesn’t she know that the faults of someone’s father does not mean that they too are at the same fault? They start having mini arguments that soon become heated and loud, and eventually, the room is always stifled whenever they’re together. Gwen stops answering her questions.

Morgana sees the vision of Gwen on the throne (this time a little earlier than the queen of hearts episode). It’s not terrible. She looks happy. It’s been a long time since Morgana has been privy to one of her maidservant’s bright smiles. Then dream Gwen looks to her right, and Morgana sees Arthur on the throne next to Gwen’s. She wakes up screaming.

From then on, Morgana does everything in her power to stop the two of them from being together. She tells Morgause that it’s because the throne should be hers and hers alone. She doesn’t tell her sister the second reason.

She begins by seeding doubt in Arthur. He was always insecure about many things. It had frustrated Morgana before. How one little word from his father caused him to shut down. She had always wanted to scream and shake his shoulders to make him understand how wrong Uther was. Before, she would try her best to tell him, to show him that he can be someone worthy of great feats without his father’s approval. Now, she’s glad the cracks are there, and she prods into him like she always does, but this time it’s not to help him. This time, she wants to see him crumble and fall.

This time she plants more doubt instead of that passionate reassurance and self-righteous will. She tells him about whether he’s truly sure he can love Gwen. Could he really put away his responsibilities of Camelot for a serving girl? That’s not fair to Gwen is it. To string her around while Arthur is still a prince only to drop her once he’s king. It’s not honorable and in no way noble. She plants those seeds the best way she can and waits for them to fester and grow. However, she forgot one thing in her plan for making Arthur doubt. He isn’t alone anymore.

She tries the same for Gwen, but her maid is too confident, too strong willed to let doubt enter her mind now. Morgana always admired that about her, but now it’s just frustrating. Not even a threat from Uther to the both of them seemed to deter their relationship. They’ve just become more secretive.

Gwen doesn’t talk to Morgana like she usually did. Their relationship is a professional one, and Morgana can feel her rage festering. (She doesn’t know that Gwen feels the same pain she does, but Gwen just can’t be close to her like before. Morgana has changed, and Gwen fears it’s too late to stop it.)

Morgana begins to hate Arthur more. No longer just by association. He took Gwen from her. He took her closest friend. How dare he! Gwen is hers. Forever her bright sun, forever loyal. What he has done is unforgivable.

When she and Morgause take over Camelot, Morgana tries again. She tries to show Gwen that what she’s doing isn’t bad. Who’s bad is Uther. Uther Pendragon is the cause, and she’s only bringing justice. Gwen fears Morgana has already lost that goal, but she stays silent. She allows Morgana believe Gwen is still loyal until she and Leon flee to where Arthur is and take back the kingdom.

Gwen....her sweet, darling sunshine...Gwen left her. And Morgana cracks.

So yeah....uh, that’s how I personally feel like what would make their falling out a little better since it definitely had the potential but not everything was there, in my opinion.

I do get really upset about their falling out only because of how close the show had them be. So, if they really want us to believe that Morgana would want to hurt Gwen, maybe they could have drawn out them drifting apart.

And those are me thoughts. I do apologize anon that I sort of went off on a tangent there soooo😅. I just wanted to show how I would have done their falling out in s3. I also apologize if it’s a little incoherent and rambly.