Board Thread:What If?/@comment-5674726-20140723213417/@comment-24762954-20140810073356

ReganX wrote:

Uther wasn't Arthur's heir, Arthur was his heir and, following Arthur's death, Morgana is the most probable heir to Uther's throne. The show makes it very clear that, despite being born out of wedlock, she would have a valid claim to the throne after Arthur if her paternity was known. Chances are that he'd want her to make an alliance by marriage sooner rather than later, to safeguard the succession.

Merlin as the Once and Future King would be completely out of the question. There is no way that he would have been considered to have any claim to the throne so he could only make himself King by right of conquest. Even if he had the raw power to seize control, I can't see him forcing himself on the people of Camelot as their ruler.

One possibility is that Arthur was never an essential component, in the sense that Merlin could help any halfway intelligent and decent prince (or princess) become the Once and Future King (Queen). If he didn't cleave to Morgana, he might become a guide to her son or grandson, which would fit the legend of Merlin as an elderly wizard guiding the Once and Future King. Yes, Arthur is Uther's heir, not the other way round. I meant that Kilgharrah may not consider him Once and Future King. Morgana has a claim - she can win Camelot and will be legal then but if just made Uther's heir there is a strong chance of pretender(s). If I remember correctly in English history there was empress Matilda - just for exaple. And  Morgana could lack a power to deal with it.

Merlin as Once and Future King is completely possible in this show. If Guinevere could be queen, then Merlin being dragonlord had much bigger chances. After all, maid is one thing and a person with his own dragon is completely another. Many people would be intrested(or just desperate).

Well, in this series Arthur could be easily replaced, quite possibly by someone other than Pendragons.