Board Thread:Rewatching "Merlin" - Season One/@comment-5102537-20130214143847/@comment-7095000-20130311052653

Hi I am new to the forum! I know I am a few days behind on the rewatch but I would like to chime in nonetheless because this was an awesome discussion.


 * My post will contain major SPOILERS well beyond this episode***

I just finished Series 5 tonight. Coincidentally, I thought I wasn't able to get the last 3 episodes of Series 5 so I went back and watched The Dragon's Call again. I finally got the episodes links where I learned Arthur's fate. I am so glad I went back to see that season 1 was setting up for this all along before watching the finale. Or else I would have been bitter not wanting to watch the entire series a second time around due to the pain of losing a beloved character.

Anyhow, this was an excellent Pilot. The themes/ journey are very delicately but effectively set in motion in this first episode. However, going back it does feel a little disjointed like most pilots, because there are some set ups that were left by the wayside as the series progressed.

I do not support Merlin and Gwen as a romance despite the Pilot/first few episodes leanings. I think the writers were going that way(or trying to divert us), but changed their minds about the direction of the show. As you see they initially alluded to Arthur and Morgana coupled. In this ep. Gwen mentions Morgana was to eventually marry Arthur (we know this couldn't have been true as Uther was well aware that Morgana was his daughter) but nothing came of that either.

I also want to quickly add that I believe Series 5 was the best place to end the series. Arthur's relationship with Merlin would have changed with knowledge of Merlin's magic. That's why his trying to keep  it hidden was such a tension builder for the entire run of the show just about. It was important that Arthur saw Merlin as subservient it was the only way Merlin could help. Considering Arthur's personality and convictions had he found out about Merlin's magic (even if Arthur kept the reveal a secret) he would not have allowed Merlin to stay servant because at the core he felt the battle for Camelot was his duty primarily. He would not have wanted to involve Merlin full time especially since he was not fond of magic.

Also, I disagree that Merlin wanted to be Arthur's servant. He did it out of duty. Had he asked for a higher position he would not have had close access to Arthur to  assist/influence him like he did as his servant.As you see in this Pilot Merlin tells Gwen "he's in disguise". It would be his fate the entire series. Once he revealed the show would no longer have the same premise. We would have ended up hating it if you ask me. Remember Merlin is the hero not Arthur. If Arthur would have known and embraced  the help of the magic the focus would turn to him  and Merlin would be the side kick.

I will say to understand the love that Arthur and Merlin had does not necessarily take a certain age (in my opinion) but it does take maturity and/or experience. With much love, loss, growth, healing and movement you learn love is not confined in little boxes of time. Friendship doesn't always follow a linear format. I do believe Arthur and Merlin were friends despite being of different classes. Yes Arthur was "above"/dominated Merlin because he was prince then king. Back then that was the way of the land. We can't say because of that they weren't truly friends nor can we say that they weren't friends because Merlin did not reveal his total identity. Merlin did not lie. He simply went through hell to conceal it. I know it is not idealistic but it is realistic. We survive before we do anything else. This is one of the many  symbolic themes of Merlin making the show complex and unique within the genre in my opinion. In the end Arthur realized that Merlin was the guy he always knew. He realized magic did not change that. Merlin would always be (in memory) his servant but in the larger scheme of things he was also the greatest wizard ever.

It is very deep. That is why we love it. The themes in this TV series are phenomenal.

Loved this episode!

Lastly, I've said enough hahah, going back to love. I believe we try to capsule love with terms like platonic, romantic etc. Truth is love at is core is eternal and infinite. Merlin and Arthur came to love each other unconditionally. They were twin spirits whose destinies were intrinsically linked. Their love was cosmic. Has nothing to do with sexual preference because as we''ve seen Arthur and Gwen were soul mates and lovers. However, their love was different from his relationship with Merlin.