#merlin commentary

[sorceress-queen]

😂 It is giving that;

Just remembered how in the BBC Merlin 1x02 commentary Angel talks about how Merlin had a crush on Morgana at one point and Bradley cuts in like I think at one point EVERYONE had a crush on Morgana

It’s kinda giving

I think we ALL sing

[gldnstrngs]

this has no business being as funny as it is

[merlin-gifs]

Bradley: There you are. Katie: I know, I look a bit rough. Bradley: I prefer you like that. Katie: Do you know how many people said that? Bradley: I do. I do. Katie: Distressingly so. Everyone came up to me like, "God, Katie. God, you look great like that." I'm like, you're all freaks. Bradley: Well, you just look more natural. Katie: Natural? Girls Naturally look like they've been dragged through a bush backwards? Bradley: That's hot. Katie: [laughs] Apparently, everyone in Merlin thinks so. Bradley: You pull it off. Not everyone can pull it off. Katie: You, you are a charming, charming man.

MERLIN | 3x01 "The Tears of Uther Pendragon – Part 1"

[pyjamacryptid]

And so the Jesus of Magic rose the very next day because there's a war on and he doesn't have time for this shit. Finally!! We're finally at Diamond of the Day Part I!! We actually finished watching the series months ago, so it's been really fun going back, rereading our commentary and putting these together.

BBC Merlin + live commentary by @macaritaville @1kitwonder and I from our Merlin watch party

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[lucyllawless]

-Julian: “Oh, Katie, you tied up the man again.”

Katie: “I know. I just like them where I want them. I don’t want them to go far. I don’t want them to run away when I want them.” MA’AM PLEASE

KATIE NEVER BEATING ✨THOSE✨ALLEGATIONS

*sweats when thinking about that video where she would kill Morgana bc she was too dominant* 🥵

Ok starting a new Merlin commentary post since the other one was getting too long. I am having way too much fun rn

-Julian: *talking more about the homoerotic undertones and metaphors in different scenes*

Katie: “God, I wish I had known that when I was doing all these other…y’know-“

Julian: “I still claim that was you and Emilia Fox.” (Referring to perceived sexual tension)

Katie: “She’s a very attractive woman. What can I say?”

[godmerlin]

I'm just going down memory hill with looking at old photoshoots and this is the cutest one I think they ever did! Look at angel! She's stunning and sooo adorable smiling like that! Also her hair in this photoshoot just aces. Colin looking cute as always. Katie is gorg ans so smiley. Loooook at Bradley! I Just....ugh. it's so good. Chefs kisses all around. I love the whole photoshoot and should just go and post all the pics I have from it without the weird commentary. Hahaha perhaps another time. What a great cast truly award winning. I love them all so much. I already knew I was bisexual when the first episode aired but let me tell you, solidified it for me. 🤣

[sprintingficcommentator]

With these kind of friends who needs enemies 😂😂😂

[kateis-cakeis]

I think what really gets to me with the finale is that Merlin was so close to getting Arthur to the lake. Yet, there was no plan beyond that. It's like even if they did get there, who knows if anything would have happened.

The idea that there was still more tragedy awaiting even if they made it, that yeah despite all of Merlin’s magic, he couldn't save Arthur's life.

It was always the possibility of the Sidhe, but there was no guarantee. It was all hope from the start, endless hope that failed them in the end.

Because well, it was always supposed to happen like this anyway... Arthur was meant to die so he could rise again, there was no alternative

[rosaharazu]

Merlin Mysteries

This is the most genius title, I swear you guys, Im so proud of it.

Anyways....Magister Merlin.

First off, let's just appreciate the premise given to them.

A powerful, well-respected, legendary mage for as long as history can remember. But the twist is...they're amnesic. I think it's such a high stepping stone in making AFK Journey's MC a standout to other MC's of games alike.

Thanks to that, we aren't even Merlin's actual form, hence being able to customize our character to our liking as Merlin is using disguising spells.

But let's see their past shall we. Second:

So like, have you ever looked at the very tiny text at the bottom whenever you load into the game? There are like, two things about Merlin. I'm sure someone else has pointed these out, but I'll list it anyways. (i think there's three, but I've seen to have forgotten the third one and I ain't checking it out)

Merlin harnessed the leftovers of powers from the War and named it 'magic'.

Merlin was a part of the council in discussing terms of after the Immortal War.

So from this....Merlin may or may not be immortal themselves. Or, if we take a look at the opening sequence of the game, someone pointed out that Merlin may be reincarnated throughout time over and over again. Someone on youtube even thought Merlin could be a hypogean.

If that's the case...it's really tragic.

Merlin is a...wait, lemme check from AFK Arena. WAIT-DIMENSIONALS WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!

There's also a huge plot in Arena's Merlin, but none of this makes sense to me. Let's ignore that~ O-O

Furthermore, whatever they are...they must be immortal or something like that. And that's harsh.

You know that one storyteller in Holistone? He describes Merlin as, some feared them, some respected, but their journey is a lonely one. That's just...implies that Merlin's missing something.

I'd like it if Merlin's quote is, "I feel like I'm missing something."

I'm in Remnant Peaks, and like, I have two more areas to go. It may or may not have something to do with Merlin, so as of I'm writing this, I have no idea.

Third. Now, what I would like to write is....Merlin's relationships.

I mean, yeah, you can ship them with Valen, Mirael, and so on. But...considering Merlin's possibility of being immortal, it would be sad really.

I feel like Merlin won't engage in romantic relationships because they know so well that her partner won't be able to stay as long as they do. Maybe that's why she has Chippy and Hammie by her side, which I searched up, that familiars live as long as their masters live.

I'd like to think that Merlin chose familiars to love, and while it's only platonically, I think that love is the most special thing to have for Merlin. Because at the very least, Merlin won't have to wake up one day and find that their familiars are gone.

Maybe she's lost a loved one before, and over and over again, and they're traumatized by it. You know, at this point you can just assume I'm talking about my version of Merlin.

Even if Merlin were to engage romantically, they would probably sought for immortals like them, hence Celestials or...Hypogeans, maybe. (for me at least)

(I mean, Wilders and Maulers also probably live for hundreds of years, but they still die- WHY IS THE LIFESPAN AND TIMELINE SO CONFUSING?!)

The idea of Merlin not wanting to lose their partner is kinda engraved in my mind and you can't stop me.

What I'm saying is, Merlin has done so many things over the years. Being recognized as Esperia's greatest mage. One of the professors at Casseedee's Academy. Their stories go all over the lands....

and in return....

Merlin lost something more valuable. Possibly their mortality and memories. I dead set that Merlin may have traded those in order to become the most powerful, and before they know it....they've lost quite a lot.

And as of present day, Merlin forgets again and again, and deep inside them, an immense sense of regret, longing, lost and hopelessness. So they try to focus on the present, and the people around them.

You know, it would be nice if Merlin's amnestic side is shown sometimes, but I guess that's too much work. Oh well. Would be a little interesting, though. Like, maybe more of Chippy and Hammie comforting us. Yes, please. I'd like that.

Man...the game started a few months ago, so Merlin's lore isn't exactly much...why did I even do this...?

Thanks for your time! Have a lovely day!

[adhd-merlin]

reading what julian jones said in an audio commentary about that merlin and gwaine scene in ep 4x07 I'm screaming

[Gwaine is waiting for Merlin in Gaius’s chambers.] Merlin: I’m busy. Gwaine: Doing what? Merlin: What do you think? RW: So Gwaine wasn’t in this, uh, initially? Not in this scene? JJ:     Well, there was a scene that was in, um, the armoury, from what I remember. RW: Yeah. JJ:     And, um…Merlin got quite angry that Arthur wasn’t doing anything and was uncharacteristically rude, in fact, and was quite bolshie. And I think that is what motivates, uh, Gwaine to come and offer to help out. RW: Yeah. JJ:     And so that wasn’t there for Gwaine. And in the end, the scene really wasn’t…wasn’t necessary. It didn’t take us anywhere. This scene’s a lovely scene because it’s a relationship. We know that they have a close relationship. RW: That they’re close, yeah. [Agravaine watches Gwaine and Merlin ride off together.] JJ:     Yeah, and you instinctively understand why Gwaine has gone there to help out his friend and, um, Merlin, feeling the whole world’s against him…rejects this. Um, but then, slowly, they form a partnership and um…which is, uh, going to drive us towards, uh, rescuing [Gaius].

— transcript by @poetryincamelot

[thedragonlies]

Probably my favorite thing about Merlin is that he’s a fast learner and a hard worker, and he doesn’t give up on something just because he fails the first several times. It’s really inspiring! Especially as a recovering perfectionist slowly learning to give myself permission to be bad at things the first time—and keep going anyway so I can get better.

[nightimecoyote]

As an adult now, I'm rewatching merlin and realizing I'm actually completely on Morganas side??? Like the writers tried to make us hate her so much but like what is her crime, being angry and maybe a bit too violent? She had a legitimate claim to the throne an wanted to free the people Uther literally had a GENOCIDE against??? Like he murdered thousands of her people and I'm supposed to feel bad for him? Like I can understand Arthur being brainwashed to believe his father was right but like Leon, Merlin, everyone fucking else? Ya'll wtf. They should have been on her side if they were truly her friend or believed magic users deserved to be free.

It's really hard to ignore the fact that the "villain" Morgana is a woman, implied queer, Irish, and a magic user. Like it kinda feels like cishet British patriarchal propaganda sometimes with Uther, like why are the writers trying to make me care about him? He's literally the worst.

Not to say this was intentional, the writers probably didn't realize this and considering how bad the writing becomes in the later seasons, I think they just lost touch with the original message, but yeah it's...uegh looking back.

Still love the show, just not that part. Anyway I will be a Morgana apologist till the day I die I love her so much.

[merlin-gifs]

Colin: Did you actually fall asleep on that log? Bradley: I might have done. It wouldn’t surprise me. (laughs) Bradley: I was trying to create the image that basically you’ve got this dashing knight called Lancelot, and then you’ve got (laughs) an oaf in the background just … who is asleep, snoring, mouth wide open, just looking incredibly unappealing. Bradley: ‘Cause I think essentially, y’know, Lancelot is the better choice for Guinevere.

MERLIN | 2x04 "Lancelot and Guinevere"

[pyjamacryptid]

DoTD II Interlude: Homoeroticism

BBC Merlin + live commentary by @macaritaville @1kitwonder and I from our Merlin watch party

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[sword-wielding-sapphic]

1: Magic is a Metaphor > 2: Morgana is a Lesbian > 3: Merlin is Gay > 4: Arthur is Bi

Obviously, magic is a metaphor for being gay. It is something that you're born with, that you can't change, but that you have to hide because the society around you won't accept you. Both Merlin and Morgana are always saying that they've been made to feel like a monster, an outsider, and they just want to be accepted for who they really are. And it's no coincidence that they are the most queer coded characters in the whole show.

But building off of that subtext, I think that you can read the different way that Merlin and Morgana go about trying to achieve equal rights as being an allegory for queer identity politics, where Merlin embodies this homonationalist assimilation strategy. He believes that if he stays closeted and conforms to the status quo, then eventually he will prove that sorcerers are good, moral, normal people and therefore worthy of rights. But over time, he internalises all of this shame and self-hatred and becomes increasingly obsessed with Arthur and dependent on his validation until he becomes complicit in his own oppression.

Meanwhile, Morgana represents a radical rebellion ideology. Even though she comes from a place of privilege, she quickly realises that she can't achieve meaningful change through constitutional methods and therefore resorts to violent protest. But her downfall is that she's more motivated by personal vengeance than a genuine desire for equality. So she creates a lot of infighting within the community by shunning anyone whose ideas aren't as extreme as her own, and she inadvertently confirms all of the negative stereotypes about 'angry witches' that she has been trying to fight against.

Obviously I don't think that all of this political commentary is intentional, but the basic idea of magic being gay is definitely intentional. As evidenced by this quote from the executive producer of the show, where he says very sarcastically, "some people say that (magic) is a metaphor for his sexuality, but that's just read in by them, isn't it? On no level is magic metaphorical in this show." And then Katie McGrath says, "it's funny because I don't actually think you're being sincere." And then she says directly to the audience, "Julian is lying right now."

[draculagerard]

"You don't even laugh at my jokes anymore. Seriously, I haven't seen you smile these past three days"