#uther is a dick

[merlincersei]

Merlin BBC UK TV Show - Opinion Piece Part 21 - Uther v/s Captain Ahab

As per my usual Christmas tradition, I need trauma to balance out the Christmas cheer so I subjected myself to watch the Merlin series all over again for the 11th year in a row!!!!!

Me before watching Merlin:

Me after watching Merlin:

While viewing the series this time around, Uther's character really stood out to me.

There is something about the way the writers choose to write Uther's character that made him come across as being more ""flawed" rather than the cold calculating antagonist that has been popularized by Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister in Game Of Thrones.

It is a real coincidence as Charles Dance himself appeared in the Merlin series as Aredian in the Witchfinder episode.

All credit must be given to Anthony Head, whose portrayal balances the multiple requirements the script demands with brilliance be it stoic, emotional and/or comedic elements.

But it was while watching the episode "The Tears of Uther Pendragon" that I could not help but find overlaps between Uther Pendragon ( 2008 Merlin BBC TV Series) and Captain Ahab (1851 Book Moby Dick)

So I felt that it could become a Tumblr post.

Here is my attempt to outline the similarities between our antagonists.

Leadership Qualities

Captain Ahab is the chief captain of the Pequod and leads a crew in various whaling expeditions.

Uther is the king of Camelot and rules the kingdom of Camelot.

Motivated By Revenge

Captain Ahab had become disabled when the white whale, Moby Dick had bitten off Ahab's leg during a whale hunting expedition. Over his long recovery, Ahab believes that Moby Dick acted with deliberate intelligence and commits himself to avenging his lost leg.

Uther had become a widower when his infertile wife who was impregnated through magic died at childbirth. Overcome by grief he believes magic to be evil and vows vengeance against everyone who uses magic.  

Accidental Death

Captain Ahab throws his harpoon and hits Moby Dick, but its line wraps around his neck and drags him off his boat when the whale dives, drowning him

Uther is accidentally killed by Merlin when a magical artifact reverses the healing spell into a killing spell.

#merthur #merlin bbc #merlincersei #lgbtqia shows #merlin meta #anthony head #moby dick #herman melville #captain ahab #uther pendragon #signal boost #bradley james #colin morgan #arthur pendragon

[justaz]

as much as i hate uther, i don’t believe him to be homophobic. him and gaius definitely experimented when they were younger. i think it much funnier that uther doesn’t care that merlin’s a boy. yeah sure he’s a little stuck on the class difference (why on earth would arthur go for a servant???). but the thing that really sets him off, has him spitting with rage, is the sorcerer part.

he doesn’t care that his sons gay, he can even excuse the class difference, but he draws the LINE at sorcery

#no homophobia in my camelot #in fact everyone is queer #bbc merlin #merlin emrys #uther pendragon #arthur pendragon #merthur #uther welcoming his son in law with the ghost of a smile bc uther is a Dick but he does vaguely care for his son and his happiness #then doing a complete 180 the second he sniffs out the magic like a bloodhound #just frothing at the mouth as merthur is sucking face and tangling tongues in the back of the room #passive aggressive meat cutting while staring daggers at merlin #tom and jerry ass antics #that’s what i wanna read #gimme crack fics #NEOWWWWW #uther poisoning merlin’s food so merlin fills others chambers with a bunch of goats that are shitting and pissing everywhere #while eating all the fabric in the room including his expensive imported silk sheets #no one knows how merlin managed to get all the goats up there without raising any alarms #uther pushes merlin down a flight of stairs and merlin lands like a family guy character at the bottom #merlin cursing uther for a day or two to only be able to sing instead of speak #uther sending assassins after merlin and merlin waiting until uther gives a big important speech in front of all of camelot to pants him #despite how hard uther pulls...his pants just wont come back up. he overcorrects and falls on his face #uther vs merlin rivalry ftw #i know of 'no. just...no' by theroundbartable but thats about it

[chronicowboy]

actually so unhinged of them to write the "then i believe you" line in episode two, like. they're still supposed to hate each other !! they've known each other three days !! merlin doesn't know how to do his armour !!! merlin is the most insolent, disrespectful person arthur's ever met !! and yet when merlin gives him his word, arthur believes him.

#sami rambles #and he believes him in a way he doesn't for the rest of the show #which yknow comes from this one time and uther being a DICK #but the fact that he just believes him just like that fuck!!!! #merthur #bbc merlin

[ofglories]

Here is a small happy Wart for everyone

#a visage of one’s self; images #twelve seals unleashed; arthur pendragon #yes he had long hair for most of his life until Uther was a dick as usual

[b0rtney]

I’m watching the black knight episode of Merlin can someone tell me when things get fun again :(

#so far Uther is a dick and Arthur is also kinda a dick and Merlin and Morgana and gwenivere are chasing their tails in circles.

[whataboutthreateninganass]

look i know Kilgharrah is the Great Dragon (voiced by John Hurt❤️). he is one of the very last of his kind. he's experienced unspeakable horrors and suffered terrible loss at the hand of a tyrant ruler who murdered and persecuted thousands of magical beings for a personal grudge. and after all that, he was chained under the kingdom of that tyrant ruler and forced to sit with his unbearable grief for 20 years, knowing the ruler was able to walk around unharmed and unburdened, as if he didn't make extinct an entire species because he couldn’t forgive himself for the death of his wife (fuck that guy).

i know these things, and genuinely, i feel for kilgharrah.

but broooo. dude is so fucking annoying, dear LORD.

where is he flying off to all the time? and mid-sentence too? like bro you don't have anywhere to be right now?!!! sorry to be blunt but you are literally trapped down here. and you flying away mid conversation makes us feel kinda unimportant to be honest, like this relationship is one-sided, and that hurts.

also can you just give us a straight answer every once in a while instead of your cryptic bullshit please and thankyou?

much love <3

#no but actually sorry about the genocide thing #that fucking sucks #uther is a proper dick for that #kilgharrah #the great dragon #merlin #bbc merlin #fuck uther #uther pendragon

[hyrules-sleepiest-knight]

Listen I’ve gotta put this out there, idk if it’s me projecting and frankly I don’t care

This song is soooo Arthur

Like it gives me his vibes, and there’s so many similarities to unpack here

First this is when Pippin becomes king (see where I’m going with this) after he kills his father bc his father is evil and unjust (sounding a little like someone we know!!) and he’s bringing change (like somebody’s supposed to bring magic back to the land)…

Tbh when I find time I’m gonna do a full on analysis between the two of them bc it’s uncanny. Like

Doomed by the narrative? ✅

Destiny?? Fate???✅

Bad dad?✅

Coronation?✅

Granted, Pippin doesn’t stay king, but this number on its own just reminds me of Arthur so much I had to say something and I needed to know if other people have also made this connection bc IM NOT CRAZY

#bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #pippin #pippin musical #pippin 2013 revival #musicals #charlemagne #uther pendragon #that dick #but I had to tag #cal’s thoughts tag #Spotify

[childofmagicmerlin]

Uther really doesn't care about anything else when he hears the word 'magic'. He killed Gwens father and everyone else who "helped" tauren even though they didn't know who Tauren was and that he was a sorcerer. How are villagers meant to know who is and isn't an enemy of the king and uses magic? They can't. Simple as. But Uther refuses to understand or even think critically about it

#bbc merlin #merlin #uther pendragon #arthur #hes a power hungry dick #who doesnt listen to reason once magic is involved

[brimstone-cowboy]

If merlin had joined forces with Morgana and bumped Uther off but made it look like natural causes so much bullshit just wouldn’t have happened.

#Uther was such a dick head repeatedly

[mossmx]

PS I KNOW I didn't make Gaius use lube in *the other* fic with Uther, BUT HE KNOWS AND I KNOW!!

I decided gaius has decided that is part of the punishment!!

No Uther you don't get comfort!! You need to be submissive and take it as we deal it >:)

#I don't enjoy punishing Uther bc I hate him!! #I enjoy punishing him because HE LOOKS LIKE A BIG MASOCHIST #I don't make the rules #you're a fave? You get mistreated XD #<3<3<3< #moss writes #moss text #I mean #he can go a couple days in the cock cage withouth lube or ontments #fuck him if he gets dry skin or a sore dick!!

[hopelessromantic5]

King Arthur happens to be traveling through Ealdor the exact day the citizens decide they’ve had enough of Merlin.

Labeling him too dangerous, they tied him up on the pyre in the center of town.

As long as Merlin had been alive, he’d never seen this pyre lit.

He would’ve just gotten himself out of this situation with his ‘gifts’ if it weren’t for his poor mother.

The villagers would never let her live in peace if he magically disappeared.

No, this was the only way she could go on living, even with a broken heart.

He didn’t fight. He didn’t really hear much of what they spit at him. But he could hear his mother wailing at him, to save himself, to do whatever he must do.

He’d resigned himself to an early death.

Tom, the town representative, started spewing some righteous words at him. New Religion words that didn’t quite make sense to him, but that’s to be expected. He is, himself, a creature of the old religion, if prophecy is to be trusted.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself, serpent?”

Merlin opened his mouth to tell his mother that he loved her, but he stopped short.

In the distance, he could hear a sound.

The beating of hooves on hard, cold dirt.

Visitors were approaching.

It must be fate, he thinks.

As the horses drew closer, the villagers slowly turned their attentions away from him.

Merlin simply hung his head, letting the Earth he loved so dearly decide which way his life would swing.

“What is the meaning of this?”

A calm, steady voice came from behind him. Deep and concerned. Merlin wished he could see the man.

“My lord,” Tom bowed, as well as he could, which was strange.

Upon realization, Merlin’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head, were these visitors noble? They never had nobility stay long enough to make comments on anything, only ever just passing through.

“I asked you a question.” The voice said again, with all the authority of someone who’s used to using it.

“This man is a sorcerer, sire. We were just-“

“What has he done?”

“Sire?”

“What has this man done to call for these extreme measures?” When no one answered him immediately, he rephrased.

“Surely there must’ve been a crime committed?” As if it’s a question.

Merlin’s mother pulled herself out of shock and brought herself forth.

“He did nothing, sire.” She spoke firm and unmoving. She must’ve seen hope in this man that Merlin had yet to lay eyes on. “He’s only ever used it for healing wounds and helping our gardens in the winter. Please have mercy on him, my lord. He is my only son.” Tears started falling as her voice broke. She finally met Merlin’s eyes again and he smiled at her, weakly.

“So this man-“

“Sorcerer.” Corrected Tom. What a dick.

“This man, did nothing but heal you and help you survive and this is how you repay him?”

Again no answer.

The man seemed to gesture at Tom, walking towards the town elder, and bringing him finally into Merlin’s line of sight.

The doomed boy nearly gasped.

Silver and red bled together in the sun, armor and finery melded like roses in white sand.

The man-the lord…the knight? He had golden blonde hair, that shone like it’s own light.

Blue eyes made even more obvious and striking surrounded by unblemished, sun-kissed skin.

“You seem to be leading the horde. Tell me why?” No, answer. “Cut him down.” A command. The stranger’s face was a hard, blank line.

Funny how, even then, he didn’t feel like a stranger. But Merlin was in no state to remember it.

“My lord, I do not think that would be wise. Your father was the one to wage war on magic-“

“I am not my father. Cut him down.”

Merlin swallowed. Uther Pendragon was the only person in his mind that waged the war on magic, that began the purge. Which means this man could only be his son, Prince Arthur.

What a prince he was.

Well, King, now.

No wonder every person in the vicinity practically dropped to their knees upon his arrival. They’d all heard stories of ‘The Just King’ that now reigned over Camelot. Giving whatever he could to his citizens that needed it most, never turning anyone away who seeks shelter. Merlin had heard the same as everyone else. Seeing the King in person now, he was in awe.

“I will not endanger the lives of all who live here.” Tom turns back to Merlin with the lit torch.

Merlin held his breath, but the second Tom turned away from him, the King pulled his sword. It made the loveliest sound as it left the sheath.

The sound of salvation.

Tom had the tip of a majestic blade directed right at his throat, as the King spoke again.

“I said, cut him down.”

The look on the King’s face was one that could kill.

Merlin wondered momentarily why he cared so much.

Finally someone from the crowd stepped forward with a knife and began to cut away Merlin’s ties.

Hunith leapt forward and engulfed her son in a hug, while also somewhat holding his body upright.

He did not want to let go, considering he thought he would never get to hug his mother again. But the entire village was watching them.

As was-

“What is your name?”

It was phrased as a question but spoken like a command. Merlin knew it was directed at him without opening his eyes.

He did, reluctantly, release his mother and turn to the golden King, facing deep blue eyes head on. Never cowering.

“Merlin.”

The King must’ve seen something in him. Something every other person was blind to or chose to ignore, simply because he was a peasant. He took a step closer and Merlin could hear the tiny tink of metal pieces on his shining armor, as he did so.

“Well, Merlin.” He said, as if trying it out for himself. “Seeing as I’ve just given you your life, I’d like to ask a favor.”

Merlin’s curiosity was peaked, to say the least. King’s didn’t ask favors, they took whatever they wanted.

King Arthur did not wait for a reply to continue.

“I’m in need of assistance. And I could use someone with a gift like yours, specifically.”

Merlin narrowed his eyes in minuscule doubt. Doubt of intentions, doubt of his safety.

The King somehow knowing his exact thoughts said

“Of course you would be permitted to come back when you are needed. And when I have accomplished my goal, if you wish, you can leave. I will not keep anyone against their will. I am simply offering.” A small smile played on his mouth. Flush pink lips. He also held up his hands as if to say ‘I will not harm you’.

Merlin’s gut told him to follow this man.

Terrifyingly, his intuition told him to follow this man, practically a stranger, anywhere. Everywhere.

Merlin felt a pull he’s never felt before. In the moment, he assumed it was immense gratitude for saving his life.

Merlin turned to meet his mothers eyes, he already knew what she was going to tell him.

“I think it will be good for you. To get out for a while.” She smiles softly.

“Will you be alright?” He whispered, glancing at the crowd still gathered around an unlit pyre.

“I’ll be fine.” She grabbed him in a bear hug, like she always did. “And if they boot me out, I’ll come find you.”

Merlin sighed into her shoulder.

“Alright.”

When Merlin turned back, the King had turned his eyes to the ground, giving mother and son a moment of privacy.

Merlin was starting to warm to him already.

“Can I pack first?”

King Arthur met his gaze then, doing that half smile thing, again.

“I suppose.” He nodded. “But don’t dawdle we need to move if we want to make it back before sundown.”

“Yes, sire.” The title which usually held reverence and respect, was laced with sarcasm. He didn’t seem to think twice, as he strode away towards their hut to gather his things.

If Merlin had looked back, he would’ve found a fully beaming King looking after him and about six knights with faces of complete shock.

And perhaps, one knowing mother.

#merthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur fic #merlin and arthur #hunith #king arthur #Ealdor #might continue #longer version will probably be on ao3

[icecreamkink]

arthur trying to get through to uther but it doesn't overpower the speall haha 💔

but also its funny that to arthur, Uther "has always taught him to be true to himself " given every other episode arthur needs to beat what he feels in his heart to do what uther askd of him, and this is the first time uther has a spell benefit of the doubt

#merlin blogging #its like sometimes uther is a really shitty king. others hes like.... reasonable with things that aren't magic #not compassionate like arthur but reasonable enough #but at others hes simply a dick - like the servants words dont matter issues or nah ur servant should did cuz u care too much #i ugh its hard to havd thoughts on merlin bc the writing is Consistently Inconsistent in every level

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Remember that one scene where Arthur is training with Merlin and Merlin is fighting for his life while Arthur repeatedly knocks him on his arse? I can’t remember what episode but it was early in season 1.

I like to imagine Merlin starts being sarcastic with every hit in hopes it’ll piss Arthur off enough to storm off and leave him alone. It backfires when Arthur starts replying and it turns into a venting session.

Like, Uther said some dumb shit about Arthur? Merlin starts a fight about it.

The knights can’t follow orders? Merlin is disobedient enough that Arthur starts yelling about how dangerous it is when his men don’t follow orders.

Arthur’s feeling bad about someone he couldn’t save? Merlin makes him see why he’s doing enough by arguing with him about it and reminding him that he’s only human.

And Arthur knows what he’s doing, he catches on eventually and will occasionally walk up to Merlin, push his shoulder only enough to be annoying until Merlin stops whatever he’s doing, then Arthur will just say “Fight me.” and Merlin will either say something he knows will get Arthur angry or he’ll throw a punch he knows Arthur will block and they’ll start sparring. (Merlin learns to fight eventually, neither of them realise it’s happening until he sucker punches a bandit and he’s out cold)

Anyway, it becomes something they do to help Arthur vent his frustrations.

The best part? It works.

So Arthur sees Merlin upset. It goes on for about a week when Arthur realises what’s going on. He sits down next to Merlin on the floor one night, nudges his shoulder like he would if he wanted to fight, and says, “why are you upset? It’s not like you’ve got anything to worry about.” In a purposefully taunting way.

Merlin scowls and keeps working, and Arthur tries again, “Really. All you do is follow orders. It’s not hard.”

And so Merlin looks up, clearly angry until he sees what Arthur is trying to do, so he puts down what he’s doing and starts fighting back, “no, just exhausting when those orders are given by a prat.” Or “Maybe if I had a day off once in a while.” I don’t know, I suck at dialogue.

It goes on for a while, until they get too close to the issue, Merlin snaps, tells Arthur he’s a dick and sobs, yelling about magic, and the great dragon being manipulative, loosing his father, loosing Freya, Gaius lying to him about his father and thinking Uther is a good king and a good man, and literally everything else that’s gone wrong.

Arthur pulls him in and hugs him, then tells Merlin they’re fighting together from here on out. It takes a while, but they work it out.

There’s plenty of “fights” about Arthur feeling betrayed by Merlin keeping secrets and Merlin being mad at his situation in Camelot and then being frustrated that he can’t get himself to feel angry at Arthur (I’ve got a half baked character analysis for Merlin and Arthur’s codependency somewhere in my drafts. I’ll come back to it eventually.) but they’re okay and they figure it out and end up stronger for it.

I’m holding back on sharing the major character death/dark!Arthur angsty alternate ending for this, but let me know if you want to see it :)

Edit: Part 2 - (the angsty alternate ending)

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur #merlin bbc #headcanon #fic ideas #merlin fanfic #merlin fic #i’m bad at tagging #i'm procrastinating #another idea for a rainy day #said while it’s raining like that’s a rare thing here #another fic idea for when I don’t have other wips to finish first #fic writer #merlin x arthur #merlin and arthur

[ofglories]

He's going to hurt someone.

He's an arrogant man but he isn't stupid. He keeps his threats vague and withholds names in her vicinity. But that scar on her forearm is a constant reminder of his cruelty. He doesn't need to be specific. He knows exactly which people he can get close enough to before he strikes.

The mere thought boils her blood. She knows she's being overprotective; they're all grown adults who can take care of their own problems. But she cares about them, damnit. She cares about them a lot. And the thought of this vile man hurting them makes her absolutely sick to her stomach. He needs to be stopped. Something has to be done before he hurts even more people.

(Upon recollection, she isn't sure why the following happens. Just that it does.)

Her body moves on its' own, inching closer and closer to Uther while he continues to speak. Golden eyes usually as soft as a sunset are now burning, almost inhuman with a raging wildfire. Her right hand curls into a tight and improper fist-

-And aims right for Uther's jaw. (for Uther, rip in rip)

It's a surprise.

Uther simply can't remember the last time someone outside of battle outright struck him. Ambrosius would hiss veiled threats at him when irritated enough, when pushed further would usually grab him in a hold that promised an arm broken in several places if Uther refused to fall silent. It was something he'd grown used to. Something he welcomed, in fact.

It was a reminder that the Ambrosius he had known before he'd grown soft was still in there.

That his brother's eyes could still sharpen into daggers of blue steel, sharp enough to cut down gods had he wished.

But outright getting punched?

Whenever it last happened had to have been when he was a soldier on the battlefield. Before he took his rightful place as king of Camelot. Naturally he would have expected at some point someone in Chaldea to try to strike him. For another Servant to finally show their true, pathetic nature and hit one of their betters.

That's what made this all the more surprising.

Uther stumbled slightly, hand raising to cup his jaw as grey eyes focused sharply on the perpetrator. The little Master, the cowardly girl that was so easy to cow that she couldn't even stand up truly against Ambrosius' pet mage. Slowly the corners of his mouth curled into a sneer, eyes narrowing sharply as the Tyrant of Camelot lowered his hand. It was so very tempting to grab her neck right now. To make her learn what a foolish mistake she had made.

But no.

"Well now. Did someone happen to grow a spine recently?" He cooed instead, mockery dripping from his tone as he stepped forward to tower over Cana. "What brought this on, hm? You, who always tries so hard to play at being a peacemaker? You're worse than that brat that's kin to Claudas. So? What could possibly have made you think to do something so foolish as that?"

#messages on birdwing; asks #grandordergirl #the sign of the red dragon; uther pendragon #i hate him i hate him i hate him #cana please either kick him right in the dick or run like hell

[absolutebuffoonery]

PT 3 (including finale): I convinced my dad to watch merlin with me and here’s what he has to say

pt 1

pt 2

---

“They’re loving that.”

“I don’t even wanna know what they’re doing in there.”

-When Merlin and Arthur get caught in the net booby trap

-

Arthur, to Merlin: You’re the only friend I’ve got and I couldn’t bear to lose you. 

Dad: *literally gasps and gapes at me in surprise*

Merlin: Really?

Arthur: Don’t be stupid. 

Dad: *laughs hysterically*

-

*uther emerges from the veil*

“Wow, of all the dead people, he got the right guy”

-

“Was that a reference to fisting?” -the horseplay scene when Arthur threatens Merlin with his fist 

-

“Okay that was pretty gay.”

(I don’t even remember what he was talking about here, but he was right)

-

“Arthur’s unconscious again, alert the media.”

-

“I really don’t know what to make of Mordred.” 

(whenever he said something like this I had to hold in an earth-shattering screech)

-

“Okay, this son of a bitch has to die” -About Mordred, s5e12

-

“I am OBSESSED with her.” -about Gwen after she runs someone through with a sword in s5e12

(same)

-

Arthur: “Just... hold me.”

Dad: *just nods his head*

(I think he was simply acknowledging the queerness)

-

Arthur, during That scene in s5e13: I want to say something that I’ve never said to you before.

Dad: Ohh boy. 

-

His thoughts after the finale (he wrote an Official Statement for his “tumblr fandom,” including the hashtags at the end):

Well, watching Merlin was a much more satisfying experience than when my kids made me watch Glee with them. Although it was difficult at first to accept the way they bent time to accommodate Merlin and Arthur being contemporaries, I got over it because they succeeded in creating a relationship between two boys-to-men who wouldn't normally exist in each other's worlds. In actual Arthur lore, Merlin is old and wizened long before Arthur is even born. In fact, you remember in an early episode when Gaius references magic being necessary for Uther and his queen to produce a son? Well, in Arthur lore, that magic was cast by Merlin, and Merlin was present during Arthur's childhood. But ok, let's give the BBC some breathing room because they did a good job showing the generational transition from the failings of toxic masculinity (Uther's reign) to the superhuman potential of unapologetic bromance (Arthur's reign). In fact, how many times did I furrow my brow when Uther did something stupid or said something weenie just because he thought he was being strong, but he was actually being...alone. When it was Arthur's turn to do something stupid or say something weenie, he had a posse of good bros by his side to prop him up.

Even in S5E3 when Arthur gets the opportunity to see the ghost of his father and be like, "Bruh, I miss you," Uther instead treats Arthur like shit and belittles him for not being a dick to his people. Respect through fear, I believe is what the ghost Uther was preaching. But that strategy was pretty much self-defeating, given that respect through fear got Uther prematurely dead. Luckily Arthur didn't give it too much thought and decided, "Yeah, nah, I'd rather hug my droogies and marry a servant woman and be respected for doing the right thing, so biyee douchebag." In fact I'm assuming the writers created this post-mortem meeting not as merely another display of magic, but as a tangible means of showing Arthur's wrestling match with his own conscience. Even the playful and boyish banter between Arthur and Merlin (and the way they gaze at each other adoringly) is an example of Arthur's determination to part with toxic masculinity, especially when he gives Merlin the opportunity to be right sometimes without getting his chainmail hoodie in a bunch.

  This could absolutely be a lesson to voters the world over, who have the power to put real leaders in office but choose crusty old assholes instead of fresh, young minds and hearts. All the Uthers in the world are giving AOC and Sanna Marin shit for dancing. Can you believe we actually live in an era when our leaders get chided for dancing? For fucking dancing! Meanwhile AOC and Sanna Marin are attracting loyal followers in New York and Denmark, who would follow them to the ends of Camelot, while the same old self-serving ancient curmudgeons who keep getting elected are busy pulling Agravaine after Agravaine out of their bungholes. Perhaps I digress.

  Their parting from lore that is a little less acceptable is what they chose to do with Lancelot. Love triangle with Gwen and Arthur, yes, but Lancelot's BBC fate was less than satisfying. There are many tellings of how Lancelot dies, both with and because of Gwen, but the BBC opted against putting Arthur's best knight at the roundtable through most of this series. How fascinating. And weird.

Anyway, the end: Avoiding spoilers, I'd say the series ended appropriately. My 20-year-old daughter is traumatized by the ending, but I know enough about Arthur lore to know that the end is appropriate and loyal to legend. Camelot enters a new era, Merlin finally gets the respect he deserves, and a strong woman rises to power (I hope she dances). Satisfying. My parting thought: Walking away from this series, I've discovered a new career aspiration. I don't need to be king of anything, but I really want a job that allows me to say, "Ready the men, we ride at first light" without getting bullied. I mean, that's just really damn cool.

Thanks for all of your comments and responses. It's been fun. 

#Merlin #ArthurAndMerlinOTP #ToxicMasculinityVsBromance #ArthurWasPan #TristanAndIsoldSpinoff

#merlin #bbc merlin #bbc #colin morgan #bradley james #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur #merlin x arthur #gwen pendragon #mordred

[blood-orange-juice]

I've been lurking on writing subreddits for a while and at some point I looked up how to write arrogant/overly confident characters. And, of course, the question most people ask is how to write likeable arrogant characters.

And advice looks a bit too much like a certain someone.

Make their arrogance earned. They should be good at what they do.

Make them funny or at least silly. Make them the butt of the joke.

Make them good with kids.

Make them quixotic or at least theatrical.

Make them lose often enough. Best if they lose because of underestimating others.

Make them kind or at least not mean.

Make them follow their own set of rules.

Make them acknowledge achievements of others. Yeah, they are full of themselves but can recognize anoher's greatness.

Make them generous.

Make them devoted to a cause or a person.

Make them shockingly vulnerable sometimes.

Throw love for their family into the mix.

I think I know how this guy was written.

Same for the Uther Doul reference. I doubt he was the main inspiration but I'm now almost sure Hoyo authors went through a list of all Moby Dick homages or all stories about hunting sea creatures in general (more likely) and there he was.

A warrior-poet with personality traits that shouldn't coexist in one person, in service of a ruler representing some twisted ideal of love. Proficient in all kinds of weapons, deeply involved with the lore that moves the story but not the one who started the story. Participating in some kind of parallel universe fuckery. Mostly there to chill.

(the one who was supposed to see the grand plan through and the one who eventually made sure it failed, if my memory serves me right)

I can see a person reading that and thinking "yeah, that fits our story".

(I bet that's also how Childe became a dude. almost convinced he was a gal in early stages of development. my headcanons are intricate and baroque)

Or maybe there's just a Mieville fan in the writing team.

#childe #tartaglia #all of the above #the power I represent cares not for new crobuzon #his character stories do focus on his ego #so I'm now assuming it was the centerpiece #everything else is there to balance it #childe's trauma whale #if you look at him through the lens of character crafting he makes a lot more sense than if you try to psychoanalyze him