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#arthur pendragon – @redshoesnblueskies on Tumblr
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Every Woman Needs a Pair of Red Shoes...

@redshoesnblueskies / redshoesnblueskies.tumblr.com

"Fandom is the great leveler of capitalism: whatever your product, whatever your narrative, whatever price you’re charging, we will find a way to surround it with vast, enticing fields of free content. (And porn.)"  -copperbadge
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softiemrys

so it’s a well known bit of trivia that arthur’s ring belonged to his mother, igraine, and yes that absolutely kills me. it’s also been pointed out that arthur fiddles with his ring whenever he’s stressed or worried, but what sort of really kills me is the fact that the ring is actually a spinning ring. you can see the spinning bands move in this gif: 

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spinning rings were originally designed for meditation, but they’re regularly worn today to relieve anxiety. and like. the fact that anxiety relief is literally built into the ring’s design and purpose. the fact that igraine is taking care of arthur and his emotional wellbeing from beyond the grave, especially after he’s been raised by uther to basically suppress and ignore his emotions. the fact that when arthur fiddles with the ring it’s not just because he’s thinking about his mother, he’s actually self soothing - probably something he’s always had to do to some extent because she wasn’t there to do it for him. the fact that this is one of the only possessions arthur has that belonged to his mother, at least while he’s a prince, and it’s entire purpose is to make him feel better.

it’s just amazing how that tiny detail makes the ring’s symbolism that much more special and important. 

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emrys-merlin
Merlin | 5x13

This scene made me tremble a bit. This is when Arthur realizes how bloody powerful Merlin is, though he looks nothing like it. Colin’s acting along with the music makes this scene somewhat terrifying. it’s just as though he suddenly realises that this man he’s called a moron over the years could easily bring down his home. I know Arthur says he thinks Merlin is the bravest man he ever knew, but this is one of those things that proves it.

I also love this scene for how Arthur witness Merlin playing the helpless persona and doing it well. I wonder if arthur questions his own perception of this foolish merlin which is now seen to be a well forged lie.

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

“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

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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*

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*uther emerges from the veil*

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

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

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“Okay that was pretty gay.”

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

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

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“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)

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

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

(same)

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Arthur: “Just… hold me.”

Dad: *just nods his head*

(I think he was simply acknowledging the queerness)

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

Dad: Ohh boy. 

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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

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PT 2: I convinced my dad to watch merlin with me and here’s what he has to say

Thanks for all the nice comments on part 1. I’ve created a monster, my dad keeps referring to “his fandom.” 

About Morgana and Morgause:

Dad: Are they gonna 69 or something and get it over with?

Me: …they’re sisters???

Dad: …No, it’s metaphorical when they call each other “sister.” 

Me: NO, they’re actually half sisters. I’m not shitting you. 

Dad: …pause it right now. 

(We’re not sure how he lost the plot there, but to be fair they do have a lot of homoerotic tension)

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Later in the same episode:

Dad: This show is so predictable. 

Me: They literally TOLD you that Morgana and Morgause are sisters over a season ago and you somehow missed it!!! 

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Arthur, to Gwen: Do you remember the first time I kissed you?

Dad: When they became beards. 

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“Gwaine is, like, the Jughead of the group, if this were the Archie comics.”

(I mean, okay, sure)

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“Maybe Arthur was the first pan.”

(I screeched when he said this)

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*arthur slings merlin over his shoulder*

“Haha, it’s Merlin’s butt.”

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“It’s so clear that every bit of adoration that Arthur feels for Gwen, he feels for Merlin, too.” 

(I included this one just because he’s SO right and I love that he sees it too, esp as a straight guy) (yes, my dad is miraculously straight… he’s raised three queer children so he’s just an Advanced Ally)

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