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Merlin 1x09 Excalibur

They were insane for this.

Uther: in a world where I'm not there, I don't just want my son to be save and alive, I want him to be happy too. I can see that he needs you. I'm glad he won't be alone.

Merlin: ...

Merlin: lmao, you'll allow gay marriage or what?!?!

I still have to cackle at this scene.

Look at Uther, the magic ghost who's throwing around benches with his thoughts alone, turning invisible and walking through walls.

"You have magic?"

Zero self awareness. Peak Uther Pendragon.

Bbc merlin is such a comedy. Arthur keeps telling Merlin they can’t be friends because they are prince and servant, while Merlin straight up tells Uther they have a special bond and Uther is glad

Uther was like:

Here is the Future court physician of Camelot. The one who will treat my son when he's ill, make his prostate exam, make sure he's able to fight and in good health.

I make this guy my son's boyfriend manservant.

They have a special bond? I sure hope they do. I can't have my son have illegitimate heirs an untrustworthy manservant who may end up poisoning him.

I rather have the one my son goes out to find flowers an Antidote for against my will.

I do love appreciate my son in law son's future husband manservant.

I don’t think that we, as a society, talk enough about Uther cc’ing someone on the email

Always reblogging Uther answering a phone. We need more of this nonsense.

morning doodles✌️

Unpopular opinion but it always has and always will bother me that Arthur laughs at this. (Not that I blame him.)

Ok, to be fair, I'm differentiating canon, which is hilarious considering this is Uther and Catrina was a troll who was absolutely not into this, from the same thing applied to real life. And the latter would be more than fucked up.

Uther was mind controlled and therefore sort of r**ed in this episode. Sure, he initiated the intimacy, but the traumatic backlash is likely the same. I can imagine the shame he must be feeling, especially because he was the one who initiated it. You can even see it in his face how he's fighting with the experience. (Or maybe that's just Anthony Head doing a fantastic job.)

As much as I hate Uther, it does bother me a bit that they make light of this moment. This may be one of his key experiences with magic that hardens his heart against it and I can't even blame him. Having your control taken away, being betrayed and on top of that, learning he permitted the exploitation of his entire kingdom and abandoning his son because of a spell, that must suck. Say about Uther what you want but he did care about the wellbeing of his people.

It's also Uther's own teachings backfiring at him. He was the one who taught Arthur not to marry for love, not to follow his heart but his mind. He is the kind of man who would headcanonly say that people should suck it up (although in different words) when smth like this happens to them. Yet, he's the one who fell for both.

I am torn between empathy and laughter. The experience of it must have been horrifiying. On the other hand - Uther created the environment around him that makes him untouchable and unavailable to receive emotional support. Even from Arthur, who laughs because all he sees is the punch to Uther's ego. Because Arthur has never learned to see his father as an emotional available person. Never learned that Uther has a heart that had already been shattered and was now stamped on.

I mean, that very episode, Arthur learns that Uther cares about him at all.

Arthur doesn't know how emotional his father truly is and this scene shows how strongly Uther swallows all his pain and shame.

I honestly believe that Uther simply assumed very early on that Arthur and Merlin were fucking, and would in fact have been shocked and appalled to learn that they weren't.

Like, wait, you're telling me my son takes that bizarre peasant boy around everywhere and lets him get away with whatever he wants and protects him against even me because he just... likes him that much? As a person?

Disgusting.

This implies that Uther thinks Merlin is attractive. Which is a normal thing to assume but a weird thought to have.

And maybe Uther is fine with it because to him servants aren't people

Leon is in fact still long suffering. He is eternally long suffering. He can’t escape their shenanigans no matter the universe

2/?

(prev)

I love me a good avatar Crossover. Personally I would have said that the pendragons are nonbenders who keep fighting benders and don't know they are haboring the avatar but this is really cool too.

Why are they keeping the dragon in the Dungeon btw? And does that mean Morgana is like accidentally a water bender? Omg yes, bloodbender Morgana would be so cool. (In canon she's more related to fire, so I do wonder if she's like Azula or Well... Bending something other than fire.)

Do you think Gaius is an air bender? Somehow I feel like he's an air bender in this.

Which part of the Avatar circle was Merlin born in? I want to say air or water because of Ealdor but Balinor suggests fire. Which would be good for the disguise.

Are you going merlin characters in Avatar universe, following the Avatar plotline or are we staying in Camelot and Arthur keeps searching for the avatar, not knowing he's his servant?

Op, I am itching with thoughts.

Dear lord. You have put significantly more thought into this than I have (respect my dude)

1.04 ⋄ The Poisoned Chalice

I kinda wanna add, just for fun, on

Uther/Merlin

In the context of "the druid of camelot", I'd find that horrifyingly funny. I only listened to a part of the audio book, but the fact that 11y/o Merlin is so focused on 16y/o Uther's genitals and sex life is so disturbingly hilarious, I nearly drove into the next river while listening to it.

I'm sorry that I put this here, but that ship triggers those memories like a kick to my face. And if I have to deal with that, I'll let you laugh at it too.

I'm sorry but it will never stop being funny to me how astounded Uther is every time somebody tells him that some bad thing that has happened in Camelot is the result of magic. He looks so fuckin poleaxed every time. You think he'd learn at some point.

reblog to add a surprised Uther Pendragon

Magic? In MY kingdom? It's more likely than you think.

this will be controversial, free to disagree: I don’t think 5x03 the death song of uther’s pendragon is a good conclusion to uther’s arc, i know he’s a d*** but i find that this ep undo uther’s development(?) that we see in the wicked day 4x03 it’s like he reverted before morgana, he’s not a good character but he really loves arthur and morgana

I actually have a theorie for this.

Death, in BBC Merlin, isn't heaven and hell. It's Avalon and the veil. Avalon may be some sort of reprieve but rarely anyone gets there.

There are many souls we see come back from the dead, and those we do... Oh boy.

My theory is that death in BBC Merlin corrupts the mind. The realm of death exaggerates your emotions and empowers them, while also instilling a craving for life.

The reason why Uther is like this in the episode, is because he was also befallen by that corruption of death. He becomes the worst parts of himself because he didn't redeem himself enough to be accepted to Avalon. Or maybe he's a condensed version of everything he ever was in his life.

As such, I think the episode is a good conclusion, not to Uther's arc (which ended with his death), but the arc of Arthur's relationship with Uther's expectations. Because Arthur is now not up against his father, but the worst version of the king Uther Pendragon. It's the man he never really saw. Maybe it's the afterimage, the abstract version of the king he was in the eyes of the people. The hypocrite who uses magic to do whatever he wants and exterminates anyone he doesn't see fit to stand by his side.

It is crucial, I think, to mention that even this worst version of Uther never attacks Arthur directly. Just everything and everyone he loves. And that's what Arthur outgrows in that episode.

There are plenty of questionable moments throughout Merlin but one thing they did super well is Arthur and Uther's relationship. Uther's an abusive father, but Arthur loves him, and we see Uther's delicate side often enough to understand why.

A moment that really hits hard is in season 3, after Uther discovers Arthur and Gwen together, is when Arthur pleads his case. He scrambles between three different tactics, first sincerity, followed by more princely authoritative force, and then begging and apologizing.

Uther is unpredictable, a trait that makes him so awful as a father. So watching Arthur, who knows him better than anyone, swing wide so fast, within a single conversation, trying to find the right card to play in his father's game, is really heart-wrenching.

It shows a very special emotional intelligence in Arthur, albeit a devastating one.

This is why I can relate to Arthur so much! Because Uther's abuse isn't physical. He's not hitting his son, he's not shouting at him. And he does love his son.

But, there is this constant threat of failure hanging over Arthur's head.

He's constanly threatened to lose his position as crown prince, as Uther's SON due to Uther's mood swings.

Arthur's actions and morals are born from Uther's teachings, yet him following through with those actions disappoint his father and humiliate Arthur in front of him.

There is one scene that really hit me hard.

Arthur: "I always thought I was a huge disappointment to you!"

Uther: "That is my fault and not yours."

I love this scene because Uther acknowledges the fact that he's failing his son, but he never changes his behavior. Arthur, up to this point, has accepted the fact that he'll never be good enough. So, to hear that must have been such a fucked up feeling. Because it ties Arthur's hopes back to Uther and make him believe that it will change, that his father will accept him after all.

It's even worse because Uther is genuine in this scene. He doesn't realize how manipulative this is. I love this scene because it BREAKS me.

Arthur is EVERYTHING his father wanted him to be. He's basically the embodiement of Uther's dreams. The best fighter among the knights. He's noble, he's kind, he genuinely cares about Camelot, he even has his own mind, as Uther encourages him to have. He encourages and inspires the people, he speaks up at Injustice and works hard to bring Peace to Camelot. Arthur outgrows his own arrogance and becomes the ideal prince.

And yet... It's not enough. Because it's NEVER enough. Because Uther only has power over his son when Arthur makes mistakes, when he has to guide him. Arthur is the disappointment because Uther needs him to be that too.

And it shows a subconscious guilt on Uther's part. Because he knows why Arthur exists. Arthur is, in his war, the catalyst, as Uther's favorite mistake. I'm sure Uther loves Arthur, but he's also wary of him, fears him in a way. If Uther shows Arthur love, then I think, Uther would feel like he doesn't acknowledge his mistake. It's Uther's way of punishing himself.

I don't know if this is connected, but the harder Uther rages against magic, the colder he is towards his son.

And Arthur has to bear the brunt of it. To be everything he's meant to be. Including Uther's worst mistake.

I want Uther to be the kinda guy who isn't actually homophobic, but his anti-magic laws made it so impossible to change any law that he ends up having to act like he is. (He'd lose his credibility otherwise that the magic laws cannot be changed, cause duh, they are law, lol.)

This results in him having to manage his bi-sons behavior by pulling him aside every time he says something outrageously gay.

The thing is, Arthur is oblivious to the whole thing.

Arthur: Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?

*imagine Uther grabbing Arthur by the collar like a cat and facing him*

Uther: son, no.

Arthur: but-

Uther: we talked about this. No flirting with boys.

Arthur: i'm not flirting with him, i'm threatening him. Here, see? "Merlin, i could take you apart with one blow!"

Uther: *facepalms*, oh my god.

Arthur: 💋🌈🤺⚔🌸✨🩸⛓ This is how you insult someone right? :) 💋🌈🤺⚔🌸✨🩸⛓

Uther who is This Close to losing his Mind because his son has the social skills and innuendo perception of a Rock (which is Uther's fault, but he digresses):

Uther randomly passing by Arthur's chambers and he hears "I'll have YOU for BrEaKfAsT !!!"

Uther's mind: alright, this can only get worse. I'll make Merlin my son's manservant, then at least they can leave things in private.

Arthur: *morteus flower incident*

Uther: ....