theo

Merlin's "I am not a fool" practically begging Arthur not to make him do this. Then Arthur's response of "that's debatable" would work if it was in the privacy of his own chambers or even just around the knights and Gwen since then Merlin would actually be able to fight back. But in a foreign kingdom, where speaking out isn't permitted, absolutely not. He even looks to both Leon and Elyan for help and is granted none. The look they share is not one of annoyed fondness it is Arthur using his power over Merlin in that moment and liking the way Merlin is upset by it.

Merlin is, to Arthur's knowledge, just a servant. Sure, we as an audience know that Merlin is powerful but in this moment, he holds no control. This is shit that belongs before the character growth we were supposed to see and not at the tail end of a series.

The worst part is by far when Merlin rises to the occasion cause we legit see Arthur's face drop. He wanted Merlin to humiliate himself so he could laugh at him. That is bully behavior. Something we are told time and time again that Arthur has moved past, yet his actions speak to the fact that he still treats servants like pawns for his own amusement. Given that at this point in the series, Merlin is the only peasant left in their group of friends and he is constantly belittled for it.

Don't even get me started on the knights.

Anyways this scene came up on my tik tok and now I'm all heated because that shit should have been left in season 1, maybe season 2. And like it's indicative for a much bigger problem in the show, that the writer's think Arthur can do no wrong even when he's being an objectively bad person.

tete...♡ | tiny tan (2/7) dedicated to @heybaetae ♡