#rc edward

(i did repeat some people from last year bc i wanted to do them again this year altho there's wayyy more guys this time around hehe) (slight NSFW and blood for some pics) again art credits below the cut!

Book : Shakespeare's Code

Pairing : Merlin x Edward Pembroke

TW : None

Rating : G

Tag List : @rc-catalog

Confession:

And WHAT was that first kiss we waited so long for him to kiss Ro for one line with no CG and then him say I never wanna see you again like GO DIVA GIVE US NOTHINGGGGGG

(Hints from The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, Hamlet & The Tempest)

(Warning: spoilers!!)

The Taming of the Shrew is the play that will be performed in town. Interesting choice. By today’s standards, The Taming of the Shrew would be considered misogynistic. The idea of a man taming a strong willed woman into obedience is kinda gross. Yet, it fits with the town’s strict, Puritanical ways.

I think it’s pretty clear the shrew is referring to Amabelle. She’s got a strong, assertive personality that doesn’t fit in with society’s standards of women. I’m pretty sure Dudley was taking a dig at her. 😆

Let’s break down some of the references that may help us figure out who these LIs are.

Edward

If Edward is the sorcerer, he’s made a secret deal with M and he is posing as a tutor. (Just like in The Taming of the Shrew 😱) He’s playing a game. Though Amabelle trusts no one, Edward is cunning. Her feelings for Edward are slowly creeping up on her despite her guardedness.

(He sorta reminds me of Adil. Cold, intelligent, mysterious. Perhaps there will be a reveal at the end of S1.😉😉)

It’s funny. I’ve seen several people say Edward is Amabelle’s Romeo. But maybe he’s more of a Petruchio. In terms of relationship and their personalities, I think Amabelle and Edward match that dynamic more than Romeo & Juliet. They aren’t all puppy dog eyes. They’re both proud people flirtatiously butting heads. If this is what’s being foreshadowed, then Amabelle will fall for Edward and yield to him first. (Hopefully, not in a misogynistic way.)

Another thing I’ve been thinking about is the famous line from Hamlet. “To be or not to be.” Edward’s been saying this to himself.

In Hamlet, Hamlet didn’t want to avenge his murdered father. Instead, he thought about dying in order to escape the shit show that was his life. If Edward is the cursed sorcerer, this means he doesn’t want to go through with his mission. (Obviously, he knows Ralph is a good person.) He might be thinking that death is the best answer. It’d release him from the torment and guilt that living as the phantom has caused him. It’d also prevent him from having to kill Ralph.

Ralph

Earlier, I guessed that Ralph is Amabelle’s Romeo. If there are any puppy dog eyes, it’s between these two, staring at each other in the rain… I still think he’s Romeo. No romance could be more forbidden than one between a witch and a priest!

Edmund

If you unlock Edmund’s sin, he will be tied to the Othello subplot… Othello chooses Edmund to guard Desdemona instead of Iago. His boisterous, charming personality will ignite Iago’s envy, setting the tragedy in motion. Iago will claim Edmund and Desdemona are having an affair. More jealousy and lies and finally death!

There is another character in The Tempest called Sea Devil. Caliban is the monstrous looking son of an evil sea witch. He is enslaved by a magician who uses “good magic”, while Caliban uses bad magic/witchcraft. So, if Edmund is based on Caliban, he might be a sorcerer enslaved by another sorcerer, but one who is considered good.

In the first episode, Edmund says he served under Sir Francis Drake, who Amabelle says is rumored to be a sorcerer. Interestingly, Sir Drake was a known privateer, which was legal and served the Queen. Edmund is a pirate, which is illegal.

My theory is Sir Drake overtook Edmund’s pirating ship and placed Edmund under his servitude. Sir Drake is connected to the Queen and John Dee, which is how Dudley was able to rope Edmund into his scheme. Now, Edmund’s task is to uncover the mystery of the murders, report to Dudley, and protect Amabelle.

I’m curious to see if Edmund’s appearance is his true appearance. If he’s actually ugly, it makes sense that his sin would be vanity. However, I really really hope that beautiful man is Edmund’s true self. 🙏🙏🤞🤞

I wonder what the terms of his servitude/enslavement are. What happens after he fulfills them? And are his affections toward Amabelle genuine or just an act? It’s possible that Edmund is lonely and seeking companionship with one who is just like him. (Is Amabelle also Ariel? 🤔) It’s also possible that he just wants to use Amabelle for his own purposes (Miranda?🤔).

If the black cat really is Edmund’s familiar… it’s a little odd considering how much cats hate water. Curiouser and curiouser…🧐 This is crazy complex.

Final conclusions

My guess is Edward is Hamlet and Petruchio from The Taming of the Shrew. He is M’s sorcerer and the phantom killing the men.

Ralph is Romeo.

Edmund is Cassio from Othello and Caliban from The Tempest. He is a sorcerer enslaved by Sir Drake. He must complete Dudley’s task if he wants to return to the sea.