dedicated to a happier year

Merlin: Be not afraid

Gwaine: Raw. Next question

Merlin:

Cause we watch the show, not merwaine fanfics. The show demonizes Merlin and shows Arthur did nothing wrong

I don’t actually disagree that the framing of these characters in the show tries to push that narrative, but I also don’t think even the show goes that far as to say Arthur did nothing wrong. He is constantly wrong enough that he has to apologize to Merlin in the final episode over his treatment of magic users (in my opinion this wasn’t nearly enough and Arthur needed to apologize for so much more than just that). There are so many examples of him acting before thinking and then having to have Merlin clean up the mess for him (trying to kill his dad, banishing Gwen, not listening to Merlin most of the time, letting Gaius be kidnapped and believing he’s the traitor, killing Odis, etc etc). He is honestly wrong more than he is right.

I think as fans, though, we should be able to call out the messed up motives of the show and say that the glamorization of Arthur isn’t earned. He did so much wrong and never really righted the unequal relationship between him and Merlin because he was benefiting from it. His character arc was backtracked in almost every episode especially in his relationship with Merlin for the sake of comedy and not stirring the dynamic of the show too much.

There were moments where I could almost see Arthur as good but just as quickly he would come in and prove to me, he’s not ready to confront his privilege and the harm he was doing.

Meanwhile, Merlin being demonized only works if we are trying to prop up Arthur’s awful actions. Merlin is a victim in Uther’s and Arthur’s war against magic trying desperately to gain his freedom. He is not perfect, because no one is, but his flaws are not given the space that Arthur’s are. Instead, being used to crucify him and not understand him. Arthur’s condescending behaving gets a pass as him just being him but Merlin striving to make all the right decisions to keep the golden age in his future is enough to cast him as evil. The motives for that concern me.

IMO Merlin’s flaws are not enough to make him the villain of the show given the odds of what he was up against, but Arthur’s are certainly on their way to that point given the nothing reason of why he still acts the way he does all the way to the end of the show.

So first of all Gwen did have a personality and I have never once said she didn’t (would love to know where you’re even getting that lol bc most of my posts are about how she did have a personality even with the bbc limiting her screen time). Calling her a blank bed warmer is neglecting the majority of her scenes. She is a good and just human who strives to always be kind. Wanting the writers to include her more isn’t because she didn’t have a personality, it’s because she did and they chose to put her under a spell in season 5 instead of letting her being the character she is.

You missing her character beats is actually a you problem that probably needs to be looked into. You’re taking it so very personally that I think Gwen is the best character of the show, and honestly you're just continuing to tell on yourself by not seeing a woman as a fully realized character.

Wtf do you mean Gwen is a bed warmer? How did you miss her personality? She shows up for people in almost every episode she’s in and genuinely affects change in most of the scenes she’s in. Her ‘drive’ is to love completely and truly, and she achieves that in more than just Arthur, for an entire country worth of people. Her ‘spirit’ is always trying to do what’s right for as many people as she can.

I’m assuming you like Merthur bc of this comment and that might make an ass out of me but nothing you said here is at all original. It’s all takes I’ve seen a hundred times before by people who like Merthur. It’s fine for you to like Merthur, but I do think we should confront the side of fandom that continues to make Gwen into a background character when we see over and over again just how influential she is on characters and the plot, especially Arthur.

Really, the stagnant character in the show is actually Arthur specifically in his relationship with Merlin. He treats Merlin the same in season 5 as he does in season 1 and never tries to view his father’s genocide as bad. He changes for everyone else in the show other than Merlin and I give Gwen most of the credit for the pieces she was able to get him to check his privilege on.

If you can’t see the love Gwen and Arthur have for each other (I don’t understand how you can’t but whatever) than whatever but to insult the woman of color for a personality she has and is used as a contrast for other characters actions more often than not (Agravaine, Uther, Morgana, Elyan, Lancelot, Merlin, and Arthur) is somehow more sexist than what the bbc did.

Do I want a story where Gwen is allowed to have faults more than just the lacking confidence and slight awkwardness she shows up until season 4? Absolutely. Do I think people like you would crucify her for it? Yep! Am I glad the bbc didn’t do that? Kinda yeah since you people are choosing to make it such a problem.

She is a fully realized character despite your best attempts to make her into something she’s not. And really that says more about you than it does me.

At this point, how could you possibly make this about the value of Gwen’s character when you’ve just characterized Arthur as a horrific abuser of women? Why is Arthur’s opinion supposed to matter to me anymore? Why is Arthur using Gwen only resolved by Arthur using Merlin, as if Arthur is only capable of using people, or even entitled to it?

Arthur chose to be with Merlin for the most important moments? No the fuck he didn't. Merlin's JOB was to be around for them. Arthur turns to Gwen for comfort and advice plenty of times. Arthur goes against the structures of society for her. Arthur breaks some of the most major laws of Camelot FOR HER.

The fact that Merlin is present during major story beats is because, i'm not sure if anyone's noticed, the show is About Merlin. he does in fact have to be present for the major plot events. due to the Narrative.