This is similar to what you said, but my biggest sorrow is the fact that Arthur wasn't the one to realize the Camelot that he and Merlin dreamed of. Arthur and Merlin laid its foundations. Without Arthur's years as prince and then regent and then king, it would never have happened. His death was the final sacrifice, and we can assume that had he made it home alive, Camelot would have been the wonderland that he'd always hoped it would be. But he died. And Guinevere was the one who reigned during that time—and there are only two reasons why I might argue that this doesn't actually conflict with my theory about laying the foundations for the legend that we know. First, because Gwen loved Arthur and *knew* that everything she was taking over was owed to Arthur, and would have ensured that people acknowledged that. Second, because over the years in those days, it seems fair to assume that people in a day and age that is so male dominated and with a system so reliant on physical strength would rather not speak of the wonderful queen who is after all a woman and not at all proficient with a sword.
On some level, though, I know that he had to die, and I'm glad that he did. Frankly, if Arthur had lived after this episode, I'd have worried for future interactions between Arthur, Merlin and Guinevere. The royal couple take Merlin *everywhere*, for crying out loud, and Merlin would never consent to another position that would involve him having to leave Arthur's side. (Can't you just see that conversation? M:"I can't do that—you'd be dead before suppertime!" A:"Believe it or not, Merlin, I can protect myself." M:"And yet I have to save your life on a near-daily basis. Nope, you're stuck with me.") And I don't mean to say that Gwen and Merlin would be at odds with each other. I think the one who'd start having problems would be Arthur.
Arthur has this tendency to put people in defined boxes. Merlin is his loyal, brave, idiot servant. Guinevere is his gentle, wise, beloved wife. He has an easier relationship with Merlin even after his marriage, because while they're friends, they're not really equals—and as such, he can use and abuse Merlin as he pleases (but he's kinder about it than others would be in his position, so Merlin seems fine with this). Guinevere, however, is the one he goes to for serious discussions, for emotional support and encouragement.
Can't you just see how knowledge of Merlin's power would make *both* relationship definitions crumble to the ground? Suddenly, Merlin's opinion would hold more sway than Gwen's. Merlin is Arthur's equal as Guinevere never could be, because if Gwen and Arthur disagree, ultimately the power to veto Gwen is Arthur's. But if Merlin and Arthur disagree, there's nothing that Arthur can do to stop Merlin from doing as he pleases. (Not that there's ever been, but Arthur believed that there was, on some level, which makes all the difference.)
I feel like if Arthur hadn't died, Gwen could never have become the wise and wonderful queen that she did become, because Arthur would probably have suddenly deferred to Merlin's opinions a lot more than Gwen's, demoting Gwen back to mere romantic interest. So on that level, I think it played out wonderfully.
It still hurts, though. :( I'm on a crazy rewatch of the entire series now, to heal my wounds. I'm in series 1 right now, incidentally, and I never realized how *weird* it is to go straight from series 5 to series 1, and suddenly watch Arthur flirt with Morgana and Gwen so blatantly interested in Merlin. *wonders if there's a fic out there where Arthur finds out that Gwen was a little in love with Merlin before Lancelot*
Anyway. This has been horribly long winded, but the bottom line is—loved your review. Seriously, there's not enough appreciation for the sheer wonder that the actors managed to create out of a half-hour emotional roller coaster that ends in a place so touching and so deep that you have to cry with Merlin as he loses Arthur, and wonder how the hell he'll go on after this.
Aaand I'm getting sniffly again. That's my cue to go grocery shopping to restock my bare fridge and empty stomach!
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timeasmymeasure
Part 2
Date: 2013-03-08 05:58 pm (UTC)This is similar to what you said, but my biggest sorrow is the fact that Arthur wasn't the one to realize the Camelot that he and Merlin dreamed of. Arthur and Merlin laid its foundations. Without Arthur's years as prince and then regent and then king, it would never have happened. His death was the final sacrifice, and we can assume that had he made it home alive, Camelot would have been the wonderland that he'd always hoped it would be. But he died. And Guinevere was the one who reigned during that time—and there are only two reasons why I might argue that this doesn't actually conflict with my theory about laying the foundations for the legend that we know. First, because Gwen loved Arthur and *knew* that everything she was taking over was owed to Arthur, and would have ensured that people acknowledged that. Second, because over the years in those days, it seems fair to assume that people in a day and age that is so male dominated and with a system so reliant on physical strength would rather not speak of the wonderful queen who is after all a woman and not at all proficient with a sword.
On some level, though, I know that he had to die, and I'm glad that he did. Frankly, if Arthur had lived after this episode, I'd have worried for future interactions between Arthur, Merlin and Guinevere. The royal couple take Merlin *everywhere*, for crying out loud, and Merlin would never consent to another position that would involve him having to leave Arthur's side. (Can't you just see that conversation?
M:"I can't do that—you'd be dead before suppertime!"
A:"Believe it or not, Merlin, I can protect myself."
M:"And yet I have to save your life on a near-daily basis. Nope, you're stuck with me.")
And I don't mean to say that Gwen and Merlin would be at odds with each other. I think the one who'd start having problems would be Arthur.
Arthur has this tendency to put people in defined boxes. Merlin is his loyal, brave, idiot servant. Guinevere is his gentle, wise, beloved wife. He has an easier relationship with Merlin even after his marriage, because while they're friends, they're not really equals—and as such, he can use and abuse Merlin as he pleases (but he's kinder about it than others would be in his position, so Merlin seems fine with this). Guinevere, however, is the one he goes to for serious discussions, for emotional support and encouragement.
Can't you just see how knowledge of Merlin's power would make *both* relationship definitions crumble to the ground? Suddenly, Merlin's opinion would hold more sway than Gwen's. Merlin is Arthur's equal as Guinevere never could be, because if Gwen and Arthur disagree, ultimately the power to veto Gwen is Arthur's. But if Merlin and Arthur disagree, there's nothing that Arthur can do to stop Merlin from doing as he pleases. (Not that there's ever been, but Arthur believed that there was, on some level, which makes all the difference.)
I feel like if Arthur hadn't died, Gwen could never have become the wise and wonderful queen that she did become, because Arthur would probably have suddenly deferred to Merlin's opinions a lot more than Gwen's, demoting Gwen back to mere romantic interest. So on that level, I think it played out wonderfully.
It still hurts, though. :( I'm on a crazy rewatch of the entire series now, to heal my wounds. I'm in series 1 right now, incidentally, and I never realized how *weird* it is to go straight from series 5 to series 1, and suddenly watch Arthur flirt with Morgana and Gwen so blatantly interested in Merlin. *wonders if there's a fic out there where Arthur finds out that Gwen was a little in love with Merlin before Lancelot*
Anyway. This has been horribly long winded, but the bottom line is—loved your review. Seriously, there's not enough appreciation for the sheer wonder that the actors managed to create out of a half-hour emotional roller coaster that ends in a place so touching and so deep that you have to cry with Merlin as he loses Arthur, and wonder how the hell he'll go on after this.
Aaand I'm getting sniffly again. That's my cue to go grocery shopping to restock my bare fridge and empty stomach!