I totally agree with you about that scene about Gwen. Actually, I take that scene in conjunction with how when Gwen accused Merlin of poisoning Arthur, Arthur apparently just waved her off the moment he heard about it. It kind of slays me that we don't see either confrontation, but I agree that somehow, by series 5 (even series 4), Merlin is already several notches above everyone else in Arthur's esteem.
And I'm ashamed to say that all those instances of Arthur taking Merlin's advice slipped past me... Though I did remember the one with Mordred, and saw Arthur's words as a kind of awed incredulity. I guess I was really hung up on all the little instances when Arthur didn't immediately listen to Merlin. Anyway, I'll get there eventually in my rewatch cycle.
Still, though, knowing about Merlin's magic would have to raise Merlin above and beyond where Arthur sees him now, and that...seems like it would just make Arthur's esteem/regard/affection for Merlin fly off the charts, don't you think?
Re: Part 2 II
And I'm ashamed to say that all those instances of Arthur taking Merlin's advice slipped past me... Though I did remember the one with Mordred, and saw Arthur's words as a kind of awed incredulity. I guess I was really hung up on all the little instances when Arthur didn't immediately listen to Merlin. Anyway, I'll get there eventually in my rewatch cycle.
Still, though, knowing about Merlin's magic would have to raise Merlin above and beyond where Arthur sees him now, and that...seems like it would just make Arthur's esteem/regard/affection for Merlin fly off the charts, don't you think?