The end of Merlin

[corilannam]

Well, we certainly saw it coming a mile away (or really about 4 years away -- as Colin pointed out in his statement, it was always supposed to be a 5-year show). Yet I'm still having a lot of pretty unhappy emotions at the news that the show is, in fact, ending after the current season.

I'm tremendously sad that I won't see Colin and Bradley (and all the rest) on screen in their ridiculous outfits anymore, though I am happy that they can move on to bigger and better things. I'm sad that there won't be many more adorable moments of Merlin and Arthur proving they're the real married couple on this show.

And now that we're 3/4 of the way through the final season, I'm mourning all the things I wanted from this show that it's now clear I won't ever get.

* a redemption arc for Morgana

* Merlin and Arthur having a long time to work out the consequences from a reveal

* Merlin taking his true place as an equal around the Round Table

* Merlin having an adorable storyline with Aithusa

* Having Gwaine's backstory revealed and explored

* Having cool storylines for the knights, preferably with Merlin

That being said, I was always much more in love with the fandom and fanfic than I ever was with the show, so I don't see this as any sort of death knell for my love of these characters or my participation in the fandom. If that ends, it won't be because of the show.

Comments

[jae]

Ah, but all those things you didn't get from the show--those are things you can write!!!

-J

[jelazakazone]

I subscribed to you last night because people keep talking about you and you live close by and then I saw this post through network. I can always use more Merlin friends on DW. Do not feel obligated to subscribe back. I'm ridiculous. I post multiple times a day:) I might come back and leave a comment that actually pertains to this post, but guh, all the feelings (plus, kids are in the middle of violin lessons and I'm required to pay attention to them).

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

That's always the hardest part, isn't it? The what-ifs and might-haves. I've had my heart stomped on that way a lot lately, so I've been working hard on letting go of wanting things from my shows, at least as much as that's possible. It's not easy. Stupid TV!

*hugs*

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

Yep, pretty much ALL OF THIS WORD FOR WORD.

Love you and love Merlin fandom. Always. ♥

[karuvapatta.livejournal.com]

I basically agree on every point. I would only add something more about Mordred (because I really like his character).

I'M STILL SOBBING THOUGH.

[mellacita.livejournal.com]

I find myself very sad tonight...strange, considering the only episodes I have seen in the last two years were ones I happened to catch while in London on my way back from Afghanistan or Egypt. It's definitely the loss of hope for better stuff from the show. The definitive end means so much that could have been is gone...or up to fandom to make up for.

[wanderhomeagain.livejournal.com]

I've been rereading your stuff this week. All the things I love about Merlin fandom are there!

[green-key.livejournal.com]

Color me confused. I went into this season with the understanding from the outset that this is the last. Had I heard a rumor that is only now confirmed?

I really expected Morgana to be redeemed before the end, and now I hope it won't happen because it would be far too fast, and therefore lame. I also expected Merlin to be an equal by the end and that, by far, is the biggest travesty, imo. :-/

I'm so sorry to hear about your show ending. Thank goodness for fandoms that fix shows. We'll always have that.

[(Anonymous)]

The part of this which seems to be affecting me most is not seeing my otp onscreen together any more. I'll be mourning the end of that relationship, too. I always hoped we'd get more B and C, not less and less as time wore on. I agree with all the Wish List bulletpoints above, too. Sad day.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

There were so many things I thought might happen, so many hopes and dreams for future storylines or explanations... I guess that is what I'm mourning as much as 'the end' of canon. It's the fact that, with the next 4 episodes pretty much laid out before us, all the gaping holes are clear, particularly those you've noted above.

I think I need a bit to mourn those... maybe up until Christmas when I know for sure all hope is lost. Then I'm going to pull up myself up by my bootstraps and dive into fics and writing and hope that together fandom will do with all that potential what the writers could not.

[tracy7307.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said regarding the storylines that could've been that will not be, ESPECIALLY the one regarding the magic reveal and having time to work through that. I'd expected it much earlier in the season... ah well. It is what it is, as they say, and I agree - if the show doesn't give us what we're wanting, that's where fanfic steps in.

[riventhorn.livejournal.com]

I'm sad that there won't be many more adorable moments of Merlin and Arthur proving they're the real married couple on this show.

I'm going to miss this so much--all the wonderful moments between them that we've had over the years.

[destina.livejournal.com]

All of those things sound so awesome. Especially a redemption arc for Morgana. That was always a longshot, but I did want that, too. Now we just have to wait for people to write the stories that will deliver them to us.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

I would have forgiven them almost anything if we would have had a long reveal. So sad to lose the hope of that.

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

Yes, all of those storylines! I will never understand why they seem to think a reveal would have meant the end of the show (I am fairly sure they could have filled an entire season dealing with the fallout alone, and even then there would have been so many stories left to tell) or decided that episodes with enchanted knights were better than actually exploring any of their backgrounds (or, well, the way they've dealt with Morgana's entire storyline, really). So many baffling choices.

But yes, without the show, there never would have been a fandom or any of these characters to start with, so that's something to be grateful for, because I love both very much. :)

I'm sad that there won't be many more adorable moments of Merlin and Arthur proving they're the real married couple on this show.

Yes, this. I will miss their faces so much. Even if we're lucky enough to end up seeing Colin and Bradley in other things, it seems unlikely they will be in something together again. And they'll never be Merlin and Arthur again. But maybe it's time for another season 1 rewatch - I feel like I almost know it by heart, but after all this time, it might feel fresh again. ;)

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

Merlin and Arthur having a long time to work out the consequences from a reveal

This. Though I was always braced for it never happening, kind of like Smallville had the "we're gonna stop before Clark can fly, because then he's Superman and this is about him before Superman", I was always hoping. And considering the amount of time Arthur has been kept in the dark (though, he really should have figured it out a thousand times over), it feels like the fallout should have reflected that.

Sigh. Mostly, I think, I'll miss Colin being fantastic as Merlin, Bradley's awesomeness aside.

[planejane.livejournal.com]

That being said, I was always much more in love with the fandom and fanfic than I ever was with the show, so I don't see this as any sort of death knell for my love of these characters or my participation in the fandom. If that ends, it won't be because of the show.

This, and everything else you've said.

The underdevelopment of Merlin and Arthur's story post-magic reveal is the saddest thing for me. I think they're going to have a major cop out with it, and all of us are going to be further disappointed with what the Beed potentially could have done but yet again didn't.

[stagarden.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree completely with everything you've written.

Up above you mentioned the idea of a virtual season. I am hardly the fest organizing type, but wouldn't it be wonderful if there were a fandom event of some kind after the series ends to write alternative (or continuation) episodes?

I'm going to needs lots of that, I can tell.

[ella-bane.livejournal.com]

Every storyline possibility you mentioned is far preferable to what we got in the Evil!Gwen storyline. It breaks my heart, truly. I will miss this show so much. I will miss seeing Colin and Bradly together on screen, being amazing and perfect and beautiful.

*hugs*

[echoing-seas.livejournal.com]

I completely agree, and I want your potential story lines, as well, especially the first two!!!!!

At least we have fandom to rely on now...and sometimes, I think that's better than what some of the show's writers do...