Fall of Camelot Merlin Tomiwa Edun, Eoin Macken, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Santiago Cabrera, Rupert Young, Tom Hopper

December 29, 2013

I just finished the 5th season of Merlin. It’s one of my favorite shows because I love the characters and the mythology and the actors are great and the story is fun. I’ll only allude to how it ends, but you won’t be surprised since it’s based on Arthurian legend. I mean, if you don’t know the story the title of this post has already ruined it. sorry.

MERLIN Colin Morgan as Merlin Bradley James as Arthur BBC
MERLIN | Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Arthur (BBC)

I knew when I watched the first episode how it would likely end. I didn’t want it to. I hoped, somehow, they’d change the story; bring a new angle; conjure a happy ending. But of course they didn’t. Because there is no other way for the story to end. Camelot cannot exist in this world. Not for long.

Because we live in a fallen world. We know that justice and mercy, compassion and kindness, honor and valor are necessary for a perfect world. We write stories about it and admire those who can live with these traits and hope we can vote such a world into existence. But something within us knows this world is broken and paradise cannot exist within it. And so stories of utopia whether it’s Atlantis or Camelot or some sci-fi ideal society are always corrupted and eventually they fall.

This may all seem obvious, but it was something of a revelation for me. I wanted a happy ending to Merlin, despite what the legend is (and for the record it really was a very good ending for the show). In some variations of the Arthur legend Morgana isn’t the villain so I can’t be alone in this. I liked this Morgana so I really didn’t want her to turn. I wanted Mordred to become a knight of the round table.

MERLIN Katie McGrath as Morgana BBC
MERLIN | Katie McGrath as Morgana (BBC)

The love that binds us is more important than the power we wield.

I even did it in my own story. I had to try so hard in the first couple of drafts of Tattered Heart to explain why someone would thirst for power, defy their king in a world of peace and beauty and wonder. I am hopelessly idealistic. But Merlin altered some of that, at least in stories. Because as Camelot was threatened I knew I didn’t really have to explain it at all. Readers would believe a bad guy in a good world, without me having to justify why.

There’s certain freedom in that as an author. But I can’t help but still hope for a happy ending in every story I find.

MERLIN Tomiwa Edun as Sir Elyan Eoin Macken as Sir Gwaine Colin Morgan as Merlin Bradley James as Arthur Santiago Cabrera as Lancelot Rupert Young as Sir Leon BBC
MERLIN | Tomiwa Edun as Sir Elyan, Eoin Macken as Sir Gwaine, Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Arthur, Santiago Cabrera as Lancelot, Rupert Young as Sir Leon (BBC)
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Fall of Camelot Merlin Tomiwa Edun Eoin Macken Colin Morgan Bradley James Santiago Cabrera Rupert Young Tom Hopper pinterest
Fall of Camelot Merlin Tomiwa Edun Eoin Macken Colin Morgan Bradley James Santiago Cabrera Rupert Young Tom Hopper pinterest

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5 responses to “the fall of Camelot

  1. Oh, gosh, I feel your pain at finishing Merlin. It’s my favourite show of all time and I am not afraid to admit that I spent the larger portion of the finale crying.
    I was the same as you. I wished there was SOME WAY that everything could end happily. That Arthur and Merlin could grow old together. And when the very end scene played – I was just broken. All that time.
    And I could understand Morgana and Mordred, even if they didn’t go about things in exactly the right way. They were such tortured characters.
    Happy endings are wonderful, but sometimes and ending that isn’t perfect can be just as beautiful. Just look at this show!

    • Annie

      I was totally crying in through the finale! I had to watch it twice right in a row because I wanted to watch it again with a clearer head.
      Yes, for Arthur and Merlin to grow old together and Morgana and Mordred – I was so surprised and pleased with Mordred in s5 until of course I wasn’t 🙂
      I’m glad someone else shares my love of Merlin!