MovieChat Forums > Merlin (2009) Discussion > Would you have been able to put up with ...

Would you have been able to put up with Arthur if you had been Merlin?

posted 9 years ago by kslotus24
6 replies | jump to latest

Like, I don't hate the Arthur character at all and kind of like him actually (he has a good heart), and Bradley James is gorgeous, but I'm not sure I would've been able to put up with his continuous disparaging and borderline bullying if I'd been Merlin, good heart or not. HE'S SO ANNOYING!

What about you guys?

[–] jtsjtssmokey-703-366973 9 years ago

Well, in "yesterday s world" and times, would not know any diff as that was pretty much the way is was. In "today s world", modern thinking, would be hard pressed to tolerate, even though there is still some with that old way of thinking.

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[–] loralee_87 9 years ago

It was clear that they both really appreciated and liked each other. They were tethered by the traditions of the day, I believe. I thought the two actors really showed a great friendly affection between the two characters.
Just some food for thought,
Peace, Y'all!
Loralee :)

[–] jaye50-1 9 years ago

he's a spoiled elitist a**hole... and the worst example of a king in memory... people have a fascination for dicks in media... and make excuses for them... in real life a character treated like merlin was treated would have absolutely no love for arthur... and as a king he was indecisive... easily manipulated... opinionated... biased... and not very smart... he had no empathy for the poor... and little loyalty towards those that supported him... just a dick....

[–] kslotus24 9 years ago

Uther was way worse imo, but I totally agree with people having a fascination for dicks in media. It makes a really bad example for little boys that they portray them as role models.

[–] emergencyCALL_911 9 years ago

the worst example of a king in memory...

Either you have a very poor memory, or you haven't seen a lot of examples of kings – including the first three series of Merlin.

in real life a character treated like merlin was treated would have absolutely no love for arthur...

Even after all the times Arthur risked his life to save Merlin? Merlin would have to be a total grudge holding a-hole.

At first Merlin had no love for Arthur, but then he looked past his flaws and saw his redeeming qualities.

and as a king he was indecisive...

Because he didn't always assume he automatically knew what the right choice was in every situation? Would you rather he be like Uther?

easily manipulated...

He put his faith in the wrong people sometimes, but with people like Gaius saying things like "you should have known I love you too much to ever betray you", how is he supposed to think other people he believed loved him are actually manipulative traitors?

opinionated...

A second ago he was indecisive, now he puts too much stock in his own interpretation of things? Make up your mind.

biased...

Everyone interprets events thorough the lens of past experience and previously developed opinions. Sometimes you have to second guess your previous interpretations, but when he second guesses himself you call him indecisive, so I'm not sure what you want.

and not very smart...

He may not be a genius, but he made decisions and found ways to deal with situations most of us could never dream of being faced with.

he had no empathy for the poor...

He may not have had much in the way of experience being in their shoes, but he certainly had sympathy for them.

and little loyalty towards those that supported him...

That's simply not true.

just a dick....

He may have been a dick, but he certainly wasn't just a dick.

If you want to accuse me of making excuses for him, fine. I would counter that you're simply unwilling to see past a person's flaws and recognise the good in them. This certainly isn't a healthy attitude to have toward real people any more than TV characters.

______
Blessed are the legend-makers with their rhyme
of things not found within recorded time.

[–] shuglife 9 years ago

Arthur was spoiled and pompous and mistreated Merlin early on. But he evolved and treated Merline with respect and friendship. Therewere times were he was crass with Merline but I always felt those moments were forced by the social system of Camelot.

His role as king he made some poor decisions, but he was trying to be king, change the social stature of his kingdom, keep his people safe, and dealing with the loss of his father, so his emotions outweighed his judgement at times.

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