Merlin (TV series)/Heartwarming

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


The Show

  • Uther and Arthur's exchange in Excalibur, when Uther tells his son without hesitation that he is the most important thing in his life.
  • In The Labyrinth of Gedref. "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me." Well, that whole scene really, especially when Arthur takes the poison for Merlin. Good thing that it's not actually poison.
  • In The Moment of Truth, when Morgana and Gwen both insist on coming with Merlin to try and save his village, because he's helped them so much since he arrived. Merlin tends to assume that he goes more or less unnoticed, despite having saved the whole city multiple times.
    • Not to mention the fact that Arthur, despite being unable to secure help from the royal army, proceeds to show up on his own to do what he can.
      • Actually, the entire episode, from Merlin being reunited with his mother at the beginning to the final shot of the OT 4 riding back to Camelot (which, due to recent plot developments, is a bit of a Tear Jerker).
  • I don't know why, but the exchange between Arthur and Uther in Le Morte d'Arthur, after Merlin secretly trades his life for Arthur's and brings him the water from the Cup of Life, struck me as sweet. "I think there's someone watching over me, keeping me from harm." Oh, Arthur, you have no idea.
  • In Lancelot and Guinevere - Arthur telling Morgana that he's going to rescue Gwen, and only refused to before because he couldn't disagree with his father in front of the court. And then Gwen and Morgana's reunion.
  • And in The Witchfinder - Merlin breaks down in court and tries to attack Aredian when Gaius is sentenced to death. Arthur restrains him and drags him towards the dungeons, saying he'll 'deal with him'. This turns out to mean that he'll let him visit Gaius, even though his father has forbidden it, so that he can say goodbye.
  • This one manages to be awesome and tear-jerking as well as heart-warming; when Morgause is about to start the spell to call up Igraine's spirit Arthur turns to Merlin and tells him that maybe magic in itself isn't necessarily a bad thing. The look of raw hope and disbelief on Merlin's face when he says: "do you really think that?" is heart-stopping.
  • The scene between Arthur and Merlin at the end of The Lady of the Lake, with the former lifting the latter's spirits. Never has a noogie made this troper smile so hard.
    • Also from that episode, most of Merlin's interactions with Freya were this, if not a Tear Jerker. Special mention goes to their First Kiss, and when he gives her a rose instead of a strawberry by mistake.
  • Even though Arthur and Morgana barely interact in season two, on the few times they do, there's an 80% chance it'll be this.

Arthur: Morgana... I never knew you cared.

    • Well, she didn't ACTUALLY care in that moment. Not about him, at least...
    • Their every interaction in The Tears of Uther Pendragon is this. Somehow, even though you know Morgana is most likely faking the affection so she can carry out her plan of killing Arthur's father, one can't help but go "awww."
  • Merlin trying to pull a "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight on Morgana in 3x02. It doesn't work, but you could tell for a second, she wanted to believe him.
  • The Changeling has a few of these, particularly the scene between Merlin and Arthur right before the wedding. For just a moment, Merlin lets Arthur see a little bit of the part of himself he's been hiding. Colin Morgan acts the hell out of this scene.

Merlin: What's wrong?
Arthur: You wouldn't understand, Merlin. You have no idea what it's like to have a destiny you can't escape.
Merlin: Destinies... are troublesome things. You feel trapped. Like your whole life is being planned out for you, and you've got no control over anything, and sometimes you don't even know if the destiny decided is... really the best thing at all.

    • Also, when Arthur and Gwen part after their incredibly sweet moment at the end, you see him skipping up the last couple of stairs.
  • Merlin taking care of Gwen in The Castle of Fyrien.
  • Arthur's goodbye kiss to Gwen in The Eye of the Phoenix. It was perfect because it was so understated - no violins or slow motion this time, just a silent affirmation of the fact that she's his girl and they're in a relationship.
    • From that same episode, Merlin's conversation with the Fisher King. "When all seems lost, this will show you the way."
    • This conversation between Merlin and Gwaine in 3x08, as they go to find Arthur:

Merlin: Why do you want to do this?
Gwaine: Same reason as you. Help a friend.
Merlin: Arthur is lucky to have us.
Gwaine: (giving Merlin a meaningful look) Not Arthur.

  • If Arthur and Gwen's romantic picnic in the forest doesn't reduce you into a helpless puddle of Squee, then nothing on earth will.
    • Also, Merlin telling Gwen that she looks lovely just before escorting her to the picnic.
  • At the end of episode 03x11 when Uther tells Arthur that he knew that he had let him win and just how much he appreciated it. Awwww... The look on Morgana's face afterward when she realizes her plan to get Uther killed has just made the father son relationship stronger is great too, especially after how bitchy she was to Gwen, the only one her former friends who she has no justification at all to be mean to, the last episode.
  • Also from the end of 03x11, Merlin's conversation with Gilli about the nature of magic and their future in Camelot. Merlin looked so happy.
  • It has just occured to this troper in regards to Merlin, Arthur and Gwen that at various points during the first three seasons, each one has given specific instructions to the second to "look after" the third. Something of a Tear Jerker when one considers Morgana: part of the reason she performed her Face Heel Turn was because the Power Trio were looking out for each other, but not for her.
  • After the coup on Camelot, Arthur sends Gwain, Elyan and Gaius out to hide in the woods. He suggests that Merlin go with them, only for Merlin to reply: "Nah, I've already seen the woods."
  • In 3x13 when Merlin realizes that Freya is still alive. If the little boy happy look he gets on his face doesn't make you go "awww" then I don't know what will.
  • This troper does not even like the dragon, but the conversation from 3x13 was so much this:

Great Dragon: My allegiance has never been with the witch.
Merlin: I know. But is it with me?
Great Dragon: Yes, young warlock. It is with you.

  • When Arthur gathers his friends, allies and future wife around the Round Table and thanks them for their loyalty. Then when he asks for their aid in freeing Camelot, each of them thanks Arthur in turn for what he's done for them over the course of three seasons. Yeah, even Percival, the guy he's only known for ten minutes.
    • Except Merlin, who takes the opportunity to deliberately (but jokingly) ruin the mood, before standing up and grinning at Arthur. Which, in its own way, is even more cute.
      • The knighting ceremony that follows, especially the big proud grins on Merlin and Gwen's faces when Gwaine and Elyan are knighted.
  • When Lancelot tells Merlin that "you're the bravest of us all," and that it was him that Arthur should be knighting.
  • Lancelot's concern for Merlin in "The Darkest Hour". He tells Merlin that he shouldn't be with the knights, since he's no warrior and Merlin's magic doesn't work against the things they are fighting. His evident interest in his friend's well-being, and Merlin's insistence on staying to help Arthur, are both very endearing.
    • Also, the scene between the two of them at the beginning of the episode, concerning Arthur's stained shirt. Just... the hints, the adorable, knowing grins... it just reminds you that now that Lancelot is a knight, there's finally someone else in Camelot who knows his secret, and is completely accepting of it.
  • Also from "The Darkest Hour" where Percival sees three frightened children and realizes that his group has already moved ahead and the Dorocha are closing in. He can't carry the children and carry the torch at the same time. So what does he do? He picks up all three children and runs for it, essentially leaving himself defenseless against the Dorocha.
    • And when one of the Dorocha inevitably attacks him, Elyan arrives to save him, and the two of them return the children to safety.

Percival: Thanks.
Elyan: Couldn't let you have all the glory, could I?

  • Arthur's goodbye to Gwen is part this and part Tear Jerker, when you consider that she doesn't know he's planning to sacrifice himself to fix the veil.

Arthur: Smile for me.
Gwen: I can't.
Arthur: Do you remember the first time I kissed you?
(Gwen smiles.)
Arthur: That is the memory I will take with me.

  • At the Beginning of Part 2, Arthur's kindness and concern for the pale, dying Merlin as he sends him away with Lancelot. Especially squeezing his shoulder encouragingly as he leaves.
  • After he's healed from being hit by the Dorocha, Merlin's reunion with Arthur and the knights. Elyan and Percival hug him, Leon ruffles his hair, Gwaine embraces him, and Arthur just smiles at him for several seconds...patting him on the shoulder and affectionately pulling him back to the fire with the rest. True Companions indeed!
  • In The Wicked Day, Arthur finally acknowledges Merlin as "a loyal friend."
    • Though Uther has spent the past two episodes (technically an entire year counting the timeskip) in a Heroic BSOD over Morgana's betrayal, he refuses to miss his son's birthday celebration.
  • Merlin's face when the dragon egg hatches.
  • Arthur calling Merlin "old friend" in His Father's Son, especially after Arthur pushing everyone away throughout the episode.
  • Merlin and Arthur finally hug in A Servant of Two Masters. Of course, it's sweeter because Arthur has just found out that Merlin is alive and actually instigates the hug.
  • The conversation Gaius and Arthur have at the end of The Secret Keeper. All the more heartwarming because someone was actually telling Arthur the truth for a change and because Gaius was also hinting at how much Merlin had done for him.

Gaius: I've known you since you were a nursling, Arthur. I love you far too much to betray you.

    • And earlier in the episode, Gwen comforting Merlin after Gaius is gone. The way she just squeezes his shoulder...
    • Also... Merlin finally getting an ally besides Gaius who a) knows the truth about him, b) understands what it feels like to be persecuted and c) appreciates him for what a Badass he is.
  • In Lamia, it's hard to decide what's more adorable: Merlin and Gwen's utter faith that Arthur is out looking for them, Arthur's ability to recognise Gwen's tunic from a tiny scrap she left behind for him, or Merlin and Gwen trying to protect each other moments before Arthur saves them both.
    • Earlier in the episode, Elyan standing up for Merlin when one of the villagers tells Gwen he needs a skilled physician, not a boy. It's nice to see that when they aren't Brainwashed and Crazy, the knights care for Merlin.
  • It all went to hell by the end of the episode, but Arthur's proposal to Gwen in Lancelot Du Lac was adorable, particularly Gwen's reaction: she's so overjoyed that she forgets to say yes!
  • In A Herald of the New Age, Arthur's speech at the Druid shrine and the spirit's last three words: "I forgive you."
  • This is an odd one, but did anyone else find it strangely sweet that Morgana instantly recognised Gwen's old dress from season 1?
  • The Hunter's Heart:
    • Arthur actively seeking Merlin's counsel for the first time.

"I don't know what to do. What should I do, Merlin?"

  • Merlin and his mother reunite in Ealdor. Especially sweet for the audience considering Hunith hasn't been seen since the end of series 1.
    • The implication that Merlin had told Gwen to go to Ealdor, and that she was being looked after by Hunith.
  • LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
    • This. They waited six years for this.

Behind the Scenes

  • This brief clip from behind-the-scenes. The main cast is struggling over a muddy incline, and Bradley keeps trying to grab Angel's hand so she doesn't fall over (she keeps missing it). But when the director yells "cut" all the men take off and leave Angel stranded at the top of the muddy slope...but Rupert Young doubles back and takes her hand to help her down. Aww. Sir Leon indeed.
  • Sadly Angel Coulby and Janet Montgomery did not interact in the episode in which they both appeared, but will be starring together in Dancing on the Edge. On her Twitter, Janet had this to say about Angel. Aww.
  • Bradley James talking about how hard it was to film the scenes of Arthur physically abusing Merlin, sometimes even arguing with the director to downplay the violence.

Bradley: He's only tiny!

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