No Merlin reveal. Ever.

[tetsubinatu]

I haven't been round much for the last few weeks because the kids have been sick and my beloved was sick and I was sick and essentially any two thoughts which accumulated between interruptions had to be directed towards my very LATE Snupin remix. Which... geez. Well I got it done but it's not the super-duper thingy that I would have wanted to write if I could just... you know, find the headspace.

Anyway.

Somewhere in there some prat whose name I don't WANT to remember because he's a prat - but his first initial is J - said that there would be no reveal on Merlin. Ever. And I didn't have the headspace to even get angry. The only place I knew for certain that would be ranting about it was the anon sites which I really can't be at any more - it makes my heart want to explode with ranty rage too often.

So now that the kids are back at school and my beloved is back at work and I'm feeling better, can anyone point me towards a non-anon discussion of this horrible revelation? I mean, people did notice, didn't they?

Comments

[venivincere]

Are you talking about Expo? Because most of the people I've talked to and seen talk about it think it's probably a deliberate misdirect on his part. He can't really tell us anything, can he? He can't tell us if there is going to be a for-sure Series 4 and 5, and if they don't know that, he can't be certain about the artistic direction the show will need to take. I'm not worried about it, really.

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Well that's a reassuring thought. I'll hold onto it because it really seemed so very definite when he said it. I'll go back and re-examine with a sceptical mind. Thanks!

[scribblemoose]

From the transcripts I've seen he didn't actually say 'never' quite as adamantly as people seem to think, and it wasn't clear whether he meant a general reveal (which I agree with him would ruin the dynamic of the show) or a reveal to Arthur only, which would be very different.

I agree with Venivincere - it could well be a misdirect. Let's face it, very little of what he says actually happens. ;) I think that's why it hasn't much been discussed outside the anon memes - which pretty much exist to whip up hysteria, after all. I'm going to see what actually happens before I decide I hate it ;)

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll go back and check it out more cynically now that life is back to normal. And then I'll hope. I hope you're right!

[accioslash.livejournal.com]

Like everyone has said, it seems like the source of this information is from the Expo. And, well, although this place isn't anonymous, it's still pretty wanky. The spoilers are listed by asterisks and a source is credited: http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/47690567.html

Apparently the quote you're looking for is toward the end - Magical reveal may never happen as it's an essential part of the show (think Superman) but don't go there if you don't want to see all the potential spoilers.

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Thanks accioslash - I thought it was a Geek Syndicate audio I listened to originally, and the ontd link confirmed it as well as having some discussion. I guess I can hope, since nothing is set in stone.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

From what I've seen, he didn't say they would never reveal it, just that they MAY never. But they might. I think he's just trying to be deliberately vague on that point to people keep watching to find out.

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

I've been back and listened to the audio again and I can hear that the wording is a lot more vague than I thought it was at the time. OTOH I reckon that that is sincerely what he would prefer - he really seems to see it as fundamental to the show's success, whereas I think that the secret WAS necessary in Smallville because they had to conform to later canon, but Merlin is totally different in that the canon is vague, conflicted and they already throw it out half the time anyway. So anyway, it's good to see that it really is a lot less firm than I took it for at the time. Clearly Colin and Bradley want a reveal, given various comments they have made over time.

[alexi-lupin.livejournal.com]

Yeah I agree the fundamental difference is that Superman's identity is ALWAYS a secret, whereas I don't think I've read any versions of the legend where Arthur as king doesn't know that Merlin is a wizard. But if he;s just talking about the show, and if the show ends before we see much of Arthur's reign as king, I can see how he feels that maybe Arthur only needs to know once he's king, for the way the show works? And maybe it's implied or assumed that Merlin does tell him eventually and they do go on to do great things together?

BUT DAMN IT I WANT TO SEE A REVEAL.

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Arthur's beginning to look stupid for not realising, and the O&F King should not be stupid! As long as Uther doesn't find out they can still be keeping the magic secret.

YUP! ME TOO!

[accioslash.livejournal.com]

Sorry to just butt in here, but I'm one of those who is completely sold on the idea that Arthur knows but Merlin doesn't realize he knows. I'd much rather see this than a magic reveal to everyone or even to just Arthur. To my mind, it's the best of both worlds. We get Arthur's genuine reaction to the reveal, he doesn't have to look stupid for the entire run of the show, and we get more of that loyal and protective!Arthur I love so much since he will have to shoulder the burden of secrecy as well now. It puts the boys more on an equal footing.

[tetsubinatu.livejournal.com]

Yup - I can go for that. Just as long as something changes, because we've been doing the current dynamic long enough and it's time to move on.