Oh, Merlin. We have to talk about this abusive relationship we have with each other.
You see, I love you, in all of your camp-tastic glory. I love you so much that instead of waiting for the American airings, I find kindly British people who put up episodes the second they come out on YouTube. I love you so much I can tell when someone is wearing a new piece of clothing, and exactly what other scenes they’ve worn it in. I love you like a fat kid loves cake. Or a magical kid loves dragons. Or … hates dragons, as the case may have been last episode.
And because I love you, and because I have seen all the episodes beforehand, that when I was told to watch the SyFy version of the series 2 finale because a scene was missing, I immediately knew when it skipped over this scene, and I was greatly displeased.
Cut scene from ‘Merlin’ season 2 finale from CliqueClack on Vimeo.
Now, I don’t know whose decision this was. Was it Syfy’s? The BBC’s? The international distributing company? And why oh why oh why did they cut it? I think of all the scenes in the finale, this one was my favorite. Was it too gay because guys were obliquely discussing that they cared about each other? And I refuse to accept the “oh, it ran too long” thing. This scene was two minutes long! It was so way more important than two Taco Bell commercials!
I may be biased, but as far as I’m concerned, this is an insanely important scene so far as Merlin and Arthur’s characters are concerned. Merlin, at the end of things, is willing to take the secret of his father and his magic to his grave! Arthur tries to discuss his feelings! Merlin tries to discuss his feelings! Arthur’s all kingly! Merlin’s all adorable! It sets up the basis of their relationship for the third season! And the love between them! I can hear Ruby screeching at me about how it’s possibly non-sexual love (man-manservant, Frodo and Sam, Jeeves and Wooster, blah blah blah, and I say it totally doesn’t fit that trope, blah blah blah) so fine, fine, it could be platonic love too. We had a whole uber-long e-mail argument about this but let’s just say, I disagree. Either way, though, the love! That’s kind of the entire point of this show, Merlin and Arthur growing up together to be the totally awesome duo of legend. Let me re-iterate that part: together.
So, for those of you who didn’t get what scene Ruby and I were referring to in our dialogue, you now know that we weren’t going totally crazy and imagining things.
Also, whoever is responsible, I expect payment for gravely disappointing me, and I will take it in scenes of similar bromantic import next series. Like, a lot of them.
You so owe me.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Jul 06, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I didn’t see it, because I don’t get SyFy, but I heard about it. I find it very saddening that they cut it. :( I don’t think they cut it because it was “too gay” (there’s been way gayer scenes between these two, to be honest, and they were not cut). I just think it went on for too long. And rather than cutting the scene in the middle or what not, they decided just to remove ALL of it. Bad decision, in my opinion. Boo COMMERCIALS.
*POST AUTHOR*
Hahah, yeah, I doubt that would be the only reason (I mean, Arthur still half-naked pillow fought with Merlin to try to get him to talk about his feelings earlier that episode) but why THAT scene? Was it really necessary to see a Shamwow commercial again?
You tell ‘em, Julia!
(And I object to the word “screeching.” More like, “speaking indisputable logic in a calm, persuasive, mellifluous voice.”)
*POST AUTHOR*
Yes, sorry, your logic which is utterly irrelevant to this situation, was said in very melodious tones.
Wait, wait, wait… Did you use Sam and Frodo as an example of NON sexual love? I’m so confused…
*POST AUTHOR*
I only gave her that one because hobbit sex icks me out. And then I gave her a lesson on the basis of Sam and Frodo based on comrades in arms Tolkein observed in WWI, many of whom were engaged in sexual relationships with their fellow soldiers.
I used Sam and Frodo as an example of a relationship that is similar to Merlin/Arthur in that it is read as gay by some, even though it was not written as gay by the author.
As with any story, you can interpret ambiguous details any way you like, and your interpretation will be based on your own experience and biases. Fair enough. If you do additional research, you can interpret the text based on the context in which the text was written. I’ve read stacks of books on Tolkien – not the fluffy stuff that came out after the movies or the BS you find on internet forums, but the scholarly literature, biographies, and primary sources. I based my interpretation on what I learned from significant research over the past 14 years, not from Googling “Frodo is gay.”
In contrast, I haven’t really looked into the Merlin writers’ intentions, so I don’t claim to know for sure what Merlin and Arthur feel for each other. The “evidence” in the episodes has all been rather ambiguous and all I can say from what I’ve observed is that they both care about each other very much. The doesn’t mean they’re “in love.” If I saw something much more unambiguous, like Merlin kissing Arthur on the lips – then I would gladly say you’re right.
Now, if you want an example of a similar BBC show where the gayness is obvious, I give you Robin Hood as a prime example (specifically the Sheriff of Nottingham’s non-professional interest in Guy of Gisbourne).
Let’s be clear — only Sam is gay. I think Frodo’s obliviously straight.
Clearly, you are the LoTR noob. Frodo is the lifelong bachelor. Sam got married after all was said and done.
There was a collective howl among my online friends when we all realized it was cut.
So I wrote to SyFy protesting about it. I also encouraged everyone else I knew to write as well. It was probably just for length but really, that scene. Really? I am not amused.
You know… the weird thing is I came here all excited to see this cut scene… and is on the copy I have in my laptop :D.
I’m from Mexico and to get all season 2 I had to download it… I’m so happy I did ’cause I totally love this scene :), be well!!