CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS UNDERRATED TRIO??

I know I'm not the only one who felt uncomfortable with Merlin's powers to compel dragons against their will, particularly with the show centred on Merlin trying to achieve safety and freedom for magic users.

But what if that power goes both ways? Dragonlords may be able to command dragons, but dragons can steer the course of destiny and absolutely wreck the ship.

What if dragons can cause a person monumental levels of predestined pain and suffering, absolutely crush them with the narrative and make not just their hero's journey, but the realisation of their destiny pure unadulterated hell?

Dragonlords who abused their power technically end up achieving their goals, but it's at so great a personal cost that the dragonlords of old were like "yeah, no, we're not gonna fuck with that. How about we just be friends and respect each other?"

Of course, no one was around to warn our poor boy Merlin. My new HC is that his and Arthur's destiny looked so different to the one he expected, and that he suffered so much loss on the way, because he messed with Kilgharrah.

Now that I have small captive audience and 2024 is ending, please find hereunder my favourite new song from this year, Seven Years Below the Flowers by Luki. It's fun, it's wonky, it's high fantasy and it's so very worth a listen

Okay audience, you're free to go

Allow me to offer you all merthur fanart… referenced from La belle dame sans merci, 1893 by John William Waterhouse… I love them so much

I need to do more merthur fanart soon 🫶

i cannot hate myself into a version of me i will love.

Rebecca Sugar cooked with "Character whose entire existence is devoted to the service of another character who's now dead and now they have no idea what to do with themselves except live." I love that shit. I forged myself into a tool for you and now you're gone. I'm sniffing this like a bloodhound

Greek Child's Play

Published in 1945 by Little Brown & Company, Adventures with the Gods by Catharine Sellew and illustrated by George and Doris Hauman is a charming primer created for young children. It contains sixteen stories featuring the heroes of Greek mythology as well as the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. The book even includes a handy index of all the characters' names and how to pronounce them. This delightful collection of stories provides an accessible introduction to the fascinating world of Greek mythology, making it an enchanting read for both children and adults.

Catharine Sellew, an American author, has a talent for turning ancient myths and legends into children's stories. Written using simple language and ideas, her stories create an almost fairytale-like experience for readers. It's no surprise that her works are captivating and beloved by many.

George and Doris Hauman were a married couple and American children’s book illustrators. They are perhaps most well-known for illustrating the popular 1954 edition of The Little Engine That Could. The couple decided to collaborate on projects because they had so many customers in common. They also used a joint signature for all of their illustrations.

View other Classics posts.

View our other posts on children's books.

-Melissa, Special Collections Classics Intern

Merlin Missing Scenes Weirdness

I re-watched the Labyrinth of Gedref episode with a friend last night and I'm obsessed with the weirdness potential of the missing scenes...

Arthur and the knights saw off the unicorn's horn while an upset Merlin looks on and idk, they leave the body behind in the woods? Seems like a waste but I guess taxidermy hadn't been invented yet.

Merlin actively ignores the rat problem.

Uther and Arthur leave Camelot to go stare at a barden field together.

Merlin spends time trying to find that really specific turn sand into water spell.

Gaius collects Merlin's bath water lol.

The rat goes to town on some tasty prince boot.

The single, anachronistic cherry tomato that Arthur leaves on his plate is eaten by the rat, probably.

Merlin straight up kills the rat, carries it around the castle, skins, cuts up and stews it for Arthur.

Gwen commits kitchen thievery under the dreaded Cook's nose. Maybe she finds Merlin there stewing the rat.

Merlin runs around the woods in circles or else he's kept out by some kind magical barrier while Arthur fights the fake thief.

Gaius catches two beetles for his and Merlin's dinner.

Uther congratulates himself that he's convinced his son to be a cartoon villain, just like his papa.

Merlin manages to impart to Arthur the conversation he had with Anhora out in the woods and it somehow goes well. Does he explain why tf he was out there alone? Gathering herbs might not be believable with all that's going on with the crops...

The vines in the labyrinth deposit Merlin onto the beach. Also Anhora ties him up.

Arthur wakes up on the beach. Just when he thinks he might have reached the afterlife Merlin appears and kisses him chews him out for being a stupid, self-sacrificing clotpole.

Merlin and Arthur learn to get along again on their long horse ride back.

The crops randomly grow back in an afternoon and somehow, in a kingdom where magic is outlawed and generally regarded with fear and suspicion, this is treated as Totally Fine and Normal, Actually™

Update: I have been freed from bob-jail!

Today will be attempt 37 of trying to get something other than a bob.

You see, I have these duel curses and there are that 1. I'm apparently not enough of baddie to be given a not-bob and 2. that I belong in bob-jail for even asking.

Last time, I fought tooth and nail (asked very politely and over-explained myself and my choices) for an undercut that no one could even see under the bob I was given.

Wish me luck.