The Death of Merlin...and Why the Wizard Didn't Stop It! - European Arthurian - Extra Mythology

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  • Опубліковано 17 вер 2024
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    There have been countless tellings of the story of King Arthur and Merlin BUT why would this all-powerful magical guy submit to his own death?
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 663

  • @extrahistory
    @extrahistory  Рік тому +304

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    • @pyeitme508
      @pyeitme508 Рік тому +1

      Meh 😑😊

    • @eyobgebremariam3470
      @eyobgebremariam3470 Рік тому +2

      I wish I can help u

    • @CARL-ze6wv
      @CARL-ze6wv Рік тому

      I hope you make an series about napolean master of europe going to nebula right now

    • @Marinanor
      @Marinanor Рік тому +1

      So many myths of Merlin, I've never heard of the one where he's so creepy.

    • @houjous5131
      @houjous5131 Рік тому +1

      The issue with knowing the future is: You're working in percentiles not absolutes. Small changes can cause massive effects. Him hoping he could change the future with light touches make sense.

  • @Revenante_of_Asylum
    @Revenante_of_Asylum Рік тому +2081

    And here we have Merlin helpfully demonstrating the finer differences between Intelligence and Wisdom.

  • @Dan_Ben_Michael
    @Dan_Ben_Michael Рік тому +1532

    For all we know Merlin is still chilling in the cave, casting spells to get food and water, and pimped out the cave and surrounded by a harem. He just can’t escape. Seeing as the spell cast by Nimue is unbreakable nobody can be truly sure that Merlin is dead in there yet.

    • @jossebrodeur6033
      @jossebrodeur6033 Рік тому +228

      That's actually how the Fate series presents Merlin. Except instead the cave led to Avalon and he locked himself in a tower there to live for eternity. He also just watches humanity with his clairvoyance because that's his entertainment

    • @mynameisd2849
      @mynameisd2849 Рік тому +111

      @@jossebrodeur6033 So he is a telenovela fan

    • @jamesredmond7001
      @jamesredmond7001 Рік тому +170

      So in effect, he became Schrodinger's Wizard?

    • @dennisblackmon8773
      @dennisblackmon8773 Рік тому +26

      Honestly anything has a time limit nothing is absolute that's the thing about magic it always has some kind of negative effect who knows he might get out enough time maybe even an earthquake could release him and the fact I doubt he died he was most likely an immortal considering he seen the future and had been there before using his magic

    • @blenderbanana
      @blenderbanana Рік тому +24

      Schrodingers Horn-Dog

  • @mikotagayuna8494
    @mikotagayuna8494 Рік тому +2081

    Not only was Merlin sired by a demon, it was an incubus. That would explain a lot why someone as wise as him wouldn't be able to overcome his lusty nature.

    • @kylepessell1350
      @kylepessell1350 Рік тому

      It should be noted that this was likely Post-Christianization at work since Merlin's origins predate the advent of Christianity. In order to reconcile his ability to do magic without a connection to God, their only choice was to make his powers demonic in origin. However, since Merlin was overall a fairly heroic figure, they couldn't justify him being a demon himself and thus had to settle with demonic ancestry.

    • @Valery0p5
      @Valery0p5 Рік тому

      Yeah his mother was abused and they had to do some exorcism to avoid Merlin becoming the antichrist

    • @olenickel6013
      @olenickel6013 Рік тому +205

      I don't read this as lusty, but more as obsessive love. This is a very real, very human thing. It's not a matter of willpower or wisdom, it is a thing so proximate to mental illness even the most strong-willed of people can succumb to it.

    • @LashknifeTalon
      @LashknifeTalon Рік тому +34

      @@olenickel6013 Por que no los dos?

    • @ruffusgoodman4137
      @ruffusgoodman4137 Рік тому +15

      Plus his shape shifting abilities

  • @paullenoue8173
    @paullenoue8173 Рік тому +843

    I always wondered if Merlin chose the dishonorable death because he saw what would happen if he avoided it and lived longer, which somehow was much worse.

    • @brandanberg1716
      @brandanberg1716 Рік тому +119

      He'd see the rise of the industrial age

    • @em5522
      @em5522 Рік тому +82

      ​@@brandanberg1716 he saw internet as a thing

    • @Mackyle-Wotring
      @Mackyle-Wotring Рік тому +76

      @@em5522 He expected the Inquisition.

    • @slayer0235
      @slayer0235 Рік тому +69

      @@Mackyle-Wotring No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise! Surprise and fear.

    • @ruffusgoodman4137
      @ruffusgoodman4137 Рік тому +20

      It was... he'd be forever alone... either way

  • @Leivve
    @Leivve Рік тому +720

    In Le Morte Dr Arthur, one of the Knights finds Merlin and offers to help move the boulder out of the way, but Merlin waves him off saying it's suppose to be this way.

    • @blank_3768
      @blank_3768 Рік тому +74

      gotta love medieval fanfiction

    • @WindFireAllThatKindOfThing
      @WindFireAllThatKindOfThing Рік тому +38

      @@blank_3768 Which is just lite, PG-13 Greek fiction

    • @LordDaret
      @LordDaret Рік тому +70

      @@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing Merlin was probably a fan of Greek classics and was annoyed that he was being denied his dreamed “death by hubris.”

  • @thesephiam
    @thesephiam Рік тому +713

    So what is the lesson to be learned from this?
    Is it that even the wisest and most power men will do stupid things for a chance at love?
    Are we meant to feel sorry for Merlin? Or laugh?
    Or was it that merlin realized that he needed to train a replacement and the cave was her test?

    • @ecurewitz
      @ecurewitz Рік тому +114

      It that Merlin just couldn’t keep it in his pants

    • @I.____.....__...__
      @I.____.....__...__ Рік тому +54

      @@ecurewitz Yes, he couldn't "keep it in his pants" by wishing to hold a girl's hand and feel loved. 🙄

    • @nothanks6549
      @nothanks6549 Рік тому +55

      I think back in the day before modern views on relationships this would have maybe been seen as a story of unrequited love. It would be seen as Merlin laying down his life for just a taste of the love of a beautiful woman.

    • @johnschmidt1262
      @johnschmidt1262 Рік тому +27

      I think the lesson is stories can be told in many different ways depending on who is telling it.
      This telling was an original take on a less common version of Merlin's end.

    • @andrewcapra7153
      @andrewcapra7153 Рік тому +47

      @@johnschmidt1262 the vid probably could have used one of those "a good story has many interpretations, and this is just one" disclaimer before confidently stating that Merlin was just a creepy stalker with no motivations other than horndogginess despite literally being willing to die

  • @blueeaglegaming6050
    @blueeaglegaming6050 Рік тому +573

    "I would not want to live in a world without dragons, as I would not want to live in world without magic, for that is a world without mystery, and that is a world without faith" -R.A. Salvatore

    • @bleh329
      @bleh329 Рік тому +11

      Great story, man

    • @innocentBystander19
      @innocentBystander19 Рік тому +11

      Instantly recognized

    • @jansix4287
      @jansix4287 Рік тому +15

      Magic is just science way above your understanding.

    • @I.____.....__...__
      @I.____.....__...__ Рік тому +16

      Ah yes, _he who believeth in Jesus as thy lord and savior, getteth the dragons._ 😂

    • @blueeaglegaming6050
      @blueeaglegaming6050 Рік тому +6

      @@I.____.....__...__ I'm on bord with that

  • @Jlragent
    @Jlragent Рік тому +115

    How do you miss the obvious answer to not pursue this woman? He told Arthur, "Genevieve would lead to his downfall. But if the heart made up its mind, then his mind wouldn't listen to reason." Same thing with Merlin.

    • @jasond.5723
      @jasond.5723 Рік тому +12

      I think an interesting theory is that in the futures he saw, he would either starve in that cave, or end up so frustrated at his failed advances, hed kill her. Out of love, he chose his own death. Because unless he was trapped in an unpenitrable cave of his own magic, there was no way he was leaving her alone. Beautiful commentary on the male experience

  • @Daemonworks
    @Daemonworks Рік тому +76

    Arthurian legendry is one hell of a rabbit hole to fall down. Like nearly everything one encounters today comes from two or three specific versions, with Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur dominating, and maybe some Green Knight but there's so very, very much more.
    Other versions of his origins include, often mixed: being the son of an incubus or other minor demon, having had no father at all, a perfectly human bard deeply traumatized by war, being a forest hermit or wildman. In some versions he's the child of satan, and was supposed to be the antichrist, but that was averted by a timely baptism and divine blessing granting him both infernal and divine powers.
    Stories of his end also vary wildy, especially if you're looking at both the earlier and later versions, especially if you compare older versions. He's also known to have retired, gotten married, moved into a large house and taken up stargazing.
    Another random favourite variation, less related to Merlin, is that it's the scabbard, not the sword that was the real treasure.

    • @samprastherabbit
      @samprastherabbit Рік тому +4

      I sort of hate that the episode mentioned a possible demon father and then acted like that was the most broadly accepted version. Give me the son of Taliesin any day!

    • @sorian_delorean3348
      @sorian_delorean3348 Рік тому +3

      ​@@samprastherabbit who's that?

  • @CaedenV
    @CaedenV Рік тому +193

    I always thought part of Merlin's whole stichk was that he knew the future because he experienced life backwards. So his whole life in a world with limited writing and history trying to figure out how he ended up in the situations that he previously experienced in the future.

    • @the_mad_fool
      @the_mad_fool Рік тому +39

      That's specifically his depiction in The Once And Future King, which is meant to be a twist on the original story.

    • @sorian_delorean3348
      @sorian_delorean3348 Рік тому +4

      What? How?!??

    • @daman7805
      @daman7805 Рік тому +4

      @@the_mad_fool it’s also how he’s portrayed in the play

    • @DarkReaper12
      @DarkReaper12 Рік тому +6

      Backwards eh? Then was it a cave or a womb?

  • @PIRATE99A
    @PIRATE99A Рік тому +316

    Merlin sacrifices his whole life just to have a taste of affection. Super tragic.
    Yes, I know they framed him as a creepy stalker in the episode but as they usually say: "a good story has many interpretations, and this is just one."

    • @isapheonix
      @isapheonix Рік тому +28

      Ya... dude could have found someone who was actually interested in him instead of chasing after someone totally disinterested

    • @tonyhakston536
      @tonyhakston536 Рік тому +23

      @@isapheonix in many tellings Nimue is the one who starts the whole debacle.

    • @darkserpent6884
      @darkserpent6884 Рік тому +10

      ​@@isapheonix maybe his real goal was to pass on his magic and that was the only way he could see it happening.

    • @athertawfik6942
      @athertawfik6942 Рік тому +2

      Kind of related to him tbh, I'm a hopeless romantic and it felt like he was too

    • @prestonjones1653
      @prestonjones1653 9 місяців тому +1

      ​@@isapheonix
      Hey, if Napoleon was able to find love with an aging single mother who was deeply in debt, constantly had affairs, and found him utterly repulsive, then there's hope for anybody.

  • @jesseyancy1160
    @jesseyancy1160 Рік тому +136

    The earliest accounts of merlin that mention his death Ive personally read basically just say "yea merlin is under a Mountain somewhere waiting till Briton is in peril. Ok now let's talk about how much we miss Arthur"

    • @DieNibelungenliad
      @DieNibelungenliad Рік тому

      Oh boy I wish Merlin came out now because Britain is in big trouble as we speak! The Mayor of London and First minister of Scotland are pakis while the prime minister of England is a poo

    • @I.____.....__...__
      @I.____.....__...__ Рік тому

      Define "peril". Vague and ambiguous prophecies are as worthless as conspiracy-theories. 😒

    • @blank_3768
      @blank_3768 Рік тому +2

      that’s Arthur

    • @jesseyancy1160
      @jesseyancy1160 Рік тому +2

      @Blank _ yes I did mention Arthur too

    • @henrypaleveda7760
      @henrypaleveda7760 Рік тому +5

      the things I read were that Merlin was trapped in an invisible castle/prison first, then Arthur faced his fate.

  • @AtariEric
    @AtariEric Рік тому +90

    Do we _know_ Merlin taught her _unbreakable_ spells? Do we _know_ Merlin died in that cave - or, perhaps, did he simply change shape, leave, and go somewhere else?

    • @Jacob-ge1py
      @Jacob-ge1py Рік тому +8

      Do we know any of this story actually happened whatsoever? Or are we just going along with what the story says for fun? Because the story says he died in the cave.

    • @necromancer6405
      @necromancer6405 Рік тому +11

      @@Jacob-ge1py Buzzkill.

    • @zawarudo1161
      @zawarudo1161 Рік тому +6

      Do we know He didn't Just Break Out of the cave through another Wall?

    • @painvillegaming4119
      @painvillegaming4119 6 місяців тому +2

      Merlin later became a anime writer or something

    • @jacthing1
      @jacthing1 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@@zawarudo1161fair point. It doesn't matter if you make a door indestructible if you don't make the walls also that as well. Otherwise you can just blow the door off its hinges. The door won't break but the hinges will come out of the wall.

  • @Rehteal
    @Rehteal Рік тому +97

    My guess on it all is that this was his way of naming a successor, in a Sith-like way. If he could see all of this coming, then surely the end result would be something he desired, and what would the end result be besides a young, new wizard in the world to take his place?

  • @freddypowell7292
    @freddypowell7292 Рік тому +109

    Even here there are obviously different tellings, because the version I read had merlin put to sleep in preparation for future events (I think Arthur's return). Although maybe the Roger Lancelyn Green version was bowdlerised in that respect. Another difference seems to be that in your telling Nimue seems to be someone totally separate from the lady of the lake.

    • @bensoncheung2801
      @bensoncheung2801 Рік тому

      68th 👍

    • @karlrovey
      @karlrovey 6 місяців тому +1

      The one I first read had Merlin unable to see his own future.

  • @Luiz43447
    @Luiz43447 Рік тому +35

    I loved the Sword in the Stone reference at 7:00 :D

    • @WindFireAllThatKindOfThing
      @WindFireAllThatKindOfThing Рік тому +3

      Every time people cite the Sword in the Stone as Excalibur, I get the urge to slap them like people who missed the early seasons of GoT, and think the Lanister ending was romantic

  • @gauravminz8337
    @gauravminz8337 Рік тому +22

    Love the fact that at 6:57 it has both the references of Disney and BBC Merlins...

  • @ryanmcintyre5639
    @ryanmcintyre5639 Рік тому +368

    This episode was great! The version I read as a child had Nimue seduce Merlin to steal his powers, but I prefer this telling a heck of a lot more.

    • @ecurewitz
      @ecurewitz Рік тому

      They always blamed the women instead of the pervy men

    • @unaiestanconapelaez2526
      @unaiestanconapelaez2526 Рік тому +53

      The actual myth tends to be more complicated than that in both directions
      Because while Nimue first seduces him to learn his magic she was not going to hurt him and she remained for a time after learning from him until she got tired of Merlin and only then after he refused to leave did she got rid of him

    • @MAlanThomasII
      @MAlanThomasII Рік тому +38

      There's a LOT of versions of this. I mean, she's also the Lady of the Lake and Lancelot's mother and her name is Vivienne, depending on which telling of the story you want to use. This is a bog standard adaptation of Mallory's _Le Morte d'Arthur_ version, I think, and that's one of the most common sources for modern tellings.

  • @mr.waterbucket
    @mr.waterbucket Рік тому +61

    Great episode! Never knew Merlin was that desperate.
    Also, I love the little Owl House reference at 5:39!

    • @DemisexualDemigod
      @DemisexualDemigod 8 місяців тому +1

      I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed! 😂

  • @thatunknown_altguy1468
    @thatunknown_altguy1468 Рік тому +6

    5:40 i just love the toh reference man

    • @Seylin-zi8ec
      @Seylin-zi8ec 2 місяці тому +1

      Same I flipped out when I saw it

  • @scrollcaps
    @scrollcaps Рік тому +23

    Knowing Merlin, he f*cked around and found out what he already knew was going to happen.

    • @Scarfgirl
      @Scarfgirl Рік тому +5

      He was probably all "Damn, finding out w/o getting to f*ck around first is no fun"

  • @thesymbiotenation.4552
    @thesymbiotenation.4552 Рік тому +51

    Right the Demon origin, which makes Merlin an Incubus, which is the Cannon that the Fate Franchise went with

  • @dstyKchp
    @dstyKchp Рік тому +4

    5:53 LOVING THAT TOH REFFERENCE

  • @BeratLjumani
    @BeratLjumani Рік тому +163

    I mean he kinda explained it when mentioning Arthur and Guinevere. Arthur’s heart knew what it wanted so his brain wouldn’t listen, so it’s safe to assume that Merlin fell to the same infatuation.
    He knew this was kill him but his heart loved her more than common sense loved his life.

    • @LordDaret
      @LordDaret Рік тому +4

      I think this was an info hazard for Merlin on top of that. He was suppose to see her at the feast, but instead he saw her years in advance. By seeing his death, he had trapped himself into it.

    • @MichaelSHartman
      @MichaelSHartman Рік тому

      As done so many a man.

    • @jessicascoullar3737
      @jessicascoullar3737 4 місяці тому +1

      He didn’t actually love her. He stalked and obsessed over a woman who repeatedly told him to get lost until she killed him to escape his unwanted attentions. That isn’t love, that is delusion.

  • @danielsantiagourtado3430
    @danielsantiagourtado3430 Рік тому +61

    Yes! These episodes are so magical and entertaining! Thanks a lot guys!

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um Рік тому +44

    Things named in honour of the legendary figure have included asteroid 2598 Merlin, companies Merlin and Merlin Entertainments, handheld console Merlin, literary magazine Merlin, metal band Merlin, and more than a dozen different British warships called HMS Merlin. He was one of eight British magical figures that were commemorated on a series of UK postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail in 2011.

    • @ELSTERLING
      @ELSTERLING Рік тому +3

      The sad part of this is that history has his name wrong. The tale of Merlin is based in part on a very possibly real historical figure, a druid and prophet from the 6th century known as Myrddin Wyllt. It's not clear why the D became an L but one theory suggests that it happened when the French started telling his story because Myrddin sounds too close to merde.

    • @esmeecampbell7396
      @esmeecampbell7396 Рік тому +1

      @@ELSTERLING Given these stories predate the word "Merde" that seems unlikely...

    • @ChrisMattern-oh6wx
      @ChrisMattern-oh6wx 2 місяці тому

      Also the Rolls Royce Merlin aircraft engine, which powered the Spitfire and many of the RAF's other aircraft in WWII.

    • @ChrisMattern-oh6wx
      @ChrisMattern-oh6wx 2 місяці тому

      @@esmeecampbell7396 Also, it's not pronounced that way. The Welsh double d represents a sound close to "th."

    • @esmeecampbell7396
      @esmeecampbell7396 2 місяці тому

      @@ChrisMattern-oh6wx in theory Welsh pronunciation could have shifted over time, for example we don't actually know how Romans or Greeks pronounced their language, we can only base Latin or Greek pronunciation on the modern versions of Italian and Greek which could have changed substantially though slowly and imperceptibly over time.
      The simple fact that "Merde" wasn't even a documented word makes it essentially impossible as people wouldn't change the name to Merlin to avoid sounding like a word that didn't exist yet.

  • @michaeljebbett160
    @michaeljebbett160 Рік тому +645

    It's interesting that this channel reframes the story of Merlin and Nimowe as the story of a stalker and his victim, rather than a seductress and her victim

    • @thomaskilmer
      @thomaskilmer Рік тому +191

      I mean that's absolutely what it was. Sometimes historical authors who are drowning in their own prejudices write about events mirroring real life (in this case, what it looks like when a powerful man pesters a woman constantly without taking no for an answer) and then just ... fail to see those events for what they are, and blame the wrong person. But that doesn't mean we have to see the stories they wrote through the lens they did.

    • @davidmedlin8562
      @davidmedlin8562 Рік тому +10

      Interesting how?

    • @johnschmidt1262
      @johnschmidt1262 Рік тому +73

      Since none of the people are real, you can tell the story any way you want. The version that will stand the test of time are those that mean the most to the audience.

    • @MAlanThomasII
      @MAlanThomasII Рік тому +80

      They're not inventing some new variation; that's a pretty standard telling of it. I think they pretty much used Mallory's _Le Morte d'Arthur_ wholesale, which is one of the most common sources for modern tellings. What's so interesting about that?

    • @brandanberg1716
      @brandanberg1716 Рік тому +2

      ​@MAlanThomasII about the same amount of interesting as them not picking any of the other dozens of variations.

  • @Wolfiyeethegranddukecerberus17
    @Wolfiyeethegranddukecerberus17 Рік тому +42

    Was it worth it, Merlin? Was it really worth it?

    • @garcalej
      @garcalej Рік тому +5

      YES!!! 🧙‍♂️

    • @justicar347
      @justicar347 Рік тому +6

      "No, but I'd do it again."

  • @Bluebertos
    @Bluebertos 8 місяців тому +3

    5:47 THAT OWL HOUSE REFERENCE

  • @isaackrautheim5355
    @isaackrautheim5355 5 місяців тому +3

    YOOO LOVE THE OWL HOUSE REFERENCE!!! Also awesome video in general!

  • @Sorrykid01
    @Sorrykid01 Рік тому +153

    You know I'm glad u posted this bc Excalibur is one of my favorite movies and I always wondered about why the wise Merlin just ran head first into his demise despite knowing the consequences. I kinda thought maybe it was one of those things of fate that had to be in the myths. Kinda disappointing it was mainly Merlin being a creep

    • @azazelreeds
      @azazelreeds Рік тому +14

      Unfortunately Merlin is just a creep in general. When he's not creeping himself he's helping others like Uther creep

    • @Sorrykid01
      @Sorrykid01 Рік тому +7

      @@azazelreeds I always thought of his creeping as sort of a wise mentor figure kinda Kenobi or grandalf manipulating behind the scenes. I mean still kinda messed up but more like a helicopter parent who tries to prevent the worse outcome for their child, but now after listening to this and fact that Merlin kinda bought Arthur in exchange for his dad getting freaky which drove the entire plot of the myths puts everything I knew into question lol

    • @macattack5863
      @macattack5863 Рік тому +15

      Merlin can in no way be justified and got what he deserved of course. But he knew that. I think he just didn't care anymore. He had accomplished everything he could imagine he had seen everything. Everything but romance. He also knew that he would fail in this venture but it didn't matter because well nothing mattered then. He would rather trick himself into thinking he had a chance when he didn't than continue living a pointless life. Perhaps he thought the gift of magic was worth the grief and justified his actions, because he always knew it would never go anywhere he just wanted to dream and then die, accepting his life would never truly be complete and never could be.

    • @ViolosD2I
      @ViolosD2I Рік тому

      @@azazelreeds With Uther he at least had the idea to make him shapeshift to better his chances, which he then somehow forgot about for himself. In spite of being ready to even die in pursuit of her attention.

    • @Limrasson
      @Limrasson Рік тому +17

      For me this sounds like the true objective was to teach Nymue magic.
      It's like he wasn't in love with the woman he met, but he was in love with the woman she would become. Meaning that his love can only have an actual object if he goes along with everything he had seen.
      Also let's not forget that he is still a super wizard/druid and can probably chill in that cave for a very long time without issues.

  • @cdcdrr
    @cdcdrr Рік тому +13

    Death by simping. An all to relatable fate.

  • @Fierbreth
    @Fierbreth Рік тому +9

    that little Owl House reference just made my day, thank you so much for that!

  • @Prich319
    @Prich319 Рік тому +10

    Interesting, in the version of the story I heard growing up, Nimue was a servant of Morgan Le Fay sent to kill him, and Merlin didn't know this because he couldn't see his own future. Also, Nimue didn't just seal him in a cave, she had drained him of his magic.

  • @jarg_64
    @jarg_64 Рік тому +75

    Why didn’t Merlin try to change his future? Well…. Those who try to deny their fate are often the ones running straight into it
    Check so many other myths about prophecy and what not

    • @freddypowell7292
      @freddypowell7292 Рік тому +15

      Thing is though, this particular story has him make absolutely no attempts to deny his fate.

    • @thezodiacfoundation153
      @thezodiacfoundation153 Рік тому +11

      ​@@freddypowell7292 I think that's whole point they're trying to make, he was wise enough to know that if he tried to deny fate he would just end up fulfilling it one way or another anyway. So the wisest option would be to just accept it.

    • @I.____.....__...__
      @I.____.....__...__ Рік тому +9

      This video specifically said that he could change the future with "no repercussions", that is, he could change it WITHOUT self-fulfilling prophecies, so ostensibly, if he had tried to change it, it wouldn't have ended up causing it.

    • @unaiestanconapelaez2526
      @unaiestanconapelaez2526 Рік тому +2

      ​@@I.____.....__...__yeah but they are wrong. The Arthurian myths run on you can fight fate no matter what you do and your actions to try to stop disaster merely is setting the stage for it.

    • @testedalexthegreat1759
      @testedalexthegreat1759 Рік тому

      @@thezodiacfoundation153 But Merlin saw ALL the future, there was nothing in this universe he had not yet seen, and there was no fate he could not avoid.

  • @Joni_Tarvainen
    @Joni_Tarvainen Рік тому +45

    The moral of story: Post nut-clarity beats even the wisest thoughts from a wise man.

  • @skyden24195
    @skyden24195 Рік тому +10

    Merlin: "Wait a minute..., what was all this 'Maybe I could see a world where I could start to not be a hundred percent repulsed by your constant, unwanted attention.' talk?"

  • @justicar347
    @justicar347 Рік тому +20

    My favorite version is where Merlin is disgusted with Arthur's doomed romance so he seeks out Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, because he has never felt love. Not a flattering portral of him, but it worked well for the story. I think they leaned a bit to hard into calling Merlin a creep in this episode. He is, and it isnt subtle so let the story tell it. They seem to do this with a lot of mythical figures.

  • @georginamyrellsolver4508
    @georginamyrellsolver4508 8 місяців тому +4

    It's funny how Arthur tried to warn Merlin to just not do it and Merlin still continuing his pursuit of Nimowe. It just gave Arthur a taste of what Merlin felt when he tried to warn him about Guinevere. Which to me was a bit hilarious.

  • @Master_Of_Machines
    @Master_Of_Machines Рік тому +7

    5:40 reference spotted

  • @potats5916
    @potats5916 Рік тому +3

    5:40 TOH reference spotted

  • @xiiiultima
    @xiiiultima Рік тому +5

    Merlin? More like Simpin

  • @Bysthedragon
    @Bysthedragon Рік тому +16

    I think the Arthur sleeping with his half Sister Morgan Le Fey was a later version that came simply from Morgan and Mordred/Mordraut sounding alike. Morgan and Mordred were never originally related, Mordred's ambition to take Arthur's throne was always his own ambition, and Morgan would mess with Arthur and his knights using Magic and the Fey but most of her "Evil Schemes" were more like Pranks and she was one of the Sorceresses who showing up to heal Arthur after he's injured fighting Mordred.

    • @unaiestanconapelaez2526
      @unaiestanconapelaez2526 Рік тому +2

      Nah Arthur and mordred tend to be related is just that his original mother was the other sister of Arthur and with time both sisters ended combined in a single character.

    • @Bysthedragon
      @Bysthedragon Рік тому

      @@unaiestanconapelaez2526 Ooooh!

    • @ArkadiBolschek
      @ArkadiBolschek Рік тому +3

      In fact, Morgan-the-temptress is a really recent conflation of Morgan le Fay with Nimue and Morgause, Arthur's _other_ half-sister who commits incest with him and begets Mordred. And by "recent" I mean as recent as 1981: John Boorman's _Excalibur_ was the first version of the Arthurian story to weld the three characters together.

  • @LostSoulsParadoxicalDoctrine
    @LostSoulsParadoxicalDoctrine Рік тому +6

    I think Merlin knew what was to come, and as he used the King, she too became what he needed.
    Who's to say that he did die?
    Perchance he just wanted to be away from everything else, hidden behind something that would keep all secrets.
    ...or he wanted to have the most extreme escape challenge.

  • @LordZeebee
    @LordZeebee Рік тому +9

    "Man literally too horny to choose not to die"

  • @PramkLuna
    @PramkLuna Рік тому +2

    No matter the source material, BBC'S version of a young Merlin being drinking buddies with Arthur will be my favorite Merlin

  • @Alberto_Del_Máquina
    @Alberto_Del_Máquina Рік тому +9

    Who would've thought that the most powerful wizard in the story would die not from rational thought, but rather his pants. But I might as well give a hats off to him for the courage to face his fate rather avoid it despite the simple way to do it unlike other mythical figures that had face fate.

  • @philtkaswahl2124
    @philtkaswahl2124 Рік тому +4

    "Do you think the power to see into the future is a gift, or a curse?"
    Yes.

  • @SterbsMcGurbs
    @SterbsMcGurbs Рік тому +23

    You should do some of the fantastical stories of the early Christian saints, fighting dragons and performing miracles and whatnot. Catholic mythology.

  • @Anglomachian
    @Anglomachian Рік тому +6

    In the version I learned, Merlin was sealed magically into the tree above the cave, and is kinda kept there is a sort of suspended animation.

  • @Camdyn-s6m
    @Camdyn-s6m 10 місяців тому +1

    I loved the light gliff

  • @Campion_7
    @Campion_7 Рік тому +5

    I love the idea that merlin potentially knew he would have the name dick wizard extraordinaire thanks to the fate franchise

    • @redarrow2036
      @redarrow2036 Рік тому +1

      If one thing is certain, Merlin LOVED to play pranks and mess with Artoria 😂

  • @TravisSwan
    @TravisSwan Рік тому +5

    Merlin died due to simping. So embarrassing.

  • @ThatOneIrishFurry
    @ThatOneIrishFurry Рік тому +3

    "if you marry Genevier great misfortune would fall on camalot so mabye just dont?"
    "Well im in love merlin"
    After the wedding
    "If you get with Nimowe you will litterally die"
    "Oh your one to talk Arthur"

  • @peterbolinger6304
    @peterbolinger6304 Рік тому +5

    The figure that inspired Merlin is very fascinating

  • @zackakai5173
    @zackakai5173 Рік тому +5

    Merlin, the original simp.

  • @nps86
    @nps86 Рік тому +5

    Merlin the -Rizzard- *Sorcerer Simpreme*

  • @mrroboshadow
    @mrroboshadow Рік тому +6

    "if you can forsee your death why not give up on her"
    you know what you're absolutely right Arthur!!
    by the way just curious, hows that sister you shouldnt have slept with and who's incest child is said to cause your death?
    oh and how's Guinevere, ya know that woman you were specifically told would bring about your downfall if you married her?
    or just in a nutshell "hey there Kettle, name's Pot, have we met?"

  • @TheCreepypro
    @TheCreepypro Рік тому +2

    props to this legend for being a great cautionary tale and also probably just what merlin wanted us to think how he died for whatever reason

  • @Googledeservestodie
    @Googledeservestodie Рік тому +20

    Merlin is sounding a lot like Master Roshi in this story not going to lie

  • @dacosu
    @dacosu Рік тому +1

    I liked the small owl housr reference at 5:40

  • @tuamigajordana
    @tuamigajordana Рік тому +11

    I love the lesson of this story. Dont creep on women, dude!

    • @DieNibelungenliad
      @DieNibelungenliad Рік тому +2

      Nah, the lesson of this story is to never trust women

  • @ReshiramUndRayquaza
    @ReshiramUndRayquaza 3 місяці тому

    The nebula ad with JetLag is surprisingly well timed, since right now (approx. a year after upload) there is a new season again with the Sam & Tobi Team. LetLag is just great

  • @rexredcap589
    @rexredcap589 Рік тому +2

    I would love a series on the knights of the round table! Great work as always

  • @user-hz1jc6bg2n
    @user-hz1jc6bg2n 11 місяців тому +2

    *sees light-glif*
    "Hey! I caught that reference"

  • @ShanRenxin
    @ShanRenxin Рік тому +6

    So he pulled a reverse card by first finding out and then f’ing around?

  • @ArkadiBolschek
    @ArkadiBolschek Рік тому +1

    5:40 I see what you guys did there! ^^ Nice reference!

  • @davidgold3nrose
    @davidgold3nrose 8 місяців тому +2

    Love the owl house reference at 5:40

  • @yurisonovab3892
    @yurisonovab3892 Рік тому +37

    Remember kids, murder is acceptable as long as it's someone that makes you uncomfortable!

    • @killgriffinnow
      @killgriffinnow 9 місяців тому +3

      Our society in a nutshell

    • @StonedtotheBones13
      @StonedtotheBones13 3 місяці тому +1

      Sorry, what other recourse did she have for an all powerful magic friend of the King stalking her? The king whose wedding she interrupted no less?

    • @MrDeathbombify
      @MrDeathbombify 3 місяці тому

      you do know she was a kid right

  • @4ncientGu150
    @4ncientGu150 Рік тому +13

    Being a fan of the Fate series makes this much funnier.

    • @andrewcapra7153
      @andrewcapra7153 Рік тому +3

      Fate Merlin: just as whacky, irresponsible, and cryptic as the classic one, but is also hot enough to get away with it

    • @DefinitelyNotAShikiRyougiFan
      @DefinitelyNotAShikiRyougiFan Рік тому

      Everyone's favorite part-incubus flower magus

  • @ChrisMattern-oh6wx
    @ChrisMattern-oh6wx 2 місяці тому +1

    "This begs the question"
    No, it doesn't. It *raises* the question.

  • @Belisariuslover
    @Belisariuslover Рік тому +1

    1:30 who else though that would be a sponsor lmao

  • @alielkhoumsi4376
    @alielkhoumsi4376 Рік тому +3

    05:40 owl house reference.

  • @bleh329
    @bleh329 Рік тому +5

    Love the Owl House reference!!

  • @MarkHolloway1972
    @MarkHolloway1972 Місяць тому

    "Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha"
    She hit him with the Charm of Making ...😅😅😅😅

  • @thecouncilofbrazilianchads5580

    Merlin literally ended his life by simping tragic how a lot of men fall onto this type of addiction

  • @raptorjesues1445
    @raptorjesues1445 Рік тому +3

    Poor ice kin... merlin. It is said that his last words before the stone closed on him were "t'was worth it indeed"

  • @codyt9800
    @codyt9800 6 місяців тому +2

    I never realized how much Merlin is to ice king from Adventure time haha

  • @FoxtrotAnimations
    @FoxtrotAnimations Місяць тому

    5:40 I love that little Owl House reference

  • @Hoodspidey1
    @Hoodspidey1 Рік тому +1

    Merlin said got to see it thru my boy

  • @esmeecampbell7396
    @esmeecampbell7396 Рік тому +2

    Arthur, here's how to rule Britain for the rest of your life. I'm going for a walk and I might be some time...

  • @Maxzilla60
    @Maxzilla60 Рік тому +2

    Yes! More on Arthurian legends!

  • @lassesgamekanaal
    @lassesgamekanaal 11 місяців тому +3

    I love the owl house reference, thanks for that

  • @MarioMan392
    @MarioMan392 Рік тому +30

    Is it insane that my first thought was that this story is made up by Merlin and he actually just transformed into her and lived another life?

    • @em5522
      @em5522 Рік тому +6

      That Nimue died in her pursuit of greater magic but Merlin couldn't accept it or that he led her to it, and so, became her because that was the closest he could get to her in all these lifetimes.

    • @entity107
      @entity107 Рік тому

      Big brain move

  • @reenactormc8291
    @reenactormc8291 7 місяців тому

    I love how you animate everything in the Poptropica art style

  • @Machtyn
    @Machtyn Рік тому +2

    "Soooo, you're saying there's a chance?"

  • @stevemcgroob4446
    @stevemcgroob4446 Рік тому +2

    We all do something that we know is bad for us, but do it anyway because it feels so good in the immediate term. I don't need to be an all-powerful wizard to know three sodas a day is bad for me. But the temptation is strong, and I'm going to fail a lot.

  • @pastverb1
    @pastverb1 Рік тому +2

    Feels like between the lines of this story reads something about the loneliness of power and the deep longing to be understood, even at the cost of certain betrayal.

  • @CB-dg4gg
    @CB-dg4gg 4 місяці тому +1

    As a basic brit with no confirmed research, apologies if I'm just wrong, but I hear Merlin, Uther Pendragon, and Morrigan legends were adopted after the conquest of the Welsh. The later popular idealism of Arthur and Camelot legends was discouraging to the French aristocracy influences. At which point several addition were made. Lancelot du Lac, lover of the queen, The Fisher King, and Tristan and Isolde. .

  • @jhrstudios.87546
    @jhrstudios.87546 Рік тому +1

    5:41 nice owl house reference

  • @aerosyinc
    @aerosyinc Рік тому +3

    Fou: die Merlin foooouu!!!
    Merlin currently in a life or death situation with his ex familiar

  • @NobleWolf
    @NobleWolf Рік тому +3

    Heres one idea. When you can see into the future and predict everything, Life just becomes boring after awhile or he saw that the woman he trained would guide the future when he was gone. As powerful as Merlin was, he could not escape death in the end. So he gave into his feelings and followed them down his path he knew wouldn't work out for him. But really knows, I can't tell you what possible futures Merlin saw

    • @johanroyce6324
      @johanroyce6324 Рік тому +2

      I once heard a story where a man could see the lifespan of people around him and the woman he fell in love with had only 7 years left to live. Even though he could have avoided the pain of her death by not marrying her, he decided against that and enjoyed the short time they had with each other. I think Merlin felt the same way, even though the woman would lead to he doom, he cherished those moments with her and I believe as he slowly withered in that cave he remembered the good times he had with her. To an outsider he died a fool's death, but to him he died happy.

    • @NobleWolf
      @NobleWolf Рік тому

      @@johanroyce6324 true but still based on what we were told it was creepy and one sided lol

  • @ghadeerjalal8742
    @ghadeerjalal8742 5 місяців тому +1

    5:41 appreciate the owl house reference:D

  • @thevisibledork
    @thevisibledork 5 місяців тому +1

    5:40 OMG THERE WAS A TOH REFERENCE

  • @ELSTERLING
    @ELSTERLING Рік тому +2

    To make things more skeevy, Nimue wasn't even a teenager when Merlin started creeping on her.

  • @tyrant-den884
    @tyrant-den884 Рік тому +8

    I'd love to see Red cover this story on OSP, because there are so many versions of it.
    From Nimowë being the lady of the lake, to an evil apprentice of Morgana.

    • @DDlambchop43
      @DDlambchop43 Рік тому

      well, she mentioned it real quick in the Arthur video.

  • @Invalid-user13k
    @Invalid-user13k 8 місяців тому +1

    Such good campfire tales

  • @thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247

    "The Owl House" reference. Y'all think you're slick. >w>

  • @watcherzero5256
    @watcherzero5256 Рік тому +3

    Yeah Nimue was fae and was hundreds of years older than Merlin (she was the granddaughter of the Roman god Diana), he wasnt leching after a younger woman.