Merlin Creator Confirms Awareness of Popular Merthur Ship

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The BBC series Merlin gained a dedicated following, not due to a novel approach to the Arthurian legend – which portrayed Merlin and King Arthur as young men – but because of the strong connection between actors Colin Morgan and Bradley James. Despite their characters’ relationship, known by fans as ‘Merthur,’ not being officially part of the show’s storyline, fans continued to create their own stories and videos about them for years after the series concluded.

Jake Michie, one of the creators of Merlin, recently appeared on the Ladies of the Lake podcast to discuss the episode “The Diamond of the Day Part 1,” which he wrote and aired on BBC on December 22, 2012. He mentioned that, even after 13 years, he still feels connected to the show but wanted to remain faithful to the original Arthurian legends.

Around 34 minutes and 38 seconds into the discussion, Michie talked about the connection between the two characters, which wasn’t officially part of the show’s storyline. While their relationship grew from one of a servant and king to a close friendship throughout the series, fans often hoped for a romantic connection. Michie explained that, with Merlin, they had to prioritize the main plot of the show.

He confirmed that Arthur and Gwen will absolutely get married, stating it was a firm decision. They decided against a love triangle because it would have made the plot unnecessarily complicated. That was the main reason for pairing them together, he said.

Continuing on that thought, the show’s co-creator emphasized that Merlin isn’t focused on teenage sexuality. While romance and love could be part of the story, it’s definitely not a show about sex.

You know, when I asked about the overwhelming fan reaction to a certain relationship within the story, the creator was surprisingly candid. They admitted they were definitely aware of the buzz, but they really encouraged the audience to enjoy whatever they took away from it – and they didn’t see anything wrong with that! What they were aiming for wasn’t cheap thrills or dramatic conflict, but a story rooted in themes of love, loyalty, and classic ideals of honor and chivalry. It was a really interesting perspective – they intentionally steered clear of those big, sensational moments to focus on something more timeless.

He explained that they’d be thrilled if fans wanted to create videos imagining a romantic connection between Merlin and Arthur over five seasons. However, their primary goal was to tell a specific story in a particular style.

Merlin and Arthur’s Relationship Was Off to a Rocky Start

These two characters were deeply connected, tied together by both their friendship and fate. The future of Camelot actually relied on their bond, though it had a rocky beginning. They eventually learned to trust each other completely, but their relationship grew and changed a lot since the first season.

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When Merlin first came to Camelot, he and Arthur didn’t get along. Arthur was proud and didn’t take advice from anyone. Merlin believed Arthur’s sense of privilege showed everything that was wrong with having power, and Arthur thought Merlin was bothersome and didn’t know what he was doing.

As they spent more time together, they discovered their first impressions were inaccurate and began to trust each other. They looked out for one another – Arthur with his strength, and Merlin with his magic – and their playful arguments delighted fans, though that connection remained unfulfilled within the story.

Merlin is available to stream for free on Tubi and Pluto TV, and with a subscription on Prime Video.

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2025-12-26 00:36