Colin Morgan will return to the small screen with Amazon Prime's Mammals, opposite James Corden and Sally Hawkins. In a career spanning film, television, and theater, Morgan has played numerous roles, but none more beloved than Merlin in the BBC show of the same name.
Merlin remains popular today, with fans keeping the show very much alive on every corner of the internet. However, memes are a fan-favorite option to celebrate the clumsy, sassy, and powerful Merlin. These memes are funny and clever, but above all, they are a perfect summarization of who Merlin is as a character.
100% Done
Merlin and Arthur's dynamic is hilarious. They tease each other mercilessly and are constantly on each other's nerves. Arthur doesn't even mind when Merlin insults him, nor does anyone else around them; they know Merlin as a place of honor in Arthur's life, especially for a servant.
Still, Arthur's teasing can become overwhelming, especially after season 1. The young warlock becomes increasingly frustrated and unafraid to call out Arthur for his behavior. This meme, which uses an actual conversation between the characters, adds a small thinking cloud to go with Merlin's exasperated face, and it's honestly hilarious.
Emrys, The Sassiest
Merlin is the most magical being in Albion, but he is at his most shameless and powerful whenever he disguises himself as Emrys. Adopting the guise of an older man, Merlin lets his inhibitions go and acts out, using his magic openly against his foes and, sometimes, his friends.
Emrys is particularly sassy toward Arthur, who seems confused and possibly entertained by the man's boldness. This meme uses a popular template to illustrate a particular dialogue between Emrys and Arthur, and it's perfect. It not only fits the situation but also makes an already funny scene even more hilarious.
But He Is Just As Important!
Traditional portrayals of Merlin depict him as a vital ally of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; however, he isn't a part of the Knights but rather the advisor and court magician. Merlin keeps the powerful warlock sidelined as a servant, never giving him his place of honor as the court magician; logically, he's also not a part of the Round Table. Instead, he's the only character standing behind it.
This Reddit meme is a funny way to summarize a pretty bittersweet choice. Merlin is Arthur's greatest ally but never rises above his station. And while Merlin holds no desire for recognition, fans know he should've received a place in the Round Table for his many contributions.
Kilgharrah, The Wise
Dragons are popular in movies, television, video games, and books. They are fascinating and mighty creatures who will never go out of style. Kilgharrah is Merlin's resident dragon, the last of his kind and one of the young warlock's most powerful and wise allies.
Kilgharrah always offers advice to Merlin, but the warlock rarely listens. Even when Kilgharrah plainly states Merlin shouldn't do something because it will bring consequences down the road, Merlin still does it. This meme, which uses the "surprised Pikachu" template, is the perfect way to describe Merlin. He ignores Kilgharrah, then acts surprised when the dragon's warnings come to pass.
Camelot's One And Only Line Of Defense
Like most of the best fantasy shows on Netflix, Merlin featured a seemingly endless host of villains threatening the idyllic kingdom of Camelot. Arthur always led the kingdom's army against the enemies, but Merlin often saved the day thanks to his powerful magic.
Arthur's ignorance of Merlin's powers meant he often believed he defeated the enemy or some strange, unseen force did. This meme paints Arthur as a sleeping child and Merlin as a massive soldier defending him from Kilgharrah's attack in season 2. It's an accurate and funny way to depict Merlin's role in Camelot's protection, if somewhat simplistic for comedic purposes.
Time Spares No One
Merlin starts the show as an idealistic, innocent, carefree, and careless young man who freely uses his magic. His time in Camelot opens his eyes to the world's dangers and the many enemies he has due to his abilities, forcing him to mature and acquire a keen sense of purpose.
This meme uses a character from the wildly successful Netflix show Squid Game to depict Merlin's change throughout the seasons. Die-hard fans of Squid Game will know the character and his importance to the story, but Merlin fans will see him as a gentle old man who begins the game with hope and excitement and ends it in pain and full of weariness, just like Merlin.
Magic, Amirite?
Magic is at the center of every major problem in Merlin. Uther hates it and kills anyone who practices it, inciting people's fear of it. Thus, magic users become radicalized and seek to overthrow Uther by using magic, which only confirms Uther's irrational fears. In turn, Merlin uses magic to defeat the evil magic users, making everything a convoluted mess.
Thanos, the Mad Titan, and his quote about using the Infinity Stones to destroy themselves have become popular memes. Changing "stones" for "magic" results in Merlin's creed throughout his show; the poor warlock spends his days using magic to solve problems caused by magic, never knowing a second of peace.
I'll Pretend I Didn't Hear That
If magic is the source of Camelot's problems, then perhaps Gaius' advice that Merlin should keep his magic to himself might've been the way to go. However, Merlin never heeds Gaius' advice and uses his magic to defend Camelot and solve many of the problems he unwillingly provokes.
This meme is a pretty accurate way of showing Merlin's train of thought. He knows he shouldn't use magic, but he does it anyway. Sometimes it's out of necessity, and others out of convenience, but Merlin always ends up using his powers. It's good because the show would be a lot more boring without him exploiting his magic!
The Really Don't Know
Merlin is the poster child for how magic can be used for good. Despite wielding more power than any living creature, he only uses his abilities to help others, mainly Arthur. Merlin never abuses his powers and is living proof that Uther's dogma is wrong.
However, few other than him and his closest allies -- Gaius, Lancelot, William -- understand that magic isn't inherently evil. This meme is a great way of showing how Merlin might feel as the sole magic user in Camelot, and it's as funny as it is sad. Many characters knew Merlin had magic, but none could understand how lonely his life was, hiding a secret from everyone around him.
Right In The Feels
Merlin ended with Arthur's death and Kilgharrah's promise that he would return one day "when Albion's need is greatest." A seemingly immortal Merlin, under his Emrys persona, survives until modern times, waiting for Arthur's prophesized return. The ending is brutal and sad, especially for such a comedic show.
This meme, which uses Clint Barton's quote from Avengers: Endgame, is ideal to describe Merlin's feelings toward the dragon's words. Ever the loyal servant, Merlin waits for centuries for his beloved king's return, never knowing when the time will come. The meme is sad, but not more than the ending, which shattered fans' hearts.