History Characters / MerlinTheCharacter

* AllLovingHero: Mostly in the earlier seasons (Season's 1 and 2). Merlin would always try to believe the best in almost everyone, even those who didn't treat him nicely (such as Arthur) and those who were clearly becoming darker and more evil (such as Morgana and Mordred). He has even extended compassion and sympathy to those who were possible foes and enemies of his. Merlin believed in giving various characters second chances especially if he believes that they can be saved or redeemed somehow. This is mostly due to Merlin's idealistic and [[MagneticHero friendly]] nature. In fact, many of the mistakes, both big and small, that Merlin has made due to his choices are because of Merlin's compassion, kindness and empathy towards everyone, even those he considers his enemies or possible foes. Merlin has even said in so many words that "everyone matters, no matter who or what they are".

[[Characters/MerlinMainCast Main Cast]] ('''Merlin''') | [[Characters/MerlinOthers Others]] ([[Characters/MerlinKnightsOfTheRoundTable Knights of the Round Table]])]]-]]]

[[Characters/MerlinMainCast Main Cast]] ('''Merlin''' | [[Characters/MerlinArthurPendragon Arthur Pendragon]] | [[Characters/MerlinMorgana Morgana]]) | [[Characters/MerlinOthers Others]] ([[Characters/MerlinKnightsOfTheRoundTable Knights of the Round Table]])]]-]]]

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[-"If I can't use magic, I might as well die."-]

* WouldHitAGirl: He's never actually ''hit'' a girl - but he's dropped a chandelier on one, blown up at least two more, electrocuted a third with a lightening bolt, poisoned Morgana before later causing a roof to collapse over her head and then throwing a snake at her, and hurled Morgause into a pillar so hard that she was left disfigured and dying slowly over the course of the following year. Finally, in a literal example of the trope, [[spoiler: he stabs Morgana in chillingly cold blood in the series finale]].

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: In regards to many of Merlin's enemies. Often, it involves his enemies finding out about Merlin and him possessing magic.

* WhatBeautifulEyes: Merlin's [[InnocentBlueEyes eyes]] are widely popular with the fandom and makes the fangirls go crazy.

* WalkTheEarth: His ultimate fate in the end of the series.

* TallDarkAndSnarky: Merlin is one of the most sarcastic characters on the show.

* SupportingProtagonist: Sort of played with. Although Merlin is often seen as TheProtagonist of the series as it is Merlin's story, and he really does seem to be TheChosenOne. But once you step back and look at what he's been chosen for... His entire purpose in life, his reason for existing at all in the threads of destiny is to protect Arthur. Arthur's destiny is to be the greatest king Albion has ever known. Who's the ChosenOne now? By the start of series 5, Arthur is Myth/KingArthur, with a CoolSword (Excalibur), HotConsort ([[TheHighQueen Guinevere]]) and BadassCrew (The Knights of Camelot) seated at the Round Table. Merlin is still a servant, much to the fandom's dismay.

* SquishyWizard: Goes from this to MagicKnight as the show goes on.
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Merlin can communicate with dragons and wyverns in dragon language or dragon tongue.

* SelfFulfillingProphecy: His actions against [[spoiler:Mordred and Morgana]], at the guiding of the Dragon, are significant factors in driving both to become the very evil the Dragon predicted in the first place. Series 5 is all about [[spoiler: his efforts to prevent Arthur's prophesied death backfire on him.]]

* RitualMagic

* [[spoiler:ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: In the DistantFinale, he's clearly lived through the centuries.]]
** RedBaron[=/=]SuperheroSobriquets: In a sense, ''Emrys''. The Druids hold this name in reverence, and it strikes fear into Morgana's heart every time she hears it. It also describes what Merlin is, namely an immortal magical being.

* PlayAlongPrisoner: Camelot's cells have no defense against magic, which means that whenever he's in there, he can leave whenever he wants.

* MagicIsMental

* LivingForeverIsAwesome: [[spoiler: He leads a high-risk lifestyle and immortality allows him to come back every time the odds aren't in his favor.]]

* ItsForABook: Merlin uses a variation of this, ("it's for homework") in [[MerlinS01E05Lancelot ''Lancelot'']], to excuse his unlikely interest in the library.

* InterspeciesFriendship: With Arthur and Gwen primarily. Merlin is a powerful warlock and DragonLord (a supernatural species) with magical abilities and Arthur and Gwen are both regular humans.

* InstantExpert: At casting certain spells. Some can be slightly more difficult though. {{Justified}} because he is, well, Merlin.

* InSeriesNickname: Kilgarrah, the Great Dragon, often calls Merlin ''Young Warlock''.

* TheConscience: Often to Arthur. He always tries to prevent Arthur from being overly impulsive in his actions due to his temper. In short, for Arthur, Merlin is the voice of reason, even though Arthur doesn't realize it. However, it's subverted in ''The Disir'' when Merlin advises Arthur to do something ''against'' his conscience.
%%* CoolOldGuy: When masquerading as the 80-year-old sorcerer "Dragoon".

* BodyguardingABadass: Subverted. Arthur is the best swordsman in the Five Kingdoms and can defeat two other swordsmen blindfolded. He has a servant which watches his back on missions. Subverted in that the servant is Merlin, and can kill you with his brain making him the more badass of the two.

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Merlin just can't stand by doing nothing when someone needs help despite the warnings of his mentors.

* CoolLoser: Merlin comes off as clumsy, dorky and incompetent to others (notably Arthur), not to mention that he comes from a commoner background and is nothing but a servant surrounded by noble figures (such as kings, queens, princes, princesses and knights, etc). However, despite this, Merlin is in fact the most powerful, [[BadassAdorable badass]], [[TeenGenius intelligent]] and well-informed character in the show. He is also charming, likeable, friendly and [[MagneticHero makes friends very easily]], as evidenced with Lancelot, Gwen, Morgana, and Gwaine. Merlin is also highly respected amongst the Druids and other magic users.

[[header:[-[[center:''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' '''[[Series/{{Merlin|2008}} Character Index]]'''\\

* CompositeCharacter: In the finale, Merlin takes on the role that is usually allocated to Bedivere in the legends when he throws Excalibur back to the Lady in the Lake.

!!Merlin