History TearJerker / TheSwordInTheStone

* When Arthur and Merlin turn back into people after being squirrels and you hear the female squirrel who fell in love with Arthur quietly crying. Man, it's hard to even think about without tearing up.

** In the same scene the saddest part is when Arthur just realizes how seriously heart-broken she is and he looks genuinely remorseful knowing he can't do anything to make her happy.

** This is even worse if you realize how different human biology is from other mammals. As far as humans go, Arthur is just a boy barely into puberty, but in squirrel form, that's well into adulthood. The female squirrel would already be a grown woman, but Arthur can't return her feelings not just because he isn't really a squirrel, but because he's still a boy. He won't be ready for anything like that for years. We have no way of knowing if the girl was grief-stricken not just because she understood that her crush was human, but also because he was basically still a child and couldn't return her feelings if he wanted to. Even if we gave the film the benefit of the doubt and assume that she'd be in the same age range as Arthur from the perspective of squirrel years, she'd technically be older than him physically and emotionally next year. Regardless of how old she actually is, her "relationship" wasn't going to last very long.

** Which has nothing on how he feels after Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming Kay's squire, especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' [[KidHasAPoint who's in the right here]]. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that ''he can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and being a squire to a knight is the best chance that he can hope for and the only thing he has left because for a kid like him, he doesn't know how to forward in life. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

* Poor Arthur being saddled with the crown of England after pulling the sword out of the stone. He has ''nobody'' to guide him, aside from Archimedes, who has no idea how to help the poor kid. Arthur is a good kid with a kind heart, but has no idea how to lead, and his first instinct is, understandably, to run away from his new responsibilities. Thankfully, Merlin reappears at the end to help him.
** Arthur's reaction to Sir Ector bowing to him and begging forgiveness. Ector is, for all intents and purposes, Arthur's father, and while he was a strict, harsh disciplinarian, he was never abusive or cruel. He doesn't want Ector (or Kay for that matter) to bow before him, because they are the only family he's ever known.

** This gets even worse if you know the legend of Arthur. Arthur is King Uther's son (as far as anyone knows), but will never know his true parentage. Merlin isn't likely to tell.

-->'''Narrator:''' And below the hilt, in letters of gold, were written these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of England." Though many tried for the sword with all their strength, [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield none could move the sword]] nor stir it. [[WhamLine So the miracle had not worked]], and England was still without a king — and in time, the marvelous sword was forgotten. This was [[DarkAgeEurope a dark age]], without law and without order. [[DownerEnding Men lived in fear of one another, for the strong preyed upon the weak.]]

--> ''A legend is sung of when England was young''
--> ''And knights were brave and bold!''
--> ''The good king had died and no one could decide''
--> ''Who was rightful heir to the throne.''
--> ''It seemed that the land would be torn by war''
--> ''Or saved by a miracle alone!''
--> ''And that miracle appeared in London Town.''
--> ''The Sword in the Stone.''

--> '''Merlin''': Ah, you know, lad... that love business is a powerful thing.
--> '''Arthur''': Greater than gravity?
--> '''Merlin''': Well, yes, boy, in its way, I'd, uh- Yes, I'd say it's [[ThePowerOfLove the greatest force on Earth]].

** Enters into Fridge Tearjerker if you know how King Arthur's canon romance with Guinevere turns out. Then he'll '''really''' empathize with the squirrel.

* Arthur's HeroicBSOD after losing the chance to become Kay's squire., due to his punishment by Sir Ector. Even '''Merlin''' felt sorry for him. At first.
** Which has nothing on how he feels after Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming Kay's squire, especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' who's in the right here. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that he ''can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and being a squire to a knight is the best chance that he can hope for and the only thing he has left because for a kid like him, he doesn't know how to forward in life. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

* A sort of "Fridge Tear Jerker" example in Wart coming home to be tackled and licked by Tiger and Talbot, the castle dogs. While the scene is heartwarming on its face, its them followed by Ector piling punishments on him for running off into the forest. Think about it too hard and it might seem that Wart's station is ''the same as the dogs'', making them his ownly real friends until Merlin came along.

* Arthur's HeroicBSOD after losing the chance to become Kay's squire., due to his punishment by Lord Ector. Even '''Merlin''' felt sorry for him. At first.

** Arthur's reaction to Lord Ector bowing to him and begging forgiveness. Ector is, for all intents and purposes, Arthur's father, and while he was a strict, harsh disciplinarian, he was never abusive or cruel. He doesn't want Ector (or Kay for that matter) to bow before him, because they are the only family he's ever known.

* Poor Arthur being saddled with the crown of England after pulling the sword out of the throne. He has ''nobody'' to guide him, aside from Archimedes, who has no idea how to help the poor kid. Arthur is a good kid with a kind heart, but has no idea how to lead, and his first instinct is, understandably, to run away from his new responsibilities. Thankfully, Merlin reappears at the end to help him.

[[caption-width-right:350:Dammit Lord Merlin, why didn't you just let this squirrel have her happy ending?]]

* Arthur's HeroicBSOD after [[spoiler: losing the chance to become Kay's squire.]], due to his punishment by Lord Ector. Even '''Merlin''' felt sorry for him. At first.
** Which has nothing on how he feels after [[spoiler: Lord Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming Kay's squire]], especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' who's in the right here. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that he ''can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and [[spoiler: being a squire to a knight]] is the best chance that he can hope for and the only thing he has left because for a kid like him, he doesn't know how to forward in life. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

-->'''Arthur''': Merlin! Archimedes! Merlin! Merlin, look! I'm a squire!
-->'''Lord Merlin''': ''(makes a look of anger and disappointment)''
-->'''Archimedes''': Oh...er...very nice, boy!
-->'''Lord Merlin''': (''sasrcastic'') Oh, yes. Very nice. A fine monkey suit for polishing boots!
-->'''Arthur''': It...it's what all squires wear.
-->'''Lord Merlin''': And I thought you were going to amount to something. I thought you'd have a few brains! (''kicks a stack of books, to Arthur's shock'') [[SarcasmMode Great future. Ha! A stooge for that big lunk Kay. Congratulations, boy!]]
-->'''Arthur''': (''tearfully bitter'') What do you want me to be? I'm ''nobody!'' You... you don't know a thing about what's going on today! I-I'm ''lucky'' to be [[spoiler: Kay's squire!]]
-->'''Lord Merlin''': Oh, of all the idiotic - I, I... BLOW ME TO BERMUDA! (''blasts off like a rocket'')
-->'''Arthur''': Wh...Where did he go?
-->'''Archimedes''': To Bermuda, I suppose.
-->'''Arthur''': Where's that?
-->'''Archimedes''': Oh, an island way out west that hasn't been discovered yet.
-->'''Arthur''': Will he come back?
-->'''Archimedes''': Who knows? Who knows anything?

-->'''Arthur:''' Why that horrible old witch! I'll...I'll peck her eyes out! (starts to fly towards Mim)
-->'''Archimedes''' No, No! (Grabs him in time and holds him close)

** Listen carefully to the squirrel as she watches Arthur leave. It sounds like she's saying, "Go." Like she doesn't want him to look back.

-->'''Lord Merlin''': And I thought you'd amount to something. I thought you'd have a few brains! (''kicks a stack of books, to Arthur's shock'') [[SarcasmMode Great future. Ha! A stooge for that big lunk Kay. Congratulations, boy!]]

** Which has nothing on how he feels after [[spoiler: Lord Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming Kay's squire]], especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' who's in the right here. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that he ''can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and [[spoiler: being a squire to a knight]] is the best chance that he can hope for. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Dammit Merlin, why didn't you just let this squirrel have her happy ending?]]

* Arthur's HeroicBSOD after [[spoiler: losing the chance to become Kay's squire.]] Even '''Merlin''' felt sorry for him. At first.
** Which has nothing on how he feels after [[spoiler: Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming Kay's squire]], especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' who's in the right here. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that he ''can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and [[spoiler: being a squire to a knight]] is the best chance that he can hope for. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

-->'''Merlin''': ''(makes a look of anger and disappointment)''

-->'''Merlin''': (''sasrcastic'') Oh, yes. Very nice. A fine monkey suit for polishing boots!

-->'''Merlin''': And I thought you'd amount to something. I thought you'd have a few brains! (''kicks a stack of books, to Arthur's shock'') [[SarcasmMode Great future. Ha! A stooge for that big lunk Kay. Congratulations, boy!]]

-->'''Merlin''': Oh, of all the idiotic - I, I... BLOW ME TO BERMUDA! (''blasts off like a rocket'')

** Arthur's reaction to Sir Ector bowing to him and begging forgiveness. Ector is, for all intents and purposes, Arthur's father, and while he was a strict, harsh disciplinarian, he was never abusive or cruel. He doesn't want Sir Ector (or Kay for that matter) to bow before him, because they are the only family he's ever known.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb6seu90dX8 The opening scene]] alone is enough to make you weep. The song in the beginning is so melancholy...

** Which has nothing on how he feels after [[spoiler: Merlin's reaction to his actually becoming a squire]], especially when you realize that it's actually ''Arthur'' who's in the right here. After Merlin calls him out for not pushing himself to achieve bigger and better things, Arthur tearfully emphasizes (in so many words) that he ''can't''-- in the feudal era, a child without a legitimate lineage had no prospects and almost no chance of getting ahead in life, and [[spoiler: being a squire to a knight]] is the best chance that he can hope for. [[ForegoneConclusion Or so he thinks.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Dammit Merlin, why couldn't you give this squirrel a happy ending?]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Dammit Merlin, why didn't you just let this squirrel have her happy ending?]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb6seu90dX8 The opening scene]] alone is enough to make you weep. The song in the beginning is so melancholy...*sniff*

* When Arthur and Merlin turn back into people after being squirrels and you hear the female squirrel who fell in love with Arthur sobbing hysterically. Man, it's hard to even think about without tearing up.

** Enters into Fridge Tearjerker if you know how King Arthur's canon romance with Guinevere turns out. Then he'll ''really'' empathize with the squirrel.

* Arthur's HeroicBSOD after [[spoiler: losing the chance to become Kay's squire.]] Even ''Merlin'' felt sorry for him. At first.

--> '''Merlin''': Ah, you see, lad... that love business is a powerful thing.

** This is even worse if you realize how different human biology is from other mammals. As far as humans go, Arthur is just a boy barely into puberty, but in squirrel form, that's well into adulthood. The female squirrel is already a grown woman, but Arthur can't return her feelings not just because he isn't really a squirrel, but because he's still a boy. He won't be ready for anything like that for years. We have no way of knowing if the girl was grief-stricken not just because she understood that her crush was human, but also because he was basically still a child and couldn't return her feelings if he wanted to.

** A quick shot of Archimedes shows that even the old owl thought Merlin's words went too far and feels ''sorry'' for Arthur when he hears him tearfully breaking down. The look on his face is telling.