* Merlin with young Arthur in the forest.
** Most famously when describing the Dragon. The weather saves him from thinking of a timely metaphor:
-->'''Merlin:''' It is everywhere. It is everything. Its scales glisten in the bark of trees, its roar is heard in the wind, and its forked tongue strikes like, like... ''(lightning strikes a tree)'' whoa, like lightning! Yes, that's it!
** Merlin stomps off, leaving Arthur to tail behind:
-->'''Merlin:''' You have a kingdom to rule.\\
'''Arthur:''' But how? I don't know how!\\
'''Merlin:''' You knew how to draw the sword from the stone.\\
'''Arthur:''' That was easy.\\
'''Merlin:''' Was it?! I couldn't have done it!
* Merlin's exasperation at young Arthur falling for Guinevere.
-->'''Arthur:''' I love her. If only she'd be my queen. Merlin, can you make her love me?
-->'''Merlin:''' ''(disbelieving)'' Now look! I once stood exposed to the Dragon's Breath so that a man could lie one night with a woman. It took me nine moons to recover. And all for this lunacy called "love", this mad distemper that strikes down both beggar and king! Never again! Never!
-->'''Arthur:''' Who will I marry, then? You can tell me that at least. What do you see?
-->'''Merlin:''' ''(in reverie)'' Oh, Guinevere. And the beloved friend who will betray you.
-->'''Arthur:''' ''(wistfully)'' Guinevere...
-->'''Merlin:''' [[NotListeningToMeAreYou You're not listening!]] Your heart's not! Love is deaf as well as blind, that's it. ''(Arthur is still away with the faeries)'' You've a land to quell before you can start all that ...[[UnusualEuphemism hair-pulling and jumping about!]] ''(scowl)''
** Guinevere brings Arthur a cake. Merlin tries, and fails, to impart some wisdom:
-->'''Merlin:''' Looking at the cake is like looking into the future. Until you've tasted it, what do you really know? And by then, of course, it's too late! ''(Arthur, who is still not listening, takes a bite)'' Too late...
* While Arthur is contemplating Lancelot, Merlin is trying to catch a fish from a stream. One wonders if he's talking about the knight or the fish.
-->'''Merlin:''' Look at him! So beautiful. So quick. ''(grabs the fish, which promptly slips away causing Merlin to fall into the water)'' Remember, there's always something cleverer than yourself!
* Having rued his folly at nearly killing Lancelot and breaking Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake holds aloft an intact Excalibur. While Arthur is too dumbfounded, Merlin keeps hassling him to take the sword quickly. When Arthur does, Merlin puffs out his cheeks in relief.
* Morgana tries to prove her premonition skills to Merlin by saying she sees a castle of silver and gold near where they're standing. Merlin points out there is already a plan for that castle and that ''everyone'' knows about it.
* When the Knights of the Round Table are first seen carousing and feasting, Merlin is slumped in a corner fast asleep.
** Suddenly Arthur bangs the table. Merlin jerks awake and struggles to answer Arthur when asked what the best quality of a knight is, like a sleepy student picked by a teacher in class. Being put on the spot, Merlin can't think of one and so stammers that they 'blend'.
* Percival is lost in the Camelot celebrations while looking for the kitchens. He bumps into, of all people, Merlin playing some sort of balance game which taps him on the head and knocks him to the ground. Percival helps him up.
-->'''Percival:''' You can tell me the way to the kitchen.
-->'''Merlin:''' ''(slowly turns, exasperated)'' Follow your nose.
** When he rocks up to Camelot with Lancelot he immediately asks where he can get his knightly trappings before being laughed off and sent to the kitchens.