Merlin || Shadow of Death

TW FOR VIOLENCE, DEATH AND SUICIDE.
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I can't believe I'm finally done! I had a blast making this video, it's been my baby for ages. It's my take on a more darkish continuation of canon. I'll go into more detail after the video specifics!
There are manual (English) subtitles available!
►Song: Through the Valley by Shawn James
►Fandom: Merlin
►Programs: Sony Vegas 17, After Effects and Photoshop
►Colouring: mine
#fanvidfeed #Merlin #Emrys #arthurpendragon #merthur
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Here's a thorough explanation of everything in the vid:
Basically, I kept canon the same here, except for a couple of things. Merlin doesn't age physically (unlike what we see in the show's ending) and Kilgharrah gets replaced with a GoT dragon (what can I say the VFX are much cooler).
Whenever you see bearded merlin, that's an older post-Arthur merlin. And the video jumps back and forward a bit.
It starts with an older post-Camelot Merlin (00:05) (during the witch burnings), and then there's a clip that's takes place earlier on when Gwen is still alive and queen (00:15) (after Arthur's death). It's a battle/invasion that I'll leave open for interpretation because I didn't think through it a lot, but it can't be in Camelot (the city) itself, because of the sea. I'm thinking they went to a coastal fortress to defend themselves against the invading Saxons. Then we have more battles (00:23) (I'm thinking the one in season 4, where Merlin calls on Kilgharrah, since he's supposed to die in season 5).
Then we have some visuals for the great purge (00:33).
I leant on a couple of fan theories: that Merlin is magic itself made flesh and bone, and that his birth was a direct result of the great purge (because such a great amount of magic was snuffed out suddenly, it concentrated and poured itself back into the world all at once -- into merlin -- basically balance, and magic being this immutable force that can't be created or destroyed, only transformed and passed on).
Then we get to see Merlin through the ages, until the present day (01:10), struggling with his immortality.
There's a callback to Camelot and the witch hunts (01:25), and then we get Camlann! Where he called on Kilgarrah this time! (01:36) It is intercut with a later post-canon scene, where Guinevere has been captured by some warlord or another. (01:45) Leon goes to Merlin for help and rescues her (this is not long after Arthur's death, which is why Merlin still looks like he does in canon). I like to think that he didn't go back to Camelot immediately after Arthur's death, taking some time to mourn where he disappeared and isolated himself (kind of like his father). So that could have been the trigger for him to go back to Camelot and help Gwen in her queendom (and now we have a much darker Merlin that's more ruthless and less willing to take risks, thus him blowing up the saxons right out of the sea).
At (01:56) we get Camlann again.
Then we have Merlin losing Gwen and Leon to the years (02:01), and we see the impact of being alone throughout eternity on his psyche. We get some nightmares (02:19), mostly centred on Arthur (because they'd absolutely be -- #merthurforlife).
There's Merlin talking down some soldiers going after him during the witch hunts (02:36).
In (02:43) we see Merlin in Avalon lake (I'll be honest here, my intention wasn't to put Merlin on the isle, I'm not sure if it's even supposed to be accessible, but I couldn't find a way to put him on the other margin).
We get Merlin in present-day (02:44), still chasing breadcrumbs (and maybe even starting to doubt his sanity a little bit? -- "Was King Arthur a real person?").
And then,,,, the attempted suicides (02:49). Because you can't tell me a person with Merlin's behemoth amount of trauma wouldn't develop a major depression after lifetimes of being alone -- not knowing quite what he's waiting for or if it'll ever happen).
Aaaand (03:06) Merlin has maybe lost it a little bit. I think he tries to venture into necromancy and some,,,, not-great stuff (magic-wise). But we catch a glimpse of Arthur at (03:19) so either it worked or... well, you decide.
Also at (03:11), we have a painting of Gwen in the background of Buckingham palace. It was commissioned by Merlin sometime during the renaissance period (does not mean that the painting itself is renaissance style). He made sure it found its way into the royal treasuries and it is displayed to this day, so it would probably have been the work of a famous artist. (In reality, it is a very beautiful portrait by Thérèse Schwartze that I have edited to feature Angel Coulby).
I've also used audio and footage from various shows and movies, including: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Humans, Corsage, The Living and the Dead, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Witcher, Cursed, Sherlock, Avalon High, Medici: The Magnificent, Doctor Stange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Crown.

[@Wintersmith.]

I think you guys in Merlin fandom are literally the strongest people alive. Also holy shit your masks. If I didn't know where you used your footage from, I wouldn't have known those are masks. Holy shit. Incredible plot, I love this dark introspection into Merlin, and into his eternal life.

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you so much! 💖💖

[@SamWinjester]

This is THE Merlin AU video. I am obsessed with your editing here! Omg how did you come up with such a beautiful idea? And your manips are gorgeous!!!!! The plot is amazing. Absolutely stunning!!!

[@Ly13455]

this is one of the most incredible fan made videos for a show I’ve ever seen! everything about it is stunning, particularly the truly amazing editing! I am beyond impressed really well done 👏❤️

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you!! 💖

[@timecrayon]

this is absolutely fucking amazing! i've seen a few fanvids from various fandoms that use footage from other shows with the same actor, but not on this scale! using both multiple shows with colin morgan, editing the images like the lake avalon scene AND using audio from different immortality related stories! chef's kiss. incredible.

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you so much!! 💖💖 yeah, some of those audios were even cobbled together from different lines on the show ahaha

[@turquoisetumult]

Very impressive manips and clip/audio splicing! (I always thought Nathan's speech about his dead son waiting for him by the lake would be perfect for Merlin AUs!) Anyway, I'm glad these fanvids exist to give us a glimpse of a sequel we'll never get; you did a great job with this!

[@GunnyEleven]

I don't even have words to express how good this was, you blew my mind!

[@namesurname9821]

This is... So well made???? I'm IN LOVE!

[@emrysxdragon275]

Oh my God??? THE TALENT. This edit and the whole story is just-what a masterpiece. This is pure art. And as a video editor myself I know how much work this was so WOW WOW WOW! Literally had chills through the whole thing and just gaped at my screen with wide eyes and open mouth. You've done a really amazing job!! 🤍

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you!! 💖❤

[@fayewalker3692]

This is absolutely amazing! But i couldnt not laugh when drogon appeared with merlin instead of daenerys 😭

[@savannahszabo1875]

I am seriously mindblown, this video is incredible!!! The editing and plotting of this story is so freaking good. I need this to be a fic now omg. This was so beautiful tho, seriously one of the best editied Merlin fanvids i've seen, and I can't believe all of the various clips work so freaking well together. Well done omfg!!!!!

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you so much!!! 🥰🥰 I do love post season 5 fics, they're a special kind of angsty. I do have some plans for some longish merlin fics but none post s5 🤔 maybe i can come around to writing something about this narrative later on :p

[@animekingdom7637]

My gosh this is amazing , best fanmade I've ever seen Wow seriously it's so well done , it's perfection Just had a mind blow XD

[@skyofuntamedfire]

Omgggg?????? This is such a masterpiece????? I'm in awe 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@knightlyss]

holy shit this is gorgeous

[@bapakmu9119]

my god, this is so fucking good, you are incredibly talented

[@paigedyett3]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE OHMYGOD

[@dollophead2235]

This is so good, I love it❤

[@twistedshipper]

So epic! I loved every moment! ❤

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you!! 💖💖

[@morganapendragon4951]

Stunning.

[@Floridell7]

I cannot describe how amazing this is. Seriously. It gave me chills throughout. Thank you for helping to keep the Merlin fandom alive 🧡 Was that a portrait of Gwen at the end I saw?

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you so much! Yep! There's a whole explanation of the vid in the description, but the story behind that is that merlin comissioned a painting of gwen during the renaissance and made sure it found its way into the royal treasuries, thus it being displayed in buckingham xd I made a whole plotline for this video ahahaha

[@Floridell7]

@@HarmoniaVids wow omg, I’m going to read that now. I can tell you’ve put a lot of effort into this

[@ciskagoor7409]

Really well done ! Stunning 🤩

[@misshobbity]

Op my jaw was on the floor the entire time. This is gonna be a long comment because holy shit this was pure art. I actually wrote a story way back in 2013 where the only time Merlin went back to Camelot was to help Gwen. The grief you portray here with him is so real and raw I actually feel like I've watched official new content. I'm absolutely blown away it flows just beautifully and tragically but also so realistic like this is exactly how I see Merlin coping with his curse and loss. I'm stunned in awe and it's incredibly inspiring. I have tears in my eyes too because I feel the depth of Merlin's wait and pain through this and the darkness he enters to try and escape it. I love how Gwen was included and in that painting and how Arthur haunts Merlin everyday the loss of him is monumental and you feel every second of that. I can't praise this enough it's one of the best fanvids I've ever seen and I've been watching Merlin ones for well over a decade. Amazing work❤ I'm so happy I've seen this

[@HarmoniaVids]

Thank you so much!! That is really heartwarming to hear 🥹 This is one of my favorite videos I ever made and I love reading all the feedback I’ve gotten here, it's truly amazing 💖 I love merlin with all my heart and I want to keep making vids about it, hopefully soon I'll have more time to finally finish the ones i've been planning for a while 🤞

[@morganapendragon4951]

Was that Bradley James as Giuliano in that last image?

[@HarmoniaVids]

Yes it was! Good eye!