An Ending

Warning: this might give away spoilers to the BBC series Merlin, but only if you have no idea how Arthurian Legends end.

The last season of Merlin was recently added to Netflix.  13 episodes- I got through it in 4 days. Thursday night, long after I ought to have been asleep, I watched the credits of the last episode slide across my screen.

Since I began watching in 2009, I was more than aware of the general story line.  I knew Arthur would marry Guinevere, Morgana would be evil, Merlin would be a great wizard, love affairs, epic conquests, tragic ending.  I knew what was coming...but I let myself fall into the story anyways.

Back to Thursday. I slowly closed my laptop, turned the lights out, and laid down, wide-eyed and very awake.  How was I supposed to sleep, Arthur just died, Morgana has finally be defeated.  Merlin lost his best friend and Gwen lost the love of her life.  And possibly worst of all- one of my favorite tv-series was over, forever.  How was I supposed to sleep?

I'm not sure how I did fall asleep, but I recall waking up the next morning.  I was still as emotionally distraught as I had been the night before, but I pulled myself together enough to get to work.  Other students were laughing, making jokes, and intermittently focusing on work.  I sat in front of my computer, lugubrious and lost in thought, stopping myself from bursting out, "How can you be happy? Arthur died last night!"  It's a little sad how affected I've been by this.  Not only have I known what would happen for 4 years, but it only ended last night in my world, the last episode was originally aired in the UK in December.  I held myself together for the rest of work, then came home and satisfied Merlin withdrawals by finding Merlin-themed memes on Pinterest.

You might be wondering why I'm so torn apart by a tv show.  The reason, Merlin was incredible.  It was adventure and comedy, inspirational and occasionally terrifying.  The CG was horrible and the insults were hilarious.  After every episode, I was left with these thoughts:

No matter how big or ugly your problems are, be it monsters or armies, you can always defeat them by believing in yourself.

"Then I'm happy being insane, surely it's better than being miserable" -Arthur

Love can overcome the worst of curses.

A dull job is made much better by friendship and laughter.

"Being different is nothing to be afraid of" -Merlin

You can fix mistakes.(and there is usually another solution when you mess up and ignore the dragons advice)

Never judge someone for being a klutz, they just might be something great in disguise. 

"In life, you always have a choice. Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't" -Gwen

Don't trust cute girls who randomly show up right before a major war/decision.

Merlin wasn't just about watching a bunch of good looking knights go off on adventures only to be saved unexpectedly (and unknowingly) by a better looking warlock.  Merlin was evidence that good things are still being made, things that teach and inspire and leave you feeling like the world can be a better place.  That is why, in the Dragon's ever-wise words, "The story we have been a part of will live long in the minds of men"- Kilgharrah (The Great Dragon)