Merlin
TV Show • 2008 • Drama
ReportThe unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.
This tv show contains 54 potentially triggering events.
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Your Triggers
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0
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25
Unanswered Triggers
Does an abused person forgive their abuser?
44 supporters
Yes
0
No
0
1
minth
Uther is pretty emotionally manipulative to Arthur ('expecting only the best', banning him from leaving when Arthur is contradictive), who usually makes some sort of conclusion that 'he just knows what's best' or 'he cares REALLY' by the end of the episode
1 comment | Add comment
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Yes
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Abandonment
Is a child abandoned by a parent?
36 supporters
Yes
7
No
0
0
happy_earthling
Merlin is briefly reunited with his father who had to leave him behind with his mother while fleeing from danger.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
2
Abuse
Are there abusive parents?
57 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
1
TabiCatt
Its emotional abuse not physical
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone stalked?
24 supporters
Yes
14
No
2
3
catnip34
Merlin follows other characters in secret on numerous occasions, and breaks into people's rooms on the regular. It's not presented in a threatening manner, and is done to gain information.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
2
Mychael
Arthur playfully hits Merlin a couple of times but it's played for humour and he's always shown to be fine afterwards
1 comment | Add comment
Is a woman brutalized for spectacle?
101 supporters
Yes
1
No
3
0
Dogman101
S1
E10
Sort of? Merlin’s mum is hit across the face when raiders try to steal her villages food, she tries to get it back and is hit and falls back not sure if this counts but might be slightly triggering
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
7
No
1
1
TheMovieMistress
SPOILERS - Morgan goes from being a super kind person, who is mentally abused by Uther, with pressure of courtly duties and also the fear of living in Camelot with magic and no one to help her. (She’s also physically abused later on when she’s captured) Then she turns on her friends and family killing and manipulating, most notably torturing Gwen (her ex best friend) taking over her mind and forcing her to hurt Arthur.
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone gaslighted?
34 supporters
Yes
23
No
2
7
catnip34
A character thinks (correctly) that she has developed magic powers, but is gaslighted repeatedly by the court physician, who repeatedly tries to convince her it's all in her head and gives her useless remedies. Merlin also lies constantly to others, especially Arthur, to hide his magic, and this sometimes involves intentionally making Arthur doubt his memories or his faculties.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
18
No
8
2
catnip34
Arthur's relationship with Uther could be interpreted as emotionally abusive. Uther is frequently emotionally withholding and cold, and Arthur is preoccupied with pleasing him and living up to his standards.
2 comments | Add comment
Addiction
Yes
2
No
18
3
angstdroid
There are no drugs, but there are potions which do various things, such as sleeping potions.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
Does someone abuse alcohol?
20 supporters
Yes
18
No
4
3
catnip34
Gwaine drinks a lot and could be interpreted as having a drinking problem.
1 comment | Add comment
Animal
Yes
1
No
6
Does a horse die?
108 supporters
Yes
1
No
21
2
catnip34
There are horses present in battle scenes, but their fate is never shown.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
28
No
1
0
emsdog28
Season 1 episode 10 a Unicorn is killed. SPOILER: Arthur hunts and kills a unicorn which brings devastation across the land. Arthur must prove himself to cure the land and at the end of the episode the Unicorn is resurrected.
episode 11 a rat is killed and later fed to a character. Not seen but hear the rat sqeual.
episode 11 a rat is killed and later fed to a character. Not seen but hear the rat sqeual.
2 comments | Add comment
Are animals abused?
211 supporters
Yes
29
No
2
6
catnip34
A baby dragon is confined to a tiny cell for three years and suffers body deformations because of it.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
24
Is there a dead animal?
118 supporters
Yes
25
No
0
1
Chamomileandclover
There are several hunting scenes, though nothing too graphic. You see 'dead' animals though they tend to look fake
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
1
Are rabbits harmed?
78 supporters
Yes
2
No
2
1
Epidote
S5
E1
Dead rabbits are shown onscreen (36:42 to 37:00 and briefly, 40:15).
1 comment | Add comment
Does a cat die?
184 supporters
Yes
0
No
21
1
angstdroid
(Spoilers) In season 2, there is a woman who is cursed to turn into a giant cat with wings every night. She suffers a fatal wound while in this form. However, she is in her human form when she dies.
1 comment | Add comment
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0
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9
Does a dragon die?
32 supporters
Yes
7
No
16
3
cometmoths
Dragons die before canon. A dragon is believed to have died, but is later revealed to be alive. Wyverns (which are very similar to dragons) die on screen.
2 comments | Add comment
Are there spiders?
54 supporters
Yes
28
No
1
3
catnip34
In 1.04, Arthur gets chased by a swarm of giant spiders in a cave.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Are there snakes?
1 supporters
Yes
28
No
0
1
plaguedr
There are several snakes from snakes coming alive to kill people in 1x02 magical multiheaded snakes in 4x06 giant snake monsters in 4x08 and a snake used to torture people 4x12/13 and in 5x13
There are probably more I am forgetting there are a lot of snakes
There are probably more I am forgetting there are a lot of snakes
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Are there bugs?
1 supporters
Yes
31
No
1
5
catnip34
In S01E06, magic beetles are placed inside someone's ear to induce illness.
4 comments | Add comment
Assault
Does a woman get slapped?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
24 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
0
Is someone drugged?
33 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
0
Chamomileandclover
S3
E7
Gwen is kidnapped, her kidnappers use a cloth with something on it to knock her out. When Merlin presents the cloth to Arthur he takes a weirdly long sniff of it and gets knocked out for a second
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
8
Is someone held under water?
26 supporters
Yes
4
No
1
0
Merlinee
S1
E7
A character is held underwater/ drowned in a lake by another character
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Yes
5
No
0
Yes
9
No
0
Yes
12
No
10
7
catnip34
In 1.07, a female character uses magic to make Arthur fall in love with her, and they kiss while he is under the enchantment.
In 2.05 and 2.06, a character uses a magic spell to cause Uther to fall in love with her and marry her. They kiss on screen and it is heavily implied that they have sex off-screen while Uther is under the spell.
In 2.10, a love spell is performed on Arthur and another female character so that they both fall in love with each other. They kiss while under the enchantment.
In 2.05 and 2.06, a character uses a magic spell to cause Uther to fall in love with her and marry her. They kiss on screen and it is heavily implied that they have sex off-screen while Uther is under the spell.
In 2.10, a love spell is performed on Arthur and another female character so that they both fall in love with each other. They kiss while under the enchantment.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there jokes about sexual assault on men?
57 supporters
Yes
1
No
8
0
happy_earthling
Uther is put under a love spell and is implied to have sex when under it. This and his subsequent embarrassment are treated as a joke.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Bodily Harm
Is there shaving/cutting?
33 supporters
Yes
3
No
13
2
Mychael
Merlin accidentally cuts his finger on a sword
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone struggle to breathe?
28 supporters
Yes
21
No
0
1
Epidote
2x12, from 33:55 to 34:45
1 comment | Add comment
Is there decapitation?
42 supporters
Yes
2
No
2
1
Epidote
S1E1, first three minutes: a sorcerer is put to death by decapitation, but you only see him kneeling, then the executioner raising his axe. No body is shown, no wound, no blood, no gory sound, nothing but the horrified cry of the people.
S2E8, 27:00 to 27:26, A character threatens to decapitate another, who is shown kneeling on the floor, head on the block. The character raises their axe but doesn't do it in the end.
S2E8, 27:00 to 27:26, A character threatens to decapitate another, who is shown kneeling on the floor, head on the block. The character raises their axe but doesn't do it in the end.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
16
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
5
No
0
Is someone burned alive?
46 supporters
Yes
21
No
8
4
catnip34
Numerous characters are threatened with being burnt at the stake at various times, and it is implied that this is a frequent punishment for sorcerers. It is never shown happening and no characters actually do get burnt at the stake.
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone buried alive?
30 supporters
Yes
0
No
19
-1
Chamomileandclover
You don't see it on screen, but sorcerers are said to have been put to death from burning at the stake.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
5
Yes
0
No
18
Yes
0
No
17
Yes
0
No
6
Is there a hanging?
32 supporters
Yes
14
No
9
3
Epidote
In 5x11 and 5x13 a woman is hanged. In both cases, you see her approaching the rope, but everything afterwards happens off-screen.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
13
Does someone become unconscious?
4 supporters
Yes
8
No
1
0
Chamomileandclover
Arthur is knocked out a lot in fight scenes, he also falls unconscious from injuries after they have occured. Merlin falls unconscious from drinking poison in s1e4, Arthur falls unconscious after drinking something in s1e11. There are definitely more, sorry I can't get more specific, it happens a lot, most of the time from injuries.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
13
Yes
1
No
16
Yes
0
No
19
Yes
0
No
17
Is someone tortured?
93 supporters
Yes
30
No
0
5
catnip34
Characters are tortured in S4E8, S4E12 and 13, and S5E13. The scenes are not prolonged or graphic, and the torturing is done by magic rather than physical instruments. There are screams of pain. No gore or blood is shown.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone fall down stairs?
9 supporters
Yes
6
No
3
1
Chamomileandclover
S3
E5
The lady Morgana falls down the stairs after tripping as a result of something Merlin does. She screams but falls unconscious. There is blood on her head. Gaius says she is having trouble breathing and details her injuries.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone fall to their death?
12 supporters
Yes
23
No
0
1
catnip34
A side character in S2E7 falls out of a tower window to his death.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
18
Is someone stabbed?
16 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
0
postermug
S1
E1
Indirectly, a doll is stabbed in place of a woman but she still dies.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there excessive gore?
104 supporters
Yes
0
No
11
2
No. The show is generally considered family friendly. There is violence, but it is not gory.
2 comments | Add comment
Children
Yes
2
No
2
Does a kid die?
61 supporters
Yes
21
No
1
5
catnip34
No kids die onscreen. There is reference to children having been killed during the Purge, and in S4E10 the ghost of a drowned child haunts a character. There is another brief child-ghost, implied to have been killed by Uther, in S3E1-2.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
8
Creepy Crawly
Yes
0
No
3
Death
Does someone sacrifice themselves?
13 supporters
Yes
8
No
1
1
white_witch_winnie
S4
E2
Near the end of the episode, Lancelot sacrifices himself for Merlin and Arthur by stepping Through a veil to the spirit-world.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
6
No
1
Yes
3
No
1
Yes
8
No
0
Disability
Is the r-slur used?
32 supporters
Yes
1
No
10
2
Chamomileandclover
No, but several jokes are made about Merlin having a mental affliction
2 comments | Add comment
Drugs/Alcohol
Yes
0
No
7
Family
Does a family member die?
22 supporters
Yes
8
No
0
1
Chamomileandclover
Both Arthur's parents die, Uther in front of him.
S3e5 lady Morgana is close to death, both Arthur and Uther are very upset by this and this is obvious. She recovers, but these scenes could still be upsetting.
S3e5 lady Morgana is close to death, both Arthur and Uther are very upset by this and this is obvious. She recovers, but these scenes could still be upsetting.
1 comment | Add comment
Does a parent die?
23 supporters
Yes
31
No
1
3
catnip34
One character's mother died in childbirth (not shown, occurs before the timeline of the show). Someone's father is killed offscreen in S1E12, another father is killed right in front of his son in S2E13, and yet another father is killed right in front of HIS son in S4E3. Many side characters reference having lost their parents for various reasons.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
13
Is someone kidnapped?
8 supporters
Yes
22
No
0
0
white_witch_winnie
In one episode in s2 I believe, Morgana and Gwen are kidnapped. In s3, Gwen is kidnapped from her home and taken to a castle.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone cheat?
22 supporters
Yes
25
No
1
3
catnip34
Gwen and Lancelot in S04E09.
2 comments | Add comment
Fear
Are there ghosts?
8 supporters
Yes
28
No
0
3
catnip34
There are numerous ghosts in S3E1 and 2, a character is haunted by a ghost boy in S4E10, and in S4E1 and 2 there are ghostly spirits that swoop down unexpectedly on people, causing (usually) instant death. A character also comes back from the dead as a ghost or shade in S4E9 and S5E3.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there jump scares?
68 supporters
Yes
20
No
2
2
catnip34
In S4E1 and 2, there are several occasions when ghostly spirits swoop down on people suddenly while making a loud shrieking noise.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there a shower scene?
1 supporters
Yes
1
No
21
0
Miami
S4
E6
Not a shower scene since showers don't exist in the show universe, but Arthur walks out from behind a screen to take a bath and its implied he's fully nude. He later covers his lower half with a cushion in wide shots.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
0
Yes
0
No
23
Is someone possessed?
14 supporters
Yes
29
No
1
3
catnip34
A character is possessed by a ghost in S4E10. The possession causes him to violently attack another character, and he speaks with the ghost's voice.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
8
Yes
0
No
6
Gross
Does someone vomit?
111 supporters
Yes
3
No
18
2
Mychael
It's not technically vomit, but in one episode in season 5 Morgana poisons Merlin and leaves him to die in a ditch. During this time Merlin spits out some white foam in a sort of vomiting mannor.
4 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
15
Is there farting?
11 supporters
Yes
8
No
0
0
Chamomileandclover
S2e5 a troll takes human form. She farts several times throughout the episode very loudly
S3e3 A mischievous goblin gives several characters a potion that makes them fart in front of several people, they are very embarrassed by this
S3e3 A mischievous goblin gives several characters a potion that makes them fart in front of several people, they are very embarrassed by this
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone eaten?
36 supporters
Yes
1
No
5
0
happy_earthling
There is an episode where a villain feeds a prisoner to a monster. The monster later eats the villain himself. We don't see it on screen but see people's reactions.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Does someone spit?
1 supporters
Yes
20
No
2
2
rantofamadmuse
3x03 - a mischievous goblin is accidentally set loose and possesses the main doctor of the show who then wreaks havoc upon the dwellers of Camelot. Basically the goblin makes some let them rip in front of the king and they get embarrassed. It’s more hilarious that disturbing. ‘Cause the secondhand embarrassment...
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
14
Large-scale Violence
Yes
0
No
6
Law Enforcement
Yes
0
No
12
Is there incarceration?
4 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
1
TabiCatt
Occasionly people are in a medieval prison cell or are enchained, however there is no modern incarceration
1 comment | Add comment
LGBTQ+
Yes
0
No
7
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
7
Yes
0
No
9
Yes
0
No
4
Medical
Yes
0
No
22
Are needles/syringes used?
33 supporters
Yes
0
No
20
4
No but a scalpel is
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
23
Is there a hospital scene?
1 supporters
Yes
0
No
20
6
angstdroid
One of the characters is a physician, so there are many scenes of medical care, but his home does not resemble a hospital due to the medieval setting.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
25
Mental Health
Does someone have a mental illness?
0 supporters
Yes
0
No
3
2
Merlinee
No but there's jokes of Merlin having a mental illness
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
19
Yes
0
No
5
Is a mentally ill person violent?
35 supporters
Yes
1
No
8
1
Mychael
Again arguably. Depends what you interpret for the characters
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Yes
0
No
21
Yes
7
No
1
1
Chamomileandclover
S3
E8
The fisher king has been suffering for a very long time, his request from Merlin is for a phoenix eye that sucks out his energy and he disintegrates. He is unable to die of natural causes, there is no gore
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
8
Yes
17
No
3
Yes
0
No
4
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
31 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
1
No
16
Is there a claustrophobic scene?
18 supporters
Yes
8
No
10
0
Chamomileandclover
S5
E8
There is a scene in which a character has been trapped in a small well for three years with a dragon, which becomes deformed because of this.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
23
Yes
18
No
3
3
hannahw035
In 4x09, a version of a previous character takes his life & this is directly stated. It happens off screen.
In 5x10 a woman stabs herself. You can see & hear the movement of the sword, but no blood is shown.
In 5x10 a woman stabs herself. You can see & hear the movement of the sword, but no blood is shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone suffer from PTSD?
0 supporters
Yes
7
No
1
2
Mychael
Arguably
1 comment | Add comment
Noxious
Yes
3
No
0
Is there shakey cam?
48 supporters
Yes
4
No
12
0
Sarah_Rose
S1
E10
S1 Ep10 at the beginning
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
7
No
0
Yes
0
No
6
Yes
2
No
16
Paranoia
Is someone watched without knowing?
15 supporters
Yes
4
No
0
2
Chamomileandclover
Merlin spies on people a few times, Arthur observes a conversation in which he feels betrayed because of it
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Pregnancy
Yes
0
No
7
Yes
0
No
17
Yes
0
No
6
Yes
0
No
19
Yes
0
No
21
Does a pregnant person die?
28 supporters
Yes
17
No
5
3
hannahw035
Arthur's mother is said to have died in childbirth, however this happened prior to the show so we don't see it.
2 comments | Add comment
Prejudice
Yes
0
No
21
Is there ableist language or behavior?
41 supporters
Yes
20
No
3
7
catnip34
There is a plotline in S4E12 where Merlin uses magic to briefly turn Arthur into a "simpleton" in order to get him out of Camelot. This is played for laughs within the show.
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
25
Yes
0
No
24
Are there "Man in a dress" jokes?
40 supporters
Yes
15
No
2
2
catnip34
In S02E09, Merlin is caught stealing a dress to bring to someone else, and Gwen and Arthur both joke about it.
In S03E13, Leon has to wear a dress to escape from the castle. There aren't exactly jokes about it, except that Leon is displeased to have to wear a dress. He is shown changing out of the dress and not shown actually wearing it.
In S03E13, Leon has to wear a dress to escape from the castle. There aren't exactly jokes about it, except that Leon is displeased to have to wear a dress. He is shown changing out of the dress and not shown actually wearing it.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
23
3
elliotscreams
No, but Arthur calls Merlin a “girl” as an insult multiple times throught the show, mostly in a light-hearted way.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
16
Are there fat jokes?
56 supporters
Yes
27
No
0
7
catnip34
Arthur is self-conscious about his weight and is frequently teased about it by Merlin.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
1
No
5
Does the black guy die first?
24 supporters
Yes
2
No
18
3
elliotscreams
Multiple POC die in this show, but I don’t believe the first person to die was black.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there hate speech?
32 supporters
Yes
11
No
7
5
rantofamadmuse
Depends on context.. is it towards the magical community? Yes - by king Uther who had a hard on for anything magical. (HS) towards PoC? Not that I can ever recall. If there were (hate speech) it would be more of a classisms type of thing if anything “she can’t be queen she’s a serving girl” rather than based on colour.
1 comment | Add comment
Race
Yes
0
No
7
Relationships
Yes
0
No
6
Sex
Are there nude scenes?
52 supporters
Yes
1
No
6
0
There are points where we are aware someone is nude, like when theyre getting changed, bathing, etc, but we never see full nudity apart from one episode with arthur when we see everything but his, um,, yk.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
1
No
4
Yes
3
No
15
5
hannahw035
There is incestuous flirting between two of the characters in the beginning before they find out they're related. This has died down by season 2.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there sexual content?
64 supporters
Yes
1
No
23
0
Xxnita420
There's refrences but nothing explicit.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Sexism
Is a male character ridiculed for crying?
21 supporters
Yes
2
No
4
2
Not really, merlin cries a few times throughout the show, arthur once says to him "no men are worth your tears" when merlin cries after his father dies. But its not ridiculing, arthurs just bad at comforting people lol
1 comment | Add comment
Sickness
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
6
Social
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
5
Spoiler
Yes
0
No
20
Yes
0
No
3
Does it have a sad ending?
59 supporters
Yes
39
No
1
4
catnip34
[SPOILERS]
The show ends on a major and tragic character death.
The show ends on a major and tragic character death.
5 comments | Add comment
Vehicular
Does a car honk or tires screech?
10 supporters
Yes
3
No
7
1
Merlinee
At the very end of the show there's a truck which honks as it goes past Merlin
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
23
Yes
0
No
23
Is someone hit by a car?
22 supporters
Yes
0
No
26
1
Mychael
No cars
It's medieval
It's medieval
1 comment | Add comment
Violence
Does someone drown?
24 supporters
Yes
24
No
3
3
seadeepy
Ep 1x07 opens with Arthur underwater, and Morgana has recurring visions of him sinking. Near the end of the episode, the Sidhe push an enchanted Arthur into the water; Merlin dives in to save him but takes to some time to find Arthur & bring him back to the surface.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there blood/gore?
60 supporters
Yes
4
No
17
2
Mychael
Not excessively but it's present
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Yes
0
No
24
Yes
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No
24