Kingdom Dark
| Vid | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Kingdom Dark |
| Creator: | Ayrotciv8 |
| Date: | 17 August 2010 |
| Format: | digital vidding |
| Length: | 3:03 min |
| Music: | Kingdom Dark by Royal Hunt |
| Genre: | gen vid |
| Fandom: | Merlin |
| Footage: | S1-S2 |
| URL: | Kingdom Dark (YouTube) |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Kingdom Dark is a Merlin vid by Ayrotciv8 (3:03 min). Using footage with modified colors from series one and two the vid creates a gritty and sometimes breathless atmosphere of danger, urgency and hope where one can't be separated from the other.
The vid doesn't have an obvious narrative but the recurring lyrics fit Merlin and Arthur perfectly. Each line describes a motif in the show such as Run, you better run as far as you can, for Merlin running to hide his magic, running to save Arthur; Why - I'm gonna die and nobody cares for all the times someone is trying to kill Arthur or Merlin risks his life for him; You'll find out, the way to survive - Follow the light tonight! for their friendship, laughter, and sometimes literally Merlin's light to guide Arthur to safety.
All these scenes are connected through a sense of motion and don't seem to stand next to each other, but on top of each other. The result is an effect where the general theme of Watch your steps, it's Kingdom Dark is balanced by layers of follow the light. So much so that in the end There is fear behind your back is set to friendly clips of Arthur standing behind Merlin or Merlin behind Arthur, signaling protectiveness, and Watch me die for someone's sin is accompanied by scenes associated with the way to survive, showing a way out of the darkness.