my hc is that merlin hates compliments bc he doesn’t believe them and he doesn’t like comfort in the form of praise so when lancelot reveals his own insecurities merlin replies the way he wants ppl to react to him even tho he disagrees w what lancelot is saying https://twitter.com/silverpendruid/status/1301964861279219718

but merlin doesn’t realize that lancelot would believe him if merlin of all ppl told lancelot he’s better than arthur. merlin thinks he’s responding the right way and has no idea that lancelot feels as tho merlin is just confirming his statement as the truth

i think it makes sense for merlance as a ship. they’re kinda star crossed lovers in a way. always passing each other by. lack of communication causing misunderstanding and preventing them from getting together. it contributes to the tragedy of merlance

(truthfully it’s just that the writers are stupid as fuck)