The Merlin - "good guy" or "CEO of Big Evil Inc"?

[ebliss1]

Any chance that the Merlin set Harry up from book one? Could he be the one who tested out the explodey-heart spell with Victor Sells as a way of making sure it worked before handing it to the Red King as part of a really long range plan to have Harry wipe out the Red Court? Remember in Edinburgh, the Merlin told Harry that the Red Court was going to be exterminated? That hardly sounds like what the leader of a White Council that was slowly losing a war, was being fractured by internal politics and was in the middle of peace talks would say out loud to anyone unless he had somthing else up his sleeve?

The Merlin could easily have seen Harry as a powerful thug who could be manipulated and molded into a formidible weapon. We know Harry is vulnerable to external manipulation and when pointed at a target, he can do a lot of damage. Lara has even commented directly to him that he "is the most wonderful weapon she has ever wielded". Why would we assume that she is the only one to use his so? Could the Merlin himself be Cowl? Could he have given the hexenwulf belts to the FBI?

We've often heard Harry talk about Arthur Langtry with the phrase "you don't get to be the Merlin of the White Council by collecting bottle caps." Could that be part of Jim's foreshadowing of the fact that the Merlin is more than just a powerful wizard?

[matorade]

I don't think he is anything and even isn't Cowl but is just an arrogant and screwy politician.  In Changes, I think after gone though so many things in recent books we're seeing a changed stance in Merlin who is starting to accept that the Red Court isn't interest to hold on their promise for a ceasefire or a long term truce.

[MartyTaylor]

I think Jim is being intentionally murky on this one. He won't give us enough information to know for certain on this until the end of the series.

I personally don't think this scenario is likely because the Merlin is the Merlin. Being the Merlin gives him a lot safer and simpler path to accomplishing very similar objectives to the Black Council with out all of the subterfuge. In other words, why would he undermine the White Council when he's in the best position to change it?

[the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh]

Remember in Edinburgh, the Merlin told Harry that the Red Court was going to be exterminated? That hardly sounds like what the leader of a White Council that was slowly losing a war, was being fractured by internal politics and was in the middle of peace talks would say out loud to anyone unless he had somthing else up his sleeve?

Of course he has something up his sleeve; working with the Grey Council, Odin, Uriel and Mab to turn Harry into a superweapon and get that extermination of the bad guys done.

The Merlin is a good guy, and one of the smartest in the series.

[ballplayer72]

Of course he has something up his sleeve; working with the Grey Council, Odin, Uriel and Mab to turn Harry into a superweapon and get that extermination of the bad guys done.

The Merlin is a good guy, and one of the smartest in the series.

He's also kind of a jerk.   But I have to agree he's against the black council and their pawns.

[Bwleon7]

I think the Merlin is pushing Harry to his very limits. The Merlin knows more about Harry then even Harry knows about himself. I think the Merlin is putting Harry though training for something big and Harry just doesn't know it..

[FreshBrewedZombie]

I just want a shirt that says CEO of Big Evil Inc.

[ClintACK]

Cowl was probably involved in several of those things.

The Merlin is certainly one suspect for the role of Cowl.

But I can't figure out why, if the Merlin were Cowl, he would have arranged the last events of Turn Coat as they were.  One of his allies (Morgan) was publicly discredited and killed off.  This was arranged by one of Cowl's allies (Peabody) and Peabody killed wizards of the White Council virtually at random (not useful to anyone, except as a desperate distraction), stopped only by the Merlin.

So...

I'd guess that the Merlin does know quite a bit about Harry --- everyone seems to, except Harry.  But I don't think the Merlin is the big bad.  Almost anyone else on the White Council, but not him.

(Of course, that's what makes treachery so shocking -- it's the last person you'd expect.  But it's usually someone who has a good motive.)

If it is the Merlin, it likely means his motive is more sinister -- loyalty to the Old Ones, or something like that.

[Paynesgrey]

There are a number of shoes that could fit Merlin.  I don't think he's Cowl or Black Council.  He could be honestly trying to do "the right thing" or just another power lusting, self righteous prick with no conscience or remorse.  You don't become the ruler of an ancient, powerful secret magical society by playing clean and honest.  I'm guessing that he's in between, not being pure villain but has become such a jaded political animal that he'll sacrifice, even murder, innocents to remain in power so he can "do what's best."  I don't think he so much fears Harry going warlock as he does Harry becoming a challenger to his rule, but he'll roll out the rationalizations... "Dresden doesn't really deserve to die, but if he gets killed it'll keep the council unified, keep people from choosing wrong.  I can protect the members from making the wrong choices if I retain power, sacrifices have to be made...."

Did Harry ever describe what he saw when the Merlin soulgazed him? 

[sjsharks]

But I can't figure out why, if the Merlin were Cowl, he would have arranged the last events of Turn Coat as they were.  One of his allies (Morgan) was publicly discredited and killed off.  This was arranged by one of Cowl's allies (Peabody) and Peabody killed wizards of the White Council virtually at random (not useful to anyone, except as a desperate distraction), stopped only by the Merlin.

Personally, I don't think that Cowl is Black Council.

If he were, then why wouldn't he have just asked Peabody for a rough draft of the book, or notes on the book to someone the Earl King? (lol I thought of some possible evidence against this but I'll wait to see if anyone else can think of it )

[Mr. Kemp]

paynesgrey: That's pretty much exactly how I see the Merlin. He may not be the ultimate evil, but nobody ever said he was; of course you don't have to be evil on the skinwalker's scale to be a power-hungry, fanatical asshole who places next to no value on individual lives.

[Tree]

Cowl is not BC, Harry mentions the name to Kumori (I think) and she mentions in turn that they're trying to shut them down saying something like "there are worse things out there than us".

[WarlocksRUs]

Personally, I don't think that Cowl is Black Council.

I agree, but because I'm in the camp of there not actually being such a thing as a Black Council.

[newfan09]

I think we see a change in the Merlin's attitude, in Changes, because Peabody is no longer influencing his decisions.

[Midget Ninja]

The Merlin is a prick. Some times good guys are the biggest douche bags in the world.