photo: syfy
Original Air Date: Mar 30, 2012
Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com
Here we are! The final episode of the season, the big showdown over Camelot between Arthur and Morgana. I wanted to love the finale, same as I did the amazing first two episodes of the season, but while it gets everybody where they need to be, there’s something a bit awkward about how they do it that leaves me not completely sold on the idea.
That’s not to say there isn’t a lot that’s right with the episode though, Arthur fights to regain the kingdom he’s lost, and Merlin fights to save the kingdom he knows will be.
We left our heroes fleeing from Agravaine and his men once again, this time heading into tunnels outside Ealdor. As Merlin sends the others ahead, he calls on Kilgharrah to take out the forces. He manages to burn up almost all, as Agravaine and the few remaining head into the tunnels. This leads to a showdown between Merlin and Agravaine where he reveals not only that he has magic, but that he is Emrys. Agravaine finds out the important information too late to tell Morgana as Merlin takes him out as well.
Arthur impresses Tristan, who spends half the episode still harping against the idea of Arthur being anything special just because he’s a king, by heading back to make sure Merlin is ok. In truth, the fact that Merlin was left behind to handle the pursuers at all didn’t make sense. As Arthur said himself, “What are you going to do?”. No one in the group knows Merlin has magic, and he isn’t armed. For a person who had to be stripped of his will in order to leave behind anyone in Camelot, Arthur put up little argument about Merlin dealing with the great number of pursuers by himself. Sure, there wasn’t much choice if you wanted to quickly dispatch of the whole thing and move onto to the next part of the story, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t strained a bit.
Finally free from being hunted, the group head back towards Camelot to seek refuge in the Forest of Ascetir where Merlin believes the other refugees will be hiding as well, though it wasn’t Arthur’s first choice to do so.
We see Kilgharrah one more time as he tells Merlin that he must make Arthur believe he can be King again. And here we enter the bit of the episode that really doesn’t sit right with me. First, Merlin gathers up all of their people hiding in the woods, located with the help of Kilgarrah. Then he tells the self-doubting Arthur the tale of the sword trapped in a stone that only a true king of Camelot can release. And what luck, Merlin just happens to have located it not far from where they were camping out!
And on top of that, all the people who were fleeing from Camelot are there, and Merlin tasks Arthur will removing the sword. After a few false starts, and under Merlin’s prodding that he believe in himself, Arthur removes the sword to much cheering from the people.
Now it’s not made clear whether Merlin completely made up the myth of the sword, or whether it’s an actual myth the people know and he’s just set up the stone to go along with it. Most clues seem to say he’s made the whole thing up. If so, has he then spread the story among the people because they are elated at the fact that Arthur could remove this sword. And this is really all it takes for Arthur to once again believe in himself and his role and abilities as king. It all just seemed a bit too forced and coincidental to actually work, or flow well with the story.
The group, including Tristan and Isolde who have gained a faith in Arthur and agreed to fight with him, take their siege to Camelot. It appears they are attacking in broad daylight, but once inside the castle torches are lit everywhere as if for night. Timeline aside, the group manages to reach the throne room, where Morgana and Helios await them.
Only, Morgana’s powers are failing! That explains Merlin-as-Emrys’s little sneak trip into Camelot the night before and the singed straw doll he hung under her bed. As she flees, pursued by Gwen and Merlin, Helios and some previously unseen men move in to finish off Arthur, Tristan and Isolde. In the end, the only casualty is Isolde, who takes a strike to the abdomen as she cuts down Helios who was about to beat Arthur.
Morgana takes a wound to the side as she flees, as well as a magically knockdown by Merlin just before she can take out Gwen.
The death of Isolde serves to reunite Gwen and Arthur, who proposes to her again later, and we see her coronation. The gown she wore and the crown were amazing, and worked very well to start setting her apart from Gwen the servant.
Morgana is near death, wandering the woods, when Aithusa, our little white dragon friend, shows up and breathes on her to heal her. Interesting, him aiding the enemy of the person responsible for his existence. Does this set up a story line for next season perhaps? I’m sure it’s at least a sign that Aithusa will appear in season 5!
I was disappointed that the epic battle for Camelot I was expecting didn’t seem to happen, at least not on-screen, for whatever it may have been alluded to. I am pleased they brought the Arthur/Gwen story line to marriage finally, and I enjoyed the use of Tristan and Isolde type characters to bring them back together, as the mythological characters of the same names were ill-fated lovers themselves.
Another idea touched on slightly in the episode, and which may play a larger part in the next season, is the question of how many people Arthur has trusted who have betrayed him, and how Merlin is doing that as well by keeping his magic and his role in Arthur’s safety a secret. Excellent point, and of concern for Merlin who needs to remain hidden but at Arthur’s side as well.
Were you disappointed in the finale? Or did it hit everything you were looking for? That’s my two cents, now show me yours!
TheTwoCents 