At long last (a few days late, sorry), the final review of this Merlin series is here. Evil Morgana is promoted to Evil Queen Morgana, another handful of Arthurian tropes are finally given the Smallville treatment and… Arthur comes?
The story of Morgause and Steadily-More-Evil Morgana has been ongoing since series two, so this episode is the finale of almost two years. No pressure, but it ought to be amazingly conclusive.
Reign Fall
Normally in these finale reviews, I refrain from being too spoilery about the actual ending. However, I’m going to let myself at it this time, so if you’ve not seen the episode yet, go to iPlayer and do so, then meet us back here. There are two reasons I’m doing this: Firstly, I’m running quite late, so you’ve had more time.
Secondly, there wasn’t much of an ending to the main storyline. Morgana and Morgause disappeared in a cloud of rubble, whereas I was hoping we’d get a more conclusive ending for at least one of them. Instead, she’s Queen for one week, which only gets really used in one scene at the very start, then wanders off again to plot anew.
As I speculated in last week’s comments section, they could’ve revealed she was brainwashed the whole time, which would’ve been more awful. All told, though, I felt there was more character progression in Queen Of Hearts than in the finale.
Round Numbers
However, I did enjoy the Round Table appearance, along with the proper knighting of several irregular guests. Does that mean Santiago Cabera and company will be a more regular presence next year? I hope so, as I enjoy most of them. (Although Gwaine’s “peek-a-boo” scene at the end was mystifying.) In fact, the actual action of this episode was a lot of fun. Let’s not let my disappointment with the ending drag it down.
Odder was the depiction of Uther as a broken man, with an implication that Arthur might get pushed in the direction of ruling. Is this the “Coming Of Arthur” mentioned in the title? Things are left frustratingly vague; hopefully this will be the area in which we see some progression next year.
Because Merlin is already renewed for a fourth series, of only ten episodes due to budget cuts. Based on my viewing experience this year, perhaps this might result in tighter storylines and less repetition. But despite my grumpiness, this has been a decent year for Merlin, with a very few episodes failing to entertain me.
Though all it needs is moments like “You don’t have a choice, Merlin” in this episode to keep me amused. Are you the same? Let me know your thoughts on the episode, and the series as a whole, now it’s over.
More Merlin on Dork Adore | Merlin: The Coming Of Arthur – Part 1 – Dork Review
Nick Bryan
Nick learned to read and write at an early age. This has developed into an unhealthy need to either write stories or consume them for later dissection. He reviews film and TV on Dork Adore and The Digital Fix, lives in London and enjoys a nice white beer.
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Personally I loved the episode. I was equally mystified by Gwaine at the end, but since it gave him screen time I'm not complaining too loudly! To be honest I felt the most redundant part was the sudden introduction of “Percival” whose only seemed to be in the episode to make up numbers at the polo-shaped table. Maybe they should have introduced him earlier, but this is only a tiny gripe. All in all I enjoyed it – especially Morgana's screeching at the end.
Yeah, the Gwaine sequence seemed like it was following some earlier scene where we should have seen him supposedly go down in battle. Except no such scene existed. Maybe they cut one, but forgot the other/decided to leave it in anyway.
Personally i loved the finale, i would have like to see more of Lancealot explaining to Gwen why he disappeared..or even more of a dialalogue between them. But i found that it had everything in it.It had true friendship,honour and laughs(Gwen and Sir Leon as a woman) loved it,Arthur and Merlin and even the lovely Gwaine(Sir Gwaine to you).What a great storyline and good acting.
But i do wish they would have killed off the 2 witches. Will be MISSED for a year.But thank you Merlin for a good Saturday night TV. Can't wait to see what happens next.
unfortunatly i haven't seen the episode and i can't from the link because “it is not available in your area” which is in my case germany, so i have to wait to buy me the season on amazon when it is getting cheaper ^^.
wah, i'm excited with this whole plot morgana being evil, but i think it is unfair, because everyone has guidance and she, has power and nobody helps her…cruel world !
budget cuts? mean…does anybody know if the fourth season will be the last (or maybe another one) so that this tv show will be like a normal length-serial or will it something like an 8 season-thing?
greetings, lisa.