Now that Morgana (Katie McGrath) and Morgause (Emilia Fox) are aware of Arthur's (Bradley James) and Gwen's (Angel Coulby) feelings towards one another, this is going to form a major part of the show, it's predictable. Gwen is now the only visible weakness Arthur has. He can't succumb to magic. Merlin (Colin Morgan) is there to protect him from this so he needs a more human vulnerability. Gwen could also be used as a tool or object for blackmailing Arthur, if so chosen. But it was good this route wasn't taken by the writers, since it's not in Arthur's character to give in to such threats.
Gwen returns home and is kidnapped late at night. Cue camera on Morgana, can she really see so far into the village, all the way to Gwen's house as they made it appear so here? No, she's probably snickering at the prospect of knowing exactly what Gwen is going through right about then. That she's long gone and taken to Cenred's (Tom Ellis) castle.
Morgana breaks the news of Gwen's disappearance the next morning, at least her not showing up for work, clearly being aware Arthur will do anything to bring her back. He challenges Uther's (Anthony Head) dismissal of her as being a servant and easily replaceable. Arthur defends her, she's "maid to the king's ward." Gwen will never be replaced in Arthur's heart.
Merlin shows Arthur the smelly rag he found at Gwen's house, prompting Arthur to inhale from it; almost knocking himself unconscious. Arthur: "you could knock a man out with that." (Or woman here.) Another comic scene between the two always reassures the show doesn't enter too dark a territory all the time. Allowing the two leads to always play the moment for laughs, showing the compatibility of the two actors and their characters.
Gwen meets Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) at Cenred's behest; her long, lost brother... he wasn't around when their father was killed and when she needed him and she lets him know of her feelings about that.
Arthur explains the name of the castle - Fyrien - where Cenred is hiding out. The name of a merchant, and was built on the seas of Meredor, as a trading route. Surprise, surprise, Morgana happened to be eavesdropping right at this moment, outside Arthur's chamber; as if she instinctively knew he would be discussing this right about now. She hurries away again to meet with Morgause and this time she doesn't ride out, but walks and again, nobody sees her, or notices her absence.
Another scene where Merlin tells Gaius (Richard Wilson) of Morgana's plans - this time she's in league with Cenred. Once more, it's come to be expected: we get Gaius warning Merlin they can tell no one of Morgana's betrayal as she's Uther's daughter. It's fast becoming a bit old hat. We know they can't say anything, then can only do. I.e. act to prevent her plans from reaching fruition. So there's no need for this to be mentioned almost every episode, or every other episode. Writers needing a wrap on their knuckles here for not moving past this line.
To Merlin's surprise and chagrin, Morgana offers to ride with them. She's handy with a sword, much more than Merlin, as Arthur puts it. Also Arthur's had plenty of time to steal alone time with Gwen , but he picks the woods to take advantage of this, now of all times, wouldn't Gwen be more concerned about her brother, than making out with Arthur. Merlin questions Morgana again on why she wants to hurt her friends, but she only brings up Merlin poisoning her, leading to the problem that Merlin was never really her friend to begin with, no matter how many times he told the Dragon (John Hurt) he would not kill the witch. He still felt he could change her, root out the evil from within her.
Gwen worries for Elyan, because like Arthur, he always does what his heart wants and ends up paying the price for it. Did Morgana really spy Arthur and Gwen in their "almost kissing" moment? At supper, Merlin not wanting Morgana to know the rest of Arthur's plan to gain entry to the castle, tempts with more servings of beans. ( Yes, Merlin, spoil the moment by suggesting this, crying out for them to be flatulent all night long.) Arthur however does tell of the secret passage under the castle, leaving Morgana to slip away into the night once more. Always wondered why Morgana has to tell Morgause everything, can't she just hear it for herself with her magic.
Merlin enchants a snake to appear before Morgana's horse, but even the fall doesn't stop her from going on with them. When Merlin's trying to help in times of trouble when they reach the passageway and have to fight, Arthur tells him to "stop worrying about his hair." Now would Merlin do such a girly thing, no, that's usually Arthur's territory! Being outnumbered, and imprisoned, Merlin asks Arthur why he won't feel any pain when he's tortured for Camelot's secrets. Merlin: "You go into some sort of trance?" Having a chance to escape and getting Gwen and Elyan out, Arthur heads back for Morgana and isn't surprised to find Morgause is behind the plot, she uses magic to get rid of Arthur, but Merlin uses his magic to save the day. Showing he is more powerful, or at least his power is growing everytime he comes up against her.
Watch out for Morgana's ankle, being able to walk properly and then her injury suddenly comes back to afflict her again, after it's forgotten about. Arthur gives more exposition on Camelot and trust. Then telling Gwen what he did for her, "it's what you do when you love someone."
Elyan is a knight in the legend of King Arthur and he is staying in Camelot, opening up the forge of their late father, so expect to see him back. But one thing not said here, is Gwen telling how their father was killed and that it was ordered by Uther, we can't presume he knows this, when he's been away. This episode focuses more on Gwen and her interaction with the other characters, she's the one who can talk to everyone; also showing how she can be so easily used and manipulated by Morgana to get her own way.
Even though Gwen is her servant, she's still meant to be her friend, but as soon as Morgana finds out about Arthur's feelings for her, all that friendship goes out the window as Morgana can't even be loyal to those who have done nothing to her. It was Uther she condemns and hates for what he has done to those of her 'kind' and yet he's the one person she hasn't been able to exact her revenge on. Now she knows she's Uther's daughter, Arthur has now become her foe and she must kill him for the throne. This is how she intends to restore magic. However her actions are nothing more than selfish. This is what being away for a year has done to her, she has been corrupted by Morgause; bringing out what was already embedded in Morgana's soul.
Merlin's distaste and distrust of Morgana intensifies, she's too far gone in her darkness to be reasoned with and Merlin should realize that by now. Even though the Dragon said it all along. They may be the same, have similar powers, but they couldn't be so different at the same time. he's good, she's not. Morgana and Morgause are very similar in what they do and how they behave in the show. Morgana watches everyones moves at Camelot, here Morgause does much the same in Cenred's castle and then plots on their behalf. Morgana is clearly not the brains of the outfit.
Series 3 of Merlin has an arc for the first time: Merlin's distrust of Morgana, her hate of Uther, wanting to kill Arthur for the throne, using her friend, Gwen as her foil, with the inclusion of Gwaine to help them out and Elyan too, as the battle for Camelot intensifies.
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