A catchy title for this episode as it demonstrates how long ago Gaius (Richard Wilson) knew Alice (Pauline Collins) and that their love transcends time and dragons. There'd be plenty of dragons around when they met each other as magic was practiced freely.
Alice summons a creature known as a Manticore and it encourages her to do its bidding. Like the way her eyes turned black, an oft used ploy in many shows to depict evil and magic. Uther (Anthony Head) suspects someone, a "physician" has been using the black arts; magic, to cure 'incurable' conditions in the town. There have been many miracles and sends Gaius to investigate and report back.
Finally Merlin (Colin Morgan) gets to say what we've all been saying when he talks of the hypocrisy of Uther; it was fine to use magic to save Morgana (Katie McGrath) as it suited his purpose and being his daughter she had to be saved at all costs. Yet he punishes and puts to death anyone else who is caught doing the same thing, whether it be for good or for evil. As he did with Gwen's (Angel Coulby) father and he was innocent of all charges.
As soon as the innkeeper tells Gaius of his cure, Gaius immediately knows who is behind it but doesn't admit this to Uther, knowing the consequences to this healer if he does. It is good to see Gaius protect someone close to him too, just as Uther demanded the same protection and cure for Morgana and also that he will keep secrets from Uther to do exactly that. It is not a question of him betraying his loyalty to the king, but rather Uther doesn't need to know everything if there is nothing evil amongst them. Also showing that Gaius could defy Uther, even after the great purge, when so many were put to death for using magic. That he chooses not to, shows great strength of character and forgiveness within Gaius, to a certain extent; since if he wanted revenge for this, he could have it at any time. In contrast to Morgana and her treachery against Uther, someone he really cares for; whereas Gaius is nothing more than his physician. Conversely it also shows the trust Uther has in Gaius as he takes him at his word.
Gaius tells Uther no magic was used, but Merlin knows better as he says the potion administered to the innkeeper was enchanted. He also recognized the totem the innkeeper had; displaying signs of old magic. A bit dangerous leaving that lying around, especially since someone else who practiced magic would know exactly what it was.
Now it's Gaius's turn to slip away at night and for Merlin to follow. He spies Gaius hug his old flame, Alice; who turns out to be his former fiancee. They both have a few fleeting moments of remembering the old days and of their past love from 20 years ago. He warns of Uther's suspicions and wants her to leave Camelot. Alice having an ulterior motive, tells him she only wanted to see him once more. The creature, the Manticore tells her of Gaius's usefulness in getting close to Uther and his throne and orders her to obey.
Merlin tells Gaius he followed him and Gaius tells how he met Alice after he became Uther's physician. She has "the gift." She was famous in Camelot for her healing, until the great purge. Uther had a list of those who practiced magic and hunted them all down. Gaius removed her name from the list. Here was a missed opportunity on the part of the writers to delve more into the Great Purge and how Gaius felt about losing those 'names' on the list. People he would have known and was forced to see them hunted down and 'purged'! Yet he bears no ill will towards Uther. Gaius gives Alice a joint of meat and watch out for this joint turning up everywhere! Was that some sort of an in-joke, or joke for our benefit.
Arthur (Bradley James) practices his weaponry skills on Merlin who feigns tiredness. Merlin sees the Manticore for himself when Alice extracts venom from its tail to poison Uther with and she helps Gaius prepare Uther's remedy for an old wound. Strange Gaius is reluctant to believe Merlin when he says he is being blinded by his feelings for her, he is meant to be his guardian and he has never lied to him. It's hard to believe Merlin wouldn't like Alice because Gaius is spending all his time with her, yet Gaius is still willing to trust someone he hasn't seen in so long.
Merlin reads a book (!) and finds the Manticore is a creature of myth. The box that contains it, is a portal through which it appears. He helps Arthur with training again and tells him how he had a fight with Gaius. Arthur reassures him it means nothing as he argues with Uther all the time. This scene shows that Arthur, at least tries, to treat Merlin as a friend, at times, rather than just a servant. To the point of cheering him up by punching him. That will help since Arthur does that to the knights all the time. Merlin: "They're thick."
Arthur: "I'm a knight."
Merlin: "There you go again." Well some credit to Arthur at least he tried in his own way to cheer him up. He clearly hasn't get any friends outside of the circle of knights, suppose that's the price you pay for being a prince.
Alice manages to poison the remedy and Uther drinks it too. Again showing his trust for Gaius since Uther's food and drink are tasted for poison but not his remedy. Merlin is conspicuously absent from dinner as the alarm bells sound. Uther opens his eyes to show the blackness within, and immediately Merlin realizes Alice was behind it. Gaius doesn't listen and Merlin is left with no choice but to tell Arthur who arrests her for treason. Her defence is being influenced by the Manticore. Yeah, who's going to believe that in the dark ages?!
Their only hope in saving Uther and Alice is to kill the Manticore and destroy its portal. Gaius hopes his magic will be strong enough to do so. Gaius's eyes turn yellow as he uses magic, and the Manticore is finally destroyed. Merlin: "Not too bad for a has been." They made all that noise and no one heard them! Again Gaius shows great restraint when Uther orders Alice's execution. That's the first thing Uther turns to everytime, and it can be asked has executing people really helped in any way as he's faced with the same problems of magic being used, even after he's had it outlawed. Yet Uther continues to be closed off to this.
Alice escapes, with a little help from Gaius. So how many escaped prisoners does that make; or should that read, have been let out!
We finally get to see Gaius use some magic. Also in an episode where Morgana would have relished the sight of Uther being killed, she's curiously absent here. Along with her smirking. Shame on you writers, here they preferred to concentrate on Gaius and his love. Merlin showing his real feelings for Gaius when he turns Alice in, he had no other choice, and how he still needs Gaius around for help and guidance and vice versa. Although, strictly speaking it was a form of betrayal on Merlin's part, couldn't he have found another way to open Gaius to Alice's doings. That was a surprise in his character, since you wouldn't expect him to do something like that and especially not to Gaius. He is also forgiving of Merlin for putting Alice in jeopardy.
Oh and where was Gwen too? Not very often you get main characters missing from shows. Arthur only had a small part too.
Gaius once again chooses to stay at Camelot, to watch over Merlin, instead of choosing Alice. Whilst Merlin wants nothing more than a slice of that same joint of meat, which has been passed back to Gaius.
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