This episode opens with Morgana (Katie McGrath) and Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) at her side up and she's up to some more treachery. This time she demonstrates the power of the ?? a large slug looking creature which attaches onto men's faces and sucks the magic from them, having told dark sorcerer, Ari (Peter Guiness) to demonstrate his magic and then lack of, after his face has been sucked. As a man later leaves this same creature in a box under Merlin's (Colin Morgan) bed, having hit Gaius (Richard Wilson) over the head with a rock. Oh he knew that was Merlin's room and his bed did he.
Merlin meanwhile is at the tavern with Arthur (Bradley James) and the other knights playing a game of dice. No wonder the tagline for this episode was The Die is Cast. He bet on his numbers coming up using magic to win Arthur's money. Ohh that's cheating. No comments here about Merlin frequenting the tavern. Later the knights engage in battle at a garrison where Gwaine (Eoin Macken) rescues a damsel in distress, conveniently being the only survivor from the town. Obviously that was no coincidence since she had to be another one of Morgana's spies, for all her magic, it's well known by now Morgana can't do anything for herself!
Merlin stumbles back in and doesn't even notice Gaius on the floor! Merlin is attacked by the beast and loses his power, Gaius can't help him and he finds himself helpless in Arthur's time of need. Merlin makes his excuses to Arthur about not being able to travel with him as he has important supplies to find for Gaius. Arthur tells him all those jokes he made about Merlin's bravery weren't jokes, but he doesn't think that now. Merlin must go to the birthplace of magic itself and decides he has to head to the Crystal Cave, located in the Valley of the Kings. The Crystal Cave a season 3 episode of the same name.
There's a meeting of the Round Table and Arthur suggests a strategy for ensuring Morgana and her hoards don't reach Camelot. He'll block them off at the pass, a small pass known to Percival (Tom Hopper) where Arthur and the knights may be able to hold her off. Merlin isn't pleased with this since the name happens to be Camlann. Thus ensuring the prophecy of Arthur dying there at the hands of Mordred appears to be coming true.
Gwen (Angel Coulby) wants to be at Arthur's side and not wait here for him at Camelot, if this is his final moment she wants to spend it with him. Gwaine meanwhile gets romantic with the woman, Eira (Erin Richards) he saved and blabs about accompanying Merlin to the Valley, obviously she goes straight to Morgana with this news and gets paid for it in return. Morgana gives Mordred a sword forged in dragon's breath, with the help of Aithusa and you could see the effort the dragon had to put into it. Mordred recalls when he was a boy the Druids told him of the place known as the Crystal Cave, the birthplace of magic. Funnily enough Morgana gets there before Merlin, but she's incapable of anything else.
Merlin takes Gwaine with him and he fights off some bandits, you can see how naked Merlin is without his magic, he's no longer confident and is truly afraid of those bandits and for not being able to help Gwaine. He can only shout out and warn him of the man behind. Thought it would have been good for Merlin to have revealed his powers, well his magic cos he doesn't have his powers at the moment here to Gwaine. As he did with Lancelot. Especially since the two have been through a lot together and since Merlin encouraged him to become a knight. Seems we weren't going to get any reveals until the final episode. Only hope it lives up to the hype, well I mean hype in a good way, cos we want everything to turn out fine and have a happy ending. We need a film!!
Morgana taunts Merlin in the cave and he takes a swipe at her with Gwaine's sword, who told him, "you know how to use the sharp end right," only moments before. How did Gwaine make it back without a sword, carry other concealed weapons did he? Ha. Finally she causes a rock slide, this being Merlin's speciality as he's used this on her in the past. Merlin trapped once more, feels helpless and vulnerable. Until he dreams of his father, Balinor (John Lynch) who tells him he was born of magic, not only of the sea, but the sun, land etc. He must find himself. The magic is still within him and he never lost it. Merlin wakes without bruises and does get his magic back as he uses it to conjure a butterfly in his hands. After Merlin sees visions in the crystals he warns Arthur about Morgana and how she's planning to attack now and use a secret path to ambush him. Arthur wakes and Gwen thinks he's just been dreaming.
Oh so who carried the bed all that way for the two of them?! Arthur readies the troops and gives a heartfelt speech about this being their moment of glory, of honour and their time. Arthur: "whatever the outcome of this battle, my sister cannot and will not desecrate those values." Funny how Arthur always refers to her as his sister but she doesn't really call him brother.
Merlin's father tells him to step into the light and find his true self. As the battle ensues, "on me!" Arthur and Percival shout... we get slow motion scenes of Arthur battling the hoards. Also of Mordred but not in slo-mo as he gets closer to Arthur and their fateful showdown.
A moment in the woods before they reach the pass where Arthur mentions to Gaius about Merlin not being here and Gaius is a little bemused but keeps up Merlin's cover. Arthur is disappointed at not having his servant and friend his side and Gwen tells this to Gaius. He tells her that there is something Merlin must do, but he can't reveal this to her. Which is good enough for her and she wishes Merlin luck. Merlin walks into the light in the cave, where we see a great explosion of light and Merlin leaves the cave as his old self, Dragoon, in full fury.
A great episode slowly unfolding into the series finale. You can see the pain in Arthur's face and voice as he's disappointed in Merlin not being with him, he must have been mistaken as to his bravery he tells Merlin. He thinks Merlin is using the excuse for the errand for Gaius to get away from the battle. But Arthur forges on like a true king, at least he has Gwen at his side. As Gwen later tells him his plan is good and she's never seen any greater "valour or wisdom." Specifically when Arthur has his doubts and thinks Leon (Rupert Young) may have been right about them staying to protect Camelot. Balinor last appeared in The Last Dragonlord.
Oh well at least we only have two days to wait for the thrilling finale and not an entire week, so it'll be over before Christmas. This series of Merlin has impressed and it has been a joy to watch, as the cast and characters have grown into their roles and have become well rounded and loved. Arthur now becomes a man as he takes up arms against Morgana who is filled with nothing but greed and tyranny, thinking her magic will win the day. Yet she cowered everytime she heard mention of Emrys, until she realized, well was told by Mordred that he is really Merlin. Her vanity and over-confidence was expressed in the cave when she tells Merlin he's nothing but a servant and thinks by trapping him, she can walk away and that's the end of Emrys. I like the way Morgana's thinking, or lack of, leads her to always fail and lose when she comes up against Merlin.
Morgana has yet to see Merlin's might and let's not forget we haven't seen the impressive Dragon for the last time yet either, who told Merlin he will help him until his last breath, so let's hope he makes an appearance in the finale too. Okay so Arthur has become a man, so has Merlin, as he tells his father he is like him and will follows in his footsteps. This encounter with his father has given him the added courage and fuel he needs to face Morgana, defeat her and help Arthur by overcoming that dreaded prophecy. At least we know Merlin now will stand at Arthur's side. Magic 'n' all. Either way it will be a sad day for dedicated fans!
Think Merlin also chose to disguise himself in this way as no one knows of his magical abilities and he is there to fight for king and country, not to show everyone that Merlin has magic at this serious time of war. Don't think it means that Merlin is most powerful as his old self.
In The Crystal Cave episode, when Merlin can't save Arthur, he fears his magic is forsaken and he can't save Arthur from his wounds, which is the one thing he could rely on. SO he cries for Arthur. Here Merlin cries in the cave once again and this time it's also cos he thinks he can't save Arthur again.
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