Merlin promises he can help Gwen and he wonders why he said this to him. Gaius (Richard Wilson) believes he can do it and tells him to go and see the Dochraid (Maureen Carr) who will know how to undo Morgana's magic. He must go as Dragoon since she will sense he's a wizard, which she did anyway and called him Emrys so much for the disguise. She doesn't think he has enough magic to kill her and is very sure of herself. Merlin takes his sword and cuts her. She relents and finally tells him he must find the White Goddess and Gwen has to willingly step into the great Cauldron of Arianrhod whilst a spell is uttered. Only then the spell will be broken, but Gwen may be lost forever if it doesn't work. Merlin cuts her again with his sword, forged in a dragon's breath, and we assume he's killed her. Well we did the way he looked back with that smirk. Didn't think Merlin would resort to so much violence, well it is for him.
Arthur is talked into doing this by Gaius, he must if he wants Gwen back. Arthur also begins to act suspiciously around Gwen, no longer showing his feelings as her loving husband, to the point that she senses something is wrong. He feigns being late for training, but she finds he didn't go training. No, instead he went to change the route the knights would take and only tells Leon (Rupert Young) and Mordred of this change. They must not reveal it to anyone.
Gaius gives Merlin a tincture of Belladonna, to be applied to Gwen every two hours as it will cause her to sleep. Proving a little difficult to administer the first dose as she doesn't want anymore wine. However Arthur offers up a toast to her. As they all watch and wait for her to fall asleep, well flat on her face with Merlin pushing the bread under her face for a soft landing.
Arthur and Gaius have to wheel Gwen out of the castle and are met by Gwaine (Eoin Macken) and Mordred (Alexander Vlahos). Gaius coming up with an excuse of the poor man having red thrush fever, which they don' wan to spread in Camelot. Mordred was suspicious of this explanation and his this is confirmed when he notices Gwen's hand sticking out from underneath the cover. Merlin must administer the Belladonna to keep her asleep and Gaius also convinces Arthur the only way the spell can be done is by sorcery. This time he'll use a woman sorceress. Arthur is weary since it didn't work for Uther, that was hardly Dragoon's fault, it was Morgana, as per usual.
Merlin must dress as a woman, the Dolma to perform the spell and so looks for clothes to wear. Gaius remarking black is his colour. Merlin and Arthur ride out with Gwen on horseback, Merlin being told by Gaius not to remark on how much Gwen weighs, he could be charged with treason. Merlin senses they are being watched and Arthur takes that as another feeling he has. "One of your funny feelings again?" Which is enough to convince him since in the past he would have questioned it. Of course it was Mordred, I said he would follow them. Merlin must carry the bags as they have to walk and soon he stumbles over the edge of the cliff. Arthur also falls down after him. Arthur running to help Merlin here and yet he resorts to calling him his servant later on and forgetting to take him back with them.
Merlin is knocked out and Arthur's arm is pinned under a boulder. In the meantime the Dochraid is still alive, more's the pity and sends a note to Morgana informing her of Arthur's intentions and of Emyrus thwarting her plans. Morgana watches them from the cliff. Having roped in Aithusa to help her. Poor, skinny dragon having to do her bidding. Arthur is rescued by Mordred and Merlin is now awake. Another conversation about how Merlin doesn't trust him and only thinks he's a good knight. Mordred hopes they can be friends one day.
Before arriving at the cauldron, Morgana sends out Aithusa to stop them in their tracks, little knowing the Dragon Lord will make him cower and return back. As Merlin and Mordred leave, Morgana strikes them down and Merlin escapes. She won't kill Mordred cos he's like her and he says he's not, he's a knight. Also cunningly telling her he doesn't have enough magic to defeat her. Making us wonder if he is true to his word or just playing along, as he knocks her back with his magic. Once again Morgana passes out after taking another flying leap backwards. So who's got more powerful magic, Merlin, Mordred or Morgana? Clearly it's a toss up between Mordred and Merlin.
Merlin takes the sack with the dress and it falls out, thus having to come up with an excuse that the sorceress likes clothes, she can't get to a tailor, no but she could conjure something up with her magic, no? He dresses as a woman and the last minutes of this episode were remarkably funny. Merlin as campy sorceress. Reminds Arthur he must make Gwen enter of her own free will. As well as keeping Merlin for surety which explains his disappearing act.
Gwen wakes and tells Arthur he's stupid for thinking she loves him. He reminds her of their wedding and how she said she loves him and would marry him "with all my heart." Whilst stepping back into the cauldron and causing Gwen to follow after him. The magic spell is broken and Gwen is back to normal. The Dolma asks if Arthur's forgotten someone, the boy. Also for payment she asks Arthur recall how sorcery helped him win back his love. Adding it's not sorcery which is bad but people's hearts. Arthur promises and he also promises to give Merlin half a day off.
On the way back Mordred says he knows Merlin did the spell but he'll keep the secret, would Arthur believe him anyway if he did tell. Mordred at this point showing loyalty to Arthur, even when back at Camelot he tells him he'll do anything for him. Merlin in drag, er, as the sorceress adds more comedy to the mix as both Arthur and Mordred ask if she looks familiar?
Would have thought Morgana's "quarrel" was with Mordred after his treachery towards her, he stabbed her in Arthur's Bane Part 2 and left her there. Yet she chooses to forget all that, perhaps the writer did instead. Mordred not recognizing why the path had flags along it since he is a Druid and should be up to scratch on the old religion, it should have been something that maybe Arthur would have asked, but he probably already knows cos of last season's episode 4.10 A Herald of a New Age or at least have some idea.
A shame this will be the last series of Merlin as there's still so much that could be covered since the show got better and this was one of the best series. Let's hope the final four episodes aren't rushed and bring the show to a dramatic conclusion as the final two episodes promise to be. Still it's better to go out on a high and maybe there's the possibilty of some future films or a spin off. The cast have continually excelled and will be missed as will the show. Oh look at me getting sentimental already!
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