Whilst on a quest for a book for Gaius (Richard Wilson), Merlin (Colin Morgan) chances upon a secret room in the library and sets loose a goblin, which proceeds to cause havoc on Camelot. This is Merlin's comedic episode, as every series of the show has at least one or two episodes that are played purely for laughs. A case of Merlin opening Pandora's box, instead of leaving things alone.
The goblin had been trapped in the box for over 50 years and now he's out; he's going to have fun...and breaks things. The goblin appeared to be Merlin's answer to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings.
The goblin escapes Merlin's attempts to ensnare him and starts to throw books around, incidentally, actually throwing the one Merlin was looking for. Then scours the castle in search of gold.
Arthur chances upon Merlin and his messy bed chamber. Merlin was doing a bit of Spring cleaning. The goblin steals Morgana's (Katie McGrath) healing bracelet.
Arthur (Bradley James) warns them not to laugh if they all value their lives, before he shows them Uther (Anthony Head) -- he's been turned bald by the goblin. (Most probably their take on The King and I. They can't help laughing, before Gaius tells Merlin what Uther would have done to the one who set the goblin free.
Arthur (shirtless, yet again!) Merlin steals Arthur's gold coins to set a trap. Arthur is awoken by Merlin's presence, so Merlin magically throws the bed curtain over Arthur.
Trying to lure the goblin with the gold, the goblin turns himself into a ball of light and enters Gaius' body, taking him over. (How could Merlin not have seen that coming?) Gaius, as the goblin, relishes licking the gold coins! Then heads to the tavern. Here Gaius arm wrestles for more gold and then tells the knight, "You don't look so good yourself, what's your excuse."
Next day, Gaius orders Merlin to fetch his breakfast from the market, whilst he has another lick of his gold coins. Morgana asks Gaius for a sleeping draft as her healing bracelet has been stolen. (Wonder why she couldn't just magic herself to sleep.) Gaius refuses her request and can see right through Morgana. She has a "cold heart." She might be able to fool Uther, but she can't fool the goblin. He tells her what she desires: to see Uther dead and Camelot destroyed. "There is evil in your heart." And Morgana fears the truth. He casts a spell on her sleeping draft. And suggests she should count sheep like everyone else.
Gaius goes around town giving remedies to people, only in return for money. (Good to see Richard Wilson back in the comedy role for which he's well known for in the UK.) He even manages to get a gold coin from Gwen. If she doesn't oblige she'll end up with boils on her face. He gives Uther a potion to help restore his hair, before engaging in some head slapping to restore the circulation in Uther's scalp.
Merlin challenges the goblin when he spies him licking the gold coins, but the goblin tells him anything he does will only hurt Gaius, if he kills the goblin, Gaius will die too.
Arthur explains the incidences of looting the night before, whilst Uther, Gwen (Angel Coulby), and Morgana all relieve their flatulence. Uther has taken to wearing a hat for his baldness and demands a remedy for the affliction. Gaius goes on to cure Uther from his baldness and his flatulence.
Merlin reveals his magic and his secret to the goblin, but the goblin is safe since he can cause as much damage as he wants to Merlin, but not vice versa. Gaius is abusive to the librarian and tells him to "lose some weight, fatty!"
Arthur arrests Merlin and brings him before Uther, explaining he was responsible for their "afflictions." Gaius tells of the magic book he found in in Merlin's chamber and says he's been taken over by a goblin, corrupted by magic. Uther sentences Merlin to death for using magic.
Gaius heads to the tavern once more and here he insults the knights, before backing down, he's had too much to drink; then spikes their ale.
Merlin needs to get hold of the key to escape from the dungeon, but why, when he could have just used magic on the lock itself? He seeks refuge at Gwen's house. Gaius then accuses Arthur of incompetence and apologizes. Merlin tells Gwen they need to force out the goblin from Gaius' body, she needs to convince Arthur of this. However, Gwen is embarrassed and won't go to Arthur after her bout of flatulence! Even though everyone does it, it's not in public and she wouldn't fart in front of Arthur because she has feelings for him. Merlin reassures her Arthur likes her irrespective of her warts and farts. She tells Merlin she doesn't have any warts.
Arthur offers Gaius a drink for ridding him of his lazy servant; he'll be hanged tomorrow. (What, and not burnt.) This was a test on Arthur's part and confirms his suspicions, as Gaius wouldn't want to see Merlin hanged. Arthur is knocked out. Gwen finds Arthur in his chamber, braying like a donkey and with donkey's ears! He scratches behind his ear, to which Merlin can only laugh.
Merlin's plan is to make Gaius die so that the goblin will leave his body. He can then trap the goblin back into the lead-lined box. That was a big clue as to saving Gaius which Merlin missed, when the goblin said if he kills it, then he'll be killing Gaius too, which Merlin had to look up in a book! The knights from the tavern have boils on their faces and Gaius wants gold before he cures them.
The antidote must be given to Gaius a few seconds after he dies. Gaius licks the gold coins with the poison, but Gwen slips and drops the antidote bottle, mixing it up with the other bottles. The goblin enters Merlin's mouth, but he manages to spit him out into the box. Merlin administers the antidote.
Gaius confesses to Uther that he was responsible, allowing Uther to pardon Merlin. Uther asks who let it out. The goblin is put back into the vaults. Gwen and Arthur decide not to mention their awkward moments. Arthur still brays like a donkey when he laughs and Merlin tells Gaius he's leaving him like that for another day.
How could Merlin be able to undo the magic the goblin did, when he wasn't able to restore Uther's hair, or cure their flatulence, the boils and everything else the goblin did? If the goblin sensed Morgana's evil, does this mean other magical creatures can do the same? Also, showing that the goblin wasn't purely evil or bad, just greedy and mischievous.
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