The episode opens with Arthur (Bradley James) crowning Gwen (Angel Coulby) Queen of Camelot, but only in Morgana's (Katie McGrath) nightmare. Good to see she's still having those and that her healing bracelet hasn't prevented all of her nightmares from disappearing, as she had hoped. Morgana deserves some pain and comeuppance for her evil deception and playing everyone to her own tune. Getting what she wants from them and then casting them aside. As for her nightmare, we know it's not just a nightmare, but a predetermined outcome.
Morgause (Emilia Fox) calls out to her. Morgana tells her of her dreams, but clearly they are nightmares, so why not call them that. Even Morgause calls them dreams and that certain dreams will be too strong for her healing bracelet to prevent (as I said.) She instead calls it a prophecy. Prophecy, nightmare, dream, no matter what the label, it's the future any way it's painted.
Morgause: "There are many futures sister and some are shrouded in mist..." Morgana is sure Uther (Anthony Head) will never permit the marriage to take place. For someone who wants rid of Uther and can't stand the sight of him, she still wants/needs Uther to clear a path for her towards the throne. Morgause tells her Gwen can never be queen and Morgana must destroy their relationship at all costs. Morgana, taking her lead from Morgause again, questions Gwen about Arthur and the difficulties in keeping her feelings quiet. Thought Gwen would have been more weary of Morgana - she has the king's ear after all. Not to mention Morgana's foray into dark magic, witnessed by Gwen not long ago.
At dinner, Morgana watches Arthur, watching Gwen, he's so clumsy when she's around. He's so caught up in his feelings for Gwen that Morgana should be the last person he opens up to. Morgana, to gain his trust, tells him she only knows of his feelings for Gwen because Gwen can't stop talking about him. Again, it's meant to be a secret so why would Gwen have loose lips all of a sudden. Especially when she has told Arthur so many times that their love cannot be.
Morgana tells Arthur to set his own rules and to follow his heart, since Uther "doesn't have to find out." That was an obvious clue to what she has in store. Casually suggesting Arthur should spend more time with Gwen. Merlin (Colin Morgan) too is of this thought when he tells Gwen to 'risk' it. She should forget Arthur is a "spoilt, arrogant brat." Note the subtle loss in translation here, no one knows Morgana has set all this in motion, as Arthur doesn't tell anyone. Merlin knows all that matters are their feelings, but he's always one to advocate in favour of emotions rather than common sense and reality.
Gwen pretends to be ill to gain time off from work, prompting more evil smirks from Morgana. Gwen gets a new dress and Arthur is speechless at her appearance. Morgana puts her plan into action further, by convincing Uther to ride with her. Arthur feels he can be himself around Gwen, alone, and has dreams of becoming a farmer one day, Merlin could do all the hard labour. But he fears he "will never leave Camelot." Surprise, surprise, Morgana leads Uther right to Arthur as they kiss.
Uther is highly amused and recalls his youth and knows the temptation of "mere serving girls." Showing how very little regard Uther has for equality, unlike Arthur. But he's had his fun and can't see her anymore. It doesn't matter to Arthur that she's a servant, he loves her. He defends her in every way possible, but Uther's having none of it. The look Uther gives to Arthur when he touches him on his shoulder says it all. It looks like one of contempt and not the way a father would look at his son.
Arthur blames Merlin for this predicament, "You couldn't keep a secret if your life depended upon it."
Merlin: "You'd be surprised." Because he's been keeping many for ages.
What peeved me is that Merlin and Gwen know what Morgana is capable of but Gwen believed she could trust her completely - even when she didn't tell her she was meeting Arthur , but confided her feelings. That they could be so careless and let their guard down around her was not entirely believable. It was a good argument between Arthur and Merlin again pointing to their on-screen chemistry.
Another smirk from Morgana, this time directed at Merlin. Arthur will leave with Gwen; relinquishing his right to the throne. However, Gwen doesn't know where she'll go, as she has nothing and no one else. Her brother has been forgotten very quickly and surely she could go to him, seeing as she risked everyone's life to rescue him. Seems the writers have too, wasn't he running his own forge now.
Morgana, determined more than ever to have her way, tells Uther how Arthur never mentioned his feelings for Gwen to her before and they share everything (no, not really they don't.) Persuading Uther that Arthur has been enchanted by Gwen. A poultice is found in Arthur's chamber. (Sorry no shirtless scene!) which could be used to cast a spell on him. Gwen doesn't see how someone like Uther could know what love is and he strikes her. Morgana's good at pretending to be so innocent. Uther believes she cast a spell on Arthur to seek vengeance for her father's execution. Gaius (Richard Wilson) tries to defend her, as does Arthur, demanding a trial, but the poultice is irrefutable proof that magic is at work, also Arthur confessing his love for her didn't help. She's to be burnt at the stake.
Oh finally Gwen uses her brains to figure out Morgana was behind it, she saw her evil smirk. Also how could Gaius and Merlin ignore the fact it could only have been Morgana. Just when we thought we wouldn't hear it again, we get Gaius' customary line of, "Uther will never believe it was Morgana." Quite frankly, Uther, you as a father, suck! He doesn't believe his own son, falling for the old 'it has to be sorcery' ploy, yet he's at the mercy of Morgana, his daughter born out of wedlock, being big on legitimacy back then. It's okay for him to be seduced and have an affair with a married woman because she was of noble blood, but perish the thought Arthur could love a servant girl.
To save her, the only way is to invent a sorcerer, that's Merlin's bright idea and he will get caught red-handed. Gaius: "Do you know of a sorcerer stupid enough to get caught doing such a thing?!"
Merlin: "Me." Enough said.
With the aid of an aging spell, he transforms into an old man. Excellent seeing the future Merlin finally get to make an entrance, as we'll know him and for Merlin getting to see himself as he'll be. He was still recognizable: he sounded like himself and also had his mannerisms, such as his voice and facial expressions. "I can't believe one day I'll actually look like this." Even Arthur feels he knows him, "have we met?...your eyes..." Merlin clobbers him. Merlin's explanation before Uther for his enchanting Arthur is due to Uther's blindness towards magic and his treatment of those who used it. Then gets to throw in how badly Arthur treats his servants. Strike 1 Morgana. Gaius tells Arthur, Merlin's at the tavern. Couldn't he have just said he's on an errand. Merlin can't reverse the spell and change back so Gaius needs to concoct a remedy, in the meantime, Merlin must stall. He tells Arthur he has to confess more crimes, Arthur in reply tells him he's only going to be burned once! Much needed humour here. You almost feel Arthur thinks he really is talking to Merlin, but only for a brief instance.
Finally drinking the potion, Merlin reverts back to his 'old self,' ha. Morgana lies and tells Gwen she did everything she could to save her. Arthur and Gwen still meet, in secret. Arthur: "My place is with you...things will change" and they will be together...
Loved how Morgana was left dumbfounded, or maybe just confounded, as Arthur, the loyal man, vows he will never abandon Gwen or the love they share. He's defiant and more so than ever now that they will be together. So instead of driving a wedge between them, Morgana only succeeds in strengthening their bond. Super watching Morgana reel and can't believe how her plans have been unravelled right before her. Had she not meddled, spurred on by Morgause, who knows what would have happened.
As for Arthur confessing his true feelings to Uther, in a moment of madness, he knows the man and the king, so why would he do this. Clearly he underestimated his father's feelings for him, or mistakenly expected him to understand and approve of their love. You only need to look at the 'arranged' marriages to see where Uther's feelings lie, to Camelot and its survival. Arthur misread the signals in Uther's joke for his dalliance with a servant.
This is one of Merlin's best and strongest episodes this season, fuelled by plenty of passion and emotions and the chance for Merlin to shine as his future self!
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