Morgana (Katie McGrath) finds she has no support from the people of Camelot and the Knights themselves. Her dilemma: how will she reign? With terror of course, she reeks her wrath on the people. This still doesn't convince the Knights to surrender and accept her as queen. Gwen (Angel Coulby) suggests she be allowed to speak with Sir Leon (Rupert Young) and perhaps can make him listen. Letting Morgana think Gwen will be an ally as she has felt the full force of Uther's (Anthony Head) might when he had her father killed. Morgana agrees but only because she has something up her sleeve, knowing that Gwen will betray her. She is aware her allegiance lies with Arthur. It's actually Morgause (Emilia Fox) who has planned this - remember Morgana cannot think for herself, unless it's to seek vengeance.
Again the two watch the proceedings in the cell below. At this point I have to berate Gwen for being so gullible, naive even. How could she stupidly believe Morgana wouldn't have an ulterior motive for allowing her to see Leon; who else but Leon would know of Arthur's (Bradley James) hideout. As I've said before escapes from Camelot cells are far too frequent and easy and this was no different. Even if Gwen thought she was being clever by sneaking into Morgana's chamber and making an impression of the key to the cell, before forging a copy of the key herself.
Would Morgana really have left the key in the drawer. This scene was only to illustrate that Gwen has forging skills of her own she can utilize (forging as in being handy with blacksmith's tools.) Anyway why did they leave Uther behind in this plan of theirs and why not try and rescue him too at the same time; if escaping was so simple. That's one part I didn't like, but still it was only so Arthur et al would effect a rescue of their own for him. That's one thing no one thought of, but then again he was either guarded too well or not well enough.
Morgause casts a spell so that Gwen and Leon's trail can be followed. Gwen has Leon disguise himself as a woman so he can leave freely, yes a woman with a beard would be hardly noticed!
Before Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Arthur fled Camelot, Merlin packed the water from the Lake of Avalon he was given by the Fisher King. Locating the others who are hiding out in a secret cave. Merlin encourages Arthur with hope that he must fight the invading army and free Uther; before tempting him with some rat, to eat. Arthur admonishes himself for not knowing what Morgana was really like. Arthur: "I've known her all my life - how could she do this to us?"
Merlin: "...you have a duty to your father, to your people."
Merlin clumsily allows the water to fall from his hands and it flows into Freya (Laura Donnelly) (Merlin's lost love and the Lady of the Lake.) She confides in Merlin and he is glad to see her. He must retrieve Excalibur from the Lake, as only it can destroy the immortal army. It has been forged in the dragon's breath. Afterwards he must then return it where no one will find it. Freya telling Merlin where to find Excalibur when he was the one who left it there.
Freya: "In your hands it has the power to save Albion." Something similar was said by the Fisher King.
Merlin sent out word to Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera) to come and help, wonder when he found the time to do that then. He answers this call with Percival (Tom Hopper). Cue lots of glances between Gwen and Lancelot, who only has eyes for Gwen and she is shocked to see him for the first time.
Ambushed at the cave, they flee, before arriving at a castle, where Arthur uncovers the Round Table. A Table where everyone is regarded as equal and they all pledge their allegiance to fight, Merlin being the last one to do so. Arthur: "...this Table belonged to the Ancient Kings of Camelot. The Round Table afforded no man one more important than the other..."
Lancelot tells of how Arthur taught him the "values of being a Knight."
Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) of how "...I was a commoner and a nobody, you were willing to lay down your life for me." Well, no, he is Gwen's brother after all.
Gwaine, (Eoin Macken) putting things into his own perspective, "I think we have no chance, but I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Merlin: "No, I don't really fancy it."
Arthur: "You don't have a choice Merlin." Arthur bestows knighthoods upon them all, except Merlin, so much for equality, he's still seen as a servant.
Here in the castle, Arthur and Gwen display their feelings for each other in front of everyone when they kiss. Arthur doesn't care who knows it. Not many, if at all, words are exchanged between Lancelot and Gwen and no mention is made of his feelings; that she's found another - the future king - no less and conversely, neither are Gwen's feelings for Lancelot considered either. So much for her telling him she did harbour such thoughts about him in the past. Okay it was the finale, but still so much was left in the air and they preferred to concentrate on action rather than emotion.
Merlin comments how Gwaine got his knighthood after all, but wasn't he of noble descent anyway, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.
Gaius (Richard Wilson) overhears Merlin and Lancelot's plan to find the Cup of Life so Merlin can destroy it. Yet in their quest to win back Camelot, he and Lancelot were meant to head for the warning bell so it couldn't be sounded. Lancelot also tells Merlin how Arthur has no clue about what Merlin does. Lancelot: "You're the one Arthur should knight. you're the bravest of them all and he doesn't even know it."
Merlin: "He can't...not yet."
Merlin: "You're a Knight - at last."
Lancelot: "For how long?"
When discussing their plan for the Cup, Merlin: "Aren't you forgetting something - I have magic."
Lancelot: "Doesn't make you immortal." But there must be some spell which could bring him back. Even if Gwaine's had to rescue him in the past.
Gaius plans to stay behind because they wouldn't need an old man, but he really sells himself short, as he has magical powers, so he must be able to help them out somehow. Merlin insists he join them. Infiltrating Camelot, the warning bell sounds, as Merlin and Lancelot didn't head there, alerting the soldiers to their presence. Arthur: "...thought Merlin was going to take care of that." They must forge ahead and fight, although they know it's futile against an army that won't die.
Arthur finds Uther and leads him from the cell, but the expression on Uther's face says it all. He appears lost in a world of his own - no doubt, the consequences of Morgana's betrayal. You wouldn't have expected him to have just given up so easily. Where were his fighting words now, his determination to defend Camelot at all costs.
Merlin and Lancelot finally reach the room with the Cup and Lancelot is injured by a soldier. Morgause enters to prevent Merlin from destroying the Cup and Gaius uses his magic to stop her in her tracks. She falls to the ground. So much for not needing an old man. See he came in handy. Merlin finally destroys the Cup with Excalibur. Morgana finds Morgause in her state and cannot contain her anger, she screams (TV volume down for this) so shrill and so loud that the castle walls crumble. Later the two have disappeared.
Merlin believes Arthur must take over Camelot and become King. Arthur does acknowledge that Merlin can be wise. Merlin places Excalibur in a rock - hence the 'Sword in the Stone', for safety, ensuring no one else can use it.
Merlin will return...
Many aspects of the Arthurian legend are rolled into one action-packed episode here and there's barely a chance to breathe: the Round Table, the Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, the Knights and finally the prospect Arthur has to consider in the possibility of having to become king, thus the title of the episode.
Merlin's become his own man, as I said previously; the magical sorcerer, the wizard by Arthur's side and encourages Arthur to fight for Camelot, to save Uther and the people. Uther's emotions - or lack of - towards Arthur clearly shows his feelings for Morgana are deep rooted. The love of a father for his daughter is strong, he cannot bear to join his son in the fight for Camelot, as he did in the opening episodes of the season . Once again highlighting the change in his character. How he started off a strong leader and King, merciless, even when under a magic spell and recovering from this, he would do anything to defend Camelot and fight by Arthur's side. Now he seemingly foresakes Arthur and his people to battle alone.
Arthur too has progressed, character-wise; from having to fight for Camelot in the series opener and again now. This time he must be king. But he is a far stronger person, more fairer and just. He has stood up to the traditions of Camelot and defied Uther in knighting the men who have helped men and not all being of noble blood. Something Uther would never contemplate, going against the code. As well as expressing his love for Gwen, a servant, in public, making new rules of his own, something which a king would do in his own right.
Gwen dressing up Leon as a woman so he can escape unnoticed, uses her common sense, but at times she hasn't. At least she got to do something here, instead of just being a romantic foil for Arthur. Where did Gwaine, that's Sir Gwaine to all, stumble in from after the fighting was over. Couldn't be the tavern, not enough time.
Also going against the legend of Camelot, it was Arthur who was meant to have used Excalibur, not Merlin, but that would have lessened the moment. Merlin is the one with magic. Merlin giving Arthur a rat to eat, he's seen him eat worse, was an allusion to rat stew being mentioned in season 1. For Lancelot to side with Arthur, even after he sees Gwen kissing him for all and sundry to witness, shows his mettle and his loyalty. Where once upon a time she wanted Lancelot; so kind of a betrayal there from her, when she falls for Arthur whilst Lancelot is out of the picture and she cannot have him!
We know why Uther never encouraged any romantic gestures between Arthur and Morgana, being his ward, would've thought it would have been something he would have opted for, but she was his daughter. Why did Morgana and Morgause leave the room with the Cup guarded by soldiers and not by Morgause.
After seeing Freya in the water and not being able to touch her or speak with her for long, all Merlin sees of her at the Lake was her arm wielding Excalibur!
All in all a fitting end to a great season which has to be the best thus far, in my opinion. Oh well only a year to go and counting for season 4!
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