Merlin Club: The Crystal Cave or The One Where the Writers Failed the Show Completely

So, this week’s episode is one that’s pretty universally loathed, but more on that as I go. 

It opens with Merlin and Arthur running away from a giant hoard of marauders/bad guys/ what-have –you with no explanation to why. Obviously, it’s a plot device to for Arthur to be shot with an arrow and conveniently knocked unconscious so Merlin can learn nifty new mystical things and further the plot of the show. 

Merlin has a tender moment with Arthur, calling him dollophead and clotpole while trying to wake him. He even uses the forbidden magic to try to heal Arthur, but it doesn’t work. A mysterious, robed man shows up and heals Arthur then insists that Merlin go with him to the Crystal Cave. He wants Merlin to look into the crystals and see the future. Merlin wants nothing to do with it, after his last experience of seeing the future in a crystal. But Taliesin insists. 

Merlin sees horrible images of Morgana sitting on the throne of Camelot, fighting with her horse, holding an ornate dagger and killing Uther. He flips shit and goes back to Arthur. Taliesin disappears. Arthur and Merlin head back to Camelot and Merlin lies to him about what went down.  Happily, they’re home in time for Morgana’s birthday celebration the next day.

Merlin is super freaked and paranoid about Morgana and tells Gaius about it. In typical Gaius fashion, he dismisses literally everything that comes out of Merlin’s mouth. I’m not sure if it was to reassure Merlin or if he really wasn’t buying it. Also, he tells Merlin that Taliesin has been dead for centuries, so how cool that Merlin saw him. So really? Dead dude shows up to reveal mystical shit, and you’re not believing it? Whatever, Gaius. 

Events that Merlin saw in the Crystal Cave are coming to pass and he freaks some more. When he tells Gaius about them, Gaius again blows him off and dismisses Merlin’s fears. Merlin’s paranoia ramps up an extra notch when Arthur tells him that he got Morgana a dagger for her birthday present. But Merlin is relieved when he sees it’s not the dagger he saw in the visions. Then he tells Arthur that he would have thought Arthur would have picked something else since “girls like pretty things.”

Later, at the feast, Morgana is opening her presents and when she opens Arthur’s, it’s a dagger. But not the same one he showed Merlin. It’s the ornate one from the vision. Arthur thanks Merlin for his advice about pretty things, and Merlin freaks once again. 

After the party, Gwen brings more presents sent to Morgana from other kingdoms. One of them is a mirror that has a message from Morgause about meeting her in the darkling woods. Morgana sneaks out and Merlin follows her, magically slamming a door in her face. Startled, Morgana falls down the stairs and suffers a massive head injury. 

She’s brought to Gaius’ room. He stitches up her wound, but she’s still unconscious and now dying. Everyone is upset, but no one is more fraught with grief than Uther. He begs Gaius to make her well again, even not-so-subtly hinting that magic is just fine by him. Well, you know, Uther…as long as you stand to gain from it, it’s cool. 

 

Uther also confesses that he had an affair with Morgana’s mother, and Morgana is his daughter. (This, my loves, is where everything goes to hell in a huge way.) He begs Gaius again to do whatever must be done to save his child. Never mind that he wasn’t willing to do the same for Arthur when he was dying. But whatever. I digress. 

Merlin calls the dragon for advice. The dragon is super happy that Morgana is on death’s door and is pretty vocal about it. Merlin commands the dragon to give him a spell to heal Morgana. The dragon is pissed, but is compelled to obey because of that whole Dragon Lord issue. 

Merlin casts the spell and heals Morgana. Everyone is overjoyed. Morgana tries to get Uther to admit to her that he’s her father and public claim her as his child, but Uther sidesteps it all. Morgana is furious and hurt.

Morgause sneaks into the castle and kills a wine bearer (like you do) and meets with Morgana wanting to know why Morgana didn’t meet her the other night. Morgana tells Morgause that she now knows that Uther is her father. Morgause is thrilled at the news and counsels her not to do anything rash. 

But we all know that rash is what Morgana lives for. So when Merlin sees the dead wine guy, he knows something is up with Morgana (dead wine guy was also in the Crystal Cave vision) he goes to find her. She magically knocks him out and knocks over a candelabra, setting the room on fire then heads out to murder Uther in his bed. 

Merlin wakes up in time to avoid burning to death and races to Uther’s room where Morgana is holding her birthday dagger over Uther preparing to stab him. Merlin sneaks in just in time, and unable to stop her by confronting her (because she’ll frame him for it and Uther will believe her- this is my interpretation, btw) he magically blows out the window and the blast knocks her backward into a wall and wakes up Uther. Morgana lies and says that she was there for comfort because her room caught on fire while discreetly kicking the dagger under the bed. 

Later, Gaius and Merlin are talking and Merlin explains that he thought he could alter the future, but he ended up causing it. I don’t think this is necessarily true. However Gaius must because he doesn’t disabuse him of this notion at all. His attitude is very, yeah, you really did, but done is done and now we have more important things to worry about like Morgana knowing that the Uther is her father which means she has a legitimate claim on the throne and Arthur is in danger. 

Okay...now for the questions. 

1.       If I’d written this episode...Ugh. So many things. Most importantly, I wouldn't have Uther confessing that Morgana was his daughter. Not after the previous couple seasons where they acted more like lovers than anything else. I'm still furious about this. The writers had so many other options they could have taken and they blew it. Completely blew it. I would have had Gaius take Merlin seriously instead of blowing him off and then basically blaming him for what happened.

  2.    The thing I loved/hated most about this episode. Loved Merlin trying to wake Arthur up after he'd been shot. So sweet.  Hated Uther's obvious preference of one child over the other.

 3.    Something you’ve never noticed about this episode before.That Morgana gave Gwen one of her birthday presents to basically distract her and get rid of her.

4.    Favorite Costume. When in doubt, Morgana's jammies.

5.    Here is Proof of some random head canon I’ve created. None for this episode.

6.    What Merthur moment did Jess have the naughtiest thoughts about? I think it was when Merlin was tenderly calling Arthur dollophead and clotpole while trying to wake him. And his fear and sadness when he couldn't.

7.   What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in a bad way? Hands down the Uther/Morgana father/daughter storyline which makes the last couple seasons seem super incesty. 

Jess' take on the episode is here, and Jen's is here.

Merlin Club: The Nightmare Begins or The One Where Everyone Would Rather Let Morgana Think She's Going Insane Than Have an Actual Conversation With Her

This episode opens with an ominous thunderstorm and Morgana sleeping fitfully. She’s apparently having magical dreams because the candle next to her bed spontaneously lights. Gwen enters with a pile of blankets, discovers Morgana already sleeping, extinguishes the candle, moves it to a table by the window and leaves. Morgana lights the candle again in her dreams and suddenly wakes. She’s still freaking out – so much so that her magic forces the candle flame higher and sets her anachronistic, acetate taffeta curtains on fire. She screams and blows out the windows to her room. 

After the credits, we see Uther and Arthur “investigating” the fire while Merlin cleans up the mess. I use that word loosely, because while Arthur comes up with a relatively reasonable explanation for the fire (lightning struck the castle) Uther immediately jumps to the conclusion that someone tried to kill his ward. Look, Uther, if anyone was interested in killing someone via burning draperies, I’m pretty sure that someone would be you. 

Arthur points out that he doesn’t think it’s possible for someone to sneak into Morgana’s room with all the guards around and Uther is all “SORCERY!” He tells Arthur to round up everyone they have under suspicion. 

Merlin is headed back to Gaius’ and overhears Morgana telling Gaius that she started the fire using magic. Gaius is a total bag of dicks and not only dismisses her concerns but also offers her stronger drugs to help her sleep. He completely dismisses her terror and the fact that she feels like she's losing her mind. Later, after Morgana has gone, Merlin confronts Gaius about her magic and insists that Gaius tell her the truth because it’ll make her feel less crazy, but Gaius isn’t having it. Merlin offers to talk to her, but Gaius isn’t having that either. In fact, he forbids it.

That night, Gwen offers to stay with Morgana, but Morgana declines. She does however ask Gwen to take the candle with her. The camera pans across a bunch of flowers that Merlin brought her earlier and a huge platter of fruit. Like…just a ridiculous amount of fruit for one person. Who keeps that much fruit in his/her bedroom. Morgana is startled by a crack of thunder and magically explodes the vase of flowers. She races to Gaius’ chambers looking for him, but only Merlin is there. He asks her what’s wrong, but she confesses that she’s scared and doesn’t understand anything anymore. She tells him it’s magic and says she needs to hear someone else say it so she doesn’t feel as crazy. But Merlin says he wishes there was something he could say. But he doesn’t actually say anything helpful and Morgana leaves. Merlin sneaks down to visit the dragon, whose advice is to never let her know the full extent of her powers. He refuses to help Merlin find the druids so they can help Morgana. 

The next morning, Merlin is in Arthur’s chamber doing some sort of servant-y thing when Arthur and Sir Leon enter. Leon has given Arthur a list of everyone known to consort with sorcerers, witches and druids to make arresting them easier. While Arthur discussed Merlin giving Morgana flowers, Merlin surreptitiously checks out the scroll with all of the consort-ers on it. 

Arthur dismisses Merlin who goes out into the city to warn a woman on the list who’d been accused of hanging out with druids. He reaches her before the city guards do and he convinces her to tell him where the druids are since he’d just warned her. 

That night Merlin goes to Morgana’s chambers under the guise of giving her a stronger sleeping potion and they discuss finding the druids. The next morning, the alarm bells are ringing (DRINK!) because Morgana has vanished. Uther quizzes Gaius about what time he delivered Morgana’s sleeping draught and Arthur says it was Merlin who’d delivered it. Gaius and Merlin have another argument about helping Morgana and Gaius says that he understands why Merlin did it, but that he fears the consequences. 

Meanwhile, Morgana has gone deeper into the forest while wearing her lovely screaming red cloak and matching red dress, because if you’re gonna try to be stealthy, you should always wear red. 

Back at Camelot, Uther decides that all of the prisoners will be executed unless the Lady Morgana is returned. Merlin looks horrified because these are the consequences Gaius was talking about. Late that night, Merlin sneaks out of their chamber. He makes it past the guards by making their torches flame up unnaturally high. How come no one yells sorcery? Merlin also uses magic to blow the grate off the end of a tunnel beneath Camelot. Does he realize someone will eventually notice this and investigate? Come on, Merlin. Think!

Meanwhile, Morgana is still making her way through the forest. There’s a creepy chattering noise and she starts to get a little freaked. She gets a lot freaked when the chattering noises turn out to be ginormous magical scorpions. One of them strikes her, injuring her leg and knocking her to the ground. The scorpions surround her and just as they’re about to converge a hooded figure enters the circle and magically calls them off and she passes out. 

The next morning, Gaius realizes Merlin’s gone and we see him trekking across country on foot looking for Morgana. 

Meanwhile, we see Morgana waking up in the druid camp where Aglain is taking care of her. Mordred (remember the little creepy druid boy?) is there, too. 

Back at Camelot, Arthur, Uther and Gaius are indeed investing where the grate was blown out of the tunnel. Uther decides that because of the scorch marks, it must be magic and perpetrated by the same person that set the fire in Morgana’s room. And somehow, Arthur can tell just by glancing at the trail that it leads alllllllllllllllllllllllll the way to the Forest of Asatier where the druids supposedly are. Uther tells Arthur to take no prisoners. 

So Arthur and a crap ton of knights set off to kill all of the druids. Merlin stops to light a fire, hears voices then continues on. He creeps up to the druid camp and talks with Morgana, trying to convince her to return to Camelot. The knights and Arthur quickly catch up to where Merlin had briefly lit a fire then put it out. The wood is still warm. They follow him to the druid’s camp and attack. 

(An aside: This makes me wonder how time works in this forest. As near as I can figure, it takes Morgana a full 24 hours to get there. It seems to take Merlin considerably less time, like through the night and part of the next day. It seems to take Arthur and his men just a few hours. Granted, Arthur is on horseback, but most of his men are on foot, so what the hell?)

The camp is in disarray. People are dying at the hands of Arthur and his knights. Morgana, Mordred, Merlin and Aglain try to escape. There’s a lot of running, hiding and chasing. Merlin uses his magic (out of sight of Morgana to create a heavy fog to hide them in and confuse the knights. But as the mist clears, Aglain eventually gets shot, Morgana passes out, Mordred uses his druid scream to knock out three knights who were about to kill him and escapes, but not without giving Merlin a meaningful look. 

Morgana is returned to Camelot and an emotional Uther who behaves in a marginally more fatherly manner than he has been in previous episodes. Later, Merlin goes to Morgana’s chambers to see if she’s okay. He promises to keep her secret and she tells him that she feels like she knows who she is now and that perhaps someday, magic will be seen as a force for good. There’s a moment when it looks like Merlin is contemplating telling her about his abilities, but he stops himself and says it’s good to have her back. 

He goes out to find Arthur waiting for him. He tells Merlin that he can’t act on his affections for Morgana because the king will have his head. When Merlin goes back to Gaius’ chambers, he apologizes and Gaius hugs him. And Merlin tells him that Morgana knows the truth about her magic because the druids told her. And Gaius tells him Merlin needs to protect Morgana so Uther doesn’t find out about her powers. This kid has a fuckton of responsibility for other people. 

Okay, the questions!

1.       If I’d written this episode...I would have fixed the forest of time flux because that's still making me crazy.  Also, I would have let the audience know what happened to all of the people Uther had rounded up.

 2.    The thing I loved/hated most about this episode. Loved: Morgana finding some peace with who she is.  Hated the way Gaius lied to her and insisted that Merlin do the same. I can't help but wonder how Morgana's story would have played out if the people who were capable of helping her actually fucking helped her.

3.    Something you’ve never noticed about this episode before. The bedroom fruit! Why was there so much damn fruit in Morgana's bedroom!? I swear, every scene in her room (and there were a lot) panned over that damn fruit.

4.    Favorite Costume. Morgana's fancy jammies get the award this week

5.    Here is Proof of some random head canon I’ve created. Sorry, it's another week of no real canon here – none that I’ve created, anyway.

6.    What Merthur moment did Jess have the naughtiest thoughts about? The bit where Arthur seems *quite* jealous that Merlin gave Morgana flowers. Now, perhaps I'm just spending too much time listening to Jess' Merthur thoughts, but I think that was jealousy and I think Jess liked it! 

7.   What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in a bad way, it has to be Gaius constantly gaslighting Morgana to the point of wanting to give her increasingly stronger drugs rather than have a conversation with her about the possibility of magic. 

Jess' take on the episode is here, and Jen's is here.

Merlin Club: Le Morte d’Arthur or The One Where I Can't Get Songs from Spam-a-lot and the Holy Grail Out of My Head

I can’t believe we’ve finished season one already.  I also can’t believe I’ve been religiously blogging for thirteen weeks straight without missing. Yay, Merlin Club pressure! :D

This episode opens with Arthur, Merlin and four knights of Camelot creeping through the wood on a hunt as well as Arthur being annoyed with Merlin. Again. (And yet, he keeps him around – must be true love.) 

Anyway, this ginormous beast shows up – body of a Wampa sized snow leopard and the head of a snake – and everyone runs away screaming.  Which immediately got this song stuck in my head for the next three days. 

I digress. Back to the recap. They all run away and Merlin falls down. Right before the beast gets him, Arthur and another knight return for him, and Arthur lifts him up and drags him out of danger (and Jess’ panties fall off). Unfortunately, the other man, Sir Bedivere, we find out, gets ganked by the beast.

After the credits, we find ourselves in Uther’s council chambers where Gaius is telling everyone that it sounds like The Questing Beast. Arthur very disdainfully says that the Questing Beast in a myth. Really, Arthur? You just saw a giant snake-leopard thing in the woods, it eats your buddy and again, head of snake and body of snow leopard and you’re just gonna dismiss magic out of hand? Gaius warns that it’s an omen of the Old Religion and Uther dimisses, calling the Questing Beast an old wives’ tale, and I lost my damn mind.

Even though they refuse to believe it’s magic, Uther decides it must be killed and tells Arthur he rides at dawn. Gaius tells Uther that he’s seen the beast once before – the night Ygraine (Arthur’s mother) died. Uther shuts him right down and reminds Gaius that he’s been told not to speak of that night again. He goes on to say that warnings of the Old Religion mean nothing to him, because he’s conquered it.

Gaius, determined to be heard, warns Merlin that the beast carried the power of life and death – just like the Old Religion. (Side note: everyone in this show goes on and on about the Old Religion, but what’s replaced it. Other than the occasional reference to “God” we have no indication that there’s anything taking its place.)  Okay, back to the plot, Gaius tells Merlin that one bite from the Questing Beast, and the victim dies and there’s no cure.

That night, during a mood setting thunderstorm, of course,  Morgana has a bad dream about dragons, Questing Beasts, Merlin yelling and Arthur looking dead. She wakes on a scream and Gwen runs into the room and tries to comfort her. Doesn’t Gwen ever go home anymore?

The next morning, Arthur is giving the nights a pep talk about killing the beast when Morgana runs to him still in her jammies and flips out, begging him not to go. Arthur seems annoyed and has knights escort (read: drag) Morgana back to her chamber.

So the hunting party follows the beasts trail through the woods and into the cave (DRINK!)

 and Merlin and Arthur go in one direction while the knights go in another. Merlin and Arthur, after stumbling across a plethora of skulls and bones, inevitably meet the beast. Unfortunately, at that point, I had lines from the Paper Bag Princess stuck in my head – “He (the dragon) was easy to follow because he left a trail of burnt forests and horses’ bones.” Anyway, Arthur fights it, but the beast wins, biting Arthur and rendering him unconscious. Merlin magic’s Arthur’s sword right into the beast’s throat and it dies. Merlin, realizing that Arthur is injured calls for help and they frantically bring him back to Camelot.

Merlin and the knights carry him to Gaius’ chamber where they lay him on Gaius’ work table. The guards go to tell the king while Merlin desperately tries to cast healing spells on Arthur. They don’t work. Uther comes in the chamber freaking the fuck out because Arthur is dying – you know the same Arthur he sent out to fight the deadly beast. Uther, utterly grief stricken, lifts Arthur from the table and carries him to his chamber with heavy halting steps while weeping openly.

Look, I’m not gonna sit here and lie to you and tell you that grieving Uther isn’t hot as hell. Part of it is the beauty that’s Anthony Stewart Head, and part of it is the fact that this bitter asshole of a man truly does love his son. Of course, there’s also anger because why the hell can you show it other times, Uther!? Why does it take your son being at death’s door to be a fucking parent!? Finally, it’s too much for him and he falls to his knees sobbing and the knights came and take Arthur to his room while Merlin looks as though he’s going to cry and Morgana looks out her window, completely unsurprised, but still sad.

Merlin races down to the dragon’s prison to ask for help. The dragon tells him that he needs to use the powers of the Old Religion to save Arthur. Merlin says that the Old Religion died out centuries ago. Really, Merlin? I thought you were clever. What do you think the druids and other magic users you’ve been dealing with all season were all about!? Dumbass. (Sorry, Jess.)

The dragon tells Merlin to go to the Isle of the Blessed where those who still hold dominion over life and death are holed up. The dragon tells him that Arthur must live no matter the cost. Merlin goes to Gaius’ chamber were Gaius tells him to bring Arthur a potion to ease his passing. (Apparently, Gaius was ready to call it.) and Merlin is all, “No I’m going to save him,” and tells Gaius about his plan for going to The Isle of the Blessed. Gaius flips shit over the thought of Merlin going there and tries to talk him out of it by telling him that they’ll demand a life in return for saving Arthur. Merlin is determined and goes anyway.  Gaius relents and gives Merlin a map to the Isle of the Blessed.

Merlin rides through a mist shrouded wood while Arthur, feverish, suffers the effects of the Questing Beast’s bite. Uther sits beside him soothes him. It’s very sweet. Eventually, Gaius take Uther’s place and then Gwen. She takes care of Arthur, soothing his fever and talking to him about how he’s going to survive and be a great king.

Meanwhile, Merlin finds the lake that surrounds the Isle of the Blessed and takes a little rickety rowboat to get there – there looks not unlike the ruins at Glastonbury – but anyway, once he gets there, he runs into good old Nimueh.

She tells him that she’ll help, but that the balance of the earth must be restored and to do that, a life must be taken. He offers his life in return for Arthur’s. She says that it’s not that simple and he’s all, “whatever the price, I’ll pay it” still thinking they’re talking his life.

Nimueh pulls the Cup of Life out of thin air and tells him that if Arthur drinks water from that cup, he’ll live. She also creates a storm out of thin air and fills the cup with rainwater, then puts it in an ornate little holder. She says, all sultry-like, “The bargain is struck. I hope it pleases you.” Merlin shakes it off and returns to Camelot and shows Gaius the water. Gaius flips shit wanting to know what price he paid and whose life he bargained. C’mon Gaius. Why are you freaking now? You knew that was the plan from the beginning.

But he gives Arthur the water anyway, and Uther busts in and demands to know what Gaius is giving Arthur. Gaius totally lies then suggests that Uther allow Arthur to rest. Uther says he won’t leave him. Really, Uther? Really? Because where have you been the rest of the time your kid has been on his death bed!?

Gaius and Merlin leave, but Morgana pulls Merlin into a little alcove looking all crazy-eyed and tells him that he must beware – that this is only the beginning. Later that night, Arthur wakes to find Uther slumped over and sleeping on the bed beside him. Gaius tells Merlin that Arthur lives and Merlin is thrilled, and Gaius is upset because he fears that Merlin will die.

Uther visits Arthur as he’s recuperating. Arthur says that feels like he had someone watching over him. And Uther says that maybe he has a guardian angel. Another very Christian concept. So is Christianity the New Religion? If so, why not come out and say it? The earliest Arthurian stories didn’t have Christian overtones, but many were rewritten to include them and those are the ones the general populace is the most familiar with, so why were the writers dancing around the topic?

Sorry…back to the plot. That night, there’s another mood setting thunderstorm – must be the rainy season in Camelot and Merlin is sitting on his bed, basically waiting to die. Later that night, a hooded figure schlumps into Camelot and heads to Merlin and Gaius’ chamber. It’s Hunith, Merlin’s mother and she’s wheezing and covered with horrible boils and is apparently dying from them.

Merlin wakes up and is all excited because he’s alive, then he discovers his mother on the floor and freaks the hell out. He’s gutted because he bargained his life, not his mother’s. Gaius says there’s nothing he can do because it’s not a natural illness. He promises his mother that he’ll make her better and goes down to see the dragon. Merlin is furious with the dragon because he knew what would happen. And the dragon is basically “too bad, so sad.” The dragon tells him that his mom won’t die in vain. And Merlin tells him that he’ll never release the dragon and he’ll never see Merlin again. Cue dragon temper tantrum. 

Merlin returns to Gaius’ chambers and tells him that he has to save her. Basically, he’s going back to the Isle of the Blessed to make another deal with Nimueh this time to heal his mother in return for his life – no one else’s. Gaius tries to talk him out of it, but Merlin won’t be budged and they have a heartfelt moment about all the things Gaius taught him. Then Merlin goes to say goodbye to Arthur without really letting on what he’s doing. It’s a sweetly amusing scene that really shows the depth of Merlin’s affection for Arthur. And Arthur knows that something’s off, but he’s not sure what.

He returns to his room to check on his mother and finds Gwen taking care of Hunith. She says that Gaius went for supplies. He says his subtle goodbyes to Gwen, too and his mom. When he leaves the room, he finds a letter that Gaius wrote to him about sacrificing himself to Nimueh because he’s old and has lived his life and Merlin has so much promise – blah blah blah. Merlin, of course, takes off after Gaius.

Gaius and Nimueh have a little chat involving some expository dialogue about the spell they cast for Uther and how he Gaius stood by and watched their friends burn. Nimueh toys with him some more then finally agrees to take his life to save Hunith.

Merlin shows up and Nimueh tells him his mother is safe. Gaius is slumped on the ground and Nimueh tries to convince Merlin to join forces with her. Merlin isn’t having it and he and Nimueh have a magic battle royale with fireballs and everything until Merlin summons lightning  and rain from the sky and fries Nimueh until she explodes in a pile of toasty sorceress bits.

Merlin runs to Gaius and cries and yells no a lot and weeps in the rain while hugging Gaius. Gaius eventually comes to – I guess because of the whole Old Religion life for a life thing and Gaius was revived when Nimueh went poof. And down in the bowels of Camelot, the dragon has another dragon tantrum.

Now, for the questions!

1.       If I’d written this episode...I would have had Arthur and Uther not be so dismissive of Gaius’ warning regarding magic and what not. Come the fuck on, people. I’m bad at math, but even I know that snow leopard + giant snake = a really bad magic-y thing.

 2.    The thing I loved/hated most about this episode. I loved the bit where Merlin was saying his secret goodbyes to Arthur and Gwen – it was actually quite touching. And I also loved Uther weeping over Arthur like an actual fucking parent.

I hated the dismissive-ness shown toward Gaius and also Arthur toward Morgana – it was more like he was embarrassed for/by her than concerned for her.  Also the whole Old Religion thing.

3.    Something you’ve never noticed about this episode before. The whole guardian angel bit between Uther and Arthur.

4.    Favorite Costume. Pretty much everyone is wearing the same old/same old. But I do like Arthur’s linen shirt that he’s wearing when he’s lying in bed. Also, it might be that Arthur is lying in bed…

5.    Here is Proof of some random head canon I’ve created. No real canon here – none that I’ve created, anyway.

6.    What Merthur moment did Jess have the naughtiest thoughts about? It has to be the sweet, heartfelt and slightly sassy goodbye when Merlin thought he was going to have to sacrifice himself.nBecause, I know in Jess’ head that goodbye ended up in bed.

7.   What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode – it’s got to be the whole Old Religion thing vs. whatever it is that the writers are avoiding.

Jess' take on the episode is here, and Jen's is here.