Fantasy Weekend - Merlin, Season 5 finale

SPOILER ALERT FOR MERLIN, SEASON 5, LAST EPISODE.

I finally watched the last episode of BBC One series Merlin. In the second last episode, we saw Arthur marching with his knights towards Camlann to stop Morgana’s Saxon army from invading Camelot. Camlann is the scene, in the prophecy Merlin saw, where Arthur would supposedly be killed by Mordred. Unfortunately, Mordred has revealed Merlin’s identity as Emrys to Morgana and she planted a magical creature in his room that managed to drain Merlin of all his magic. Now powerless, Merlin travels to the Crystal Cave in hopes of restoring his powers, even though it meant him being away from Arthur during what might be the king’s last battle.

To cut the story short, Merlin succeeded in restoring his powers and rushed to Camlann, disguised as an old man. Once he was there, he turned the tide of the battle and Morgana’s army was defeated. Everyone there saw the sorcerer that helped defeat the Saxons but nobody except for Gaius knew it was Merlin. Nonetheless, Mordred was still around and he managed to injure Arthur using the sword forged by the dragon Aithusa’s fire. Before collapsing, Arthur killed Mordred with Excalibur.

With Arthur seriously injured, Merlin took him away before the remaining Saxons or Morgana could find him. When Arthur regained consciousness, he saw Merlin who was back in his original form, tending to him. He asked where he had been and mentioned the sorcerer that helped them earlier. Merlin finally did what he always wanted to do. He finally told Arthur his true identity.

(The following dialogue has been paraphrased)

Merlin: It was me. I’m the sorcerer.

Arthur (looking at him incredulously): Don’t be ridiculous.

Merlin: It was me.

Arthur looked at him in confusion and when it finally dawned on him, you could see a look of fear and betrayal. Merlin was pretty scary earlier; he used conjured lightning bolts to take down the enemy. It was clear that Arthur was conflicted. One part of him feared magic, a little like how Uther feared magic, and another part of him was hurt that Merlin, whom he had come to eventually see as a friend, didn’t trust him enough to tell him his secret.

Merlin: I wanted to tell you but I couldn’t. You would’ve chopped my head off.

Arthur: I don’t know what I would’ve done.

Merlin: That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. You would’ve been conflicted.

Arthur (looking at him in disbelief): That’s the reason you didn’t tell me?

Next, we see the two of them struggle with the aftermath of Merlin’s revelation. Arthur, alternating between anger and betrayal, told Merlin to leave him be. Merlin clearly couldn’t do that since Arthur was gravely injured and he wanted to do anything he could to stop the prophecy from happening. When Gaius came to bring medicine, he gave a dark prognosis: a piece of Mordred’s sword is embedded in Arthur’s flesh and it was working its way towards Arthur’s heart. Since Mordred’s blade was forged by dragon fire, only the Sidhe’s magic would be strong enough to stop it. Merlin would have to bring Arthur to Avalon, where the Sidhe dwells.

The scene after that was quite tense since you know what would eventually happen but at times, you hoped that the creators of this series would take a different route. After all, everyone seemed hopeful that if anyone could save Arthur, Merlin could. Just as they were about to reach the ancient isle of Avalon, Arthur told Merlin to stop because he wanted to say something.

Merlin: I hope it’s not goodbye.

Arthur (looking at him earnestly): Thank you.

After that, Arthur lost consciousness and in desperation, Merlin summoned the dragon to help transport them to the ancient isle. After dropping the two of them, Merlin said there was no way he would let Arthur die.

Dragon: Some people decide their own destiny but for others, their fate has long been prophesised and there’s nothing you can do to change it.

Merlin: But Arthur is the saviour of Albion!

Dragon: He is the once and future king. When Albion is in need, he will come back.

Merlin then realised the reality of the situation but it did not make Arthur’s passing any easier. That’s when the waterworks came. The ending showed Guinevere continuing Arthur’s work as queen of Camelot, with the support of the knights and Merlin, sending Arthur’s body into the Avalon lake. Merlin also threw Excalibur towards the lake, which was promptly received by a hand that emerged from within the lake.

In the last scene, you see the tower on the ancient isle of Avalon and when the scene pans out, you see a truck zooming past on a tar road. We then see Merlin, as an old man, trundling down the road. Does it mean Merlin is immortal and is well and alive in modern day Britain? Or does it mean that he has been reborn and that Arthur has been reborn as well? I like this last scene because it leaves the interpretation of it entirely up to the viewer.

I thought the series ended well. Season 4 and Season 5 were getting a bit repetitive in terms of the plotlines but I still like the series overall. This series has its flaws but it’s the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur that was the main pillar of the show. I also like the interaction between Arthur and Guinevere and how it eventually blossomed into love.