That’s not to say I don’t like the show, but, really, it is quite predictable and that’s where my problem with it lies. And while it seems that the fun factor and nostalgia of Doctor Who managed to pull it off with love and consideration, Merlin has yet to find this subtle balance that appeals to everyone. Read Dave’s review of the previous episode, The Drawing of the Dark, here.You see, there is a problem with writing to appeal to a wide demographic, as a show like this has to appeal to both young and old alike. See the concluding part of Merlin on Christmas Eve at 8.15pm. This isn’t Gladiator, or Game of Thrones, but it’s still a triumph for the producers and will hopefully lead to more impressive sequences in the concluding instalment.īy the end of this episode, you’ll probably want to draw a breath as the finale is coming very, very soon. Shot to make it look like there are more people on screen than there probably were, slow-motion and well-choreographed combat are merged in a way that makes it look suitably brutal, without being bloody.
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The battle at the end of the episode looks impressive. The Great Dragon doesn’t appear, though Aithusa, Morgana’s dragon, makes a brief appearance. There isn’t a moment where you feel Morgan isn’t invested in his character and even the appearance of Old Merlin is a spirited one.Īs for the rest of the cast, Gwaine’s womanising ways are seen, as Eoin Macken gets more screen time than the other knights. His speech to his troops ranks up their with the President’s speech in Independence Day – which will either mean it’s impressive to you or terribly cheesy – either way, Bradley James nails it and I’d find it difficult not to rush to my bloody death!Ĭolin Morgan’s Merlin covers a gamut of emotions in this episode – humour, loss, fear, elation – and he puts his heart and soul into the performance. Bradley James and Angel Coulby are at their best in this episode. The exchange between Arthur and Merlin, in which Arthur confesses he believes Merlin to be brave but must have been mistaken, is heartbreakingly executed, as is Gwen’s discussion with Gaius about Merlin’s absence, in which little is said but much is meant, and Gwen’s faith in her King.Īrthur, once again, has confidence issues due to Merlin’s absence and the sheer enormity of what is about to happen, but Gwen’s faith gives him strength. There are some fantastic moments between characters that crystalise their relationship.
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#Merlin season 5 episode 1 script series
It would have been easy to just throw us straight into the conflict between Morgana and Arthur, but through this lengthy build-up we get a lot of character-driven scenes, with series regular Jake Michie showing his clear comfort with all the characters and events on screen as he crafts a particularly impressive script. So much is brought into play here that it’s almost overwhelming. It’s the final story in the television adventures of Merlin and it’s a slow-burning episode that should lead into one cracking finale. Here it is, The Diamond of the Day (Part One). If only he’d told the truth, in the way that Gwaine had with Morgana’s conveniently placed wanton woman that found her way into the amorous, and loose tongued Knight’s bed. With this threat looming, Arthur declares his knights will stop Morgana reaching Camelot… the war has begun and will take place on the prophesied field of Arthur’s death, with Merlin now powerless to stop him unless the wizard can get to the Crystal Caves, the birthplace of magic.ĭiscovering that Merlin won’t be joining him in this sojourn, Arthur is terse towards his servant, disappointed in his decision to go on a quest for Gaius instead of stand beside the master who has, he admits, never thought of Merlin as a coward, despite the jokes. Together, Mordred and Morgana storm a nearby garrison, with their mercenary troops, forcing the knights to retreat to Camelot. There’s humour and merriment, with Merlin showing a wicked streak, winning plenty of money and making his master look a tad foolish, before retiring to his chambers, where he is promptly attacked by Morgana’s magic-eating slug. Meanwhile, Arthur and Merlin are playing a dice game that the servant appears to be winning with the aid of magic.