Merlin Series 4 – the two-part series finale – Review

When I saw the trailer for The Sword in the Stone – Part 1 I wanted it to be next Saturday (aka. 17 December 2011) straightaway. It was amazing, and the episode lived up to it. You can view the trailer below:

And the exact same for part 2:

I’ll stop talking about the trailers now, though, and talk about the actual episodes, which were by far the best in Merlin Series 4. Maybe in all of Merlin – they were that good.

If you’ve read my other Merlin Series 4 reviews, you’ll might know the basic plot – Morgana tries (and suceeds) attacking Camelot. But it’s more than that. Just reading that description would make me think it was a repeat of last year’s finale. It wasn’t, though.

These 2 episodes pack everything that’s good about Merlin into, well, 2 episodes. There’s funny moments, great acting, an amazing plot and an interesting kind-of cliffhanger. I’ll give you an example of ‘funny moments’ – Arthur is made dumb by a spell cast on him by Merlin, and it’s really funny watching him, for example, hug trees and wear simple clothes. Great acting… well, everyone does great acting in Merlin, but Katie McGrath is really good as Morgana. And as for the cliffhanger…

Morgana’s just been stabbed (it seems fatally), and she’s staggering around in a forest. Then the dragon that Merlin saved earlier in the series comes and appears to breathe life back into her…

And then episode ended with the simple words: Merlin Will Return. I can’t wait! Does this mean the dragon will become evil? Will Morgana return? So many questions!

Merlin Series 4 episodes 10/11 – Review

I’m no expert on reviews, but I know that when reviewing something, you usually start at the beginning of it. And you also review the thing that’s older first. This review completely goes against what I have just said.

So I’ve just watched episode 11, and I’m wishing it was Saturday 17th now. I know that it will be at least that date by the time you read this, but it isn’t for me. Oh, no. Moving on. After an amazing episode with some unexpected moments, a trailer was shown that gives the impression that this year’s series finale (part one) is going to be the best yet.

As mentioned, episode 11 was great – and it wasn’t just because of the trailer. You know that I’ve previously mentioned that Merlin can be kind of like a soap opera (though it’s much better)? Well, in this episode, Arthur plans to marry a princess from another kingdom, but eventually cancels because he realises he loves Gwen, who he is ‘destined’ to marry but he exiled her out of the kingdom because she betrayed him. And while that’s happening, Arthur’s evil uncle is working with the evil Morgana to take down Camelot (because Morgana thinks she should rightfully be Queen). Yeah, complicated. Episode rating? 10/10. It was awesome.

On to episode 10, which in fact aired… 2 weeks ago today (at least for you guys, not for me). I didn’t write about it last week because I did a post on the Doctor Who movie, so here is the review two weeks after it aired. I know, terrible service. So episode 10 aired before episode 11, but I’m reviewing it later in the post because I was really excited about the ep. 11 trailer as I started this post. Moving on…

I’ll start the fifth paragraph by saying that this episode is:

• Creepy (especially at the beginning),
• Sad,
• And, finally, happy

It mainly involves (at least at the start) a creepy-looking pale boy who is soaking wet appearing creepily randomly. Did I mention only one person can see him? We, the audience, can see him, and so can this other guy, but this gives us the idea that he could be there without us knowing. Merlin was meant to get darker with series 4, and it defintiley has. As of 10/12/11, my brother still hasn’t seen the episode – he saw a clip with the creepy kid on iPlayer with me, and decided not to see the ep. Merlin has got darker. Episode rating? 8/10. A good episode, but it’s just maybe a bit too creepy. I know Merlin has moved to a later time slot (usually about 8pm), but families will still watch this.

So those are reviews of two episodes. Series 4 is coming to an end, and I don’t know what I’ll write about after that. Any ideas, anyone? Can be Doctor Who, can be something else…

Merlin Series 4 episode 9 – Review

So much happens in this episode! I don’t want to spoil it for you, but Lancelot (who sacrificed himself to save the world is episode 2) returns and King Arthur proposes to Gwen. Merlin‘s kind of turning into a soap opera. So and so is going to die, but they don’t. So and so is marrying someone else, but there is inevitably problems. Merlin is still way better than any soap opera though.

I’m hoping none of you (if you’ve read my past Merlin Series 4 reviews) would be surprised if I said Morgana is in this episode. Sigh. If I remember correctly, she wasn’t in the last episode, which was great. But she’s back, and she’s the main enemy. The series finale better see the last of her. But I’ve been through all of this before. On to the episode…

The looks on everyone’s faces when they see that Lancelot is back from the dead is amazing. I mean, how would you feel if you’d known someone had died a few months ago, and then suddenly they turned up, in a normal, healthy condition, on your doorstep? So you get the idea.

My brother, known on WordPress as artys999 (though he hasn’t blogged for a long while) was cringing when it got the proposal scene (Arthur and Gwen). It really wasn’t that bad. See it for yourself on iPlayer. The fact that Lancelot was killed, Uther died and Arthur proposed to Gwen means the show is really falling far from the legend. Not forgetting Morgana turned evil ages ago, and her sister Morgause died (I don’t know if she’s in the legend). I don’t really mind these changes, but it does mean that the original Merlin fans (the people who like the old man Merlin) won’t really want to watch the show. I hope that doesn’t affect the ratings and mean Merlin goes the same way as the late Doctor Who Confidential.

In conclusion, I award this episode of the BBC One drama Merlin 9/10. It was brilliant. A must watch.

For those of you who want to watch it (who wouldn’t?!), episode 10 is on today at 8pm, on BBC One/BBC One HD/BBC iPlayer and some channels in countries other than England.

Have a good day!

Merlin Series 4 episode 8 – Review

This episode doesn’t have Morgana in it! It is the first episode in this series to not have Morgana in it for even a second! It’s crazy!

On to the episode. Titled Lamia (strange name!), it’s about a strange girl who Merlin and friends encounter. Lamia (the girl) controls the knights’ minds and makes them be very protective of her and hate Merlin. Though it sounds quite simple, it’s actually really interesting to see the ‘dark’ sides of some usually good characters, and at some points it’s quite scary (which isn’t usual for Merlin, even though this series aims to be darker).

Back on to the Morgana point. Morgana has been evil since series 3/the end of series 2 (think it’s the latter, not sure) and it’s a bit tiring having her come back every episode and do her evil ways. I really believed we’d seen the last of her at the end of the last series since everyone knew she was evil, but no. I really hope we see the last of her at the end of this series, and have a nice Morgana-free series 5. That’d be great.

Back on to the episode. There’s some nice CGI… but it’s not fully clear (at least for me) why, for example, there was an illness and why bandits were attacking Lamia (were they scared) etc. However, we did see more of Gwen, which was unexpected.

Next week (today for you): Arthur proposes to Gwen (no, it isn’t a soap opera) and (guess what?) that guy who sacrified himself in episode 2 is back… and evil! I can’t wait! So that’s at 20:15.

Have a great day!

Merlin Series 4 episode 6/7 – Review

Another double review today, because I reviewed The Adventures of Tin Tin last week. Episodes 6 and 7 were quite different from each other, which kind of makes 2 reviews in 1 a bit weird, but ah, well.

Episode 6

This was one of the funniest Merlin episodes ever. If not the funniest. I’ll explain. Morgana kidnapped Merlin and made him want to kill Arthur. For those of you who haven’t seen Merlin, it basically means Bad kidnapped Good and made Good want to kill another Good. Got it? Good. Merlin’s attempts at killing Arthur were very entertaining, and involved him running into a wall at high-speed with a sword, and setting up an arrow-shooting device that worked when he tested it, didn’t work when it was meant to, and nearly shot him. Very good. This episode also involved the older-looking Merlin, and, of course, Morgana. I thought we’d got rid of her at the end of this episode, but no… 10/10, because of the failed killing attempts and the ever-brilliant older-Merlin.

Episode 7

Episode 7 is completely unlike episode 6. It was still a great story, and was full of surprises. At one point I truly thought something was going to happen that would change the show forever. We’d already had Uther killed, and that was enough for the whole of Series 4, but you never know what will happen in Merlin. Anyway, back to the plot. Basically, Gaius was kidnapped by Morgana and her friend (Arthur’s uncle, who he trusts for some reason), and was tortured for information about who ‘Emrys” is (he’s Merlin). Meanwhile, Arthur was convinced Gaius was a traitor and had run away. It was left to Merlin to sort it all out. It was a really good episode (10/10), but it was completely different from last week’s.

Overall, some great episodes. I’m looking forward to the next episode (some mind-controlling magic person is in it), which, by the time this post is published, is today! I don’t know what time it is though, because at the time of writing (12/11/11), the TV schedule hasn’t been confirmed yet. Update: I looked on the BBC Merlin website, and the time is 20:15.

Have a great day, and remember to watch Merlin!

Merlin Series 4 episodes 4/5 – Review

Even though episodes 4 and 5 aren’t two parts of the same story, I’m reviewing them together. It’s complicated.

At the end of my last Merlin review, I noted that there was talk of a dragon egg in the next time trailer. And episode 4 did focus on a dragon, which, when it hatched at the end of the episode, was surprising cute for a bit of CGI. The basic plot was that an old… not quite enemy of Gaius came along with a plan to get a dragon egg. Gaius was completely against it, but Merlin decided it was a good idea. In typical Merlin style, he ignored Gaius and rescued the rather cute dragon. A brilliant episode – 10/10. Next paragraph: a battle…

I’m writing this review as I watch the episode, and, as usual with Merlin, I’m impressed. But Morgana is in this episode. Not as the full enemy, but enough to think there’s a little too much. I hope they sort her out in this year’s series finale (episode 13). At least they got rid of her sister Morgause in episode 1. Onto the episode…

Basically, Arthur’s evil uncle makes him do things he’s not comfortable with – including killing someone in ‘cold blood’, which causes a war against Camelot, ending his relationship with Gwen and more. Arthur makes a deal for a fight between him and a champion to stop the battle, but Morgana tries to make it impossible for him to win. I won’t say whether she succeeds or not – partly because I haven’t found yet, and partly because it would spoil it for you. 9/10 for the episode.

So, there you go. 2 reviews in one week. Next week (today for you readers): Morgana kidnaps Merlin! And Merlin becomes old again! I can’t wait!!

Merlin Series 4 episode 3 – Review

Morgana’s in this episode! I had hoped that, after a regular occurence throughout series 3, she wouldn’t be in series 4 much, though the last two-parter (with her in) was great. At least it was only a cameo.

So far in this series, Uther hasn’t been… very well. Morgana turning against him didn’t do him any good, to say the least. And in this episode, it seems he might die. I can’t say any more because firstly I haven’t seen much of the episode yet (I’m writing as it’s being broadcast), and secondly because it would spoil the episode.

Uther has been known for hating magic, but the only way to save him seems to be to use it. Arthur seems to be different to his father in this sense. And a core provider of magic is Merlin. But of course, Merlin can’t look like Merlin, so in comes old man Merlin. It’s very funny.

Now I’m sad. Spoiler Alert

Uther died. And the old man version of Merlin is hated by everyone. It really is sad.

Spoiler Alert END

Overall, it was very good. Merlin’s just destroyed his chances of living in a magic-is-ok world, so that will be interesting to see how it plays out. I’m glad Morgana had no more than a cameo as well.

Next week (well, today by the time this is published): A dragon’s egg…

Merlin Series 4 episodes 1 & 2 – review

So, Doctor Who has finished for the time being (until Christmas), and populating Saturday evening TV is now Merlin. It’s becoming very successful, with a fifth series confirmed even before the fourth series aired, so that means we’ll probably get the now-not-surprising “Merlin Will Return” at the end of the series, which is not a bad thing.

If you’ve read my review of series 3, you’ll know I wasn’t too impressed with the last series, many because Morgana became a repeating ‘enemy’, as such. A repeating enemy isn’t a bad thing (like with the Daleks in Doctor Who), but Morgana was the bad guy in almost every other episode. I hoped that wasn’t the case in series 4, but it is. And, surprisingly, it’s very good.

I plan to review each Merlin episode separately for series 4 (like I did with Series 6b of – guess what? – Doctor Who), but this is a double review because of the fact that there was both Doctor Who and Merlin last week. On to the actual review now (yes, wake up, I’ve stopped going on about random things now)…

The two episodes, titled The Darkest Hour and The Darkest Hour – Part 2 focus on Morgana opening a link between two worlds, and all the bad things (think creepy ghosts) come into Arthur’s world. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Uther isn’t well at all, there’s a bad guy who people trust at the palace and Arthur plans to sacrifice himself to sort it all out.

You could tell from the promo. poster for this series that it was going to be a lot darker, and it certainly is. My and my brother were on the edge of our seats as we watched the episodes, which is quite unusual for the normally light-hearted Merlin. That isn’t to say it’s not suitable for younger viewers, just be warned.

Overall rating for the episodes? 10/10. That’s more than I’d give to most episodes of series 3. That said, this series wouldn’t quite make sense without series 3, so do watch it.

Next week (well, today by the time this post is published): Arthur spinning around… (?). And Merlin as an old man. Ok, then…

Just an interesting point: I seem to have said “Doctor Who” almost as many times as I’ve said “Merlin” in this post. And Merlin doesn’t really have anything to do with Doctor Who…