So call me crazy but I really liked this week’s episode of Merlin. Was it ridiculous filler? Yes. Was it a total rehash of the same plot that’s been used a million times? Yes. But hey, I like the formula. If I didn’t like that formula, I probably would have gotten sick of this show a lot sooner.
I think a lot of the negative reaction came, quite honestly, from the focus this episode on Gaius (Richard Wilson), as opposed to a younger cast member. I happen to like him, though. Maybe it’s my thing for old people in love, but I found this storyline amazingly sweet. I always like a glimpse into the past, too, since we know so little about it. Maybe we didn’t learn anything revelatory, but Gaius is no longer a giant question mark who just seems to exist solely to find the answers to everything in one of his books. Gaius and Merlin’s relationship is, in my opinion, a tragically underutilized thing. I love when it comes out in episodes like “The Witchfinder” or, heck, even the glimpse we got of it in the goblin episode earlier this season. I liked how Gaius was the one who was naive and oblivious, and Merlin was the one giving dire warnings and shaking his finger.
Plus, I know he only appeared for five minutes total this entire episode, but in my opinion, Arthur was the best part. I’ve always felt that Bradley James is tragically underused in this show. Arthur in this season has existed in a narrow role. He’s either off killing and stabbing things in a perilous fashion so Merlin can save him, or he’s gazing soppily after Gwen. Which, granted, he’s really good at swinging his sword around (no euphemism intended) and his forlorn puppy looks are, frankly, adorable. But remember last season in “Sins of the Father”? He can do so much more. And this episode, he did. He got to have an actual conversation with Merlin. About his feelings. Guys, you’ve all heard me complaining about this! And then I did, and it happened! So I’m going to pretend those five minutes were thanks to me. It was thanks to me that Arthur tried to give Merlin some (terrible) advice and demonstrated his adorable emotional constipation by attempting to get him to feel better with a dead arm. (A dead arm, Arthur? Really? That actually works on your knights?) Plus, for the first time in ages, Arthur figured something out. Now, it wasn’t something important, like, say, that Merlin has magic, or Morgana is evil and attempting to kill him, but he was able to piece together what happened to his father, and that pleased me. Clearly, all that convenient passing out in order for Merlin to magically save him hasn’t given him permanent cognitive damage.
Look, I’m not going to lie and say this was the best episode ever — it wasn’t. And I’m not going to say it made me hopeful or think that things had changed, because between the trailer for next week and the spoilers I’ve heard, I already know that for my own personal peace of mind I’m just skipping next week’s episode entirely. (Don’t worry, I already have pulled our old friend Ruby out of retirement to sub for me, which should be exciting people who don’t hate Arthur ad Gwen together. She’ll probably have something actually positive to say!) My point is this — I liked this episode. It was an enjoyable way to spend forty-odd minutes of my Saturday. I didn’t spend part of this episode unspeakably mad at the writing staff and yelling, “Are you kidding? I could write better than this! My grandmother could write better than this!” at my laptop screen.
And really, that’s all I ask from my shows.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Nov 07, 2010 @ 14:02 EST5EDT
Oh, you are skipping the next episode. Oh, I would miss your review SO MUCH. I know it aches. But I still have to watch that. Anyway.
Their forced romance has driven so many loyal fans so heartbroken. I really really wish that the producers will consider that and understand our feelings. We have been so loyal to this show for 3 years now and please don’t break our heart.
Are you telling me there are people out there who DON’T LIKE GAIUS? As Craig Ferguson would say, they may as well go join al Qaeda.
*POST AUTHOR*
He is, to be fair, morally dubious.
Aren’t we all? ;-)
I’ve always liked Gaius, since he first fell off a ladder a long time ago, and of course first said: “Eat your soup, Merlin.” I also liked this episode and Goblin’s Gold.
That’s not the point. We have had 2 Season 3 episodes on Gaius, a couple on Morgana, and one or so on Gwen. Here’s a novel idea no one has ever thought about — let’s have a whole episode just about the stars of the show, Arthur and Merlin!? It’s so obvious. I agree with Julia that Arthur gave a little glimpse of himself this episode, but aren’t we really lowering the bar very far down? A couple of smiles, throwing lances (daggers) at a living target as we saw way back in 1×01, and a shoulder punch and that’s enough, after all the episodes where we saw what this series could really be — Poisoned Chalice, Labyrinth of Gedref, Last Dragonlord, etc.?
I get the same feeling. This season is all about other relationships. But on Arthur and Merlin’s relationship, I don’t see anything significant so far. I am really really hurt for that.