Melisey Yes HMGwen, Morgana was just awful as a villain. The only thing I did like was that she looked like she was second guessing herself in her scene with Mordred.

LadyKnighton The episode was okay,but I really wanted more Arwen! the scene they had was beautiful but not enough!

EPaws Amen Kim. I need some GofT mindset when it comes to Morgana. My boy would have dispensed with her most painfully a long time ago.

HumbleQueen Well I finally got back on after a long day and I've thoroughly enjoyed all these different perspectives. So cool reading. Totally relaxing before heading to bed. Shout out in particular to Melly. Wow, girl, you have a way of expressing my heart better than I EVER can. As some of you read, I watched yesterday at airtime with expectations and felt let down and disappointed. Watched again at bedtime and had a completely different perspective on the episode. I still have the same opinion about the rushing of the breaking of the spell and of the misplaced humor, but there were a LOT of things I really liked. Here are some of them: 1. Arthur the husband. Wow. How this man loves this woman. If we never saw it before we saw it in this episode. The scenes in the castle showed it, especially the hug scene, and all throughout, we saw his tender care of his bride - the woman he had seen in the dark with Morgana. Never did we see any sign of anger and bitterness towards her, just his love, concern, and determination to do all that was humanly (and magically) possible to bring her back to him. It was so sweet at the one point how he laid her down on the ground gently holding her head, like you do with a baby. And how his first thought after his relief at seeing Mordred, was her. So many other little moments showing his love and care, even when he told Merlin that HE would be the one who would carry her because "she's MY wife." Loved that. 2. Gaius the hero. To me, here was our unsung hero. This time he came through early on BIG time. It was him, not Merlin, who planned it out, who pushed Merlin and convinced Arthur of his only course to get back his queen, his bride. Loved his words there and how he took the initiative. 3. Mordred the enigma. His scenes with Merlin and his scene with Morgana - wonderful. We have been set up for happenings in the closing four episodes and he's caught hold of us all. We love him, but we're scared of him at the same time. 4. Arwen at the lake. Why I made such a complete turnabout on what happened there after watching again I can't explain. But I did. What can I say? Just read what Melly said above in her comment and you'll understand. THIS is the Arwen I love and well...read hers. I was amused first time watching, this time for goodness sake there came the tears. Go figure. Everything seemed to fall into place for me even though breaking Morgana's hold should have been more difficult. I was appreciative that we were given this wonderful portrait of the deep love that exists between our favorite couple before the show ends. And goodness yes, that hug was perfect and no kiss was needed at all. Someone said he called her "My guinevere" at the lake? How did I miss that. I must go look for that.

Pocketgal This is certainly an episode you have to watch twice to appreciate .... I missed the "My Guinevere" the first time but got heard it the 2nd time. On rewatching I was able to tune out DragMerlin and really take heart and enjoy the Arwen scenes

MOPENDRAGON WOW, I am so impressed with the wonderful dialogue and critique of Saturday's Merlin epi. I am in complete and total agreement with the awesome commentary expressed by @Melisey and @HumbleQueen. I too had to rewatch the epi twice and now 3 or 4 times to really appreciate it. Yes, like others I'm disappointed with various things within the epi like the lack of Arwen discussion and dialogue post enchantment, the last scene between Merlin in drag and Arthur was not necessary, I would have liked there to have been some way that both of Gwen's enchantments at the hands of Morgana would have been revealed and yeah I would've liked a kiss-during the post enchantment discussion-because the Arwen hug in the lake was so intimate and moving-it was perfect. But the Arwen moments in the episode and Bradley's portrayal of a loving and devoted husband...were so very moving!!!

EPaws The bitches in my crew, whom I respect made me watch this again - the ARWEN bits were...sigh...more than acceptable! SHUT IT! ALL OF YOU!

fdarcy You are so right, I had to watch it again to hear the live " My Guinevere". Yes the Arwen moments were very good and I would have loved to have seen a kiss but on the whole it was not such a bad episode.

kbrand5333 Best thing: the de-enchanting. Worst thing: Merlin the Drag Queen. I have nothing against drag queens, mind. In fact, if I were a drag queen I would be insulted by that character.

HumbleQueen Aww, Stacey. Luv u. Same thing happened to a lot of us after watching again.

HumbleQueen You know, Kim, I was wondering if certain elements would take offense.

kbrand5333 I was joking, but one never knows. I am constantly surprised at what people decide to be offended by.

Theogirl Add me to the list of changed perspectives on this one after a another couple of views. I think many of us built it up so much in our minds that when it did not live up to that hype we were initially let down. But in honesty this has always been the way of Arwen, deep love and subtlety. I, too, re watched with a deeper appreciation for the love and lengths Arthur was willing to go through for Guinevere. No it was not a perfect episode--I still think some of the humor, especially at the lake, was a bit out of place--but overall I found the Arwen moments on par with past ones. As for the rest of the season I have decided, like others, to expect nothing and be thankful for whatever we might get in the way of Arwen and hope the show goes out with a bang and not a whimper.

HumbleQueen Yes, and to tell you the truth, I'm reading very few spoilers this week. Last week I saturated myself with them and I think that was very much a part of the problem. I still haven't gotten over the hangman teaser that said "wedding vows" and when I watched first time I'm sitting there thinking "hey. what happened to the wedding bit?" Lol, serves me right. I should have known from the episode title. Don't believe half of what you read and remember much of it is how the reviewer perceives it. Anyway, looks like the list is getting longer of those of us who on second look felt better about it.

Gatita92 My opinion? They totally messed up Season 5. I'm so sorry to say this but there is no magic left at all. There was only 1 scene which actually caused goosebumps and that was when Merlin said that there is no place for magic in Camelot. And that had nothing to do with Arwen at all. No single kiss, no heart-breaking "Let's get the queen back", it's all just sort of "played out" it does not seem real anymore....the only one who continues in good acting is Colin Morgan. 'Merlin' really had its peek at the end of Season 3 and above all in Season 4. After that substance is gone, love is gone, surprising twists are gone. Be honest what is surprising anymore? I'm totally 'disenchanted'...

EPaws I hate you HQ. That is all.

HumbleQueen @ EP You and me girl. It's been a long haul.

HumbleQueen @Gatita. I agree there have been a lot of disappointments for many of us, but Season 5 has its strengths IMO. I can understand why some would feel no heart break in the "getting the queen back" of the episode because of the misplaced humor, but the heart break was there in Arthur if you look at him closely. There was extremely good acting on his part and on Angel's to bring out what they did while breaking through the comedy aspect. It's because of their tremendous acting that the lake scene worked when it could have been doomed for failure. You have to look at it again. Trust me, it happened to me too. If you really look at how that played out, and the two individuals involved, you'll maybe see why many people DID get goosebumps and even some tears at that scene. The music, of course, helped too. I said it before and say again, I wish the humor had been put in episode 7 or 8 and this one more drama, but then when you think of it, you could not make Colin as Dolma serious. He was just not able to pull that off without the humor aspect. Only maybe if they'd found another real sorceress to do it. But you see, we have to have Merlin in the center of everything, so there's the dilemma. Oh and about Season 5 per se with respect to Arwen, I've been thinking about it and feel notwithstanding the lack of a kiss, and irrespective of the spell, to me I've seen quite a few glimpses (and more) showcasing the intimacy of a loving married couple, but I'm gonna save talking about that for another time as I have a bit more to say. They are married and romantic, but obviously it would be different than when they were a couple with the issues they had. May do an opinion article when and if I get a chance.

kbrand5333 I disagree that the only one who continues with good acting is Colin. Angel and Bradley have also delivered consistently, as has Alex. You may confusing the writing with the actual acting. Our main 3 deliver above the level of what they are given to work with each week, and we should be grateful for that.

HumbleQueen What I'm trying to say also, Kim, above, and I neglected to point out Alex as well, who we're going to really see come through in the next few episodes, you can be sure.

Melisey Nanna sometimes you have to watch an episode twice or several times to notice details that makes all the difference. :) I changed my mind a little after watching it twice too. At first I thought like the rest of you that the struggle was too short. After watching it twice, I thought that scene was perfect. Their souls connected as soon as he used their love. Of course it couldn't be a long struggle, it wouldn't make sense. :) I strongly disagree that Colin is the only one good at acting. I actually think Bradley is better than him by far. I also think Angel has surpassed Colin. Colin is great, but Bradley and Angel are superb!

kbrand5333 Angel actually had the longest acting resume of the three of them before the show started. Probably because she's older, but of the three, she's the most experienced actor.

HumbleQueen No, I've even come to that, Melly. Again, you nailed it. Since he had reached that part of her that was untouched by Morgana's curse, then the struggle was over. And remember. Dolma had told him "when she awakes you will have but a few moments." So in essence there shouldn't have been a long drawn out struggle. I'm ashamed to admit how many times I've watched this lake scene now and I keep discovering more things. With all his silliness, did any of you catch how very much a "romantic" the Dolma was in all that whole scene? Watch his/her face. That was Merlin. our romantic Merlin, President of the Arwen club. I loved the way he/she looked while chanting the ceremony when Gwen was walking across the water. And the look of relief on his/her face when it was evident she had been released. Now that was lovely acting on Colin's part and it seemed he was really feeling it. Another thing I noticed in the scene immediately following the healing when the Pendragons were standing there with arms around each other. Just as they were turning away from the Dolma watch the three of them. They all had a hard time restraining themselves from laughing.

Gatita92 Well ok maybe I posed it wrong. It is better said that neither Bradley nor Angel actually do get the chance to develop in their acting. I have watched 'With all my Heart' for the third time this morning, and still it doesn't get me but it's true that this may be a result of bad storyline and not of acting at all. You can now actually call the show "Merlin" instead of "Arthur" as the story finally centers pretty much on Merlin - and that is not a bad thing - but the story around "the married couple" does not have to be a disappointment as a result of the story about Emrys. Besides Arwen, Morgana is another important figure where enormous potential is wasted in my opinion. Now that it is unbagged that Season 5 is the last of them it seems pretty clear why everything is "rushed up" but it doesn't explain the flatness of the storylines at all. Maybe I'll continue to be the only one who sees it that way but as I love the series so much in general I'm still looking forward to the last few episodes ! Oh and I really enjoyed yesterday the loyalty of the Katha (or however it is written) got to me :))

kbrand5333 ^Yes. You are correct. This season, on the whole, has been a disappointment, but I will follow it through to the end because I still love the show (now largely due to AB&C), and, honestly, it would be silly to abandon ship now.