To Kill the King

Merlin Episode Review

In which Gwen needs new family.

What Happened

Gwen's father is arrested forging weapons for a sorcerer named Tauron and condemned to death. Gwen is distraught and Morgana determined that she will never forgive Uther if he goes through with the execution.

Morgana slips Tom the key to his cell, but he is caught as he makes his escape and killed. Morgana confronts Uther, calling him a tyrant. Furious, he has her locked in the dungeons to teach her a lesson.

Tauron demands the stone he dropped in Tom's workshop, but Gwen doesn't know where it is. Morgana has found it, and she keeps Gwen's appointment with Tauron.

Still holding a grudge against Uther - for the death of her own father as well as Gwen's - she cuts a deal with the wizard. Morgana lures Uther out of Camelot to her father's grave.

As he pours out his heart over how much he loved and respected her father, however, Morgana has second thoughts and saves him from the assassin's blade.

The Good

• Morgana gets some attention after most of the season.
• Merlin kept the Sidhe staff - I love that.

The Bad

• Gwen doesn't get much attention at all, considering that it was her father that died.
• Speaking of which, Merlin hovers around, but doesn't actually do much.
• Morgana's bargaining with Tauron goes on for far too long. And isn't that interesting.

The Cliche

• Person A plans to kill Person B - plots it the whole episode - then changes their mind at the last second.

What Did I Think?

And Merlin is just going to take it on faith that Morgana's not going to try again?

This episode is a bit weak, coming off of the last few.