Tick, Tick, Tick...
I read a supposed spoiler a couple of weeks ago that I don't believe in the least. At least, I'm trying desperately not to. The source said that the Merlin series finale will end with the "death" of Arthur - like the legend - but if that's true, then Merlin would not be a prequel like the creators/producers/writers have been claiming all along. Bradley James keeps saying that Arthur's story begins where Merlin's story ends. I'm not sure that's true, either (I really want Merlin to stay at court as Arthur's Best Friend Forever), but it seems much more likely than ending the legend before Arthur has time to actually BE the king of legend. What I'm curious to know is how the talk of a sixth season will effect season 5.
We know that Arthur will find out about Merlin's magic by the end of the show - even if that means the last ten minutes of the final episode. I personally want to see, mmm...at least four episodes where Arthur knows about Merlin's magic. As I've said before, I want to see what this new relationship and new world will look like. I don't want the secret foisted on Arthur in the penultimate episode to have him simply accept it in the series finale. That would be like ending the series where we just did...Arthur is King, he has the Knights of the Round Table, he has Excalibur, Guinevere is Queen, and Merlin has clearly been promoted to a position at court. But what then? It sets everything up, but it's not satisfying. All I can do is hope and pray that I will be surprised by an early reveal in season five. It could happen. I was shocked that A/G kissed in episode 2x02 and when Uther died so early in 3x03. But what if the magic reveal can't happen until the last season of the series? Will the writers/producers decide to fill season 5 with drivel just so it won't happen until season 6? PLEASE SAY "NO!"
What gives me comfort is that the magic reveal isn't the only thing left. Albion includes all of the kingdoms surrounding Camelot, right? So what's going to happen to King Lot, King Odin, Queen Annis, Lord Godwyn, Princess Mithian, King Olaf, King Alined, and King Bayard that will suddenly unite them all under King Arthur? (I was surprised that nothing happened to King Cenred's now rulerless realm in season four). And what about the Fisher King's realm? Wasn't there something about The Perilous Lands remaining that way until the time of Albion? Arthur has offered to give up Camelot's rightful landownership at every turn - to Queen Annis, to Princess Mithian - in order to keep the peace. How then will he unite all of the surrounding kingdoms without conquering them?
And what about magic being restored? Arthur discovering Merlin's magic will be the final grain that tips the scale, but interviews have suggested that Merlin will not tell Arthur until he is certain that Arthur will react in his favour. Arthur's promise to respect the druids in 4x10 supports this idea. Agravaine also hinted that Merlin's deception regarding his magic was a betrayal akin to Agravaine and Morgana's, which leads me to believe that Arthur will have come so far in his dealings with sorcerers (and his relationship with Merlin) by the time he finds out that it will hardly feel like a betrayal. It could go the other way, with Arthur needing an episode or two to come to terms with it, but after all the times that Merlin has sacrificed his own life for Arthur - and Arthur knew it - I can't see the betrayed feeling lasting too long. I still like Option A better.
We know that Arthur will find out about Merlin's magic by the end of the show - even if that means the last ten minutes of the final episode. I personally want to see, mmm...at least four episodes where Arthur knows about Merlin's magic. As I've said before, I want to see what this new relationship and new world will look like. I don't want the secret foisted on Arthur in the penultimate episode to have him simply accept it in the series finale. That would be like ending the series where we just did...Arthur is King, he has the Knights of the Round Table, he has Excalibur, Guinevere is Queen, and Merlin has clearly been promoted to a position at court. But what then? It sets everything up, but it's not satisfying. All I can do is hope and pray that I will be surprised by an early reveal in season five. It could happen. I was shocked that A/G kissed in episode 2x02 and when Uther died so early in 3x03. But what if the magic reveal can't happen until the last season of the series? Will the writers/producers decide to fill season 5 with drivel just so it won't happen until season 6? PLEASE SAY "NO!"
What gives me comfort is that the magic reveal isn't the only thing left. Albion includes all of the kingdoms surrounding Camelot, right? So what's going to happen to King Lot, King Odin, Queen Annis, Lord Godwyn, Princess Mithian, King Olaf, King Alined, and King Bayard that will suddenly unite them all under King Arthur? (I was surprised that nothing happened to King Cenred's now rulerless realm in season four). And what about the Fisher King's realm? Wasn't there something about The Perilous Lands remaining that way until the time of Albion? Arthur has offered to give up Camelot's rightful landownership at every turn - to Queen Annis, to Princess Mithian - in order to keep the peace. How then will he unite all of the surrounding kingdoms without conquering them?
And what about magic being restored? Arthur discovering Merlin's magic will be the final grain that tips the scale, but interviews have suggested that Merlin will not tell Arthur until he is certain that Arthur will react in his favour. Arthur's promise to respect the druids in 4x10 supports this idea. Agravaine also hinted that Merlin's deception regarding his magic was a betrayal akin to Agravaine and Morgana's, which leads me to believe that Arthur will have come so far in his dealings with sorcerers (and his relationship with Merlin) by the time he finds out that it will hardly feel like a betrayal. It could go the other way, with Arthur needing an episode or two to come to terms with it, but after all the times that Merlin has sacrificed his own life for Arthur - and Arthur knew it - I can't see the betrayed feeling lasting too long. I still like Option A better.