Eeeeeeeeee, Arthur's awkward non-hug followed by his cupping Merlin's head and putting his arm around his shoulder. ♥_♥ *waits patiently for gifs* Love how all the knights pretty much jumped on Merlin, aww! :D
/had to say that first
Wow, loads of pretty outside shots in this! Lots of beautiful shots in the woods, and a pretty stunning new shot of the castle. *_* Loved how they brought on the Vilia and how they were in the drops, too - it was so fairytale-like. Ooh, and that nice shot of Merlin fishing! Because we're all familiar with his love of hunting and his awesome ninja-like moves. *g* But still, pretty! Oh, and then there was that slow-mo shot of Arthur walking back in the castle. Mmm.
Also, everyone looked hot. Especially Arthur in this ep, for some reason. The light was doing wonderful things to his lips... Or was that just me?
Did that shot of Percival saving Gwaine look suspiciously like a certain shot of Gwen saving Arthur to anyone? I bet Percival looked down Gwaine's cleavage off-camera, too. ;)
Speaking of, what's with Gwaine suddenly being the comic relief? I guess we don't have to fear Arthur appointing Merlin court jester anymore... Love the knights' reactions to the whole thing, though. Also, LOLIRL at their faces when the wildren approached...
I love Leon and Elyan trying to show their support to Arthur, and oh my goodness, Arthur's woobie-face when he said it was his burden and his burden alone. I may or may not have laughed at the slow-mo shot of Gwaine throwing that sword, though...
Aww, I love all the moments between Merlin and Lancelot! Although why they ran out of the house after Merlin managed to reignite the fire is beyond me. But, hey, hi Kilgarrah! I missed you!
Oh, hello, random assassination plot to kill Gwen that Morgana failed to complete because obviously she wouldn't want to look suspicious or anything...
In spite of the fact that there weren't a lot of storylines in there that made an awful lot of sense (after the deaths of who knows how many innocents, what it takes to close the veil is for one random person to sacrifice themselves? OK, then. We're here for the pretty, anyway), I thought it was a really tense episode and spent most of it bouncing on my seat. Mostly because it was beautifully shot and there were a fair amount of tense scenes. But I didn't really feel anything when Lancelot died, to be honest. Also, kind of random of the dragon to comment that he's the bravest and noblest of them all if he doesn't even really get to be part of the Knights of the Round Table, isn't it? I'm glad Gwen acknowledged why Lancelot died at the end there - instead of this sort of thing usually being glossed over - although confused as to why Arthur left her there...
Cailleach to Merlin: "... to save your prince." I can't possibly be the only one who was amused.
Also, aww, the little conversation between Arthur and Merlin about who was going to sacrifice themselves. ♥ They both looked really good in that scene, too. :P
I like that Morgana seems simultaneously to be less gleeful and that she looks like she's slowly starting to lose it without Morgause. It might be accidental consistency, I'm not sure, but still, nice touch.
I like how there seems to be more of a thread through this series already. I expected the ep to end with Gwen in front of the pyre, and although Agravaine's question was kind of random, I like how it sets up what's to come. I totally laughed at Gaius' "no one must find out who you really are, Merlin", though, because, well. It sounds vaguely familiar. ;P
I really enjoyed the ep, though, and am actually a bit sad they've tied up this storyline. I like Camelot dark and gloomy. *g* But I'm looking forward to next week's ep!