The Diamond of the Day Part One Review
Review of Merlin 5x12: The Diamond of the Day Part One. Spoilers of course
Overview
The penultimate episode of Merlin. The set up for what we have been waiting for, for the last five years.
It was certainly worth the wait.
Episode Summary
Okay there were bits of this episode that didn’t make sense - why was Gawaine at the garrison anyway? - Bits that could have been better - why Balinor? Why not something like the Diarmair - and bits I just didn’t like - Old!Merlin. Really? I swear if the reveal doesn’t involve proper young Merlin I will be writing a very strongly worded letter to the BBC. - but overall I liked it.
Usually opening episodes of two parters are quite slow, devoting all their energies to setting up the second part. However this episode stands alone quite easily, managing to set up the finale and be engaging at the same time.
Watching Merlin face having to manage without his magic and Arthur and Morgana preparing for the end, had me on the edge of my seat. And even though I knew it was coming, hearing the name Camlann still left me on the edge of my seat.
It also contained a few one on one scenes - Arthur and Merlin, Merlin and Gawaine, Gaius and Gwen, that seemed quite touching in the context of the series impending end.
I don’t know how it will end on Monday and I don’t know if we will get the reveal that we have all been longing for, but I do have a feeling it will be a pretty good closing episode.
Merlin
Seeing Merlin having to struggle without his magic and the look on his face as he told Arthur that he wasn’t going to go with him, almost broke my heart. Merlin has been through much and now at the last fence he couldn’t do anything to help.
But Merlin - post his visit to the Crystal Caves - was still useful, alerting Arthur to the hidden path, and now that he’s been powered up - though why that involves being Old Merlin I don’t know - next episode I think we’re going to see him cut loose.
It was also great to see him with Arthur in a more relaxed setting. It’s not often we get to see them just relaxing, being the friends we know them to be. It would have been nice if we’d had more scenes like that over the course of the series.
Arthur (and Others)
“All those jokes I made about you being a coward. I didn’t really mean them. I always thought you were one of the bravest men I’ve ever met.”
Now granted the line that followed this wasn’t great - if only Arthur understood - but it was nice to get final confirmation as we come into the home straight that however he acts, whatever he says, Arthur really does value Merlin as a friend and as a person.
His decision to take the fight to Morgana was the right one as well, one born out of the desire to protect his people. I’m not sure if Uther would have made the same decision. Whatever happens in the end, Arthur has been a true and decent King.
The Bad Guy
Morgana and Mordred seem to be getting on like a house on fire and it’s clear that Morgana has reached the same conclusion that Arthur has. This battle, whichever way it goes has to be the last one. This will decide the fate of all.
Taking out Merlin early was a good plan. But it will be interesting to see how she deals with a powered up and angry Emrys
Conclusion.
A solid episode, and the perfect set up for the grand finale.
Next Week: The End.