Merlin Series 5 Episode 12: Diamond of the Day Part 1

Without spoilers all I want to say about this episode is that this stuff should have happened sometime in series 3. But it didn't and we're starting to get some of what we've been waiting for now. At this point, however, I am not putting my hopes up at all. I'm beyond the point where I will let their stupid "foreshadowing" affect me  and lead me to expect anything good...>.>

However, it was a good episode. Enjoyable, but full of cheesy moments.

World-Building: Good
Characterization: Too little too late
Plot: Some cheesy scenes and the usual sidetracking and pointlessness, but very good for a Merlin series 5 episode!


SPOILERS BELOW


In this episode we actually get some progress. With the new knowledge that Merlin is Emrys Morgana now has the perfect way to defeat Arthur. Rob him of his magical protector Merlin. She doesn't want to do this by trying to kill Emrys, she wants to rob him of his magic. Let's be honest, I never thought she's succeed, but the writers actually allowed her to. They actually allowed us to explore the whole Merlin without magic plotline, which is a very interesting one.

The response to this situation is typical of Merlin, go to Gaius, who looks through his books, who then tells Merlin to go somewhere to get the cure, etc. What isn't typical, however, is Merlin's diminished state. He seems smaller and weaker somehow and near the end he begins to get genuinely desperate. This I liked.

There was a completely pointless Gwaine sub-plot which showed us more of the actor shirtless (shakes head at writers) and established the traitor of the week. Watching Merlin and Gwaine's interaction in this episode just made me sad for the good old days when the two first met. It highlighted the neglect that the writers have shown to this relationship. It reminded me that once, the two were good friends and it made sense for Merlin to go to Gwaine. Now, it honestly didn't make much sense. Neither did Gwaine just leaving Merlin in that cave and going "hope you find what you're looking for." Seriously?

And then Morgana displays and idiocy now typical for this show by leaving Merlin trapped in the BIRTHPLACE OF MAGIC CAVE instead of finishing him off.

There's a supposed to be touching scene between Emrys and his father's ghost/spirit, which I personally didn't find touching at all despite being a HUGE fan of Balinor's character from previous seasons. The writers on this show never fail to bring people back from the dead and then destroy their characters forever.

Anyway, Merlin finds his "true self" which, if the last two seconds of the episode are any indication, is old man Merlin. Hopefully, this isn't permanent.

If the final blacked-out preview of next episode is to be believed we're going to get a reveal next episode. I said A reveal, not THE reveal. There's no guarantee that he's speaking to Arthur in this scene, and I personally wouldn't put it past the authors to not have a reveal to Arthur at all.

There's only one thing I need to say before I stop. Mordred is awesome. He's the best character on this show at this point, because instead of being illogical and ridiculous his characterization is vague, uncertain, and therefore intriguing.

We'll soon find out what the writers have in store, but let's be honest, even if they wanted to, the writers just won't be able to cram all that they should have showed us into these last few minutes! But I've stuck with it this far and this episode doesn't suck as badly as the rest of this season. Hopefully, I'll be able to say the same for the next episode.