Oh, boys

[vanessarama]

That was utterly wonderful and devastating; a real emotional rollercoaster for Arthur and Merlin, and both Bradley and Colin were superb. Just incredible.

And while obviously Uther had to die sometime, the way it was folded into the middle of the episode was beautifully done. It started like an old season 1 episode; here are the visitors to Camelot, here is the peril to Arthur which they bring... and then switched it around. Uther's defence of his son was glorious, and a fitting way for Tony Head to go out, and yet the sad middle-aged face they pulled the sheet over really was that of an ill, half-mad old man whose time was past.

I don't see where they can go in terms of Merlin's magic being revealed to Arthur, but I'm assuming the reveal will be closer to the end of the show's run and I'm ok with that. This is about the worst thing possible in terms of Arthur's experience of magic, so there will have to be a rekindling of that initial spark of willingness to trust. That can only come from Merlin but I have the feeling he will have to do it as himself, not as Dragoon.

Speaking of which, I loved the "for once in your life would you DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!?" and the piggyback and the pot-breaking and all the other bits, which made it all the more wonderful when Merlin forgets his old-man-part in the anguish of Uther's death.

Arthur made me cry; his dawning joy when Uther comes down for the party, his trembling hand when he feels the blood, his choked sob, the desperation of going for help, kissing Uther on the forehead, the calm resolve and acceptance with which he exits the great hall, finding Merlin on the floor outside. Oh Pendgragons.

Oh god, Merlin. More guilt, you poor possum.

As Ben said after watching: Dear Steven Moffat, this is how you write a game changer.