Board Thread:Series 5 Discussion/@comment-3239341-20121230112149/@comment-71.201.29.50-20130707141903

All series have to end. Clearly, if the characters playing Merlin, Arthur, or Morgana wanted to move on- that's it. While we wanted far more of the realization of Merlin's magic & far less of the ever repeated plotlines, these actors are people with wants & desires of their own, including quite likely to stretch themselves in other roles. They are excellent actors & that is why we liked them so much & will miss the characters they built.

If we look at it from the perspective that this season HAD to end the series, we can appreciate more fully the great  acting in the last episode :-)