Board Thread:Series 5 Discussion/@comment-82.156.4.128-20121224212052/@comment-73.203.194.236-20160307040049

I wish Arthur had lived but I don't think the ending was horrible. It makes sense. They DIDN'T fail their destiny. Merlin says he failed and the dragon tell shim no he didn't because everything they have been working for has come to pass. They were working for peace in albion. Because of everything Merlin and Arthur have done up to that point, including the fact that Arthur dies, has led to Gwen becoming queen and I suspect that this is who brings peace to Albion. The dragon says Arthur will rise again when "Albion" needs him most. So the end where Merlin is in the present day alludes to the fact that Arthur will rise again sometime in the present-day.