User blog comment:ArthurMerlinLancelot/FINALLY/@comment-5684105-20121216072859/@comment-5684105-20121216162836

"Well, Kara was indeed very cruel. She was more of a monster than a Druid, but she had her reasons."

Yes, she had her reasons as does Morgana and all criminals in the real world. So did all the people Merlin and Arthur fought over the years (even the bandits). So what. Doesn't make them right.

No, I don't think Merlin is in any way responsible for either Morgana and Mordred turning out evil. I pretty much agree with Lurker above on that one.

It was Merlin's choice to make to tell Morgana about his magic, and I think he made the most prudent and logical one. Do you go around telling people things that are dangerous  to your welfare and life (and in Merlin's case Gaius's as well for harboring Merlin) to anyone? I bet you don't. Does that make you responsible for anyone's desisions that might have been different if they knew your secrets? No. And it's not like Merlin and Morgana had even known each other for years or were very close friends. They weren't, their contact was probably fairly minimal even off screen.

Trusted the dragon to much? About Morgana? He's been right about her this whole time. And after his mother almost died, Merlin was more cautious about his advice in season two. And the only thing the dragon had said in the beginning was basically, "She is dangerous. She must never know the true extent of her powers." Isn't that the truth. He actually ignored the dragon here and took the middle path, the wise, and prudent path. He did helped her as much as possible without telling her about his magic.

The poison. He should have said, "Morgana, here is some poison. Take it because you are the vessel of the curse"? He had to kill her to save Camelot, he had no choice. He had no idea Morgause would care enough about Morgana to stop the attack to save Morgana; he thought she was going to die for sure. Time was of the essence and Morgana would have fought for her life against Merlin if he told her before hand. And I'm sure Merlin thought it would be quicker and less emotionally painful for Morgana to not know till the end. It's not like it would have changed the circumstances if he told her first; he still had to do it. And it was clear when she came back to Camelot she knew why Merlin had poisoned her and she still didn't forgive him. Why would she if if he told her before he did it.

Mordred. The only thing Merlin did to him until this episode was be suspicious of him and for a good reason. Sure, that probably hurt Mordred's feelings, but you can live though that. I'm sure we've all been though something similar. And in this episode all Merlin did was not allow him to escape with a girl guilty of murder and regicide. Understandable, and definitely not unjust or wrong.

I knew that no matter what happened some would blame Arthur and Merlin for Mordred's descent into evil.