Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-110.33.239.213-20121226023324/@comment-192.241.217.62-20180202174633

5x13 does make the present day have more to do with the duo getting reunited than with any sort of difference they'd actually need to make in the world. It makes it seem more like Arthur is the Once and Future King simply because Merlin himself  needs him to keep returning. Because  why would a man who didn't change much of anything in his first life be OMG so vital that he needs  to return in a time of crisis? What is destiny expecting him to do? Keep the status quo again? That  isn't a dig about Arthur.I think we were meant to believe that he was a kind, hard-working, and just king and had forged alliances with many of the surrounding kingdoms.But, yeah, his 4-5 year reign just wasn't the stuff of legends. So I can only conclude that he's 'special' because he's personally special to Merlin. And once Merlin realises that, Arthur'll return for him.

PS. As for Old!Merlin. I don't believe he's really old. He's immortal, so at what age would he suddenly stop getting older? At 80 randomly? Why? It just doesn't make any sense. Vampires are immortal and that's why they are enternally young. I think Merlin was in a disguise in that scene with a lorry. It makes sense to do it to be able to live with mortal people and don't get suspicious being young all the time.