Board Thread:Series 5 Discussion/@comment-82.156.4.128-20121224212052/@comment-65.246.72.92-20180624184833

My wife and I just recently finished watching the series. It was our first time through and we both enjoyed it. We binge watched it nightly for about a month. Like many others, we were taken aback by the ending, but only at first. Over the next few days we discussed it here and there. I too, like others, enjoy Arthurian lore and have my own opinions on the ending.

1.    Morgana: Many think she should have repented but I don't agree. She was filled with hate and making her repent after all that she had been through, it would not have been true to the character and lessened her as a character as a whole. Her prophecy to have Emrys be her end came true.

2.    Gwaine: Though his death was tragic and fast, it was more than random. I think he could have survived Morgana's torture as he previously did, but knowing he was sending his king and friend to their doom, he could not live with himself and lost the will to live.

3.    Mordred: His destiny was to be the end of Arthur. Again, destiny fulfilled. His smile was because his friend Arthur did get revenge on him and he would not have to live with the guilt of killing Arthur.

4.    Arthur and Merlin: The big one. Both of them fulfilled their destiny. Arthur was to unite all of Albion and return magic to Camelot. He did both. Before you deny this, hear me out. With the death of Morgana, the Saxons were the last of the 5 kingdoms to make peace with. After Morgana died, Arthur told Merlin that now there is peace. Therefore he was, albeit very briefly, the king of a United Albion, or as he alluded to earlier, the united kingdoms. As far as the magic, he did restore it to the kingdom. He accepted Merlin for who he was. But the true return of magic is only started by him, it was completed by Guinevere. She learns of Merlin's true identity and is pleased. Once she is the sole ruler, she knows that magic has saved the kingdom and restores the use of magic. Though he is not at the coronation, the only witness to Arthur's death is Merlin and thus the only way to learn of Arthur's and by extension, Morgana's death. Merlin's destiny was to be by Arthur's side when this all happened. He was. He kept Arthur alive multiple times thus ensuring that Albion was united and magic restored. He was to help bring about the age.

5.    Guinevere: Her and Arthur spent their last night together just before he died. Hinting that there was a possibility of her becoming pregnant. There is nothing to say she didn't have a long prosperous reign with the united Albion. See above, Merlin would still be there to help when needed.

6.    The once and future king: The truck was weird at first and seeing Merlin in present day. This hints that Albion, the United Kingdoms, has not needed him yet, but that his legacy does live on. Again, if you extrapolate that Guinevere is pregnant, his legacy lived on. The fact that Merlin is still waiting on the return of his king shows their bond. He is waiting for the future king. It is not sad that he hasn’t returned yet, but speaks to the future being uncertain.

These are my theories and thoughts on the end of the show. Arthur dies in the lore. This was the way it had to end.

Was the end perfect? No. Was it horrible? No. Were there potential plot holes? Yes, but not from the main characters. It has lead to discussions 6 years after the show is done on air. Were everyone's destinies fulfilled? Yes.

I enjoyed the ride.

-Percival