User blog comment:Morganaforever/Episode Review: The Dark Tower/@comment-5511914-20121111054612

Had I watched this episode without the backstory, I would have considered this episode epic. However as the only downer in the comments section, the ending was a huge and predictable letdown. So Morgana's big plan is to copy Morgause's plan in Season 2 and 3? That's it? No wonder, Mordred and Guinevere have little interraction together. Elyan's death was quite obvious, after all the episode began with Tom's grave! Merlin does absolutely nothing as he seems to all this season.

We are half way through the season, and the story is a rehash. Trusted family member(Morgana, Agravaine, Gwen) betrays the King as an enemy. Or if you like brainwashed family female member (Morgana, Gwen) convinced by sister (half, step, full, in-law) (Morgause, Morgana). Even Gwen being enchanted by Morgana (Shade, anyone?). This season though superior to Season 4 (what were they thinking?), has started to stall. The show is called Merlin, not the Misadventures of King Arthur. We need more magic from the GOOD GUYS!

There is less action as part of their emphasis on "darker tones". I refer them to BTVS where action and darkness go hand in hand. And even half the season on that show were ordinary (4, 5 and 7). I am glad you all enjoyed this episode, but I have very high expectations and I am not having them met. The writers should balance out the talk (Arthur's enemy converting speeches for example) with Merlin taking on a magical foe (the reason I believe many of us watched the show in the first place).

I propose something to the writers:

1) Queen Mab: Please let's see her again. A magical foe is needed that isn't Morgana. Even if it is yet another magical character starting with M (Morgana, Morgause, Merlin, Mab and Mordred).

2) Morgana's Lover: Is Guinevere going to be a love interest for Morgana (plenty of subtext this episode)? Because honestly, part of character development is having a social life. Maybe Morgana used to be in love with Gwen? Alvarr, Vivien, Lot, Mab, let's having her develop someway. How about something actually teaching her something? Maybe Gilli as a lover?

3) Malegeant, Lot and Gareth: Why can't Arthur have another enemy to fight? Why must every enemy be either a) killed off; b) never heard of again or c) converted into an ally (Annis, Odin). The men above are additional foes for Arthur. Cenred was interresting even if he was a tool (sorry Alphons). And Odin if he had appeared in more than two episodes. The men above are potential non-Morgana allied enemies for Arthur (even though Lot in the legends is Morgause's, then in later version Morgana's husband). And they are not magical, so Arthur gets to have more sword fights.

4) Finish off stories of certain minor characters. Tristan, Alvarr, Gilli, Alined, where are they now? Where is King Bayard? Let's stop putting in filler episodes, expand the season and conclude certain storylines. Alvarr and Alined working together to bring down Arthur (Triple A). Gilli and Tristan becoming Knights of Camelot. Let's start show some true ingenuity and not just use Russian Character Method (introducing endless characters for the sole purpose of moving the story forward).

Please let me know your thoughts, fellow Merlin friends. THis is BQ3, finally at my keyboard.