Board Thread:Rewatching "Merlin" - Season Five/@comment-5102537-20140329115401/@comment-24785400-20140407232141

I do agree with you Fimber, the later half of season 4 and season 5 where disappointing to say the least, season 5 just seems to me that the show-runners didn't care anymore or something. There was so much potential that was wasted.

I was just thinking we all know what Merlin was striving to achieve, but what was Arthur trying to achieve? Was he just trying to rule Camelot in his father's legacy, was he trying to change things for the better of the people, was it a safer place to be and travel (there were still bandits about). He changed the laws so he could marry Gwen, a commoner, and must have changed them so he could knight those like Lancelot and Percival who were also commoners, but I can't remember ever getting a sense that he was striving to achieve a United Albion, or a Golden Age. Like Fimber said, it was just his luck that Morgana was imprisoned for 2 years, he inherited Camelot, Merlin kept him alive so he could inherit, but because he was keeping everything a secret, he never told Arthur (at least overtly) what his role was in the prophesy. (saying, yes, you're a great King, and you're destined to be the Once and Future, doesn't really cut it)  Even though in season 4 he promised the dead druid boy that he wouldn't persecute Druids any more, there is no sign of this happening, after all - we saw in the opening 2 parter of this season that there where renegade druids, such as Ruordan (and later Kara) who opposed Arthur and his ways.