User blog comment:TheLastLastDragonlord/Spoilers- Finale or Failure/@comment-5484578-20121225132808/@comment-5910167-20121225155612

Freya must be working out hard in the afterlife!

It is Arthur's arm but not Bradley's. It is a stronger and older Arthur who catches the sword to give strength, comfort and thanks to Merlin from an undisclosed future. You see Merlin noticeably gain the strength to let 'his Arthur' go. When/if Arthur returns, it won't be his Arthur - the two will never meet again.

For the complaints, haven't you seen enough fighting? This episode was always going to be the long goodbye between the two friends, the revelation and their resolution. I thought it beautifully and touchingly done. It was also a very brave, very British, unhappy ending!

The writer's only had once choice for Merlin to defy Arthur's fate and that would have been to kill off Merlin instead - one life for another. This was they confidently outing Merlin with all the consequences that ensued, in full knowledge that Colin Morgan was the star property of this show and that they may just want to leave an avenue for him to return.

As for the present day - Merlin is immortal. That last scene was meant to console the younger fans - Merlin is still with us and always will be.

Bravo! Bravissimo!