I'm a little surprised they went ahead and allowed Morgana to find out Merlin's identity. I suppose there was no reason not to, since this is the end. It'll make for an epic finale. I'm very curious if they'll go for the happy ending, since it's a family show, or take the risk.

Oh ... my ... gosh.

Very well done indeed. Everything about this episode - Arthur's speech just before the night battle, Merlin's journey to the cave, Balinor's appearance, Merlin and Morgana's confrontation - the TPTB really pulled the stops out. And the ending ... oh man.

The preview for Part II looks even more awesome. Merlin calling down lighting? That's something we've not seen since "Le Morte D' Arthur." And the creepy red sky from Morgana's vision ...Though it seems as if there's a lull between the first night attack and the final battle since Morgana is shown on her throne.

I'm fully expecting that Arthur will die and Merlin will still be around in the future based on the modern day spoilers that have leaked, but as long as Arthur finds out the truth before he dies, I'll be somewhat satisfied. Yes, I would have loved to see Merlin at Arthur's right hand as Court Sorceror and the two building a united Albion, but this was the way TPTB chose to tell the story and no amount of wishing on my part will change it. For all its flaws, Merlin has been one fun ride and one that I will enjoy again and again with the DVDs.

I thought the episode of Merlin was really good....but not great. I'll only know next week if I'll be satisfied with the way the series ends. The thing that keeps me from calling it excellent is the fact that Morgana was told the crystal cave was the place where magic was born....the place where Merlin could perhaps get his powers back....and she promptly traps him there. Um. Ok. I understand that she wasn't going to outright kill him, which would have made the most sense, but come on.

Chock full of revelations and closure.

I whooped when Merlin revealed his magic to Arthur. The King's gradual progression from denial to acceptance was well handled and not too rushed. The scene at the end with Merlin holding Arthur in his arms as he died nearly brought me to tears. Bradley James and Colin Morgan really pulled it off with some amazing lines.

I was surprised that Mordred was killed so early and the battle ended so quickly, but I realize TPTB wanted to spend more time on the reveal and its implications. I thought it was somewhat ironic that Mordred and two of those who helped him in 1x08 - Arthur and Morgana - met their deaths by the dragon forged blade. Morgana's line to Mordred was confusing, since I was pretty sure he would die at Camlann, but it disappeared when I saw her at the grave.

So Gwen is Queen of Camelot; Excalibur rests in the lake depths; Gwaine is dead.

I'm not sure how I feel about the final shot. The abrupt transition was disorienting. Yet the focal point in many of the legends is that Arthur is the Once and Future King and will (supposedly) return. I may have to watch it again later to decide how I feel about it.

I gotta say, I'm kind of emotionally destroyed. I knew that tragic ending was traditional, but somehow, I'd convinced myself that with all the liberties that the BBC took, they'd go with the "safe" happy ending. I thought it was fairly well done, save for the abrupt closing and Morgana's sort of anti climatic death.