Merlin - The Gates of Avalon, S01E07

In this episode, we got not so much a look as at least a proper mention of Avalon when Arthur (Bradley James) finds himself being seduced by a woman who only wants him so that she can sacrifice his soul for her own immortality.

I continue to think that Uther (Anthony Head) is a wee bit extreme and hardly very consistent. Merlin (Colin Morgan) finds himself repeatedly taking the blame for Arthur's absences, earning him a stay in the stocks each time. Although Uther tells him that the error would have earned him a flogging in times of war, he never ups the punishment as it continues. Meanwhile, when Arthur comes to ask permission to wed, and ignores his father's wishes on the subject, Uther threatens to have the young woman and her father killed if Arthur does not behave himself more appropriately. It is a confusing time in Camelot, where the only thing one can be certain of is that if Uther finds out you have magical abilities, that will cost you your life.

I particularly liked the banter between Arthur and Morgana (Katie McGrath) in this episode. You certainly get the impression that Uther, at least, expects them to eventually marry, and there is a sense of romantic expectation surrounding the pair, but neither of them ever really buys into it. Certainly, Morgana is greatly concerned over Arthur's welfare and would willingly let something bad happen to him, and Arthur would protect her just as strongly, but love? I have yet to see it.

As for Morgana's dreams, I love that we are finally seeing signs of her magical ability. I thought last week when Gaius (Richard Wilson) was giving her the sleeping draft to prevent bad dreams that perhaps there was something there, and indeed I was right. Morgana's dreams do tell the future, and Uther would not be able to tolerate such a thing, though I do question Gaius finding it so important to keep it a secret, particularly from Morgana. How is she supposed to protect herself if she does not know what threatens her? Still, I'm glad that we are getting more than a pretty lady who's a little surly but otherwise not particularly involved.

But, the real question is - Did Arthur really forget what happened to him, or was it just easier to believe that Merlin had struck him hard on the head rather than admit having been ensorcelled?