Can Merlin save Gwen?

Can Merlin save Gwen?
Can Merlin save Gwen? (Image credit: BBC/Shine)

After witnessing Gwen meeting Morgana in secret, Arthur is promised by Merlin that he will find a way to break Morgana’s twisted control of the young queen. Using the aging spell, the warlock seeks the counsel of the Dochraid. But seeing through his disguise, the old witch refuses to talk, which forces Merlin to threaten her with his magical sword. The Dochraid then reveals that the spell can only be broken if Gwen immerses herself in the waters of a sacred cauldron. But she must do willingly or risk falling into the Abyss for all eternity. Back at Camelot, Arthur changes the route of a levy collection that Morgana plans to intercept, but does not reveal why to his knights. Mordred suspects something is afoot. Arthur and Merlin head to the sacred lake with a sleeping Gwen; and are later rescued by Mordred after falling down a ravine. Morgana then appears with a fire-breathing dragon. While Merlin battles the dragon, Mordred knocks Morgana out – with magic. At the cauldron, Merlin disguises himself as an old sorceress and, as Arthur leads Gwen into the waters, he finally breaks Morgana's dark magic. The episode ends with Mordred telling Merlin that he knows his secret…

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.