Review: Merlin 3.8: The Eye of the Phoenix

Merlin's recent quality is consistant. The Eye of the Phoenix is another decent episode, but it does have a few rogue elements that could have been streamlined out to change this from a decent story to a great one.
     As Arthur's quest to earn his place on the throne, he is sent off on the most dangerous of them all - to journey to the Perilous lands, a place of magic where very few ever get out alive. Merlin is obviously worried for his safety, and when Arthur sets off with a life-draining amulet from Morgana, he sets of with Gwaine to rescue the Prince.
     This episode is stuffed to the brim with cliche; it turns out that the whole thing had been organised by the leader of the realm to get Merlin to kill him, after giving him some magic water (don't ask me, how am I suppose to know these things?). It also had Merlin using his Deus Ex Dragonspeak, something I deteste with a passion. However, the episode flows well and has another unique story structure, which is good for the series overall.
     So overall, not a bad episode, but one that certainly has a lot of faults. Next week looks suspiciously like pointless filler. Oh joy.

Thanks.