Review: Merlin 3.9: Love in the Time of Dragons

Richard Wilson, who in this episode plays a piece of wood.

What an unremmitting piece of old hogwash. This week, Merlin decided not only to pull out the old chest of Merlin Plotlines, but also focussed on by far its weakest character. This is not only irritating, but also worrying as we approach this year's finale. With a fourth series now in planning, will I get my Uther-death?
     The plot is basically the standard filler - 1.) Magic comes to Camelot. 2.) Merlin sees this. 3.) People in the court don't believe him. 4.) Merlin is right. 5.) Magic thing tries to kill Uther. 6.) Merlin and Gaius stop the creature.
     This time round it's Gaius himself who's being incredibly ignorant, as he swoons over his lost love (Pauline Collins, of many, many roles including both Classic and Nu Who). Unfortunately, she is under the influence of a "Manticorn", which is supposed to be this horriffic, fearsome creature and so is portryed as an obviously CGI cross between a dog, scorpion and Patsy Kensit.

The Manticorn. Should I be frightened at this point?

    The story should have some promise, giving Gaius a love interest that isn't an obese pixie, but it doesn't because for some reason, Richard Wilson has gone all wooden. Yep. The actor responsible for the glaring, mad rage of Victor Meldrew cannot act as if in love, and is instead wooden and stern. I can't help but think that this was what ruined the episode most of all.
     Elsewhere, and for once (to my obvious relief), t'was Arthur that believed Merlin, and had Pauline Collins put away while Gaius sulked and Merlin tried to get rid of the beast. In the end, Gaius stopped sulking and we had a "happy" ending, but it felt a little OTT as magical endings on Merlin tend to do.
     In conclusion, Love in the Time of Dragons is pointless filler with terrible acting from its focus and a hideously obvious CGI monster. It's the same cut-and-paste format that I've seen too many times on Merlin, and I just hope that the Mythology episode next week can bring my spirits back up.
 
Thanks.

P.S. My apologies for posting Super Sunday on Saturday. To make up for it, here is a fun Merlin cartoon I found on the internet.