Review: Merlin 4.3: The Wicked Day

Oh, go away!

Why, Howard Overman? What was the point of that? The usually brilliant Misfits writer often falls short when it comes to his Merlin contributions, and this episode follows that rule. All the way through Series Three I was looking forward to the death of Uther and the ascension of Arthur, and I even cheered Morgana on druing some occasions. Here it finally happened, and Overman still managed to make it feel like the bland, formulaic crap we have to suffer with from Merlin whenever it decides that plot is too good for us.
       This week saw Random Guest Star No 74 arrive to take a pot-shot at Arthur on his Birthday, drugging him after a crazy stunt and then attempting to assault him in his chamber. Uther was on hand to save the day and managed to beat off the intruder, but not before being stabbed in the heart. People begins to mourn the King's death before he has even died, and Arthur is desperate. I get the feeling that this would have more emotional potential for long term viewers if it hadn't occured every five episodes or so. Arthur, desperate to save his father, calls upon magic to save him. Merlin sees an opportunity.
      Using his ridiculous disguise from Queen of Hearts, Merlin played a sourcerer willing to help save Uther on the condition that all magic kind be able to live in peace. They agree on this promise, and it initially works. But, signposted for about half-an-hour, Morgana has sent Inspector Lynley in with a magic amulet and as a result Uther dies permenantly, Arthur forever positioned against Magic. For me it felt like a spit in the face, it really did. Not only did Uther's death - one of this series' defining dramatic moments - occur bhecause of another damn Morgana plot, it was also delivered in a way which removed any of the benefits of that action. Sure, this could be the stimulus that drives the series - Merlin trying to manipulate Arthur into loving magic. But I know Merlin, and I've been disappointed before.

Merlin's face, in the same position it was in for 90% of the episode.

     Merlin's disguise (which I suppose I should now call "Emris") was yet again a foul mixture of genuinely good acting and ridiculous clowning about. He was instantly recognisable, and the Scooby Doo-esque way that Merlin swapped between characters wasn't treated in a way that I felt I could appreciate. It isn;t simply a case of me being outside the target audience - this is a family show, one which was prepared to make its protagonists both orphans and deal seriously with it.
      If you can't tell from the tone of this review, I wasn't too pleased with The Wicked Day. It was enjoyable on a surface level but the fact is that it took one of the most important moments of the series and gave it the formula that every other episode of Merlin adheres to. I'd hoped that this series could get better, that it could avoid it now that it seems that we're making some progress. The steps have been taken to acheive this, but I wish they hadn't been down this particular path.

Thanks.

NEXT WEEK: Filler. That's it. Something about Dragon eggs.