After last week’s Gwaine, I wasn’t overly eager to watch another standalone episode of Merlin. But The Crystal Cave, although light on action, more than makes up for this failing with a character-driven episode chock full of revelations, and the reappearance of the delectable Emilia Fox. Let’s just say it right here, then: this episode is a precursor of what’s to come during the rest of the series, and I have a feeling the witch could inherit the throne. It feels very much like Xena‘s fourth season opener, Adventures In The Sin Trade, when she was subjected to shamanic visions by Alti (this run, albeit darker in tone, will never be as nasty as Xena at her darkest though.) After the prince recovers, Merlin wastes no time in getting back to Camelot and warning Gaius about the visions, who tells him that crystals aren’t always accurate. But Merlin won’t be swayed, convinced that Morgana is about to act and will kill Uther unless he stops her, by whatever means necessary. After the birthday banquet, Morgana receives a message from Morgause to meet her in the darkling woods. Merlin, who has been spying on her, panics and subsequently makes a mistake, which leaves Morgana close to death. Uther breaks one of his own rules and demands Gaius heal her, even implying that he use magic. When Gaius insists that there is very little which can be done, Uther reveals that the witch is, in fact, his daughter. A distraught Merlin summons the Dragon who seems quite pleased that Morgana is about to die. But, of course, the Dragon must obey Merlin and imbues him with powerful magic that will restore her. This was, by far, the strongest episode since the two-parter earlier in the series, and Anthony Stewart Head’s grief-stricken turn as Uther is brilliantly conveyed. Emilia Fox is woefully underused, appearing for all of two minutes, but both Colin Morgan and Katie McGrath again steal the show. The boy being morally conflicted and forced to make a decision he may well regret, and McGrath’s cold-blooded performance, raises a lot of questions that I can’t wait to see answered in future episodes. Let’s hope the standard can be kept up. Read our review of episode 4, Gwaine, here.
