What he indeed have come to expect from Merlin, however, is a respectful treatment of our beloved characters’ growth, and the above-mentioned plot twist that does justice to the characters while still capable of being seen in accordance with legend. These two concepts have, time and again, formed the backbone of countless Merlin episodes, but tragically the final one, which should by rights have revelled in every aspect that made Merlin the series it had become, failed miserably on both counts. While the eagerly anticipated magic reveal, though something of let-down where plot is concerned (why come out now, when innocent lives could have been saved by doing so much earlier?), was a beautiful and heart-rending piece of acting – so kudos to Colin Morgan and Bradley James for their amazing achievement – and while Arthur’s gradual acceptance of Merlin’s true nature was everything fans had been hoping for, it came much too late, and robbed us of the chance to see Merlin recognized by the whole of Camelot as the world’s greatest sorcerer at last, and, above all, accepted and respected by Arthur for what he is.

That was what their beautiful friendship had promised us, and what we felt was due to us, and when looking at the ancient sources, and taking note of the explicit loopholes provided there – Geoffrey of Monmouth, for instance, says nothing about Arthur actually dying, but states that he was just “mortally wounded” and brought to Avalon to be “healed” – it seems a complete mystery to me why the writers of Merlin insisted on killing Arthur off before any of the great deeds the series kept alluding to had been accomplished, when they could easily have employed one of their trademark plot twists to devise an ending where Arthur would still eventually meet his doom in Mordred, yet gets to build the legendary Golden Age of Camelot with a fully revealed Merlin at his side.

Of course, it would not be easy for Merlin’s creators to renounce the ending they decided on. I imagine that every creative artist feels honour-bound to stand by his creation once it is accomplished, I understand that, and I wouldn’t presume to even begin to know the circumstances in which the decision was made to end Merlin, and end it the way it has, but given the points I stated above it is obvious for everyone with eyes to see that it can’t possibly have been the ending the writers originally envisioned. As the recurring popularity and constant reinvention of Arthurian legend shows, existing versions don’t have to be set in stone like Excalibur. An obviously wrong ending, stemming maybe from a temporary error in artistic judgement, can be revised. It’s not even necessary to go back on it. There are dramaturgical devices available to deal with the finale, after all – make it a dream, make it a vision in the Crystal Cave, a prophecy of what will happen if Merlin doesn’t take action at once! I want to appeal to the outstanding, inventive writers and producers of Merlin to rethink their decision to end the series, because, in Merlin’s words, “Some choices are easy. Some stay with you forever.” Please, don’t let the choices you made in The Diamond of the Day stay with you forever!

I am aware that it is much to hope for, but I for one won’t give up on the dream that there will indeed be a Merlin series six, or a mini-series, or even a film with the same cast and characters who brought the legend home to us, so that destiny can be fulfilled, magic returned to the land, and Kilgharrah’s words about Emrys not having failed what he set out to do will finally come true. But whether it will come to pass or not, in my heart I know, as surely do all the Merlinians around the world, that this is not the end to Arthur’s and Merlin’s story. Their legend lives on. We will remember them. We would just rather do it by watching a brand-new Merlin episode that, this time round, does justice to its own creative goals and intentions.

Read our review of the Merlin finale, The Diamond of the Day (Part 2), here.