Merlin "With All My Heart": Operation Save Gwen

This has the be one of the best episodes of season 5 for Merlin as With All My Heart just smashes it out of the park. With All My Heart had a great story, along with moments that made us laugh and feel warm inside. Merlin just really hit it out of the park with this one. This is something Merlin hasn't tried yet in the series which made the story fresh to the episode roster and to the series itself. I just can't get over how well Merlin used all it's cast to play out in the story fantastically. I think we all can agree it was time to deal with the Gwen is evil situation and With All My Heart deals with that. You know what, it was about time too.

With All My Heart starts off with Gwen doing her evil thing and stealing the plans for a Camelot deployment for Morgana. She manages to avoid Percival and reach Morgana, but little does she know that Arthur and Merlin are watching. Arthur is obviously hurt by this and reaches for his sword, but Merlin stops him saying that Gwen is captured by powerful magic. So Merlin begins looking for a solution and Arthur is forced to pretend like he doesn't know, which isn't easy for him. After some awesome old Merlin action, Merlin is able to find out that he needs to summon the white goddess in order to save Gwen. So Giaus, Merlin tell Arthur of this and their plan to get Gwen their by drugging her. Arthur agrees to this, and the three embark on their plan and make it happen at dinner. Once drugged, Arthur heads to the forest to wait for them while Giaus and Merlin get the drugged Gwen out of the castle unnoticed. As they ride out, Morgana gets word that Merlin and Arthur are riding out to break her spell's hold on Gwen.

I think I have already expressed my love for With All My Heart above, but this really was an excellent episode of Merlin. It did a well job of showing how much Arthur cares for Gwen and credit must be given to Bradley James who really made us believe that. It has been awhile since Merlin gave us a beautiful Arthur/Gwen scene that just gave us the warm and fuzzies on the inside. It also made us laugh and smile with Merlin and Arthur as With All My Heart really brought out the friendship between these two. Arthur trusted Merlin to come out and see if Gwen was betraying him. Arthur trusted Merlin with the plan to save his wife. Arthur was willing to risk his life to save Merlin who had fallen. It is the relationship between these two that really brings life to Merlin. My favorite moment of With All My Heart was when Giaus told Arthur that this sorcerer would be a woman.  I died a little bit on the inside with laughter at the idea of Colin Morgan not only being an elder, but an elderly woman. Can you imagine Merlin as a woman? HA! He really has grown into the old Merlin role though as he really knocked it out of the park.

Now what were the weak points of With All My Heart? Hmmmmmm, thinking, still thinking. Nope, can't think of any. Although poor Gwen, all she had to do for the most of the episode was sleep. Oh and Merlin is getting injured a lot this season. Stop the Merlin abuse! Oh and Arthur don't forget about Merlin again, considering all he has done for you.

With All My Heart was a fantastic episode for Merlin as everything seems alright in Camelot again. For now anyways since Morgana always has a plot up her shelve. Morgana is no match for love now is she? Merlin is no match for Giaus who always ends up giving trouble unintentionally. It being either the tavern or making Merlin transform into a woman. Man I love Merlin. Anyways next week, Morgana is after her arch enemy Emrys, putting Merlin in some serious danger. Merlin gets no real break does he?

What was your favorite scene of With All My Heart? Do you think that Gwen is really "ok"?