Loved the review. I was in the UK when this episode aired so I didn't have time to read any of the reviews or write my own. I actually thought you were pretty well spot on. I'm also a Merlin/Arthur shipper but I like the show on many levels and that's how I approach it.

I really feel bad for Merlin because he's so darn isolated. Lying isn't helping but he really doesn't have anyone to go to, even Gauis, and his loneliness seems to be growing in many ways. The interaction with Arthur, even if he can't be honest with him, is pretty much the only thing he can rely on and even then there's that master/servant problem, never mind the sorcerer issue. I felt so bad that Merlin couldn't even tell Arthur why he was so upset in that last scene. Poor guy.

Anyway, great review!