I often can't put my finger on the tone that Merlin wants to hit as a series. Most of the time, it's light adventure, but then sometimes we get true menace. Sometimes still we get an episode like this one that seems menacing on the surface, then becomes light, and then becomes almost cartoonish.

This week, a troll lady plans the downfall of Camelot, coveting its riches. So this troll disguises herself as the Lady Catrina, a distance acquaintance of Camelot's whom nobody has seen since she was a child. Along with her helper, she tells Uther that she's the last survivor of her city's siege. She then begins to seduce Uther with the ultimate goal of taking over Camelot. Of course, her plan raises the suspicion of Gaius and then Merlin. Together, they seek to make Uther aware of Catrina's true nature, but he's having none of it as he is already under the troll's spell. By the episode's end, Uther and Catrina get married, Merlin unable to stop the wedding.

The Happy Couple

I say this episode became too cartoonish because of the performance turned in by Sarah Parrish as Catrina. She actually puts in a pretty solid turn as Catrina; very poised as the Lady Catrina and then over the top gross as the troll, eating rotten food and walking about hunch backed. But that tone is lighter than even the lightest this show has been. The performance itself was good for a few laughs, but seemed out of place. And then how am I supposed to take her threat to the kingdom seriously when she's such a comical figure?

Now let's move on to Uther. I understand that at a later point, he was under a spell so no matter what Gaius said, he wouldn't realize what's going on. But before that point, you'd figure this guy would take the solid advice of his loyal physician who has always been right in the past. For a seemingly smart guy, Uther is pretty dense.

Sure, some decent laughs were had, like when Merlin was caught with the mirror in Arthur's room, but overall, this episode was a ho-hum affair.

Score