I LOVED ep 10, and Merlin's mother definitely ships the boys like crazy. She's absolutely brilliant. Ep 11, the one with the unicorn was really good too, with Arthur willing to die for Merlin and everything and Merlin being in his heart and all that. But ep 10 definitely has something more in the shape of Merlin and Arthur connecting. Although... I am of the opinion that Merlin should have told Arthur that he's a warlock. I think it would have been best.

You're right about the Choir thing, people who can't see beyond the stereotypes and clichés are the losers.