Posts Tagged ‘ben vanstone’

The Poisoned Chalice

Monday, July 6th, 2009

b>Arthur fights a Guardian of the Forest to save Nimueh, disguised as a young maiden.

“The Poisoned Chalice” is the fourth episode in the British fantasy drama television series Merlin, which was broadcast on BBC One on 11 October 2008.

Synopsis

King Bayard of Mercia arrives for the celebration of the union of the two kingdoms. To gain revenge on Merlin, Nimueh poses as a serving maid and fools Merlin into believing that Bayard was conspiring to poison Arthur. However, this results in Merlin being poisoned in Arthur’s place. In spite of his father’s wishes, Arthur sets out to search for the antidote to save Merlin’s life.

Plot

Bayard, the king of Mercia, comes to Camelot to form a union. However, before he passes the two ceremonial goblets for Uther and Arthur to drink, Nimueh, posing as a servant, takes Merlin to one side and tricks him into believing that the goblets’ drink is poisoned. Merlin promptly disrupts the ceremony and is forced to drink from the goblet himself – if he lives, he will be turned over to Bayard to use as he wishes.

However, after Merlin drinks the goblet he collapses. He is taken under the care of Gaius, who finds a poisonous flower petal in the chalice which has been put there by Nimueh. He explains to Arthur that an antidote can only be made from the leaves of this same mortaeus flower, a flower which may only be found in the caves beyond the Forest of Balor. Despite Uther forbidding it, Arthur takes it upon himself to find the flower.

In the forest where the cave is found, Arthur finds Nimueh disguised as a maiden, claiming to have been abused and abandoned by her master. Believing her story, he fights and defeats a cockatrice that guards the caverns. Afterwards, Nimueh tells him she knows where the flowers are found and leads him to them, only to cast another spell inside, causing the ledge he’s standing on to collapse. Although Arthur survives by clinging to the cave wall and fighting off a giant spider, she leaves him there to die, telling Arthur that it wasn’t his destiny to be killed by her.

While semi-conscious and under the effects of the poison, Merlin constantly mutters about Arthur’s situation, suggesting he is either subconsciously using magic or has some kind of link with Arthur. Upon realising that it’s too dark inside the cave, Merlin creates a sphere of ethereal light in his palm, which suddenly appears in a larger form near Arthur, hovering beside him to light his path. Arthur is soon attacked by many more spiders, but manages to reach across to pick the flowers needed to cure Merlin, and then clambers up the wall to the exit of the cave, guided by Merlin’s light.

However, once Arthur returns to Camelot with the flowers, he is immediately arrested and taken to the dungeons. He begs Uther to take the flower to Gaius, but Uther, teaching Arthur a lesson in obedience, crumples the flower and drops it outside the cell. Arthur reaches through the bars to get it back.

Understanding that Arthur has returned, but also realising that no one is allowed to see him, Gwen poses as someone bringing Arthur’s food in order to see if he had the flower. Arthur manages to secretly give her the flower, and Gwen returns to Gaius. In order to make the antidote work, Gaius secretly uses magic for the first time in the series, despite it being forbidden. Merlin then makes a fast recovery, and upon realising Merlin is awake, Gwen kisses him in happiness. He claims not to remember anything since he drank from the goblet.

Upon discovering that the poison was made with magic, Gaius reveals to Uther that Nimueh must have been behind it, and the potential war between Camelot and Bayard’s country is averted. Uther then reveals to Arthur that the woman he met was Nimueh, and emphasises how he believes all magic to be corrupt.

Cast

  • Colin Morgan as Merlin
  • Bradley James as Prince Arthur
  • Richard Wilson as Gaius
  • Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
  • Angel Coulby as Guinevere (Gwen)
  • Katie McGrath as Morgana
  • John Hurt as The Great Dragon
  • Michelle Ryan as Nimueh
  • Clive Russell as Bayard
  • Jamie Kenna as Dungeon Guard
  • Paul Kynman as Sir Cador
  • Gary Oliver as Gregory

Cast Notes

  • The Great Dragon does not appear in this episode, and is only heard during the introduction.

Reception

Airing at 19:05, episode four pulled in average overnight ratings of 5.92m (25.6%), a rise of 160,000 viewers from the previous episode. The final ratings were 6.48 million viewers.

Release

This episode, along with episodes 1 to 3, 5, and 6 was released on the first volume of the first series, released 24 November 2008.

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The Moment of Truth (Merlin)

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

b>Merlin casts a gust of wind upon the village to blow away Kanan's men.

“The Moment of Truth” is the tenth episode in the British fantasy drama television series Merlin, which was broadcast on BBC One on 22 November 2008.

Synopsis

When Merlin’s village is attacked by Kanan, a fearsome raider, Merlin rushes home to help – and is surprised when Gwen, Morgana and Arthur insist on coming with him.

It quickly becomes clear that the odds are stacked firmly against them. With dozens of lives at stake, Merlin’s old friend William forces him to make a difficult choice. Is he prepared to use magic to save the village, and in doing so reveal his sorcery to Arthur? Or will his destiny to protect the future King lead him to keep his magic a secret, which may mean leaving his old friends to die..?

Plot

Merlin’s home village, Ealdor, is besieged by raiders. They have intimidated a farmer called Matthew into giving them the village’s entire harvest. The raiders’ leader is Kanan, who is furious that Matthew kept back some of the food so the village wouldn’t starve. He strikes Merlin’s mother, Hunith, when she tries to stop the raiders; and demands the rest of the harvest in a week’s time.

Hunith goes to Camelot to ask King Uther for help. The village lies in another kingdom but its ruler refuses to act. However, Uther will not intervene because by sending soldiers there, he would be declaring war. Merlin announces that he must return home to take care of his mother and Prince Arthur thanks him for his service. When Merlin sees Gwen to ask her for a sword, she and Morgana declare their intention to come with him and fight for his village.

Hunith makes Merlin promise not to reveal his magical abilities to anyone else. As they camp for the night, Arthur comes to join them. They reach the village and fight the raiders as they arrive. Kanan threatens the lives of everyone present, and orders his men to leave. Arthur tries to talk to the villagers but Merlin’s old friend, William, objects. He is in favour of giving the raiders what they want so that no one will be killed. Arthur says that unless the local people fight, they will forever be at Kanan’s mercy. The whole village rallies behind Arthur and William leaves furiously.

Merlin tries to talk to William, who believes that Arthur is risking their lives for the sake of military glory. Merlin says that Arthur is his friend and would not put innocent people in danger; William replies that a real friend would have told Arthur about his use of magic. After they go to bed, Arthur asks why Merlin came to Camelot. Merlin cannot bring himself to tell the truth and just says that he wanted to find somewhere where he could belong.

The next morning Hunith tells Merlin that she thinks Arthur truly likes him. Merlin says he would be dead if Arthur knew about his magic, but she disagrees. Merlin goes to collect wood and is cornered by William, who wants to know why Merlin will not use sorcery to defeat the raiders. Merlin insists it is his destiny to help Arthur become a great king, and William is enraged that Merlin would put Arthur before his own friends and family. Arthur trains the men of the village in basic combat. Morgana points out that the men are outnumbered and the women must also be allowed to fight, but Arthur rejects this suggestion. Merlin later overhears Gwen and Morgana admitting that both they and Arthur came with Merlin because they care about him.

Matthew, who was acting as a lookout, is killed and his body returned with a note from the raiders. It threatens that they will return tomorrow to massacre everyone in the village. William publicly accuses Arthur of responsibility for Matthew’s death, then makes plans to leave before the raiders come. Merlin tries to stop him but William again says that Merlin is a traitor for refusing to use magic. Merlin explains to Arthur that William distrusts nobility because his father was killed while fighting in the service of a king. Arthur fears William is right that everyone will die if they are made to stay and fight. Merlin convinces him that he must have faith in the villagers or they will not find the strength to win the battle.

Guinevere stands up to Arthur when he tells the women to leave before Kanan returns. He agrees that they should remain to defend their home, and gives a rousing speech to the villagers. Hunith privately expresses her fear of Arthur discovering Merlin’s secret. Merlin reassures her that if Arthur is a true friend he will still accept Merlin.

Arthur apologises to Gwen for not wanting the women to fight. She wants to say that she trusts Arthur, but stumbles over her words. Merlin tries to tell him the truth about his magic and is interrupted by Morgana, who informs them that the raiders have crossed the river. The raiders are lured into a trap (with the women setting fire to the fences, hemming them in while the men ambush them) and the villagers come out to fight. William returns and saves Merlin from being hit. As it looks like the village is losing the battle, Merlin uses his magic to create a strong whirlwind that sends the raiders fleeing.

Kanan remains and duels with Arthur, who runs him through with a sword. Arthur wants to know who used magic to bring the wind up. At this point Kanan uses his last moments to fire a crossbow in Arthur’s direction. William pushes Arthur out of the way and is hit with the arrow. He is brought in to Merlin’s house, where he confesses to being the sorcerer who conjured the whirlwind. Arthur leaves and William says that he wanted to give Merlin the chance to be the servant to a great king. He dies, and Merlin sobs over his body.

Arthur believes that what Merlin meant to tell him was that William was a sorcerer. He is upset that Merlin didn’t warn him about something so dangerous. Merlin says goodbye to his mother and prepares to return to Camelot. Echoing the Great Dragon’s words, she states that he and Arthur are like two sides of the same coin. She assures him that one day, when the time is right, he can tell the truth at last.

Cast

  • Colin Morgan as Merlin
  • Bradley James as Prince Arthur
  • Katie McGrath as Morgana
  • Richard Wilson as Gaius
  • Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
  • John Hurt as The Great Dragon
  • Caroline Faber as Hunith
  • Alexander Siddig as Kanan
  • Joe Dempsie as William
  • Angel Coulby as Guinevere (Gwen)

Reception

Airing at 19:25, the tenth episode drew average overnight ratings of 6.42m (25.6%), the show’s highest overnights since the premiere. The final ratings were 7.03 million viewers.

Release

This episode, along with the previous three episodes and the three that follow, will be released on Volume Two of Merlin, released 9 February 2009.

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The Gates of Avalon

Friday, June 12th, 2009

b>Merlin watches as Aulfric calls upon the Keepers of Avalon known as the Sidhe.

“The Gates of Avalon” is the seventh episode in the British fantasy drama television series Merlin, which is being broadcast on BBC One now.

Synopsis

Morgana has a dream that Arthur is murdered by a beautiful girl and warns him of it, but Arthur’s chivalry lands him in trouble when he jumps to the rescue of a damsel in distress, Sophia, and her elderly father Aulfric.

Back in Camelot, Sophia uses more than just her feminine charms to take control of Arthur’s heart. This strange behaviour doesn’t go unnoticed by Merlin, but can he work out who the mysterious pair are, and what they want with Arthur? Can he save Arthur in time?

Plot

Morgana has a nightmare in which Prince Arthur is drowned by a beautiful young woman. While out hunting with Merlin, Arthur comes across this woman and her elderly father being attacked by robbers. He fights the robbers away with the (unknowing) aid of Merlin’s magic. The old man is brought before King Uther. He introduces himself as Aulfric and the girl as his daughter, Sophia. Aulfric is the heir to another kingdom (”Tír-Mòr” – Gaelic for “Mainland”) which was ransacked by raiders, and is travelling west with Sophia to join other family. Uther invites them to stay in Camelot for a while.

Morgana is horrified to see Sophia moving into the room next to Arthur’s. She tells Gaius about her vision of Sophia and the fact that Sophia is now staying at the castle. Gaius tries to reassure her and gives her a sleeping draught, advising her not to worry Uther. Morgana is not convinced.

Aulfric is seen returning to the forest and using magic to kill the only one of the bandits who survived. He had paid them to pretend to attack him and Sophia. Morgana has another dream about Sophia drowning Arthur. The next morning Arthur goes riding with Sophia after making Merlin promise to cover for him, as he was supposed to be on patrol. Gwen (Guinevere) encourages Morgana to tell the king about her dream but Morgana fears Uther would punish her for use of sorcery. She resolves to stop Sophia herself. Meanwhile, Uther discovers that Arthur is missing. Merlin takes the blame for not giving Arthur the order to go on patrol, so Uther has him thrown into the stocks.

In the forest Sophia is about to use witchcraft against Arthur, but they are interrupted by the royal knights. He decides to go back to Camelot rather than taking her to the river. When Merlin returns home and explains why he has been in the stocks, Gaius is reminded of Morgana’s dream. He examines Aulfric’s possessions and finds his staff. The staff is carved with Ogham runes, which add to the mystery of just who Aulfric and Sophia are. He is then caught snooping by Aulfric, but manages to come up with an excuse and escape, but not before seeing Aulfric’s eyes flash red with anger. Sophia is also angrily confronted by Morgana, who swears to hunt her down if she harms Arthur.

Aulfric wants to know why Sophia has not completed her mission. Their aim is to re-open and enter “the gates of Avalon.” Aulfric warns her to hurry and they agree that their enchantment must be completed the following day. Morgana tries to warn Arthur about her dreams, but he does not believe her, arrogantly believing she is trying to confess her feelings for him (something Morgana strongly denies).

The next day Arthur prepares to go riding with Sophia again rather than attend the appointment of a new royal knight. Merlin promises to get him out of it but is again thrown into the stocks. In the forest Sophia casts a spell which brings Arthur under her control. Merlin returns and Gaius tells him that Morgana is a Seer, born with the power to view the future in her dreams. He has known for a while about her ability but kept this quiet in order to protect her from Uther’s wrath (he considers the ability to be too close to magic). He suspects that Arthur is indeed in danger as Morgana fears, because of what he saw whilst investigating the room of Aulfric and Sophia. That evening Merlin overhears Sophia telling Aulfric that her magic has worked, and tomorrow they will be able to use Arthur for their own purposes. Aulfric says he will go to speak to “the elders.”

Merlin follows Aulfric to the river, where he summons the Sidhe elders, who resemble fairies. It emerges that he and Sophia were exiled from Avalon, the land of immortal life, because he killed another Sidhe. Aulfric must remain in a mortal body forever, but Sophia may return to Avalon again if they sacrifice a mortal prince to the Sidhe elders. Merlin tells Gaius everything.

Arthur requests an audience with the king and asks for permission to marry Sophia, which is denied. Uther believes that his son is too young to marry, and threatens to have Aulfric and Sophia arrested if Arthur defies him. Morgana very nearly tells Uther about her dreams but cannot bring herself to. Merlin attempts to warn Arthur that Sophia has bewitched him, but is caught by Aulfric and Sophia. Arthur’s eyes magically glow red and Aulfric knocks out Merlin using magic. Morgana sees Arthur leave with Sophia and Aulfric, and runs to Gaius: he tells her to remain calm and leave the matter to him.

Gaius finds and tells a dazed Merlin that Sophia and Aulfric have taken Arthur away. Merlin rushes into the forest in time to see them beginning the ceremony to return Sophia to Avalon. She is told that Aulfric cannot come with her but she must go through with the ceremony: if the elders do not get Arthur’s soul, they will take hers instead. Merlin arrives as Sophia has magically suspended Arthur under the river. He magically grabs the staff she carries, which was lying on the bank, and uses a spell with the staff that kills both her and Aulfric. He wades into the river and saves Arthur before Arthur drowns.

Arthur awakens back in his chambers at Camelot with no memory of what Sophia did to him. Merlin and Gaius tell him that he eloped with Sophia and Merlin knocked him out and brought him back to Camelot. Arthur is horrified that Merlin could overpower him and that he ever wanted to marry Sophia. He then forces Gaius and Merlin not to tell anyone what happened. Merlin again takes the blame for Arthur’s activities and so Uther has him placed in the stocks yet again. Gaius later gives Morgana another sleeping potion and makes Merlin swear never to let her know about her powers, or the possibility that she is a sorceress. She suffers another nightmare that night.

Cast

  • Colin Morgan as Merlin
  • Bradley James as Prince Arthur
  • Richard Wilson as Gaius
  • Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
  • Angel Coulby as Guinevere (Gwen)
  • Katie McGrath as Morgana
  • Kenneth Cranham as Aulfric
  • Holliday Grainger as Sophia

Reception

Airing at 19:30, the seventh episode drew overnight ratings of 5.75m (22.9%) viewers. The final ratings were 6.45 million viewers.

Release

This episode along with the six that follow, was released on Volume Two of Merlin, on the 9th February 2009.

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