With the conclusion of Merlin’s fourth season airing Friday night, cast members and showrunners take a look back over what Merlin, King Arthur and Morgana have grown into. They also offer a look into season 5 as Arthur deals with the truth about his long-time friend and possibly having to deal with his own, personal prejudices.
Thirteen episodes of sorcery and swordplay, dragons and demons, bewitchings and betrayals comes to a head this Friday when the fourth season of MERLIN culminates in an exhilarating season finale entitled “The Sword in the Stone, Part 2,” premiering March 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT only on Syfy.
For cast members Colin Morgan (Merlin), Bradley James (Arthur) and Katie McGrath (Morgana), the fourth season has been filled with memorable moments for both the actors and viewers.
Arthur (Bradley James) and Gwen's (Angel Colby) highly anticipated scene. (Photo Credit: © Shine Ltd. & FremantleMedia Enterprises.)
Morgan is particularly enthused about developments for the title character, who has gone from the King’s servant to his best friend and closest adviser. The fourth season presented some frustrating speed bumps in that relationship as Arthur’s traitorous uncle Agravaine wielded far more power and influence over the King than Merlin would have seen fit.
“After Uther died, there was an interesting transition within the characters as Arthur put family over friends,” Morgan recalls. “That was a difficult transition for Merlin to overcome. One of the key elements in the finale is Arthur seeing his uncle for who he is, and positively reflecting on Merlin’s valued friendship. Arthur always knew Merlin was a good friend and a trusted guy, but to realize he’s loyally been there the entire time is a big revelation for Arthur and certainly paves the way for where we’re going in Season Five.”
McGrath’s Morgana has experienced a true roller-coaster ride in Season Four, initiating one coup of Camelot after another before finally succeeding – if only for a few brief moments.
“I loved it when you see Morgana sitting on the throne after she has taken Camelot,” McGrath explains. “The difference in her body language and attitude and her presence is miles away from her coronation in Season Three, and even further away from what it had been in earlier years. I think it shows how far she has come and how much she has changed throughout the series.”
Katie McGrath as Morgana. (Photo Credit: © Shine Ltd. & FremantleMedia Enterprises.)
The entire series has changed, observes James – for the better, in his estimation. “We’ve gradually gotten closer to the legend, which requires us to get a little bit warped, because the legend is really quite dark. That shift has been fantastic. It’s what the show has needed, and what we have needed as actors because it has really kept our interest alive and provided us with a lot of new fun and challenges.”
Filming has begun on Season Five in Wales and France, and the cast is anxious to see what’s next for their characters and the series. But what do they hope is on the horizon?
“Merlin revealing his magic is definitely going to be the ultimate test for Arthur and Merlin, and I think it might be explored in the fifth season,” Morgan says. “The levels of trust between friends is one thing, but Arthur’s distrust of magic is something that runs longer than he and Merlin have been friends. It will take much more influence and much more work to break and to overcome. Certainly we’re entering into that territory, but it’s never going to be an easy task for Merlin. Still, it has to happen sooner or later.”
Underscoring just how strong all of its characters are, McGrath adds: “I’d like Camelot to realize that Morgana has a point. The persecution is unjust, and that magic has a place in the kingdom.”
Photo Credit: © Shine Ltd. & FremantleMedia Enterprises.
MERLIN co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps also offers a tantalizing possibility of things to come: “I think,” he says, “the return of Mordred would be very interesting.”
Stay tuned.
“The Sword in the Stone, Part 2,” an all-new episode of MERLIN, airs Friday, March 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT only on Syfy. All three seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD and on iTunes. Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.
Oh Katie, because forcefully taking the kingdom and murdering innocents is the way you make people like you!
Also, I just have one thing to say to the creators. Either they do an early reveal in the season and respectfully treat the issue and develop their characters through it, reaching that stage of epicness that can truly be the source of the legends, or they can keep avoiding it under various worthless reasons to prolong the cheap “buddy style” relationship and miss the strongest curve ball ever. If there is reveal in time and we can see that yes, Arthur and Merlin’s relationship is strong enough to survive that and build a kingdom, then the series will go down as a wonderful and heartfelt, even if not flawless, adaptation in television history. But if they keep chickening out and ignoring the disturbing trust issues between their leads, throwing away some reveal at the end or none at all, this show will officially be the biggest waste of incredible talent and possibilities.
First of all, ‘Katie’ is not doing anything but ‘Morgana’ is. Secondly, Morgana is not interested in making people like her. She’s interested in vengeance, control and power. Finally, it’s clear we are not watching the same show. All the things you have mentioned have clearly been demonstrated this past season.
I was not meaning Katie’s likeness but Morgana’s, sorry for the confusion over that (was talking about Morgana’s likeness…)
She does say “I’d like Camelot to realize that Morgana has a point. The persecution is unjust, and that magic has a place in the kingdom.” Magic having a place in the kingdom means magical people being accepted (beloved), and as a representation of her kin she is doing a marvellously awful job.
I do understand why Morgana turned out the way she is and I enjoy her characterization but her current methods can never succeed, not for noble ideas, only vengeance, which was not the point of the quote.
But do tell me, did we see a clear example of Arthur and Merlin’s relationship working? Yes, Arthur trusts Merlin more than anyone, but Merlin still doesn’t just Arthur with his LIFE and rather keeps lying to him in roundabout ways than actually sharing the knowledge. It’s Gaius’ and Merlin’s favorite past time, let’s keep key information hidden from Arthur, he is not capable of making decisions on his own!
What we can see, in my opinion, is Merlin slowly disintegrating as a character in his misery over still not being able to stay honest with Arthur. The season ended with absolutely zero closure on where they stand – whether, after the 10th episode, Merlin considers coming clean to Arthur, or whether Arthur finally owns up to Merlin’s influence and promotes him?
When it comes to the serious part of the boy’s relationship, 80% of the time they dance around it. The heartfelt scenes are lovely but lose their sincerity as time goes on without the reveal.
I don’t think it’s time for Merlin to reveal that he is a wizard. For one thing, magic has been outlawed in Camelot since Uther took the throne. When would Merlin have been able to come clean, as you put it, without the risk of being arrested or worse, executed. Even Uther’s death, which should have opened Merlin up to revealing himself to Arthur, was nixed when it was ultimately magic that took Uther’s life. Add into the mix that Merlin has not yet reached his full potential as a very powerful wizard.
You have to remember that this show began as a sort of prequel to the legend of Arthur that we know. I believe that season 5 will deal with Merlin becoming the full wizard he was destined to be, and that he will reveal himself to Arthur.
Also, regarding the relationship between Merlin and Arthur has not yet reached a point of equality. In Arthur’s mind, although he can think of Merlin as his friend, he is still in fact a servant. And I think that we have had many examples of Arthur saving Merlin’s life, so that Merlin does trust Arthur with it. I see no disintegration of Merlin’s character at all. In fact, he is really strong when you really think about it. He is moving into a place of personal adviser to the king from a lowly fetch-and-carry boy. Patience and smarts are winning him his place at Arthur’s side.
As for Morgana, whoever said she was noble? Her only focus is vengeance. Righting what she feels is a wrong done to her. She doesn’t care about anything else.
I really do not think that Arthur would execute Merlin at this stage if he revealed his magic. Arthur would actually have to face up to the situation of magic in Camelot. He did promise the druids to be respected in ‘A Herald of the new age’ , Accepting sorcery is just one step further.
If it is true what was said in recent interviews, quite a lot of time will have passed when season 5 starts and characters will have resumed very different positions. It will be interesting to see whether Merlin is in the same place as before or whether he has moved on. A reveal might evolve naturally from that.
It has to happen naturally and over time, like they’ve been doing it. Otherwise it would not be believable.
Oh, and Uther WOULD have executed Merlin if he found out he was using magic. Arthur won’t now, but when Uther was alive, he would have followed his father’s wishes. That’s what I was referring to in my comment.
Another reason Merlin has not revealed himself to Arthur is that he knows it will drive a distance between them and he needs to be by Arthur’s side in order to fulfill his destiny as the King’s adviser. He needs Arthur to trust him. Agravaine has interrupted this process thus far. With him out of the way, and Arthur relying more on Merlin, now is his chance to shine and ultimately reveal what he is, but that won’t come down in this finale.
Or maybe it will be the closing scene!
Wow, you are so right. You totally expressed what my feelings are about this matter. I am so fed up with the ‘secret magic’ scenario. i completely agree that it will ruin the show if they don’t do a reveal soon. I just hope that Colin is right and that it will happen in season 5 and the sooner the better!