NGTV Guide: Sunday, August 16

As the weekend draws to a close, we’re winding down with a guest appearance by a friend of the Nice Girls on a double-shot of Merlin and what’s been called “transcendent” TV by those who have already seen the new episode of True Blood.

Merlin – NBC 8/7c
“The Moment of Truth” – Merlin is stunned when his mother, Hunith (Caroline Faber), turns up in Camelot–bruised, battered and desperate for help from Uther. She explains to Uther that a bandit named Kanan and his men have been attacking her village demanding all of their harvest or he will kill them. When Uther refuses to help, Merlin leaves Camelot to protect his mother and friends. To Merlin’s surprise, Arthur, Morgana and Gwen join forces with him to save his village– but at what cost? Nice Girls’ pal Alexander Siddig guest stars as Kanan.

Merlin – NBC 9/8c
“The Labyrinth of Gedref” – While on a hunting trip with Merlin, Arthur kills a unicorn and Merlin sees an old man watching from afar. Their eyes meet and the old man quickly disappears. Meanwhile, Camelot’s crops have died mysteriously, and its water has turned into sand, sending panic and frenzy throughout the kingdom. Gaiusbelieves that the unfortunate events cannot be a coincidence and a curse has been placed on Camelot. Later, while Arthur and Merlin are on patrol, they come across the same old man Merlin had previously seen. He introduces himself as Anhora (Frank Finlay), keeper of the unicorns, explaining that Arthur is to blame for all the current misfortune in Camelot because he slayed the unicorn. The only way Arthur will be able to save his kingdom is through a series of tests– but will his stubbornness get in the way, requiring Merlin to step in again?

True Blood – HBO 9/8c
“I Will Rise Up” – Critics are calling this episode “transcendent” and “profound”. A wounded Eric plays Sookie for a sucker, to Bill’s dismay, and ends up getting inside her head. Later, Sookie and Jason bond over their recent adventures. Blaming Eggs for Tara’s bruises and bizarre behavior, Lafayette and Lettie Mae try to figure out a way to pry their kin from Maryann’s clutches. Hoyt defends his relationship with Jessica to Maxine, to no avail. Jailed by Bud along with a group of Bon Temps revelers, Sam looks for a way to escape and avoid capture by an increasingly obsessed Maryann. In Dallas, Eric and the vampires defend their recent actions to Nan Flanagan and are shocked when Godric decides to take the fall for their PR disaster.