MERLIN: “The Wicked Day” Dawns in Camelot

It’s Prince Arthur’s (Bradley James) birthday and even King Uther (Anthony Head) makes a rare appearance for the celebration of the birth of his son. As preparations are being made a band of entertainers arrive in the kingdom, with knife throwing as their specialty. Arthur volunteers to participate in a dangerous game as he allows himself to become a human target. As the wheel he is tied to is spun around, the knife thrower (Phil Davis), known as The Gleeman, takes aim and narrowly misses Arthur. His final throw is aimed at an apple that was pushed into Arthur’s mouth. The knife has been treated with a drug that will leave Arthur helpless.

We discover that The Gleeman has been sent by an old enemy, Odin, in retribution for his son’s death. The Gleeman attacks a drugged Arthur in the king’s chambers, and as he is ready to strike the killing blow, Uther stops him and begins to defend his son. He sustains a mortal wound as he kills The Gleeman.

The knife wound has penetrated Uther’s heart and it’s only a matter of time before he dies. Arthur becomes desperate to  heal his father and decides to use magic. He asks Merlin (Colin Morgan) to find out if Gaius (Richard Wilson) knew of a sorcerer that could help. Merlin tells Gaius that he is going to disguise himself once again as Dragoon the Great (from season three’s “Queen of Hearts”) and against Gaius’s better judgement, helps Arthur heal Uther.

Morgana (Katie McGrath) discovers Arthur’s plan through Agravaine (Nathaniel Parker) and charms a pendant to make Merlin’s magic reverse, killing Uther. Arthur is devastated and blames Dragoon and magic, and effectively outlaws magic forever, taking up the baton left by his father. Merlin is also deeply upset and tells Gaius that his spell had begun to work. Gaius shows him the charmed pendant and they both deduce that this was Morgana’s hand. Merlin is upset that his dream of being able to live out in the open as the powerful sorcerer that he is, are finished. But he remains loyal to Arthur, his friend.

Morgana has felt Uther’s passing and pain. She appears very disturbed and not at all comforted by the fact that Agravaine tells her that a floundering Arthur is taking the throne.

The episode ends in Arthur’s coronation and we now move into the more familiar legend of Arthur and Merlin.

Random Thoughts

• It was very amusing to watch Merlin get a bit of his own back from Arthur as he is transformed into Dragoon. He barks the same insults at Arthur that Arthur has been shooting at Merlin for three seasons. In one scene, Merlin/Dragoon makes Arthur carry him on his back because Merlin is walking too slow. Perched on Arthur’s back, Dragoon kicks at him to make him go faster.
• It was touching to see Uther admit to his son that he is proud of him and loves him. Too little, too late, but Arthur takes it to heart.
• I am sorry to see Anthony Head depart from this show. He was a great king and wonderful at playing the tyrant.
• Huge kudos to Colin Morgan as he transformed into the old man. It was great to see Morgan’s acting chops in a different character.

Next week’s all new Merlin is titled Aithusa and it airs Friday night at 10/9c, on Syfy.