MERLIN: Review of “The Darkest Hour-Part One”

Get ready, MERLIN fans! This is the season we’ve all been waiting for. I just finished watching both part one and two of the season premiere, “The Darkest Hour”, and my mind is still reeling.

The tone was set quite well with this episode. It’s definitely dark and sinister, but with that sense of humor that we’ve come to love and expect from this show. And it is beautifully shot.

All the characters show up in this premiere. Morgana (Katie McGrath) is stunning and frightening. Gwen (Angel Coulby)   is going to be so much more this season and we see her leadership skills shine through in a few scenes. She will also break your heart. Uther (Anthony Head) is a broken and empty shell of his former self. Arthur (Bradley James) shows the heart of a king, gentle, wise and willing to give all for his people. Gaius (Richard Wilson) returns with all his support of Merlin and even Gwen. Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera) is Arthur’s most devoted knight, willing to do anything to protect Arthur. Merlin (Colin Morgan) is showing himself as more of a friend to Arthur than a servant, though Arthur still likes to remind him of his status. And the dragon returns.

The episode takes place a full year after the season 3 finale. Morgana is taking an ailing Morgause to a crumbled down castle which houses an alter in the center of one room. She has hatched a plan that will “bring Camelot to its knees” and give the throne over to its ‘rightful heir’. This plan, however, can only play out with a blood sacrifice.

The Darkest Hour is pretty frightening, exactly how I like to spend my Friday nights. There’s a sense of hopelessness and defeat throughout and you are truly afraid for our heroes.

Two new characters are introduced in this premiere. Sir Agravaine is played by Nathaniel Parker, and he is Arthur’s uncle who has come to help Arthur while his father is ill. Arthur has grown fond of him and quite attached, but Agravaine is not all he appears to be.

The second character is Cailleach (Gemma Jones), an old hag-looking woman who appears to Merlin during Samhain. Gemma Jones is wonderful in this role, portraying an ancient, all-seeing, all-knowing figure who speaks ominous words to both Merlin and Morgana.

Watch the season 4 premiere of Merlin tomorrow night at 9/8c, on Syfy.