EnterTeenment News Presents: Merlin
Jump to: Colin Morgan on Merlin | Bradley James on Arthur | Katie McGrath on Morgana | Anthony Head on Uther
“The Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn” Merlin Season Four Gets Set for More Mystical Magic, Friday January 6 at 10PM
Evil, betrayal, kings and magic are the key ingredients for the upcoming season of the BBC hit drama “Merlin.” Now entering its fourth season, the series follows the kingdom of Camelot in a slightly different way than most series and movies have over time. Airing in the US on the SyFy Channel, “Merlin” has been enticing audiences all over the world. In preparation for the season four premiere Friday, January 6 on SyFy, we’ve gathered together everything you need to know.
Whether you are new to the magical mysterious world or would just like a refresher course, here’s the rundown of who’s who and what’s what in Camelot:
King Uther rules the land, with the increasing counsel and assistance from his son, Prince Arthur. For years – and for reasons known only to him – the King has banned the practice of magic from Camelot, under penalty of death. The young warlock Merlin perfects his considerable abilities in secret, under the tutelage of the court’s physician, Gaius.
The use of magic may be forbidden, but Camelot is nonetheless a magical place. The throne is under almost constant threat from the outside, and many of the rulers of nearby kingdoms in the land of Albion (as the entire region is known) have attempted to topple Uther.
The most potent of these attacks has come from the relentless Morgause, who has made it her life’s work to see Camelot destroyed and to ascend the throne with her half-sister, Morgana – who has long been the ward of Uther – at her side.
There are dangers and perils, yes … but Camelot is, above all, a land of enchanted adventure, enormous heroism and stunning bravery, best represented by Arthur – whose destiny is to take his father’s place as the rightful heir to this most magnificent kingdom.
Among the most prominent residents of Camelot and its surrounding territories are:
MERLIN(played by Colin Morgan)
Sent by his mother to Camelot, Merlin must hide his extraordinary powers in this kingdom where the use of magic is forbidden under penalty of death. Merlin became the ward of court physician Gaius and servant to Prince Arthur. Merlin is also a powerful Dragonlord and controls the Great Dragon, from whom he learned of his destiny to ensure that Arthur ascends to the throne … even in the face of great treachery and evil. With the exception of Gaius, no one in Camelot realizes that this humble servant is actually the greatest warlock the world has known.
ARTHUR (played by Bradley James)
Son of King Uther, he’s more fair and more tolerant than his father, and is always aware of his royal standing. Nonetheless, he has developed a bond of friendship with his servant, unaware that Merlin’s destiny is to be by his side as he becomes king. He also struggles with a forbidden love for the servant Gwen.
MORGANA (played by Katie McGrath)
All her life, Morgana has believed herself to be ward to the king – and is still reeling from her discovery she is Uther’s daughter and Arthur’s half-sister. She is also the half-sister of the evil Morgause, who will stop at nothing to take over the kingdom … including recruiting Morgana in her efforts. Evil has so consumed Morgana that she no longer has any loyalty to Uther … or to Camelot.
GWEN (played by Angel Coulby)
The beautiful handmaiden to Morgana allows herself to hope that one day she and Prince Arthur can be together without having to keep their feelings a secret. Fiercely loyal and innately adventurous, Gwen is quick to come to the aid of Merlin to assist Arthur – and Camelot – any way she can.
UTHER (played by Anthony Head)
A strong king, Uther has ruled for many years, commanding both respect and fear. He has banned the practice of magic in Camelot – under threat of death. But Uther has learned the truth about Morgana, and his heart has been broken. His power slipping away, Uther nonetheless maintains the respect of his prince, and even the magical Merlin himself.
GAIUS (played by Richard Wilson)
Wise court physician, he is also Merlin’s counsel and closest friend. The only person in Camelot who knows of Merlin’s powers, he has even come to use magic himself, though he knows the potentially grave consequences.
THE GREAT DRAGON (voice of John Hurt)
Having been freed by Merlin, the Great Dragon (whose name is Kilgarrah) cannot refuse a command by the Dragonlord … even when the command is to save the life of Morgana. The Dragon has offered a firm warning to Merlin: His actions could have disastrous results. But Kilgarrah knows of Merlin’s destiny, and is bound by duty to offer his aid.
GWAINE (played by Eoin Macken)
A silver-tongued, likeable rogue who is superb with a sword, Gwaine could be a knight as he is of noble birth – but prefers to live his life as an outsider. Banned from Camelot by Uther, he has become close friends with Merlin, and will come to his or Arthur’s service whenever called upon.
MORGAUSE (played by Emilia Fox)
A powerful sorceress, she is the half-sister of Morgana and is determined to see the fall of Uther and the destruction of Camelot. She is practiced in dark magic, and has swayed Morgana to join her awful quest.
CENRED (played by Tom Ellis)
His land borders Camelot and he so intensely covets the kingdom that he has formed an uneasy alliance with the equally obsessed Morgause.
(Camelot and character text provided by SyFy, BBC, J2Communications and used by permission)
Colin Morgan on Becoming MERLIN
‘Merlin realizes how much he needs to be strong for Arthur’s sake’
Where is Merlin at the beginning of season 4?
COLIN MORGAN: He starts the series in a happy place. He now knows Camelot like the back of his hand and can do everything with his eyes closed. Of course, he's not as talented a servant as he should be, but that's not his thing – magic is his thing.
Does he have to use that magic quickly?
Absolutely – his magic powers are immediately challenged by the “Dorocha.” They are tortured spirits of the underworld. Morgana unleashes them, and they cause chaos in Camelot. They operate at night and can only be repelled by the light. If you find yourself alone in the dark with one, you’re a goner.
So, Morgana presents the greatest threat to Camelot?
Yes, she’s desperate to claim the throne, and the only person in her way is Arthur. She's absolutely power hungry, fixated on regaining Camelot. You see within the first few minutes of the first episode just how ruthless she is. Merlin has to provide a huge amount of help in Arthur's battle against Morgana. She is Merlin's ultimate enemy.
What’s Arthur and Merlin's relationship like at the start of this season?
They are master and servant, but they have also always been friends. They can't help but like each other for their own quirks. What is different this season is that you see a vulnerable prince making use of Merlin as an adviser. For his part, Merlin realizes how much he needs to be strong for Arthur's sake.
Is Arthur still in the dark about Merlin's magical powers?
Yes, Arthur still has no idea about Merlin's magic. People always ask me, "Why doesn't Merlin reveal his magic to Arthur?" But he'd be an absolute fool to do that. At the moment, Arthur is like his father, King Uther, who created the rules that outlaw magic. If Merlin revealed his power to Arthur now, he could risk everything. Merlin's dream is to live in a land where he can be free and ruled by the greatest king the world has ever known. It would be madness to risk that for the selfish reason of revealing himself now.
Why do you think the series has been so successful around the world?
They're just really good stories. They deal in universal themes such as good versus evil and the triumph of true love. They also appeal right across the generations, from 8 to 80. It seems there is no one who isn't touched by Merlin.
Does it help that this is a new twist on an old classic?
People all over the world are familiar with the Arthurian legend, but the good thing about this show is that you're never sure how you will see it unfold. From the very beginning, the story has been constantly retold – and now we're part of that tradition.
Have fans started to recognize you?
It does happen, but I've never had any nasty experiences – everyone is always so lovely to me. I can still buy a pint of milk. You can still do whatever you want, but there is always a chance now that it might not just be an anonymous shopping trip. People might notice you in a different way. Often they need convincing that I am who they think I am – they keep asking, "Are you really Merlin?" All the time, I'm thinking, "But I only want to buy a pint of milk!"
After three seasons, do you still enjoy playing Merlin?
Definitely! It's a lot of hard work, but it is always exciting and it’s always worthwhile. It would be a different story if you put so much effort into something and at the end of it all you thought, "Why did I bother?" But when I finish filming MERLIN, I always think, "I'm so delighted to have been part of this." It really is something special!
Bradley James on Becoming a King
‘He has been thrown into the deep end of a very grave situation indeed.’
What has happened to Arthur since we last saw him?
BRADLEY JAMES: Arthur has to take the responsibility for the kingdom on his shoulders because his father has lost his mind. All eyes in the kingdom are now upon Arthur, looking to him, not to Uther, who is hiding in the corner of the room, rocking back and forth. Morgana poses an enormous threat to the kingdom Arthur is trying to protect. He has been thrown into the deep end of a very grave situation indeed.
How does Arthur cope with the responsibility?
It's not always easy for him. He constantly has to learn lessons from his mistakes. But I would say he's the man you would want in a crisis. He always sticks by what he feels is right, which is a very good quality.
Has this changed the relationship between Arthur and Merlin?
Their friendship has grown, and Merlin comes up with pearls of wisdom more and more often. It's harder for Arthur to turn those into a joke and pretend Merlin is just being stupid. They are now forming a much closer relationship.
How does Arthur deal with Lancelot, his rival for Gwen's affections?
Camelot always comes first for Arthur. If his love for Gwen causes friction, it holds back the kingdom. But if being with Gwen works for the kingdom, then he feels it should happen.
This season, the Knights of the Round Table become an integral part of the story. Do you enjoy working with them?
Absolutely! The Knights have a great camaraderie, which is what the Round Table is all about. They have a passionate dream, which they all want to achieve. The actors each bring a touch of individuality to their characters, and they are a joy to work with. Off-screen, we all get on famously. It's great to be part of that. When I celebrated my birthday, they all came along to my place to celebrate. We made a great day – and night – of it. It's been an absolute pleasure to have them around, and I'm quietly confident that that will translate to the screen.
Another important addition is Agravaine. Has he brought something extra to MERLIN?
Definitely. Very early on, the audience becomes aware that Agravaine’s allegiance is to Morgana. Naturally, Arthur is completely unaware of this, which creates great dramatic tension. Someone has to play dumb – and as we’ve come to find out in MERLIN, it's usually Arthur! But it also adds to the drama of the series that someone so close to Arthur can be the one that digs the knife in and twists it. As far as Arthur is concerned, his mother's brother is someone to be trusted implicitly. But the audience can see the cloaked dagger. Nathaniel Parker is very lively as Agravaine and has a great, dark look.
Based on their reaction to you at Comic-Con, can we assume that fans have come to recognize you for your role as Arthur?
Yes, I do get stopped quite a bit more now, but people are always very flattering – they love the show and want pictures and autographs. It's lovely when what you do for your work comes across so well!
What do you think is the reason that MERLIN, particularly, has been a great success with viewers?
People relate to the ideals of the Arthurian legends and the myth of the Round Table, especially when it’s told in a way that is so entertaining and accessible. Everyone can identify with the tale, not just the British. On top of that, you have these great characters and this amazing magic and this astonishing period. All that shines through. People love to get lost in that world.
Katie McGrath on Morgana
Katie McGrath has spent four years evolving the character of Morgana – once the beloved ward to the king, who discovers she is actually his daughter. That secret has been revealed to her through her half-sister, the wicked Morgause, who guides Morgana down a path of dark magic, opening her eyes to the true power of her evil. Morgana now has a clear focus: to return to Camelot as its rightful ruler, and bring down her wrath upon all she believes have wronged her.
McGrath has eschewed vacation time away from the MERLIN set in lieu of appearing in productions as varied as W.E., the Madonna-directed drama about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson; A Princess for Christmas, a 2011 Hallmark Channel holiday enchanter starring McGrath opposite Sir Roger Moore; and the upcoming Labyrinth, a medieval tale from Ridley Scott that centers around the Holy Grail.
Before taking a brief winter holiday, though, McGrath spent some time chatting about the new season of MERLIN, the virtues of playing evil, “Jitterbug Perfume,” the recurring medieval themes in her professional life, The West Wing,Louis XIV, and Florence and the Machine. The Lady Morgana speaks … read on.
The fourth season of MERLIN continues down a darker, more dramatic path. Do you feel the show is following a natural evolution?
The guys (co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy) have found a formula that works, and they’ve taken it to the next level with the fourth season. This is clearly their most ambitious. In four seasons, the characters have changed and grown, and the audience has grown with them. MERLIN still has all the great comedy and relationships that the audiences adore, but we’ve gotten more sinister and the show has gotten there in a very organic way. That was the path that was destined for us. Plus the show has gotten more filmic – it’s bigger in many ways than when we started, visually and in the storytelling. So our episodes are now more like 14 little cinematic films.
Morgana is having dreams in Season Four that include visions of her future … as well as an aged, bearded Merlin. How does this affect her perspective of what she’s doing?
I think it breathes a fear in her of thischaracter. Morgana doesn’t know that this vision is actually Merlin – she only knows the name Emrys and that he’s a very powerful person. Before the visions, Morgana didn't believeshe had anything to worry about, because she is so powerful herself. But these visions breed a fear and mistrust in her because she can’t fight what she doesn’t know. So her fear and paranoia of Emrys becomes a major part of the fourth season.
Has Morgana’s appearance also made the transition to evil?
Morgana now kind of looks like a Goth Jessica Rabbit. She’s the character that really changes the most in the series because of where she starts and where she has to go – it’s a massive transformation. A year has passed since third season ended, and you can’t underestimate how that has changed her. Morgana has fully embraced her magical side now – she doesn’t have to play the dual role game anymore – and that is reflected inside and out.
Morgana has also given up wielding swords for telekinetics, tossing knights 20 feet in the air. Obviously it’s an effect, but do those scenes still give you some playful thrill?
I love those scenes. Every time a woman gets to throw a man around the room, it’s good. To take a man like Tom Hopper, who is around six foot five, and toss him across the set with just the power ofyour mind – oh, that’s fun!
Morgana is the villain, but she didn’t start that way – and the fans adored her. So how do you create some form of humanity or sympathy for such a wicked character?
It’s fairly easy for me because ultimately I believe in what she’s doing, and why she’s doing it. She’s been betrayed by her father, ostracized from her family, and she’s all alone. She’s been taken down this path and, now, in Season Four, she’s lost her sister. So she’s running on pure revenge. Pure adrenaline fueled by pure revenge. I do feel sorry for her. If you look at it from her perspective, she’s just desperately trying to get back something she lost. I think audiences will sympathize with that.
Your fame has gone global, and there’s no greater testament to that fact than seeing the UK government recognize the series’ popularity with a set of postage stamps. What’s it like to find your face on a stamp?
Honestly, that is so cool. It’s actually a bit surreal. There’s an envelope that goes with the stamp, and I took the stamp, put it on the envelope, and mailed it to my mother. She now has it properly displayed – she was so happy and proud.
It’s funny because often those things – the stamps and toys and action figures, etc. – come out while we’re filming, and we’re so apart from things while on set that it all just kind of washes over you. But then when you see the reaction in the eyes of your family – to see how they react to the toys or stamps, or to be on stage at Comic-Con and see that little glint of joy in your brother’s eye – that’s when you realize how lucky you are and how special the job is that you’re doing.
Have you learned anything about yourself from playing Morgana?
I guess I’ve learned that I love bringing out my inner bitch, because I play those roles so well. I certainly keep getting cast as these horrible, horrible women, so I must be underneath, right? (laughs) The wonderful thing about playing Morgana is that she’s so different from me that it’s very clear when I’m being Morgana and when I’m Katie. I don’t try to kill my siblings. (laughs) So there’s no confusion, no blurred lines. But I do keep getting these bad girl roles. The funny thing is that, honestly, I don’t think I’m believable as these aristocratic mean girls. But I do love playing them.
You’ve done a number of projects – most notably MERLIN and the upcoming Labyrinth (again with John Hurt) – that take place during medieval times. Are you drawn to this time period? And if you could’ve picked an era to have lived, what would it be and why?
I think this period is drawn to me. Maybepeople don’t see me as believable playing a person of today. I guess I’m just more realistic in a corset and funny hairstyles. (laughs) Still, if I could have picked an era to have lived, I think I would’ve loved to have been one of Louis XIV’s mistresses. They were so fantastic and aristocratic, and they had so much power. And he was such a renaissance man. I think I would’ve fit into that nicely.
Can you watch MERLIN or any of your various projects and enjoy the shows and films as your fans do, or does your on-screen presence distract you?
I can’t watch most of my work. Once I come on screen, all I can think of is “What am I doing with my hands?” or “Why did I lean that way?” or “What’s that look on my face?” It’s too difficult to not focus on evaluating my acting. The great thing about MERLIN is that I can be quite separate. There are so many episodes where I’m not in many scenes – I think probably 75 percent of the season has scenes I wasn’t involved in filming. In that way, it’s all new to me. So I can sit down and thoroughly immerse myself in MERLIN.
You’re known as a voracious reader. What are you reading now?
“The Lies of Locke Lamora” – genius! My brother got me the second book for Christmas, too. And “Jitterbug Perfume,” which was a present from my make-up artist on Labyrinth. She swears it's epic, and I trust her. She was pretty epic herself.
Do you have any appointment television shows?
The West Wing. God, I adore that show. And I have to watch Band of Brothers every time it's on telly. It's the most perfect 10 hours ofviewing ever made.
What’s the current favorite song or album on your iPod?
Future Islands, a great, epic, wonderful band. The new Florence and the Machine album. I love her, I want to be her. And Gun and Roses – there is never a time when GnR is not perfect.
Anthony Head on King Uther
The poetic irony of Shakespeare’s phrasing is not lost on Anthony Head. When the Bard wrote that “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” even he could not have known what was in store for the actor Head’s royal character as the fourth season of MERLIN begins this Friday, January 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy.
As the new season opens, Head’s character – King Uther – is a mere shadow of himself, mired in bleak despair after realizing that his illegitimate daughter Morgana has arisen to become his greatest enemy, using dark magic to besiege Camelot and its leaders.
The first of a two-part episode, “The Darkest Hour, Part 1” finds Morgana’s blinkered determination threatening not only Arthur’s future, but the very balance of the world. With her magic stronger than ever, the sorceress summons the mighty Callieach (pronounced “kay-lix”) to tear open the veil between the worlds. Hellish creatures – the Derocha – pour forth, killing any who succumb to their touch. With King Uther in dire straights, it falls to Merlin, Arthur and his loyal Knights to protect the kingdom.
Head, the beloved Rupert Giles of Joss Whedon’s cult classic TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, enters his fourth season as Camelot’s monarch Uther Pendragon. The actor has been particularly busy for the past year working in television on both MERLIN and reprising his role on NBC’s Free Agents, as well as appearing in feature films, including The Iron Lady alongside Meryl Streep and the upcoming sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.
Head offered answers to a few queries leading up to this Friday’s fourth-season premiere of MERLIN. Take a look ...
After all that happened in Season 3, how has Uther’s perspective changed entering Season 4 … and how does that change things in Camelot?
Uther is broken man. Everything that he basically believed in and held as reality has shifted. I’d say he’s not playing with a full set of marbles. And all of that means Arthur has more responsibility, and there is another – Nathaniel Parker has joined the cast as Agravaine – who has been drafted to act as the chancellor, to politically help Arthur. It’s an interesting and kind of logical progression from where we were.
There were some notable deaths and disappearances at the end of MERLIN’s third season. Does any character truly die in a fantasy story like MERLIN?
It’s a bit like Buffy or any of those shows. Basically, in a fantasy story, nothing is reality, and everything is reality, and audiences will find this is especially true in Season Four. The boundaries of what is and what isn’t are going to shift. It’s a really, really thorough arc, and it will have repercussions throughout the season. Season Four is really interesting.
How does Uther rank within the grand scheme of roles in your career?
I think he’s up there. He’s been a very interesting character to play, and he’s developed a lot – glad to say, Johnny (Capps) and Julian (Murphy) have always given me something to play. There’s always some underlying thing going on – he’s not just moody. I always like that challenge. Compared to a lot of other things, Uther is just fun to play. When I was first told about it, I was nervous because I thought he might be too two-dimensional. But once they really told me what they wanted, I saw the role had a lot of scope – and they always wholeheartedly embraced ways I suggested to play it.
I like to bring a whole person to the role. I like to believe that there’s a reason for everything somebody does, just not somebody being bad or good or dogmatic or tyrannical. They’ve got plenty of pathology going on, and it’s fun getting inside and finding out all about that mythology. It makes the characters who they are. The best roles are always three-dimensional.
Is Tony Head as stubborn as Uther?
No, I can’t afford to be. I live with three women – my daughters and my partner/wife. There’s no way I could get away with it. Uther is very old school, very old-fashioned, and no one’s ever stood up to him until Morgana. And basically he’s now reaping what he sowed.