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» » Merlini seiklused Arthur's Bane: Part One (2008–2012)

Short summary

Arthur has been king for three years without incident, but now an expedition north to the land of Ismere, led by Gwaine and Percival, is captured by Morgana and fellow sorcerer Ruadan and set to work in the mines to locate a mystical key. A search party headed by Arthur and Merlin goes after them, coming upon a village whose inhabitants have been massacred, A dying Druid warns Merlin of Arthur's bane - a battle where the young king will be slain. Ruadan's daughter Sefa is a spy working as Guinevere's maid, who warns her father of Arthur's army heading for Ismere through the lands of his ally Queen Annis. The group is thereby ambushed and Merlin and Arthur captured by Mordred, whom Merlin recognizes from the prophecy as being Arthur's killer.

Liam Cunningham has acted in two other film/TV productions with a King Arthur theme, Camelot and First Knight.

Though it was first introduced during the last episode of Merlin Series 3 ("The Coming of Arthur:Part 2"), this is the first time we really see the Round Table being used to conduct everyday business for the Knights.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Stoneshaper
    To be fair, Merlin is not the only episodic TV show that stumbles when trying to do a 2-parter.

    There are so many challenges. You are basically almost creating a small full-length movie, so expectations are raised, yet you still have to stagger the scenes to allow for commercials and you must close the story with the appropriate arcs "up in the air" so the writers can slog on when the next episode appears.

    That last one is the killer.

    The reason I am appending this review to Part I of the two parter is that (and this has happened before, and will happen again) is that Part I is the far superior drama.

    Un-hampered by the need to string the viewer along, the production team is free to cut loose in Part I. And indeed they did. It is clever, well written, lavishly produced, constantly entertaining, and even contains an odd (but fun) homage to LORD OF THE RINGS. Very enjoyable.

    And the problem (if you watch the second part or 5.2) is that the quality will fall. The pacing will drop, actions will become more trivial, and because of the need to keep all the story "balls in the air" the conclusion will not be as satisfying as the buildup.

    So make hay while the sun shines. Enjoy this while you can.
  • Episode cast overview, first billed only:
    John Hurt John Hurt - The Dragon (voice)
    Colin Morgan Colin Morgan - Merlin
    Bradley James Bradley James - Arthur
    Angel Coulby Angel Coulby - Gwen
    Sophie Rundle Sophie Rundle - Sefa
    Tomiwa Edun Tomiwa Edun - Sir Elyan (as Adetomiwa Edun)
    Rupert Young Rupert Young - Sir Leon
    Richard Wilson Richard Wilson - Gaius
    Eoin Macken Eoin Macken - Sir Gwaine
    Tom Hopper Tom Hopper - Sir Percival
    Katie McGrath Katie McGrath - Morgana
    Liam Cunningham Liam Cunningham - Ruadan
    Julian Glover Julian Glover - Lochru
    Alexander Vlahos Alexander Vlahos - Mordred
    Lindsay Duncan Lindsay Duncan - Queen Annis
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