Series 5

BBC Series 5 will be the fifth series of the highly popular drama/cult series, Merlin. It has been officially commissioned by the BBC, due to popularity and anticipation. This was confirmed 24 July 2011 by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. Filming began on 12th March 2012 in Cardiff, Wales and Pierrefonds, France. 13 episodes have been ordered. The show will air on BBC One for the UK viewers and Network Ten for the Australian viewers.

The fifth series will air on the 6th of October, 2012, with an opening two-parter, called Arthur's Bane. This would mean that it will be shown in the UK at the same time as Doctor Who's seventh series. It's expected to air in January 2013 for US viewers on SyFy.

Official Trailers






Confirmed Information

 * Mordred will return and will be played by Alexander Vlahos.
 * The season will open with a two-part episode. The two-parter will jump ahead in time and it'll be surprising to realise where the characters are at.
 * Mordred will have long hair, the actor indicating that he was "wig-fitting".
 * Mordred will ride on a horse, the actor indicating he was "horse riding".
 * Dragons will be more involved in the major plot line. The producers are playing with the ideas of the two battling dragons, the red one and the white one, with their own twist.
 * The writers have stated that Mordred has a job to do at the end of the story.
 * Aithusa and Kilgharrah will both return.
 * After the finale showed the white dragon Aithusa saving a dying Morgana, there's been some debate on whether the creators are drawing on the legend of the red dragon (representing Camelot) kills the white dragon (symbolising the Saxons) and the writers are clearly satisfied with the reaction: "We hoped it was a nice tease..."
 * Morgana is growing into a stronger and more committed enemy than ever before. The stakes are becoming higher now that Arthur is king and the future of Albion is being created, there's more for Merlin to fight for and more for him to protect so as he gets older, he's tested as a character because everything in the world becomes more serious.
 * Series 5 is going to be darker. An older and wiser Merlin will struggle between making some very difficult decisions and trying to tread a very careful path between what is good and what is bad.
 * Morgana's new outfits are more sumptuous, less "she's living in a hovel" and more sort of "medieval couture". (Go to 1:37 )
 * "The length of Merlin is all about whether the audience are enjoying it. If they still enjoy the series we'll keep making it, but we will absolutely wrap it up properly when it does come to an end".
 * An action fight will be seen in a quarry.
 * Gwen will have a more prominent role as Arthur's confidant.
 * Merlin's hair and clothes will be the same. The producers have argued that it's his trademark clothes, what he's known by.
 * The Saxons will appear.
 * The Great Seas of Meredor will appear.
 * Merlin will not have a love interest this season, indicating that it's unlikely Freya will appear.
 * Arthur's hair is slightly longer.
 * Magic wolves will appear.
 * Liam Cunningham, a confirmed cast member, has strongly hinted acting as a corpse in Merlin.
 * The writers have stated the relationship between Guinevere and Merlin has always been close and will not change.
 * Guinevere will play a very different role, now that she is queen.
 * Mordred will align with both Morgana and Arthur, meaning that it is possible that he will be a protagonist at one stage, or he will be like Agravaine and pretending to work with Arthur while actually spying on him for Morgana, or vice versa.
 * The cast were seen filming in the Clearwell Caves, which is the place where Agravaine died.
 * Mithian will return.
 * Annis will return.
 * Gwaine will have a bigger role in Series 5.
 * Morgana may have power over Aithusa.
 * Series 5 won't have as many guest roles, because last season, the guest roles cut off a lot the screentime for the main cast.
 * The Knights will be developed further.
 * The camera will be on Mordred a lot during Series 5, indicating that it's possible that he'll replace Nathaniel Parker in the opening credits.
 * Mithian witnesses someone being stabbed with a sword and escapes falling rubble, running to a wizard (Possibly Merlin).
 * Two of these legends will be referenced in Series 5.
 * James Fox, Emilia Fox's (Morgause) uncle, seems to have cast for Series 5.
 * Mithian remains a princess in Series 5.
 * Series 5 involves a lot of "out of the castle" scenes. And apparently, it doesn't mean less of Gaius and Gwen.
 * Merlin will complete some of his own quests in Series 5.
 * Lancelot will apparently not return.
 * Mithian will meet Morgana.
 * Ashley Way will return to direct episodes 7-9.
 * Arthur, along with Merlin, will prevent an execution at a village. Arthur wil approach the pyre (while drums are being played) and interrupt the execution at sword point. The woman who was going to be executed will later be seen around a campfire with Arthur and Merlin.
 * One scene will involve Gwaine running through a forest in the sun, wearing chainmail.
 * Block 2 (Episodes 4, 5, 6) will contain filming in the Clearwell Caves.
 * Mordred will be somewhat of a Knight, but not an official one. He is likely to be a "trainee" of some kind.
 * James Robinson will play "Sir Ranulf".
 * The Round Table will return to Camelot.
 * Morgana will disguise herself as an old woman. She appears to be using the ageing spell Morgause used in The Eye of the Phoenix and/or the one Merlin uses when disguising as Dragoon.
 * Odin will be referenced and his men will appear.
 * Mordred will not be referenced as "Sir Mordred".
 * Old Merlin, or Dragoon the Great, will return.
 * For the first time all of the show's computer generated effects will be created entirely in-house.
 * Katie McGrath told in a Comic Con 2012 interview that Morgana has been held captive for 2 of the 3 years that has passed since Series 4. Her captor will be explored further on in the season. Due to this kidnapping, Morgana is not against Arthur, but everybody, and is more determined than ever.
 * Katie McGrath (Morgana) referred to Aithusa as a female.
 * Colin revealed in the same interview there will be a three-year gap between Series 4 and Series 5.
 * Uther will return in some way.
 * We will see a darker side to Gwen.
 * Merlin struggles with the temptation of dark magic, particularly in relation to his telepathy with Mordred.
 * Morgana is searching for something called "Arthur's bane", due to "bane" meaning "death", it is assumed that it is related to Mordred.
 * Gwen will meet Morgana again and they will fight.
 * The tagline for this series is "The Die is Cast".
 * The Dochraid will return, as she was seen and heard in the trailer.
 * The Dochraid casts a spell.
 * Kilgharrah (now referred to as "Merlin's dragon") will make a return, though he won't be who he once was, thanks to Aithusa.
 * Merlin feels betrayed because Aithusa chose Morgana instead of him.
 * Series 5 may not be the show's final season. Producers are talking with the BBC about another two seasons and a trilogy of movies. The decision as to whether this trilogy is a continuation or remake of the series is still being made.
 * Percival will be shirtless in a scene. (9:10-9:30)
 * The Valley of the Fallen Kings will re-appear.
 * Gwaine will have somewhat of an evil love interest.
 * "Merlin is becoming more ruthless, because he is becoming more solid in his beliefs", Merlin will see things in a whole new way.
 * Mordred and Morgana will share an "unbreakable" bond. From the very first episode you'll see the connection between the pair.
 * Uther was almost going to be brought back at the end of Series 4 but the writers decided he could fit better in a story in Series 5. Uther will return for one episode.
 * Johnny Capps confirmed that Merlin will have a few interesting things romantically, but not much as the focus is on protecting Arthur.
 * The writing team remains the same as last year, but Series 5 will see more multi-stranded stories, which means they won't be told from just the point of view of Merlin. The producers think this will make the story feel more grown up and fresh.
 * There won't be any more comedy episodes like Goblin's Gold, but the producers say the element of comedy and the "Jeeves and Wooster" relationship between the main characters will still be an important part.
 * The Northern Plains will appear, in the opening two-parter.
 * The new character, "Eira", will make an appearance in the finale.
 * Merlin and Gwen's relationship will be tested at some point.
 * The Lake of Avalon will reappear.
 * A new character, "Valdis", is set to appear in the third episode of Series 5.
 * The gallows will reappear.
 * Tyr Seward will appear in the first episode.
 * Merlin is becoming more independent of Gaius and people in general, and will ask questions such as "This is how it is, is that right?" rather than "Tell me what to do." It's almost at the stage he's ready to leave home, but he will still be home for breakfast.
 * The whole point of Mordred in the series is "What's he going to do? Why is he here?" People will not know why he is there and what his motives are. People think he's coming in to do the double act with Morgana, but it's more complicated than that. He is ambiguous.
 * The stakes will be higher, in terms of enemies- it's a 'war, not a battle, so it's a lot more serious'.
 * The person behind Morgana's captivity is a 'bandit king'.
 * The official air date is October 6th.
 * The first two episodes will be called 'Arthur's Bane'.
 * A preview synopsis for Series 5 premiere has been released.
 * The first episode (Arthur's Bane: Part One) will be dark, dangerous, full of torsos, swords, magic; etc.
 * Gwen will face a "very, very" difficult decision to make in the first two-parter episode, it will symbolise how Gwen binds into her new position as queen of Camelot.
 * Mordred may expose Merlin's secret to Arthur.
 * Mordred is a complex character this series, he is ambiguous. He has the chance to dish out information to Morgana about the peers in Camelot or he can keep it safe. It all relies on how he communicates with everyone.
 * "Merlin is more powerful, everything has upped it's game."
 * Mordred may want the royal throne to himself and betray both Arthur and Morgana.
 * Morgana is a constant threat towards Gwen.
 * There is someone who will protect Gwen when Arthur is gone to battle we will meet the person this season.

Main Cast

 * Merlin – Colin Morgan
 * King Arthur Pendragon – Bradley James
 * Morgana Pendragon – Katie McGrath
 * Queen Guinevere Pendragon – Angel Coulby
 * Gaius – Richard Wilson
 * Sir Gwaine – Eoin Macken
 * Sir Leon – Rupert Young
 * Sir Percival – Tom Hopper
 * Sir Elyan – Adetomiwa Edun

Recurring Cast

 * Mordred – Alexander Vlahos
 * Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon – John Hurt
 * Aithusa – Unknown Voice
 * Queen Annis – Lindsay Duncan
 * Mithian – Janet Montgomery
 * Uther Pendragon – Anthony Head
 * Dochraid – Maureen Carr

Guest Cast

 * Ragnor – Stephen McCole
 * Saxon – Matthew Prowse
 * Sir Ranulf – James Robinson
 * Unknown Character – Ross Machin
 * ​Ruadan – Liam Cunningham
 * King Rodor – James Fox
 * Daegal – Alfie Stewart
 * Tyr Seward – John Bradley
 * Unknown Character – Julian Glover
 * Eira – Erin Richards
 * Sindri – Tony Guilfoyle
 * Ari – Peter Guinness
 * Queen Mab - Kelly Wenham
 * Valdis - Jane Thorne
 * Sefa - Sophie Rundle

Cast Notes

 * For a page of villains that may return, just click here.
 * There is a small chance that Alvarr's voice was heard in the bad quality Series 5 trailer, although most would differ and say that it was Liam Cunningham's character.
 * Liam Cunningham has strongly hinted acting a corpse in Merlin, and meeting Richard Wilson.
 * Uther will cast as a shadow, he will still be an influence.
 * Alexander Vlahos indicated via Twitter that he will be replacing Nathaniel Parker as a main credited cast member.