Series 4



Series 4 of Merlin will air in autumn 2011. Its air date is confirmed to be 1 October 2011 for the UK. It will air at 7.50 p.m. on BBC One. The series was originally cut to ten episodes from the previous series' 13 due to financial issues. However, Johnny Capps revealed on 18 March 2011 that the show has been increased to its original 13 weekly episodes, opening with a two-parter. Filming started in mid-March 2011 in Cardiff, Wales and Pierrefonds, France. This season is said to be darker and more mature than the rest, with the other three having a few violent scenes, and this one having much more. Most characters will show a darker side to their personality. The offical tagline for the fourth series is: The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Dawn. At the SDCC Merlin Panel, it was confirmed that due to the show's increasing popularity, a fifth season has been comissioned by the BBC, and is likely to air the same time next year.

Trailers/Previews

 * Official Trailer shown at Comic-Con: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjVsDiHbS64


 * Offical Poster from Comic-Con:here.


 * Official Bloopers shown at Comic-Com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zslj5qZ8W_I


 * Spoilers revealed at Comic-Con: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leJlravQ3Zg&feature=related


 * BBC Official Merlin Series 4 Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By3bROZJ_1o


 * Full T4 Interview showing briefly high quality clips from Merlin Comic con 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1yFns68x1Mc


 * A third trailer can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9mOYrsD1CU&feature=player_embedded


 * A fourth trailer can be seen here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXYsg4V3l8&feature=related


 * First preview clip from "The Darkest Hour" :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEaFLWGdwQE


 * Some NEW clips from "The Darkest Hour": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr-U-UK8vkU

Confirmed Facts

 * 1) It was confirmed at the SDCC Merlin Press with Bradley James that the tagline for the series - "The Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn" - is actually one of his lines. Watch it here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wax0DoWJeRc&feature=related There are also links to the SDCC Merlin Press with Colin Morgan and the SDCC Merlin Press with Katie McGrath in the Suggestions bar on the right hand side of the page.
 * 2) The series will open with an epsiode called The Darkest Hour.
 * 3) The Darkest Hour will take place a year after the events of The Coming of Arthur.
 * 4) Nathaniel Parker will play Arthur 's uncle Agravaine.
 * 5) Merlin is in torment after making a grave error that causes huge upset for Arthur.
 * 6) Arthur will become either King or Prince Regent as Uther has been left a broken man after Morgana's betrayal, making him an unfit ruler. Merlin will get the biggest chance he'll ever have to bring magic back to Camelot.
 * 7) Morgana will return.
 * 8) Morgause will return.
 * 9) Merlin will be injured by a Dorocha.
 * 10) Merlin's magic won't work against the Dorocha.
 * 11) Merlin will show a darker and damaged side to his personality. His personality will presumably become darker than the previous three seasons.
 * 12) Merlin will disguise as Dragoon the Great again, but he'll also appear as an older version of himself (Emrys) in Morgana's dreams/visions.
 * 13) Gwen has been looking after the King during the period of time between the series.
 * 14) A sword will be burned near the start of the series.
 * 15) There will be more Knights of the Round Table.
 * 16) Morgana wears a lot more makeup.
 * 17) Agravaine will be the new enemy within the walls of Camelot, laying a claim to the throne.
 * 18) Merlin will try to discover his destiny as Emrys, and will find out there are massive reasons why he can't reveal his magic.
 * 19) Old Merlin/Emrys appears regularly in Morgana's dreams/visions. Morgana knows that her doom is Emrys and wants to get him, even though she doesn't know who he is. Morgause and Morgana will start looking for Emrys, unaware that he is Merlin.
 * 20) Lancelot has a major role in The darkest Hour.
 * 21) The Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot love triangle will be a major plot line.
 * 22) There will be more stories about Uther's past.
 * 23) Arthur and Gwen will become engaged.
 * 24) The way Lancelot is portrayed may be substantially different from the legends.
 * 25) Morgana's magic has finally become as powerful as Merlin's, and possibly more powerful than Morgause's.
 * 26) A battle for power will occur between Arthur and Uther.
 * 27) Morgana becomes quite nomadic, moving from one place to another.
 * 28) Lancelot will meet the Great Dragon.
 * 29) The Isle of the Blessed will reappear.
 * 30) Merlin and Gwen's friendship will be explored this series.
 * 31) Merlin will have a new reason to hide his magic from Arthur.
 * 32) Arthur will learn the truth of his birth again.
 * 33) There will be an episode that focuses solely on dragons and the future of the dragons.
 * 34) Merlin is going to struggle keeping his friendship with Arthur going on, but he is met with a wall and he's not sure how to deal with that.
 * 35) Merlin's greatest fear is a reincarnation of Uther in Arthur: if there's any sign that Arthur is thinking like Uther, then he can never bring his magic to the foreground. He can never get the kingdom he wants to have.
 * 36) Merlin will dress like a knight of camelot. (Not sure why thought but was confirmed by Colin Morgan)
 * 37) Arthur is walking towards the very noble, heroic king that is spoken of in the legends.
 * 38) There is someone or some people/creatures who have no faces who attack a village.
 * 39) There will be a dragon egg in one of the episodes.
 * 40) Uther is closer and warmer towards Arthur. There's some really nice, emotional stuff between them.
 * 41) As per usual Uther and Merlin will have just a little interaction. Merlin will be sympathetic towards Uther but ultimately loyal to Arthur.
 * 42) We'll see a lot more from Arthur's knights as their characters are explored.
 * 43) We can expect series 4 to be darker and to see the return of Excalibur.
 * 44) With Uther a broken man, Prince Arthur has the emotional dilemma of either taking charge or waiting for his father to recover.
 * 45) Morgana is pulling an old wagon, whose contents are covered. Her face is covered by a hood. Knights of Camelot approach and inquire where she is headed. She says the Sea of Meredor. She turns and Leon says “The Lady Morgana!” to which she holds out her hand and Leon goes flying backwards. She continues to do this for the remaining knights, like Elyan. When she’s confident they are incapacitated, she pulls down the covers of the wagon to reveal Morgause, and asks if Morgause is okay. Morgause says yes, but they have to hurry.
 * 46) In the blooper reel, someone will temporarily wear Merlin's costume and serve Arthur.
 * 47) Uther will fight with someone in his chamber.
 * 48) Morgana and Morgause will go to the Isle of the Blessed.
 * 49) Someone emerges from the Lake of Avalon.
 * 50) Merlin, Arthur and the knights go to the Isle of the Blessed in search for Morgana.
 * 51) Wyvern will attack the Knights of the Round Table, including Lancelot and Percival.
 * 52) The Isle of The Blessed will be used in a big way for the two parter opening episodes.
 * 53) Camelot is in dire straits. You're going to see the kingdom and those who rule it overthrown and taken over by a dark force.'
 * 54) Morgause will die.
 * 55) Morgana wants revenge for the death of her sister.
 * 56) Merlin gets a costume change. http://yavannauk.tumblr.com/day/2011/09/0
 * 57) Arthur wields Excalibur
 * 58) Agravaine takes over Camelot.
 * 59) Camelot is on fire
 * 60) Episode 1 a lot of it takes place on The Isle of the Blessed. Morgause is apparently at one with the place. Gaius knows a lot about it.
 * 61) The opening credits will change (as seen at the BFI screening), same style but partly new footage
 * 62) The Lake of Avalon will reappear. (as seen in trailer, when someone rises from it)

Rumours

 * 1) Only Excalibur can kill the faceless beings. This is very possible
 * 2) Merlin reads the ancient book of prophecys and is shocked by what is said
 * 3) The Great Purge make be shown briefly in a flashback
 * 4) Morgana and Morgause will form an alliance with King Alined. (highly unlikely)
 * 5) Morgana will have somewhat of a reluctant romance, possibly with Gwaine, or even Alvarr This is very possible
 * 6) Gwaine will be the second knight out of The Knights of the Round Table to find out about Merlins secret.
 * 7) The Sidhe will reappear.
 * 8) Arthur's mother Ygraine will appear (in a vision or flashback).
 * 9) Cornelius Sigan's soul will possess another person.
 * 10) Mordred and Arthur will meet again.
 * 11) Merlin meets Morgana at the Isle of the Blessed.
 * 12) Arthur kills Uther after learning the truth of his birth again.(spoiler)
 * 13) Gwen tells Arthur about Merlin's powers and he banishes him from Camelot.
 * 14) When magic returns to Camelot, it makes more bad than good and Merlin is blamed.
 * 15) Morgana and Merlin will have a kissing scene.
 * 16) Arthur will confront Morgana for the first time after discovering her true nature.
 * 17) Agravaine kills Uther.
 * 18) Alvarr will return. This is very possible.
 * 19) Emrys confronts Morgana.
 * 20) Roles change in the Morgana and Mordred relationship has he not the little innocent boy that was once shown to her.
 * 21) Mordred of course knows who Emyrs is, but is not choosing to tell Morgana or Morgause just yet.
 * 22) Morgause is Mordred's mother. In the legends, Mordred is supposed to be Morgan Le Fay's nephew.
 * 23) The evil alliance of Mordred and Morgana comes to pass towards the end of series 4 and follows on after the revelation of everything being out in the open.
 * 24) Merlin begins his quest in searching within and far to become the Merlin/Emrys that is fortold.This is very possible.
 * 25) The Lady Vivian may return still being under the love enchantment seen in 2x10, or as a guest to the wedding of Arthur and Guinevere.
 * 26) Freya will reappear in The Lake of Avalon.
 * 27) Vivienne, mother of Morgana and Morgause, possibly the sister of Igraine, will appear .This is very possible
 * 28) Once Morgana learns that Merlin has magic, there will be a magical battle between the two.
 * 29) Kilgharrah has allied himself with other dragons, coming through a secret portal from the spirit world, and is prepared to listen to Merlin no more and attack Camelot.
 * 30) Agravaine kills Uther.
 * 31) Merlin leaves Camelot.
 * 32) Episode 13 will either be called The Death of Camelot or Morgana's Sacrifice.
 * 33) Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic.
 * 34) Gwen and Morgana will learn about Merlin's powers.
 * 35) Hunith will return.
 * 36) Grettir will make an appearance.
 * 37) Kilgarrah will attack Camelot once Merlins powers (including his Dragonlord abilities) are robbed.
 * 38) Morgana becomes the most powerful whilst Merlin is without powers. However this may be temporary as Merlin's powers may return and rival Morgana's magic again.
 * 39) Gwen and Lancelot may be under a love enchantment, causing a fight between Lancelot and Arthur. In the official trailer, Guinevere is shown to be wearing a suspicious bracelet, while kissing Lancelot. Lancelot also shows suspicious behavior, since he attacks Arthur. The most likely possibility is that Agravaine has put a spell on them with Morgana or Morgause's help causing a fight and trouble.
 * 40) Gwen and Arthur get married (although there's a possibility they get married, it's not officially confirmed yet)
 * 41) Lancelot will be declared dead, which causes mourning among Merlin, Arthur, the knights and especially Gwen.

Main Cast

 * 1) Colin Morgan as Merlin/Emrys/Dragoon
 * 2) Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon
 * 3) Angel Coulby as Guinevere
 * 4) Katie McGrath as Morgana Pendragon
 * 5) Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
 * 6) Richard Wilson as Gaius
 * 7) John Hurt as the voice of Kilgharrah the Great Dragon

Recurring Cast

 * 1) Eoin Macken as Sir Gwaine
 * 2) Santiago Cabrera as Sir Lancelot
 * 3) Tom Hopper as Percival
 * 4) Rupert Young as Sir Leon
 * 5) Adetomiwa Edun as Elyan
 * 6) Emilia Fox as Morgause
 * 7) Michael Cronin as Geoffrey of Monmouth

Rumoured Cast

 * 1) David Schofield as Alined (highly unlikely)
 * 2) Laura Donnelly as Freya (very possible)
 * 3) Georgia Moffett as Lady Vivian (highly unlikely)
 * 4) Joseph Mawle as Alvarr (possible)
 * 5) Caroline Faber as Hunith (possible)
 * 6) Harry Melling as Gilli (rather unlikely) - Edit: Please see "talk page"
 * 7) Asa Butterfield as Mordred (likely)
 * 8) Warwick Davis as Grettir (rather unlikely)
 * 9) Alice Patten as Ygraine Pendragon (quite possible)
 * 10) Michelle Ryan as Nimueh (utterly unlikely)

New Cast

 * 1) Phil Davis as The Gleeman
 * 2) Nathaniel Parker as Agravaine (appears in all 13 episodes)
 * 3) Charlenne MacKenna as Lamia
 * 4) Hayley Bishop as Caelia
 * 5) James Callis as Borden (an old pupil of Gaius)
 * 6) Gemma Jones as The Cailleach (gatekeeper to the spirit world)
 * 7) Lindsay Duncan as Queen Annis
 * 8) Zee Asha as Audrey
 * 9) Sinora Maria as Queen Laila
 * 10) Steven Hartley as King Carleon
 * 11) Emma Tainton as Servant
 * 12) Andrew Fowler as Knight of Camelot
 * 13) Sarah Beck Mather as Vilia
 * 14) Zig Byfield as Goron
 * 15) Anya Beth-Davies as a girl who is rescued by Percival
 * 16) Terence Maynard as Helios
 * 17) Gary Lewis as sorcerer
 * 18) Miranda Raison as Isolde
 * 19) Ben Daniels as Tristan (not to be confused with Tristan de Bois)
 * 20) Wayne Foskett as John Howden
 * 21) Paul Kynman as Sir Cador
 * 22) Janet Montgomery as visiting princess to Camelot
 * 23) Katie Moore as Drea
 * 24) Maureen Carr as Dochraid (ghoul who lives in Camelot)
 * 25) Tom Meredith as Eoghan
 * 26) James Greene as Ferryman (official description)

Episodes
Please put only officially released synopses in the episode description fields. You can find them here, new ones will be released every Thursday from now on until the series ends.