Beauty and the Beast is a two-part story consisting of the fifth and sixth episodes of the second series of Merlin. They were first broadcast on the 24th and 31st October 2009.
It marks the beginning and end of the romance between Uther and a female troll posing as the Lady Catrina, and includes their wedding.
Synopses
Part One
Uther is captivated by his latest guest, the beautiful Lady Catrina. Arthur is appalled by his father's flirting, but Merlin is wary for a different reason - he suspects she is really a troll!
Catrina and her strange servant are welcomed into the heart of Camelot, and it is up to Merlin to prove she is a monster and save Uther from ruin. Unfortunately, Catrina has her sights set on a far greater prize than the king's heart - can Merlin overcome her powerful troll magic before it is too late?
Part Two
Newly crowned Queen Catrina settles in as Camelot's first lady. As her true troll nature surfaces, her influence over Uther increases, and the repercussions are felt throughout the kingdom.
When Catrina accuses Merlin of stealing, he is forced into hiding. Forced to sneak around the castle, Merlin must find a way to expose Catrina's true form without getting caught and beheaded. Even if he succeeds, is it enough to break her powerful magic? Or will Camelot be stuck with a troll queen forever?
Plot
Part One
In a cave, a man prepares a potion for a female troll who states that Camelot and its riches will soon be hers. She then drinks the potion, transforming herself into a beautiful woman. The next day they arrive at Camelot.
In Camelot, Gaius and Merlin are walking in the marketplace. While Merlin complains about having to carry so many pots for Gaius, the man, who is named Jonas, grabs Merlin and asks to see Uther Pendragon, pushing a seal into his hands. Gaius recognises the seal as belonging to House of Tregor and questions where he got it. The woman then reveals herself and a shocked Gaius recognises her as the Lady Catrina.
Catrina and Jonas meet with Uther, who states that the kingdom of Tregor had fallen to invaders. Catrina confirms this and reveals that they were outnumbered and everyone, including her father, the King, was lost. Only Catrina and her servant Jonas escaped.
As Gaius looks on with suspicion, Catrina swoons and is caught by Uther. She pleads for a bed for the night and Uther obliges, stating that it will be an honour.
Merlin is given the task of showing Catrina to her chambers. As soon as he leaves them, Catrina hunches over and starts complaining about the room being too clean. Jonas promises he will find a more suitable place and Catrina breathes on the food in the room, turning it rotten with maggots, which she devours hungrily.
At dinner, Uther states that it is an honour to give help to the House of Tregor, which has long been allied to the House of Pendragon. Catrina does not eat her food. Uther flirts heavily with Catrina, much to Arthurâs disgust, while Morgana just smiles in amusement. Arthur fakes a yawn and excuses himself and Morgana follows. Catrina also leaves. She thanks Uther for his aid and smiles as she walks away.
Meanwhile, Gaius is preparing a potion while Merlin remarks that Catrina has been very kind to him, to which Gaius states that she was always very gracious and that he knew her a long time ago. Gaius tells Merlin to give Catrina the potion with his compliments and Merlin leaves.
Catrina returns to her room and sees a fresh fruit platter sent by Uther. She calls it revolting and breathes on it, turning it rotten. She then begins eating it while stating that Uther is starting to fall for her charms.
Merlin walks in and sees Catrina eating the rotten fruit, however she quickly composes herself and welcomes him cordially. He presents the potion to Catrina, who states that she requires no medicine. Surprised, Merlin asks her again and she confirms that she is in perfect health.
Merlin leaves and relays this to Gaius, who states that when Catrina was young she suffered from a rare and incurable bone disorder that caused pain to her joints, especially after a long ride. His tonic was the only thing that bought her relief, and her refusal of it makes Gaius and Merlin suspicious.
The next day, Uther and Catrina head out for a morning ride; however, Catrina grimaces when she sees a basket of food prepared for them. Merlin walks into Catrinaâs room with a basket and begins searching for clues to her identity. He is caught by Jonas and quickly claims that he was collecting the bed sheets, and as Jonas hands them over, Merlin notices a green tail. He quickly leaves while Jonas looks on with suspicion.
Merlin returns to Gaius and reveals what he saw. He also notes that Catrinaâs bed has not been slept in and that there was a strange smell. Gaius states they must keep a close eye on her.
Meanwhile, Uther and Catrina have dinner near a lake, discussing their past and their shared tragedy. While Uther is speaking of his pain over the loss of Ygraine, Catrina discreetly throws away her food. She then states that she and Uther are kindred spirits and he does not have to be alone anymore.
On their return to Camelot, they continue to flirt while Arthur looks on, appalled. When Merlin comments on how close they have become, Arthur remarks that his father is a wealthy and powerful man.
Later, Gaius meets Uther and comments on his good mood. He also reveals Catrinaâs incurable bone disorder to Uther and how miraculous her recovery seems. Uther tells Gaius he must have made a mistake and should accept that he could have been wrong.
However, later that night, Uther asks Catrina about her bone disease. Catrina quickly covers and states that she recovered naturally and assuages Uther's suspicions. She tries to kiss him, but he pulls back in shock and remarks that it's been a long time since heâs been romantically involved. Catrina says she understands and that they have time before pursuing a relationship.
Merlin follows Catrina as she leaves the castle. He enters Arthur's chambers and uses his magic to enchant a mirror so he can see Catrina's true form. He drops the mirror in shock as Arthur wakes up and assumes that he is spying on the Lady Catrina. He threatens him against doing something like that again and Merlin quickly excuses himself and leaves.
Merlin follows Catrina to the tunnels beneath the citadel and sees her sleeping amongst rotten filth in her troll form. He quickly leaves but is seen by Jonas.
Merlin returns to Gaius and reveals his discovery of Catrinaâs true form. When Merlin inquires as to why Catrina would be in Camelot, Gaius reveals that trolls are greedy and lust for wealth and power such as Uther's. Gaius rushes to tell the king, but Uther refuses to listen to Gaius's accusations towards Catrina and warns him to hold his tongue.
Catrina returns to her chambers and Jonas reveals that Merlin has discovered her true identity. She decides to speed up her plans and enchants an amulet with a powerful love spell to bend Uther to her will.
Later, when Catrina and Uther are together, he recommends she leave Camelot due to rumours of their romance spreading. Catrina pretends to agree and gives Uther the amulet, claiming it was a gift from her father. The charm works and Uther falls under her spell. He tells Gaius his fears were mistaken and that he considers the matter closed.
Gaius returns to Merlin and states that Uther is besotted and will not listen to him. He pleads for Merlin to use magic to reveal Catrinaâs true form and they begin to study troll magic. Meanwhile, Catrina convinces Uther to make their relationship permanent so she can share his burden of kingship.
Gaius and Merlin find a spell that will reveal Catrina's true form. A guard calls them to the council chamber and Uther announces that he will marry the Lady Catrina. Merlin tries to expose Catrina with the spell, but she is able to resist him long enough to return to her chambers and strengthen her enchantment. Now aware that Merlin has magic, she decides to set a trap for him.
Meanwhile, Gaius and Merlin return to their chambers and Merlin decides to tell Arthur what is going on. He goes to Arthur and reveals the truth, but Arthur laughs it off and assumes Merlin is worried for his feelings towards Catrina. Arthur thanks Merlin for his concern, but remarks that as long as Catrina makes his father happy, that is all that counts. Merlin continues to protest and Arthur refuses to listen.
As Merlin returns to his chambers, Jonas confronts him and lies that Catrina is forcing him to serve her. He begs Merlin to stop her and tells him that she is in the caves beneath the castle. Merlin goes to confront her, but Catrina appears in her true form and uses a spell makes the tunnel collapse, trapping Merlin.
Catrina leaves to marry Uther while Merlin desperately tries to break through the spell. He eventually succeeds and fights his way past Jonas, but he is too late to stop Uther and Catrina from being married.
Part Two
After the royal wedding, Catrina, the new Queen of Camelot, tells Uther that her father's seal has been stolen by Merlin. Arthur sends his men to find the seal and arrest Merlin, but privately warns him to leave Camelot. He later tells his father that Merlin has escaped his men and Uther orders him to continue the search until Merlin is found.
Underground, Catrina tells Jonas her plan to undermine Arthur. In the forest, torn pieces of Merlin's clothing are found and returned to Camelot with news that Merlin is headed for the northern border. Gwen worries for Merlin's life while Gaius reassures her he can outrun them, before returning to his chambers. Merlin, who had been hiding in a barrel, leaves to follow Catrina.
In the throne room, Uther, still being under the spell of Catrina, tells Arthur he is ordering a new tax on the people of Camelot for the protection that Camelot offers, even though Arthur says they cannot possibly pay it. Catrina claims that Uther had been thinking about such a tax for quite a while when Arthur mentions the sudden change in his father's attitude to the treatment of the citizens of Camelot.
While spying on her, Merlin sees Catrina taking a potion that transforms her troll body into a human body. He later steals the potion while Jonas is asleep and takes it to Gaius. They decide to replace the potion with a fake, non-magical one that looks and taste identical to Catrina's so that she will be revealed as a troll. They set about making one before Jonas wakes in the morning.
Still enchanted, Uther continues to be romantic with Catrina, who continues to act as though she is in love with Uther. Catrina questions Uther's ability as a man and a king and claims that his love for his son blinds him to Arthur's weaknesses. She also says that Arthur cannot be trusted, though Uther defends him.
In the city, Arthur comes across a man who has been arrested for not being able to pay the king's tax. As Gwen watches, Arthur releases the man and orders his men to give everybody's money back. Uther and Catrina are angered by Arthur's decision and demand that Arthur return to the town to collect the payments. Arthur stands his ground and refuses to do it, so Uther orders him to leave.
After Arthur leaves the throne room, Catrina persuades Uther to let her replace Arthur as his heir. She then returns to her chambers for her next dose of the potion, which Merlin had replaced with a fake one earlier that morning.
Gwen visits Arthur to commend him on his actions in the town earlier that day. Arthur laments that Uther now hates him and that the tax will still be imposed, but Gwen states the people will always remember Arthur's clemency. Arthur says maybe Uther was right in saying he could not be both a king and a friend to the people of Camelot, but Gwen firmly tells him he has a kind heart and he should not change for anybody.
After being summoned to Uther, Arthur's title is revoked and Arthur is disinherited for opposing his father. Arthur defends his actions stating he only acted as he was brought up to act, but Uther stands firm, sending Arthur away in disgrace. Catrina is named as the rightful heir to the throne, much to everyone's surprise and confused applause.
At Catrina's coronation, Merlin watches from above as she takes her oath. As she does so, her troll form begins to emerge. Catrina snatches the crown and runs from the room to avoid being caught as a troll, only to be pursued by Uther, Morgana and Arthur. Merlin uses his magic to lock the doors and as she tries to open the door, Catrina changes into a troll.
Still under the influence of the pendant, Uther is appalled when Arthur reacts disgustedly to the revelation of Catrina's true form. As Arthur tries to convince his father Catrina is a troll, Catrina yanks the door off its hinges and runs away, Uther on her heels. In their chambers, Uther apologises to Catrina, still remaining under her spell and seeing her as beautiful.
The next morning, Gaius tells Uther in the council rooms about Catrina's true condition. Uther remains oblivious to his wife's true form and states the next person to insult his queen will be tried with treason and beheaded. Gaius advises Merlin to go to the Great Dragon for advice as troll magic is very powerful to overcome. However, he advises Merlin to be careful, as the races of dragons and trolls have long been allies.
After hearing the story from Merlin, the Dragon laughs uproariously at the thought of Uther marrying a troll. The Dragon says the only way to break the enchantment is if Uther cries tears of true remorse; he also warns Merlin his advice doesn't come without a price, and reminds him of the promise he made to free him.
Merlin goes to Arthur and reveals his place to have him fake his own death so Uther will cry tears of remorse. Though hesitant, Arthur agrees to the plan and he takes a potion provided by Gaius that will make him appear dead. Once the potion has taken effect, Gaius leaves to break the news to Uther while Merlin is attacked by Jonas, causing the bottle containing Arthur's antidote to break.
While Uther cries for Arthur, Catrina tries to lure him away as Merlin mops up the remains of the antidote. Uther, with the enchantment broken, sees Catrina for her true self and becomes disgusted. As Catrina takes on the guards, Merlin revives Arthur, who kills both Jonas and Catrina with the help of Merlin's magic.
Following the night's events, Uther thanks Arthur for exposing Catrina, though he blames his actions on magic once again. Arthur is amused over the events, and Uther remains disgusted and ashamed. Arthur thanks Merlin for his help and they share an awkward moment of mutual gratitude.
Cast
Main Cast
- Colin Morgan as Merlin
- Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon
- Angel Coulby as Gwen
- Katie McGrath as Morgana
- Richard Wilson as Gaius
- Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
Recurring Cast
- Michael Cronin as Geoffrey of Monmouth
- Rupert Young as Sir Leon
- John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon
Guest Stars
- Sarah Parish as the Troll (Catrina)
- Adam Godley as Jonas
- Brian Peck as Eldred
- Rhys Rusbatch as Guard
Continuity
Part One
- These episodes mark the first and only time Uther becomes romantically involved in the series.
Part Two
- The Great Dragon reminds Merlin of his promise to free him.
- Lord Bayard of Mercia offers to honour Uther and Catrina's marriage with a visit, but Sir Leon advises them to decline because he isn't sure that Bayard is trustworthy.
Release & Reception
- Part one air date: 24 October 2009. 5.53 million viewers.
- Part two air date: 31 October 2009. 6.13 million viewers.
- Beauty and the Beast: Part One premiered on Syfy UK at 8pm on September 16th 2017, immediately following by Lancelot and Guinevere.
- Beauty and the Beast: Part Two premiered on Syfy UK at 7pm on September 17th 2017, immediately followed by The Witchfinder.
Trivia
- This is the series' first two-part story.
- These episodes are notable for featuring a troll and whatever species Jonas belongs to.
- The Troll Catrina refers to her crown as having jewels despite having never seen it before she is crowned Queen. When her crown is later revealed, it is rather plain looking.
Gallery
To view the Beauty and the Beast gallery, click here.
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Transcript
See Also
- Characters: Troll (Catrina), Lady Catrina, Jonas
- Locations: Troll's Cave, Guest Chambers, Uther's Chambers, Troll's Nest
- Creatures: Troll, Jonas, the Great Dragon
- Magic: Glamour, Troll Magic, Shapeshifting, Love Spell
- Objects: Troll Glamour Potion, Catrina's Enchanted Necklace, Crown, Faux Death Potion
- Events: Duel between Merlin and Jonas, The Wedding of King Uther and Lady Catrina, The Coronation of Queen Catrina
Series 2 |
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The Curse of Cornelius Sigan âą The Once and Future Queen âą The Nightmare Begins âą Lancelot and Guinevere âą Beauty and the Beast âą The Witchfinder âą The Sins of the Father âą The Lady of the Lake âą Sweet Dreams âą The Witch's Quickening âą The Fires of Idirsholas âą The Last Dragonlord
Mini-episode: Children in Need special |