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There is one that can ruin King Arthur's plans. One that can come between them. We all have our secrets and, unfortunately for Guinevere, I know hers.
Morgana about Lancelot

Lancelot du Lac is the ninth episode of the fourth series of Merlin. It was first broadcast on the 26th of November 2011.

It marks Gwen's banishment from Camelot and the return, second death, and final appearance of Lancelot.

Synopsis

Sir Lancelot makes a shocking return from the dead and old feelings reignite, making Gwen fight temptation to avoid committing an unspeakable act of betrayal that would destroy the legacy of Camelot forever. With heads and hearts at stake, Merlin soon becomes suspicious. Can a man of honour break oaths and defy death, or is there something more than meets eye?

Plot

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Morgana summons Lancelot from the Pool of Nemhain.

Arthur informs Agravaine of his decision to marry Gwen despite her lowly status as a servant. This worries his uncle, who rushes to inform Morgana.

When Agravaine enters her hovel, Morgana startles awake and puts a dagger to his chest, but withdraws it when she sees who he is. Agravaine tells her Arthur's marriage plans and Morgana, worried that her prophetic dreams are coming true, vows that she will not see Gwen upon her throne.

Morgana seeks help from the Dochraid, who tells her how to use her magical coin to raise a soul from the dead. Following the Dochraid's instructions, Morgana goes to the Pool of Nemhain and casts the coin into its depths. Moments later, a Shade version of Lancelot emerges from the Pool and declares himself Morgana's to command.

Back at her hovel, Lancelot reveals that he has no memory of his former life and Morgana carefully molds his mind to suit her purposes. She informs him of his and Gwen's former feelings for each other and sends him to Camelot to win her back. Meanwhile, Arthur proposes to Gwen at her house and Gwen happily accepts.

Arthur holds a jousting tournament to celebrate their engagement, and the court is shocked when Lancelot is revealed to be among the participants. Arthur, Gwen, and the Knights of the Round Table are overjoyed by his miraculous return, but Merlin becomes suspicious when Lancelot has no memory of his magic.

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Morgana commands Lancelot to give Gwen an enchanted bracelet.

Later, Agravaine meets with Morgana and reports Gwen's disappointing reaction to Lancelot's return; any feelings she once had for him appear to be in the past. However, Morgana has prepared for this and gives Agravaine a bracelet for Lancelot to give to Gwen as a wedding present. The bracelet has been enchanted with a love spell that will reawaken Gwen's old feelings.

Meanwhile, Merlin uses a pentacle enchantment to determine that Lancelot is a Shade and suspects that Morgana resurrected him to harm Arthur. However, though Lancelot wounds Arthur in the tournament finals, he later yields the match to him to avoid causing the king further harm. Merlin is puzzled by Lancelot's behaviour, but then notices Gwen sneaking into Lancelot's tent after the match.

Merlin later spies on Lancelot when he meets with Agravaine and overhears the former's plans to meet Gwen in the council chambers. He attempts to stop Lancelot from reaching his destination, but Lancelot shrugs off his stunning spell and knocks him unconscious.

Meanwhile, Agravaine rouses Arthur and leads him to the council chambers, where they find Gwen and Lancelot kissing. Enraged, Arthur attacks Lancelot and they engage in a fierce duel. Merlin eventually arrives and secretly uses his magic to disarm Lancelot, but Gwen stops Arthur from killing him by throwing herself between them.

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Arthur banishes Guinevere for her betrayal.

Lancelot and Gwen are arrested and thrown in separate cells. Devastated by what's happened, Gwen removes the bracelet from her wrist and throws it away, freeing herself from the enchantment. Meanwhile, Agravaine reminds Arthur that in his father's day, adultery carried the death penalty and advises him to have Gwen and Lancelot executed.

Gwen is later brought to the council chambers, where Arthur angrily questions her about what happened and why she would betray him in such a manner. Gwen apologises for her actions, telling Arthur she has always loved him but was somehow drawn to Lancelot after his return without knowing what she was doing. Unable to forgive Gwen, but unwilling to see her executed, Arthur banishes her from Camelot.

Merlin and Gaius discuss Morgana's likely involvement in the situation and whether they should tell Arthur that Lancelot is a Shade. However, Gaius points out that exposing Lancelot's true nature won't change Gwen's act of betrayal, which is what Arthur is truly angry about. Merlin later tries to convince Arthur to reconcile with Gwen, but Arthur insists that while he loves Gwen and may one day find a way to forgive her, he will never trust her again and is unwilling to live like that.

Meanwhile, Agravaine goes to Lancelot's cell and gives him instructions from Morgana to commit suicide. When Arthur is informed of his death, he states that they shouldn't be surprised, as in all ways but one, Lancelot was a man of honour. He then orders that he be given a decent burial.

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Merlin frees Lancelot from Morgana's control.

Merlin takes Lancelot to the Lake of Avalon and gives him a viking funeral. Before pushing the boat containing his body out onto the water, Merlin performs a spell that frees Lancelot from Morgana's control. Lancelot briefly comes back to life for a moment and thanks Merlin, after which he dies peacefully.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Continuity

  • This episode marks the first appearance of the Dochraid.
  • This episode marks the resurrection, second death, and final appearance of Lancelot.
  • This episode marks Morgana's third attempt to avert Gwen's destiny.
  • This episode marks the sixth appearance of the Lake of Avalon.
  • Morgana uses Gwen and Lancelot's former relationship to sabotage Gwen's marriage to Arthur.
  • Arthur proposes marriage to Gwen, who accepts.
  • The Shade Lancelot claims to have found himself in the Feorre Mountains after stepping through the veil.
  • Merlin becomes suspicious of Lancelot when he discovers he has no memory of his magic.
  • Morgana uses an enchanted bracelet to rekindle Gwen's former feelings for Lancelot. Because Gwen later throws away the bracelet, the enchantment is never discovered.
  • Arthur banishes Gwen from Camelot for her betrayal.
  • Merlin uses his magic to free Lancelot from Morgana's control and gives him a viking funeral on the Lake of Avalon.

Release & Reception

Deleted & Missing Scenes

Behind the Scenes

  • In the throne room set up for the wedding ceremony scene in Pierrefonds (22nd June 2011), fans documented the presence of a bed on the floor placed at the end of the pink carpet. The bed was unmistakably part of the set, as it featured:
  • It is unknown why the bed isn’t seen in the episode; if it was used for or during an additional scene that didn’t make it to the final cut or if it was just meant to be seen when Arthur is in the throne room (and Agravaine comes with the news of Lancelot's death) and a wider frame that took in all the room was cut in post production.
  • No official image of or featuring the prop was ever released, no member of the crew posted a picture of it, nor was it mentioned by anyone involved in the production.

Trivia

  • "Lancelot du Lac" translates to "Lancelot of the Lake" in English.
  • This episode, along with the finale, is Colin Morgan's favorite episode of series 4.
  • The episode also received a lot of praise from crew working on the episode, as well as critics, with website DigitalSpy stating, "First of all, let's get this out of the way - 'Lancelot du Lac' is one of the best episodes Merlin has ever produced."
  • Though Morgana claims Lancelot was Gwen's first love, Gwen had a crush on Merlin before she ever met Lancelot.
  • Lancelot claims to have been saved by the Madhavi people, who he said found him on one of the Silk Road passes high in the Feorre Mountains.

Gallery

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To view the Lancelot du Lac gallery, click here.


Transcript

View the transcript here.

See Also

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Series 4
The Darkest HourThe Wicked DayAithusaHis Father's SonA Servant of Two MastersThe Secret SharerLamiaLancelot du LacA Herald of the New AgeThe Hunter's HeartThe Sword in the Stone
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