Changes: The Nightmare Begins

Latest revision as of 22:40, 24 February 2024

“I'm scared, Merlin. I don't understand anything anymore. I need to know what's happening. Please.”
— Morgana to Merlin

The Nightmare Begins is the third episode of the second series of Merlin, which was first broadcast on the 3rd of October 2009.

This episode marks Morgana's discovery of her magic and the second appearance of Mordred.

Synopsis

Morgana's dreams continue to torment her, causing her to slowly believe that she has magical powers. Gaius insists there's nothing to fear, keeping her in the dark, but Merlin cannot stand by and watch her suffer. He tries to help Morgana by sending her to the Druids, but when Uther discovers her absence, he believes that she's been kidnapped and sends Arthur to rescue her... and kill the Druids.

Plot

Morgana pyrokinesis — Morgana's magic ignites a candle.

It is a thunderous night and Morgana is once again troubled by her nightmares. A candle lights itself as she tosses and turns. Gwen blows it out when she enters the room and puts it by a window before leaving. Morgana then wakes up and looks at the candle. The flames grow, Morgana panics and the window explodes outwards as her eyes flare gold.

Uther, Merlin, Gwen and Arthur are in Morgana's chambers after the fire. Uther suspects it was sorcery and orders Arthur to arrest everyone who is suspected of having magical connections.

Morgana tells Gaius that it was she who started the fire and deduces that it was magic. As Merlin watches, Gaius tries to dissuade Morgana's fears by making her a new remedy. Merlin confronts Gaius about Morgana's powers and tries to convince him to talk to her about them, but Gaius disagrees because of Uther's attitude toward magic.

Merlin is adamant that Morgana be told, as he believes he knows what Morgana is experiencing, but Gaius warns Merlin not to involve himself. Later, Merlin brings Morgana flowers to cheer her up and Gwen sympathetically tells him there is nothing he can do for her.

Merlin275 — Morgana shares her suspicions with Merlin.

After convincing Gwen of her safety, Morgana climbs into her bed only to be spooked by a crack of lightning. Her magic reacts instinctively to her fear and shatters a glass vase, causing Morgana to seek out Gaius.

The physician is out, causing Morgana to speak with Merlin instead. Despite his reassurances, Morgana tells him she's afraid of what's happening to her. She knows the remedies won't work and that she has magic, however Merlin does not directly agree with her.

Merlin seeks the help of the Great Dragon about the whereabouts of the Druids to help Morgana, but he advises Merlin that Morgana would benefit from not knowing the extent of her powers. Merlin disagrees and the Dragon refuses to give him the information he needs, leaving Merlin to find the whereabouts on his own.

The next day, Arthur is still investigating the possibility of the fire being started by sorcery and, having heard about the flowers he brought Morgana, has mistakenly assumed that Merlin is in love with her. As the prince playfully questions him, Merlin reads a scroll containing the names of suspected sorcerers, hoping one of them can help him find the Druids.

Merlin1623 — Merlin and Forridel hide from soldiers.

In the city, the people on the list are being arrested on suspicion of sorcery. Merlin visits a household he saw on the scroll to warn a woman, Forridel, who is suspected of consorting with Druids about the soldiers. He pleads with her to help him find the Druids, and she reluctantly agrees.

Merlin visits Morgana at night and she tries to rationalise her earlier claims about magic as upset ramblings. However, Merlin suggests that he can help her. He tells her he understands how scary the ordeal must be for Morgana and suggests the Druids could help her, and offers her directions on where to find them in the Forest of Ascetir.

Morgana sneaks out of the castle during the night, and when her absence is discovered the next morning, Uther assumes that she's been kidnapped. Gaius confronts Merlin about Morgana's whereabouts and Merlin angrily tells him how Morgana doesn't have the support of anyone who acknowledges magic and says that he would be lost without Gaius' guidance. Gaius understands Merlin's reasoning, but fears the consequences of his actions.

Later that day, Arthur and his men finish arresting the last of Camelot's suspected sorcerers. Uther issues an order for them all to be executed unless Morgana is returned, prompting Merlin to go after her.

Merlin 203 3 — Venomous Serkets surround Morgana.

Night falls, and as Morgana searches for the Druids she is attacked by large, scorpion-like creatures called Serkets. The Serkets surround her and injure her leg, but she is saved by a mysterious man who calls the creatures away.

The Serkets' venom renders Morgana unconscious, and when she wakes up she discovers that the man, Aglain, has brought her to the Druid camp. He assures her of her safety and reunites her with the boy Mordred, who had telepathically sensed her distress.

In Camelot, Uther deduces the breaking of the tunnel exit (used by Merlin the previous night) was done by magic and orders Arthur to find the Druids and take no prisoners. Arthur inquires as to Merlin's whereabouts and assumes he is lovesick over Morgana before leaving with his men.

In the forest, Merlin is alerted psychically to the presence of the Druids. Gaius meets with Uther and suggests that Morgana may not have been kidnapped, but instead ran away. Uther disagrees, stating that Morgana is too headstrong to run from anything, taking after her father too much. He also states that if she died, a part of him would perish as well.

As Arthur continues on his quest to find Morgana, Merlin follows the voices through the forest to the Druid camp as Morgana is given a robe by Aglain, similar to the Druids' own. Aglain questions Morgana about her reasoning for appearing in the forest, and Morgana reveals her want of their help.

Arthur and his men find the site of Merlin's campfire and continue on, as Merlin secretly works his way into the Druid camp. Morgana asks why she can see the future and start fires with her mind, to which Aglain confirms that she has a gift which is a kind of magic. He tells her she shouldn't be afraid of her gift and assures Morgana that she is safe with the Druids and that she will learn more about her powers in time.

Noticing smoke from the site, Arthur and his men descend on the site while Merlin tries to convince Morgana to return to Camelot. He tells her about Uther's plans to execute the prisoners unless she goes back, but Morgana refuses to leave the Druids. The camp is then invaded by Arthur and his men, and Merlin and Mordred are reunited in the chaos.

As the Druids flee, Arthur sees Morgana running away with Mordred and Aglain and assumes that she is being kidnapped. Merlin attempts to aid their escape by creating a vast amount of mist, disorienting Arthur's men, but Morgana succumbs to her leg injury and Aglain is shot by a soldier. Mordred flees the scene and is encircled by soldiers, causing him to release a wave of telekinetic energy as he screams, knocking the soldiers off their feet. He escapes as Merlin watches on.

Back in Camelot, Morgana is reunited with a relieved Uther and Arthur mistakenly confirms that Morgana was kidnapped by the Druids. That evening, Merlin visits Morgana and he promises not tell anyone about her secret. Morgana states that she is not scared of who she is and that maybe someday, magic will be viewed positively.

Merlin531 — Morgana is returned to Camelot.

As he leaves her chambers, Merlin is confronted by Arthur about his 'affections' for Morgana. As Merlin listens in bemusement, Arthur advises him to stay away from her, as their differences in class prevent any sort of relationship between them; it is clear that he is talking about himself and Gwen as much as Merlin and Morgana.

Merlin apologises to Gaius, who hugs him, simply grateful to see his ward safe. Gaius learns that Morgana is aware of her powers, to which Gaius advises Merlin to look after her and to make sure Uther never finds out.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon
Asa Butterfield as Mordred
Rupert Young as Sir Leon

Guest Cast

Colin Salmon as Aglain
Beth Cordingly as Forridel

Continuity

This episode marks Morgana's discovery of her magic.
This episode marks the first appearance of the Forest of Ascetir.
This episode marks the second appearance and departure of Mordred.
Morgana tells Gaius and Merlin that she suspects she has magic, confirming Gaius' previous suspicions.
The Great Dragon advises Merlin not to tell Morgana the true extent of her powers, but he ignores him.
Merlin sends Morgana to a Druid camp led by Aglain, who teaches her that magic can be used for good.
Merlin and Morgana are both reunited with Mordred, who is living at the camp.
Mordred escapes Arthur's raid on the camp and flees into the woods.
Merlin promises Morgana that he will keep her secret.

Release & Reception

Air date : 3 October 2009.
6.09 million viewers.
The Nightmare Begins premiered on Syfy UK at 8pm on September 15th 2017, immediately following The Once and Future Queen.

Trivia

A working title for this episode was The Friendship Companion.

Gallery

To view the The Nightmare Begins gallery, click here.

Transcript

View the transcript here.