The Sins of the Father

“This is what fuels your hatred for those who practice magic. Rather than blame yourself for what you did, you blame them.”
— Arthur to Uther

The Sins of the Father is the eighth episode of the second season of Merlin, which was first broadcast on the 14th of November 2009.

Synopsis

When a mysterious warrior challenges Arthur to a duel, no one could possibly predict the devastating chain of events that is set in motion - least of all the young Prince himself.

Arthur and Merlin soon find themselves on a strange quest at the behest of the beautiful Morgause. Through her, Arthur discovers a dark secret which threatens to bring about the downfall of the kingdom.

Plot

Merlin208 0096 — Morgause reveals her identity to the court.

In a ruined castle, a beautiful sorceress uses magic to observe Arthur through an enchanted crystal. She comments that Arthur has a great destiny, and that the battle for his soul is about to begin.

At Camelot, Uther and Arthur are knighting men who are to become future Knights of Camelot when a mysterious warrior enters the city and fights their way to the castle, killing five guards with ease.

The warrior enters the Great Hall and throws down their gauntlet, challenging Arthur. Arthur accepts and requests that the warrior identify himself. The warrior removes their helmet, revealing "himself" to be a woman and the sorceress, and says her name is Morgause.

In the aftermath of the incident, Geoffrey of Monmouth is unable to find any rule in the Knight's Code prohibiting a woman from issuing a challenge, which means that Arthur is obligated to fight. Arthur is confident, but Uther warns him not to underestimate her. Morgause's presence also seems to unnerve Morgana, who feels as though she's met her before.

Later that evening, Merlin is sent by Arthur to ask Morgause to withdraw, since he has no wish to kill a woman in combat, but if he withdraws it will be viewed as cowardice. However, Morgause refuses.

Merlin629 — Morgause defeats Arthur in a duel.

The duel is fought the next day. Arthur initially has the upper hand, wounding Morgause in the arm, but she eventually overwhelms him. Left lying on the ground with Morgause's sword aimed at his heart, Arthur is offered a reprieve: she will spare his life if he agrees to meet her outside Camelot in three days time and accept whatever challenge she lays down. Arthur reluctantly agrees.

Afterwards, Morgause's wound is treated by Gaius, who recognises the bracelet she wears. When he asks, Morgause says she has only been to Camelot once before as a baby and that he probably wouldn't remember her. She thanks Gaius and leaves.

Morgana later goes to Morgause's chambers to introduce herself, but Morgause claims to already know who she is. She also notices that Morgana is tired and Morgana admits that she's been having troubles sleeping lately.

When Morgana asks if they have ever met, Morgause denies this, but asks to be remembered fondly. She also offers her the bracelet she wears as a gift, saying it has healing powers and will help with her nightmares. Morgana refuses the gift, but later that night, Morgause casts a sleeping enchantment on the bracelet and leaves it beside Morgana's bed. Morgana wakes the next morning having slept better than she has in a long time.

Merlin631 — Merlin reveals his escape plan.

Morgause departs Camelot the next day, reminding Arthur of his promise and complimenting him as a man of honour, a trait she claims he inherited from his mother. Surprised, Arthur asks Morgause if she knew his mother. She agrees and rides away before Arthur could ask more.

Desperate and confused, Arthur tells Uther of his promise and his plan to meet Morgause. However, Uther refuses to let Arthur leave, fearing she plans to lure him into a trap. Uther confines Arthur to his quarters, but he escapes with Merlin's help and they set off to find Morgause. The next morning, Gaius discovers that both Merlin and Arthur are gone and informs Uther, who immediately dispatches search parties to find Arthur.

Later that day, Gaius goes to give Morgana her sleeping draught, only to find her condition better thanks to Morgause's bracelet. He goes to Uther and tells him that the bracelet bears the mark of the House of Gorlois, and only one person besides Morgana would have cause to wear it: her half-sister.

Gaius confesses that he had smuggled Morgause out of Camelot as a baby and given her to the High Priestesses of the Old Religion, who will have likely trained Morgause in great and powerful magic. He also explains that he never spoke of it because of a solemn oath, which he is breaking only because he fears Morgause's intentions. Uther insists Morgana must never learn she has a half-sister; he won't have her loyalties divided.

Merlin208 1452 — Arthur talks with Ygraine's spirit.

On their journey, guided by Arthur's horse (who was enchanted by Morgause to lead the way), Arthur explains he knows nothing of his mother. She died moments after his birth and his father never speaks of her. Merlin confesses a similar situation regarding his own father.

They eventually come to a lake with a waterfall. It initially appears to be a dead end, but Arthur's horse wades into the lake and Merlin reluctantly follows. They cross the lake and discover a tunnel behind the waterfall leading to a ruined castle, where Morgause is waiting for them.

Morgause challenges Arthur to put his head on an executioner's block and let her take his head, but she is merely testing Arthur. When he keeps his promise and does as she asks, she rewards him by offering him a chance to speak with his mother. Merlin is uneasy about Morgause's magic, but Arthur comments she has done them no harm so far and remarks that perhaps his father's beliefs about magic are wrong.

Morgause stops time and allows Arthur to speak with the spirit of his mother, Ygraine, who reveals that Arthur was born of magic. Uther, desperate for an heir, went to Nimueh and begged her to give him a son through magic. She claims he gained an heir at the cost of her life, sacrificing his wife against her will and without her knowledge.

Merlin208 1814 — Arthur holds his father at swordpoint.

Furious, Arthur returns to Camelot and confronts his father. Deducing that his hatred of magic is caused by his wish to blame someone else for Ygraine's death instead of himself, Arthur angrily derides Uther as a hypocrite and a liar and attacks him. A ferocious sword fight erupts between the pair, during which Uther again displays outstanding swordsmanship.

Just as Arthur overpowers his father and prepares to kill him, Merlin and Sir Leon burst into the chamber. Desperate to stop Arthur from killing his father, Merlin claims that what they saw was simply an illusion conjured by Morgause to turn Arthur against Uther and destroy Camelot (a claim Uther agrees with). After Uther swears Ygraine's story is a lie, Arthur relents and both father and son break down in tears.

In the aftermath of the incident, Uther personally thanks Merlin for his actions, saying he has been a trusted ally in the fight against magic, but warns him he will have to be vigilant against sorcerous foes who will want to exploit Arthur's inexperience. He also has Merlin promise to tell no one of what happened on pain of death.

Morgause Angry — Morgause realises that Uther is alive.

Afterwards, Gaius remarks that Merlin must have been tempted simply to allow Uther to die. Merlin agrees, but replies that Arthur would never have forgiven himself if he'd killed his father.

Back at her castle, Morgause again watches Arthur, but her triumphant expression turns to fury when she sees that he and his father are still on good terms.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Guest Cast

Rhys Rusbatch as a Guard

Continuity

This episode marks the first appearance of Morgause.
This episode marks the first appearance of Ygraine.
This episode marks the first time Arthur openly questions Uther's views on magic.
Morgause gives Morgana a healing bracelet to help her nightmares. Because of this, Morgana no longer needs Gaius' sleeping draughts.
Gaius tells Uther that Morgause is Morgana's half-sister and reveals that he helped smuggle her out of Camelot when she was a baby.
King Odin's men attack Arthur and Merlin on their way to Morgause's Fortress.
Arthur and Merlin learn the truth about Arthur's birth and his mother's death.
Arthur tries to kill Uther, but Merlin stops him by convincing him that Morgause was lying.

Release & Reception

Air date: 14 November 2009. 6.16 million viewers.

Trivia

"Sins of the Father" is also the name of a Pirates of the Caribbean book.
Ygraine is seen wearing a ring that resembles Arthur's. Confirmation came only later by Bradley James in The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part 1 commentary for the DVD release.
Gaius refers to Morgause as Morgana's half-sister, but does not learn of Morgana's true parentage until The Crystal Cave. Some have taken this to mean that Gorlois is not actually Morgause's father, but it is more likely a writing error or retcon.
- It is also possible that at this point Gaius is aware of Morgana's illegitimacy, but not her biological father's identity.

Gallery

To view the The Sins of the Father gallery, click here.

Transcript

View the transcript here.