Fantasy drama Merlin returns to BBC One for a third series on 11th September 2010 for another 13 episodes.

> Buy the Series 3 boxset on Amazon.

Colin Morgan plays Merlin, Katie McGrath plays Morgana, Bradley James plays Arthur, Anthony Head plays Uther, Emilia Fox plays Morgause, Tom Ellis plays Cenred, Richard Wilson plays Gaius and John Hurt is the voice of the Dragon.

 

Episode 1: The Tears Of Uther Pendragon (Part One)
Saturday 11th September 2010

It has been a year since Lady Morgana disappeared and no trace of her has been found. Just as it seems all hope is lost, Merlin and Arthur pick up a trail. Set upon by bandits it seems they may perish but Merlin’s secret magic saves the day. As the dust settles, a mysterious, bruised and bloodied figure approaches the group: it’s Lady Morgana. Camelot rejoices at her return but Merlin is worried that Morgana will remember the circumstances of their last meeting and tell King Uther that he tried to kill her. The King will not understand that he did it to save Camelot from Morgana’s half-sister, sorceress Morgause’s deadly enchantment; Merlin would be executed on the spot.

Morgana promises Merlin that she has learnt the error of her ways and repents for the evil things she has done. Morgause no longer has any hold over her and Morgana forgives Merlin and promises to keep his secret. Uther and Morgana enjoy a tearful reunion. The King is delighted that his ward has returned and immediately announces a banquet in her honour. But is there more to her return than meets the eye?

That night, Morgana slips out of the castle and journeys to a cave guarded by mysterious warriors. It seems that she has been playing a game. Far from renouncing magic she has spent the last year at Morgause’s side. Morgana is no longer Camelot’s daughter but a servant of the Old Religion. Using a handkerchief stained with Uther’s grateful tears, Morgause concocts a spell to bring the tyrant King to his knees.

As the evil magic begins to take hold of Uther’s mind, Camelot is cast into great peril. Morgause is rousing Uther’s mortal enemy, King Cenred, to invade the Kingdom, while Uther, plagued by hallucinations from his past, is incapable of mounting a defence of the realm. As Gaius urges Arthur to take command, Merlin begins to suspect that Morgana’s repentance is not all it seems. He soon discovers he was right but the evil sisters are too quick for him. He is captured, bound with magic and left to the mercy of the scorpion-like enchanted serkets.

As Cenred’s army amasses on the border and Merlin’s life hangs in the balance, the young sorcerer summons the Great Dragon, his last and only hope. Can the Dragon and the Dragonlord save Camelot from certain doom?

 

Episode 2: The Tears Of Uther Pendragon (Part Two)
Saturday 18th September 2010

The Great Dragon has rescued Merlin in the nick of time and uses a powerful enchantment to heal him of the serket’s poison. But as the young warlock recovers, Morgana and Morgause are free to step up their plans for the invasion of Camelot.

Morgause continues her manipulation of Cenred, as he prepares to launch an attack on the citadel, but Cenred knows he cannot take the castle alone. Morgause promises him that they have an ally within King Uther’s court who will ensure they win the day – no one can fight a battle on two fronts. Morgause gives Morgana a powerfully enchanted rowan staff to aid her in her magical treachery.

King Uther is still unable to rule as he recovers from the enchantment inflicted by the mandrake root. So, as Cenred’s army attacks the citadel, Camelot’s fate now rests on Arthur’s shoulders. The young prince and his men fight bravely but, just as they think the tide might turn, Morgana plays her deadly card. In the vaults beneath Camelot she uses the rowan staff to summon a skeleton army to wreak havoc within the castle walls.

Arthur and his men cannot hold off both an army of the living and an army of the dead. Merlin knows that their only hope is for him to stop Morgana and vanquish the enemy within. Will he be able to do so without revealing his own magical powers?

 

Episode 3: Goblin’s Gold
Saturday 25th September 2010

Merlin stumbles across a secret chamber and accidentally releases a goblin. The mischievous creature possesses Gaius, leading the once-wise physician to develop a taste for gold, ale and magical jokes.

With a suddenly bald King and a scourge of flatulence sweeping the Royal household, can Merlin work out what is going on and banish the goblin back to where he came from before any real damage is done?

 

Episode 4: Gwaine
Saturday 2nd October 2010

Merlin and Arthur find themselves vastly outnumbered in a tavern brawl, but an enigmatic young man helps them to victory. The stranger, Gwaine, risks his life to protect the Prince and is seriously wounded in the process.

Arthur takes him back to Camelot where he quickly makes a recovery and gets to work: drinking, charming the ladies and causing trouble for Merlin – who has been charged with looking after him. But when what appears to be two unscrupulous knights try to kill the Prince, can Merlin and the inscrutable stranger stop them before it is too late?

 

Episode 5: The Crystal Cave
Saturday 9th October 2010

Merlin has an unexpected meeting with the mysterious Taliesin. The wizened old sorcerer takes the young warlock to the crystal cave and shows him a glimpse of the future. But this gift turns out to be more of a curse when, to his horror, Merlin sees Morgana… set to kill Uther.

Merlin knows he must do all that he can to stop the future from playing out. But changing the pages of destiny is a dangerous game and his actions have fatal consequences. With the whole of Camelot in a state of grief can the young warlock undo the damage he has caused, or is it too late?

 

Episode 6: The Changeling
Saturday 16th October 2010

Arthur is pressured into an arranged marriage with a visiting princess, Elena. Yet Merlin has reservations when he discovers Elena may not be exactly who she claims to be.

While trying to uncover Elena’s dark secret, Merlin learns that Elena’s nanny is a Pixie. But who is she working for? And what do they have to gain from her marriage to Arthur – the heir to the throne of Camelot? Can Merlin get to the bottom of this mystery before Arthur makes the biggest mistake of his life?

 

Episode 7: The Castle Of Fyrien
Saturday 23rd October 2010

Gwen faces an impossible dilemma when she is forced to choose between saving the lives of her estranged brother, Elyan, or Arthur. With one of them certain to die at the hands of Cenred, who will Gwen choose: the love of her life, or her only sibling?

Loyalty and friendships are tested to the limit as Arthur, Merlin and Gwen work together to try to find a way out. But, with Morgana and Morgause doing all they can to scupper their plans, will good conquer evil or will Gwen lose someone she loves again?

 

Episode 8: The Eye Of The Phoenix
Saturday 30th October 2010

Arthur embarks on a solitary quest to retrieve the Golden Trident from the Fisher King and prove himself worthy of the Camelot throne. With the Prince beyond the protection of the citadel, Morgana sees an opportunity to use her dark magic and gives him a precious bracelet containing a Phoenix Eye.

She insists he wears it at all times for protection but it saps him of his life force and he is left defenceless in the Fisher King’s perilous realm. With the help of Gwaine, can Merlin reach him in time and fulfil his own quest to protect the future king of Camelot?

 

Episode 9: Love In The Time Of Dragons
Saturday 6th November 2010

When Alice, an old flame of Gaius’s arrives in Camelot, Merlin is pleased to see a different side to his mentor. But, after discovering that she is under the influence of a Manticore, a creature from the Old Religion, Merlin has no choice but to tell Gaius of Alice’s evil intentions.

Blinded by love, the physician refuses to believe Merlin’s story and the two friends fall out. With the King in danger and all evidence pointing to Alice and the evil magical creature that has possessed her, Merlin must somehow make Gaius come to his senses before it is too late.

 

Episode 10: Queen Of Hearts
Saturday 13th November 2010

Morgana is tormented by dreams of Guinevere becoming Queen of Camelot. Encouraged by Morgause, she decides to reveal Arthur and Gwen’s courtship to Uther, who will do whatever it takes to stop his son from marrying a serving girl.

When his father banishes Gwen from the kingdom, Arthur makes the ultimate sacrifice and resolves to leave Camelot with her. Determined to stop them, Morgana frames Gwen for the scandalous crime of enchanting the Prince. With destiny at stake, Merlin must risk everything to save her from a gruesome death.

 

Episode 11: The Sorcerer’s Shadow
Saturday 20th November 2010

Camelot’s legendary tournament has only one rule – there are no rules. As the mythic city fills with terrifying warriors, Gilli prepares to join the action. Despite his small stature, Gilli has victory in his sights and a secret weapon to help him – magic.

As Gilli begins to realise the full potential of his powers, Merlin is torn. Not only is his new friend putting his own life in danger but his actions also threaten to rip apart the very fabric of Camelot. Can Merlin make Gilli see sense before it’s too late?

 

Episode 12: The Coming Of Arthur (Part One)
Saturday 27th November 2010

Arthur and Merlin embark on a dangerous mission to retrieve the cup of life, a powerful artefact that carries the gift of immortality. Before they can seize the magical goblet, they are captured by corrupt slave trader Jarl, who helps the cup to find its way into Morgause’s hands. Fortunately for the duo, an old friend comes to the rescue, but with the power of eternal life at the disposal of Morgana and her sister, Uther’s reign may be about to end.

 

Episode 13: The Coming Of Arthur (Part Two)
Saturday 4th December 2010

Newly crowned Queen Morgana begins a reign of terrible evil over the innocent citizens of Camelot. With Morgause’s immortal army at her command it seems there is no hope for Uther, who must watch his kingdom crumble under the unimaginable cruelty of his own daughter.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Camelot, Arthur regains his strength and, with Gwaine, Lancelot, Elyan and Percival at his side, plans a brave counter attack. But Merlin knows that even Arthur cannot vanquish an immortal foe. Can he reclaim the great sword Excalibur from the Lake of Avalon in time to save all those he holds most dear?