Merlin (series 3)

Merlin series 3
Complete DVD Set Box Art
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	13
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC
Original run	11 September 2010 (2010-09-11) – 4 December 2010 (2010-12-04)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 2	24 January 2011 (2011-01-24)
Series chronology
← Previous Series 2 Next → Series 4
List of Merlin episodes

Series three of Merlin began on September 11, 2010. Series three regular cast members include Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Anthony Head, and Richard Wilson. John Hurt will recur in his role as the voice of the Great Dragon but is no longer one of the regular cast. Series three consists of 13 episodes. The series three premiere was watched by 6.49 million viewers.

BBC officially renewed the show in series 4 on October 10, 2010.^[1]

Cast

Starring

• Colin Morgan as Merlin
• Katie McGrath as Morgana
• Bradley James as Arthur
• Angel Coulby as Gwen
• Emilia Fox as Morgause
• Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
• Richard Wilson as Gaius
• John Hurt as the Great Dragon (voice)

Recurring

• Rupert Young as Sir Leon (6 episodes)
• Tom Ellis as King Cenred (4 episodes)
• Michael Cronin as Geoffrey of Monmouth (4 episodes)
• Eoin Macken as Gwaine (4 episodes)
• Adetomiwa Edun as Elyan (3 episodes)
• Alice Patten as Ygraine (2 episodes)
• Laura Donnelly as Freya (1 episode)
• Santiago Cabrera as Lancelot (1 episode)
• Tom Hopper as Percival (1 episode)

Guest stars

• Mark Williams as the Goblin (voice)
• Karl Johnson as Taliesin
• Miriam Margolyes as Grunhilda
• Georgia King as Elena
• Simon Williams as Lord Godwyn
• Warwick Davis as Grettir
• Donald Sumpter as the Fisher King
• Pauline Collins as Alice
• Eddie Marsan as the Manticore (voice)
• Harry Melling as Gilli
• Ralph Ineson as Jarl

Episodes

№	#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (million)[2]
27	1	"The Tears of Uther Pendragon (Part 1)"	Jeremy Webb	Julian Jones	11 September 2010 (2010-09-11)	6.49
A year has passed since Morgana went missing. After a long search, she is found wandering in the woods, and none but the King rejoices more. Morgana tries to put the past behind her, and to befriend Merlin again. But Merlin does not fall for her ploy, as he knows she is not the Morgana he knew. He soon discovers that Morgana is part of a plot to drive Uther insane and help a rival king conquer Camelot.
28	2	"The Tears of Uther Pendragon (Part 2)"	Jeremy Webb	Julian Jones	18 September 2010 (2010-09-18)	6.06
After Kilgharrah The Dragon rescues Merlin, Morgana and Morgause step up their plan to take control of Camelot. With Uther still under a powerful enchantment, it's up to Arthur to defend Camelot. But Cenred's men are not the only threat; the dead have been raised by Morgana and Morgause. Merlin knows that the only way to stop this is to defeat Morgana, but how can he defeat her and keep his secrets?
29	3	"Goblin's Gold"	Jeremy Webb	Howard Overman	25 September 2010 (2010-09-25)	6.22
Merlin stumbles upon a secret room in the castle's library and accidentally releases the mischievous goblin trapped inside. The goblin brings chaos to Camelot as the King goes bald overnight and Arthur and Gwen embarrass themselves in front of one another. Soon, the goblin posesses Gaius, who suddenly thirsts for gold and ale and turns Arthur into a donkey. Will Merlin capture the goblin and set things right before serious damage is done?
30	4	"Gwaine"	David Moore	Julian Jones	2 October 2010 (2010-10-02)	6.42
An enigmatic young man named Gwaine rescues Arthur and Merlin when they find themselves outnumbered in a bar-brawl. He fights well, and all three escape, but Gwaine is seriously injured. The prince brings him to Camelot to recover under Gaius' care. Once he regains his strength, Merlin is faced with looking after Gwaine, who causes trouble for the young warlock by drinking, flirting, and running up debts all over the kingdom. Meanwhile, two knights of dubious origin come to the castle, plotting to murder Arthur. Merlin and Gwaine discover their plan, but when the word of two noblemen is pitted against the word of Gwaine, a commoner, all seems lost, and the two friends must use all of their combined powers to save the prince.
31	5	"The Crystal Cave"	Alice Troughton	Julian Jones	9 October 2010 (2010-10-09)	6.36
Whilst out with Arthur, Merlin encounters an old sorcerer named Taliesin. Taliesin takes Merlin to the birthplace of magic, the crystal cave. Within its halls, Merlin glimpses the future. Though initially seen as a blessing, it becomes a curse when a vision portrays Morgana about to kill Uther. Merlin must try his best to thwart Morgana's plans, for the consequences are dire. But altering destiny is risky, and when the visions are not all that they appear to be, will Camelot have to pay for Merlin's misinterpretation?
32	6	"The Changeling"	David Moore	Lucy Watkins	16 October 2010 (2010-10-16)	6.40
Princess Elena arrives in Camelot to visit Uther. Uther arranges a marriage between Arthur and Elena, but her nanny Grunhilda is working with the Sidhe Elder, who plans to use this marriage to take over Camelot. Will Merlin be able to stop their wicked plan or will Arthur make the biggest mistake of his life?
33	7	"The Castle of Fyrien"	David Moore	Jake Michie	23 October 2010 (2010-10-23)	6.82
Gwen is kidnapped by Cenred's men and taken to his castle where she is united with her estranged brother Elyan. Cenred tells Gwen to return to Camelot and bring Arthur to him or Elyan will be slaughtered. Will Merlin and Arthur be able to save Elyan, or will Gwen lose someone she loves again?
34	8	"The Eye of the Phoenix"	Alice Troughton	Julian Jones	30 October 2010 (2010-10-30)	6.92
Arthur sets out on a quest to retrieve the Golden Trident from the Fisher King's Realm. But unbeknownst to Arthur, Morgana and Morgause have devised a clever plan to stop him from ever returning to Camelot. Once again, Merlin (this time with the help of Gwaine) must foil the plans of the ill-wishing sisters, and save Arthur. Will he succeed, or will Arthur die?
35	9	"Love in the Time of Dragons"	Alice Troughton	Jake Michie	6 November 2010 (2010-11-06)	6.90
When Alice, a physician and Gaius' old love returns to Camelot, he is smitten again. However, she brings a Manticore with a plan to kill Uther with poison from its scorpion tail. Merlin tries to tell Gaius, but he won't listen. Will Merlin bring Gaius to his senses before it's too late?
36	10	"Queen of Hearts"	Ashley Way	Howard Overman	13 November 2010 (2010-11-13)	7.37
When Morgana begins to have visions of a future with Gwen as the queen of Camelot, she desperately seeks to prevent them. Tricking Gwen and Arthur into a trap to expose their secret relationship, she succeeds in convincing Uther that Gwen is a witch who must be burned at the stake. Merlin must quickly devise a plan to save Gwen, but it leads to disaster for himself.
37	11	"The Sorcerer's Shadow"	Ashley Way	Julian Jones	20 November 2010 (2010-11-20)	7.42
As another tournament descends on Camelot, a young man known as Gilli sets his sights on victory. Gilli uses magic in the tournament to increase his chances of victory, and by doing so he begins to realize the true strength of his powers, and what he could possibly use them for. Merlin is torn between two options: Will he choose to help Gilli or to save Camelot?
38	12	"The Coming of Arthur (Part 1)"	Jeremy Webb	Jake Michie	27 November 2010 (2010-11-27)	7.12
Arthur and Merlin retrieve a magic artifact on a mission, the cup of life. However, they are captured by a slave trader known as Jarl. They are rescued by Gwaine, but when they are found, the artifact falls into the hands of Morgause and Morgana. Morgause uses the cup of life to form an immortal army. Can they be stopped?
39	13	"The Coming of Arthur (Part 2)"	Jeremy Webb	Julian Jones	4 December 2010 (2010-12-04)	7.67
Morgana has been crowned Queen of Camelot, Uther sits defeated in the dungeons of the castle, and Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, Elyan and Gaius have been hiding in The Darkling Woods for a week. They must form a resistance against the new monarchy if the people of Camelot are to be saved from Morgana’s dark rule - But what chance does a small group of fighters stand against an immortal army?

References

1. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s53/merlin/news/a283945/merlin-renewed-for-fourth-series.html
2. ^ "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB. http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500.