Morgana faces opposition in her alliance with King Lot. Meanwhile, Arthur acquires the sword in the stone and is crowned King.
With King Uther's sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. The sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future and installs young and impetuous Arthur, Uther's unknown son and heir raised as a commoner, as the new king. The two install themselves in Castle Camelot with their allies, which include Arthur's biological mother, his foster brother, and a quartet of loyal warriors. From Camelot, Arthur tries to build a new and better Britain, where people can live in peace. Meanwhile, Arthur's cold half-sister Morgan plots to take the crown from him. Banished by Uther, who was responsible for her mother's murder to put Arthur's mother on the throne, Morgan is responsible for Uther's death and wants to rule as his successor. Aided by her loyal maid Vivian and the devious nun Sybil, Morgan takes up residence in Castle Pendragon, from where she schemes against Arthur.
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
Morgana faces opposition in her alliance with King Lot. Meanwhile, Arthur acquires the sword in the stone and is crowned King.
Morgan enters Camelot with her prisoners, claiming that they're traitors and that only she can save the realm from the marauding bands. Arthur does a sterling job of holding the attackers at bay using booby traps until his men return to rout the invaders.
Morgan fools Camelot with her disguise, even Merlin. However, after Redwald, a little orphan boy, whom she and Merlin have helped celebrate his birthday, accidentally dies because of her, Merlin has his suspicions. Vivian, feeling sorry for Igraine, releases her to confront Morgan but Morgan, in her guise as the queen, has let slip to Leontes his wife's indiscretions with Arthur.
Morgan invites Arthur to a feast and Merlin accompanies him. While the temptress delays Merlin, Arthur returns to Camelot, drawn by his fascination with Guinevere. Meanwhile, Kay and Leontes seek out a famed warrior to recruit him to Arthur's cause.
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
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