Hi everyone! I am still working on the next Clash of the Legends – apologies if anyone’s waiting for it – but in the meantime, have some other BBC Merlin news.
First off, before I start:
POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS POTENTIAL SPOILERS
Is that enough warning?
Just in case it isn’t; The San Diego Comic Con was graced with a Merlin panel this year which featured Colin Morgan (Merlin), Bradley James (Arthur), Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Anthony Head (Uther) (with a guest appearance from Santiago Cabrera, who plays Lancelot).The fans were also treated to a viewing of the season 4 trailer, and the s4 official poster, which I will post below. So, here it is, your final warning : POTENTIALLY SPOILERY PIC AHOY.
Are you ready?
3…
2..
1.
Picture from Merlin’s Keep
Before anyone tells me that you can see the picture in the side view of the blog – I know – but now you can see a bigger picture here, and it’s called building MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE. Something I … fail at, obviously.
Anyway – the poster! I must admit – I was quite surprised by it at first. The creators and actors have all been talking about a darker, more mature Merlin – but seeing that in graphic form is a bit different. However, overnight – the picture grew on me; and I have to say I have a fascinated love for it.
Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it’s kind of unexpected. However, it’s also fitting in the terms of where we left season 3. Uther is a wreck from the betrayal of his daughter; and Arthur is at the cusp of some life changing decisions. Morgana has made her final choice on what side of the fence she stands, and Merlin has stood firm by his prince’s side. It’s now time for the SMACK DOWN. It’s just not clear on which side is going to come out more battered and bruised than the other. I love how they are standing. Our protagonist and accidental hero, Merlin, in the middle – the valiant Prince and his love to his right, and the antagonist to his left (with the ailing king in the background).
And yes, be still my geeky, Arthurian Legend fannish heart – I completely fell arse over teakettle for Excalibur, and the mysterious , translucent vision of Old!Merlin at the top of the poster. I think the shine of Excalibur (IT’S SHINING. If you wonder why that excites me so much, please check out my Excalibur Clash) and old Merlin is what got me hook, line and sinker in the end. These two elements speak strongly to the original legend – as well as to the spoilers of what will happen in season 4 that have been released. (For those who want to know which particular spoilers I’m referring to – ask me in the comments – I don’t want to spoil people inadvertently!).
The battlefield at the bottom of the poster is probably the most shocking element, but also speaks to the legends – and the battles King Arthur had to go through – especially during the earlier versions of the legend. And, of course, the placement of Excalibur amongst the wreck and rubble is pure genius.
One thing that does bother me a little bit is the tagline for this season ” The Darkest Hour is just before the Dawn” . I mean , I get it. This season is the big, dramatic battle for Camelot that NEEDS to happen before Arthur can take his rightful place as Once and Future King. But we’ve gone from “Keep the Magic Secret” in Season 1, to something so dramatic? I’m not sure it works for me. But, there are so many elements of this poster that DO, that I’m willing to wait and see how this season plays out, and whether it is as big as the tagline suggests.
What do you think of the poster? Love it/ Hate it? (I’ve already had some friends comment on Arthur’s hair and Arthur and Morgana’s cheekbones …) Any speculations, from the poster, you’d like to make about season 4? What would you like to see happen in season 4? Were you at the comic con? Have you seen the trailer for season 4?
Come squee (or not) with me below!
EDIT: And, of course, s4 of Merlin has now begun – come join OBS staff discuss Merlin S4 Episode 1 : the darkest hour here , and Episode 2: the darkest hour part 2 here
or in our forum
Season 4 begins early next year in the usa
Merlin’s gonna be released in the UK on october the 8th on bbc one at 7:00pm
WOOOHOOOO!!!
I cant wait for Merlin to start! I’ve had to wait a whole year so I’m desperate to see it! I lovee Merlin!!
awesome
The new Merlin magazine is out in UK shops today!
The poster looks dark indeed, but I still love the way it looks. I can’t wait for Merlin season 4 to begin in the UK. I’ve seen many confirmed facts. Morgana’s magic become as powerful as Merlin’s, maybe more that Morgause, Nimueh will be revived by Morgana, all the evil ones returning, I really should see if Merlin and Arthur can defeat them. Merlin and Morgana will have a kissing scene, probably they must be enchanted. CHEER UP FOR MERLIN BBC!!!
When does the season begin??
anybody seen a official trailer? if so can you link it please? thanks 🙂
I’m disappointed by the actor who plays Gwen. All the villains were far more beautiful than her. It makes me very difficult to feel the beauty of Gwen like described in many literature and very hard to digest that Arthur was madly in love with that girl in this series …
Oh, please … I hope the producers would change the cast. I imagine Emma Watson would be perfect playing this characters.
I think the reason that Gwen is supposedly ‘less beautiful’ than the villains is because Gwen is meant to be far more down to earth and genuine. I believe that she certainly is beautiful in a more natural way, and credit the BBC for choosing to portray her in this way instead of a creating a more fake-looking character – I think this is better for society and for children to watch too: to help them understand that you don’t need to be fake and alter yourself to be loved. There is far too much that tells them otherwise in the media today.
Love the poster by the way =)
I totally understand what you mean but if you look at photos online of Angel Coulby- the actor who plays Gwen- you’ll see that she’s actually quite beautiful, just as beautiful as Emma Watson. I think it’s up to the directors to allow her to look more appealing with costume and hair and makeup. They need to give her better clothes, more striking makeup and color her hair lighter so that it allows us to see her features better. I think they’ve been downplaying her beauty so that she seems more of a down to earth character. That said, I LOVE & ADORE the interracial romance between Gwen and Arthur here. It allows African girls like me to feel we can be a part of the storyline. It gets exhausting and depressing to us always watching a white love interest / white ingenue. I LOVE MERLIN SO MUCH!!! He is so handsome!!!
It might have something to do with the fact that right now Gwen is a peasant – it wouldn’t appear right if she was fancier. I’m sure they’ll dress her up and make her look like royalty once she’s officially Arthur’s girlfriend /wife /queen or whatever!
So looking forward to the next season I love this show!
yes when does season 4 begin
I’m a big Merlin Fan, seeing the season 4 poster makes me feel more excited than anyone could ever imagine to watch the upcoming episodes. I can’t wait to see Katie Mcgrath(Morgana) use her powerful magic and fight Merlin, along with Emilia Fox(Morgause) and Michelle Ryan(Nimueh) revived to join her. All the evil ones are returning!
Loads are people are getting really confused with which spoilers are confirmed and which ones are rumoured, http://merlin.wikia.com/wiki/Series_4, has 2 seperate categories so if anyone wants to know spoilers who some new cast memebers than visit this site. I guarantee a few shockers in the spoilers! series 4 will bevery dark and show some darkness in many characters, I juust hope that none of the knights, especially gwaine or lancelot are hurt or die otherwise i may have to go insane.
Hey, I saw the poster, and loved it, so decided to make it into a desktop background, just thought that you may like it, being a fan of the series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Dlcvt2oAY
when does season 4 begin in the uk ???????????????????????????????
october the 8th!!!!
I know the series starts on saturday the 8th of October, but does anyone know the channel and time? With all the new information about s4 my heads in a tangle!
It was on BBC 1 last time so probably the same agian but dont know what time.
I really can’t wait for season four to start and with loads of spoilers in my head I am practically going mad with having to wait. If either lancelot, played by Sandiago Cambera, or Gwaine, played by Eoin Macken die or are seriously hurt then I will probably go insane. If anyone wants to see bloopers of s4 type Merlin season four bloopers into youtube and some very funny ones come up. Hope you enjoy.
WHEN DOES SEASON 4 BEGIN IN THE USA
2012 sometime…
awww I don’t want to wait that long!
Do you know when it will air? I am in the US and my dh and I love this show. Syfy may or may not have picked it up, I think we have BBC on our Direct TV line up so we may get it. i want to set the DVR.
it shouyld appear on bbc america, id of thought
when is it starting (series 4)??
Can someone tell me when Season 4 will begin?
I think someone said they heard the 8th of October it starts!
Great! Thank you for the info!
thanks!! really appreciated it!! I CANT WAIT
Can someone tell me when Season 4 will begin?
Can someone tell me when Season 4 will begin?
I love the poster but will Camelot find out merlins secret I want to see a missing person scene or a someone is cursed and merlin and arthuer needs to find them or something like that please I appsolutly love the show I wished a seris 4 could be made and yay .
SPOILER ALERT, SPOILER ALERT!
Some confirmed spoiler have mentioned that Gwen and Gwaine find out that Merlin has magic. I don’t think there is a missing person scene but Lancelot is declared dead and someone is burnt at the stake. Apparently Lancelot is burnt at the stake due to him and arthur being enchanted, but whether this is true I am not quite sure.
Love the poster. Can’t wait for season 4 to start.
OMG if you go on youtube and type in merlin series 4 spoilersd there is one clip which tells you loads!”
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT POTENMTIAL SPOILER ALERT!
Freya, Nimueh and other dead people come back alive. Gwen finds out Merlins secret. Agravaine, Arthurs uncle, will be the new enemy within Camelot, Arthur finds out the truth about his birth… yet again, and the last oneis that Morgause and Morgana try to hunt down Emrys, unaware he is Merlin.
Just a few of the spoilers, however most of them seem unlikely.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT!
I was watching spoilers and I found out that apparently Merlin loses his powers, I know this because a woman got to post part of the script and this conversation was between Merlin and Lancelot, about merlin having no powers and what he was going to do!
Also what is with Arthurs and Morgana’s cheekbones?! If you find any more spoilers please tell me!
Huge fan of Merlin, addicted and obsesses and cant ait for October! Bring on the magic! 🙂
Thank you for spoiler alerting 🙂 Yeah, I’d read the spoilers about Merlin losing his powers, should be interesting! A friend of mine mentioned that Arthur and Morgana’s cheek bones looked a little strange 🙂 thanks for your comment!
In Australia, we don’t have posters or any type of franchise relating to Merlin BBC. Which is really annoying, because I’m fanatics about it.
Anyway, I adore the poster, but I don’t get how the tag line of this season is ‘bothering’. It seems more intriguing than ‘Keep the Magic Secret’ or at least at the same level with it. I think everything is perfect, but, personally, I think Gaius should have even the slightest of appearances. Overall the poster is great and I think there’ll be double the fans of this TV series.
Also, I love the fact that there is a faint image of the Old, Wise, Legendary Merlin, the one that we all have read up on, the one that is ultimately the major character in Arthurian Legend. It just gives you a hint of hope that he’ll be in the next awesome season. More magic, more wisdom, more exciting. Having seen the poster, and hope put back into me that there is yet another season, has made me more and more crazy and fangirled about ‘The Adventures of Merlin’.
LOVE THE POSTER!
Really? I’m Australian – I have Merlin buses where I am! (I’m not gloating, I’m just surprised.) I think for me – and this is just my opinion – the tagline just is too “mysterious”. I don’t think it needs to be that dramatic. I liked ‘keep the magic secret’. It was cute and to the point. Obviously, it wouldn’t suit this season, but the tagline just hasn’t grown on me yet.
And, yep, for those who don’t know, there will a season 5.
Thanks for your thoughts, and your comments
Really? I’m Australian – I have Merlin buses where I am! (I’m not gloating, I’m just surprised.) I think for me – and this is just my opinion – the tagline just is too “mysterious”. I don’t think it needs to be that dramatic. I liked ‘keep the magic secret’. It was cute and to the point. Obviously, it wouldn’t suit this season, but the tagline just hasn’t grown on me yet.
And, yep, for those who don’t know, there will a season 5.
Thanks for your thoughts, and your comments
Really? That’s so cool how you have Merlin buses. Around here in Sydney, all we have are books of it.
AND YESYESYESYESYESYESYES SEASON 5 !! WOOTTT!!!!!! Keep the magic flowing!!!
I’m in Sydney too ! o/ maybe it depends on what part of Sydney you’re in? I constantly see buses with ads for Merlin going past.
Sure? When all said and done please don’t fail to import it down to Nigeria, I can’t wait to see Merlin s4 and s5. iam running out of patience. i keep on buying pirated ones b/c i want s4 series, seriously in love with the adventure. well done for your works
i wonder what the old Merlin at the top means, do you think that is who Merlin will become in the 4th season?
Hmm , well, here’s where potential spoilers and speculation come into play. Any one who doesn’t want to know, please close your eyes , or jump to the next comment, thanks! 🙂
We know that Merlin was beginning to play more of a mentor/ counsellor role at the end of s3. Chances are Merlin will be playing more of that role. Another interesting comment made by Merlin creators that part of the s4 plot will be centered around ” the search for Emrys” . Colin Morgan has been seen dressed as old Merlin ( or, dragoon the great, as Merlin calls himself) , interacting with Bradley James as Arthur. During conversations between Verushka ( my Merlin buddy who helps out on recaps ) and myself, we’ve talked about good ol dragoon the great being mistaken for ” Emrys ” . This, of course, begs the question of why Merlin would turn back into dragoon the great.
What do you think it means?
Thanks for your comment!
Colin has said in an interview that morganna sees old Merlin in her dreams and in visions. She thinks the old guy is emrys.
Please do not trust this this is what I have read so it may not be true.
Interesting! Thank you! That coupled with the possiblity of Colin Morgan and Bradley James doing a scene as Old!Merlin and Arthur, it sounds like him being identified as Emrys is a huge possiblity.
Thanks again!
I hope not, and that would also be really weird, I mean Merlin is only a boy, although the actor Colin Morgan is 21 or 22 I think, and it would be rathe rconfusing and annoying. I am going mad about having to wait for Merlin, the confirmed spoilers that I have just foind out are driving me insane. They are creepy but wondeful, although some are very mysterious.
Where is Gaius?!
He is a little obviously absent, isn’t he?? That may mean something, or it may not. Gaius is, however in the trailer ( or so I’m told). So, Richard Wilson will grace our screens this season! Thanks for your comment.
well I am not sure if this is true or not but apparently Gaius dies. This, I hope, is highly unlikely seems that he is one of the main characters and plays a main part in Merlin’s life.
Where is Gaius?!
I love that Morgana doesn’t look evil, she looks broken. I think it speaks to some very interesting arcs her character might take, even as they work to keep her the antagonist.
Hmm, interesting observation. I have always seen Morgause as the more badass evil one, with Morgana going along for the ride – it would be an interesting development if they did make her more conflicted with her lot in her Merlin life. Thanks for your comment!
I must say that the “dark” time may be the fall of Uther with the dawn leading up to Arthur realizing he must become King.
This would lead to a season of trying to defeat enemies trying to take the throne by force, with dark magic as an aid.
It will also force Arthur to admit he loves Gwen, and yet let her know she is always second to his duties.
Is it me, or does the old Merlin look a little like Sam Neil??
I think you’re right in relation to the switch between Uther and Arthur as sovereigns of Camelot. We left Uther in a very precarious position, And Arthur was already contemplating his fate in that sense. Thanks for your comment!
apparently gwen’s been taking care of Uther while Arthur’s been taking more of a dominant regent role . . . but the trailer is great and there are a few spoliers that have my head in a twist too . . .
what trailer???where can i watch it?? oh and thank you for the poster its the first thing i found about merlin series 4!!!
the poster is “great” i love it!!! can’t wait for season 4 to start. the poster just blew me away!!!!!!
It’s great isn’t it? Makes me excited for what season 4 holds! Thanks for your comment
Hi! Im a fan of Merlins series from CY and I just can’t wait for the s4 to be releast!!! Can you tell me please when its going to start the new series? and from which channel i can wach it because in my agent country it mite strart after few years.
season 4 starts on 8th octomber 2011 in the uk. Now have you ever thought why guis is not in the poster? its because he dies in season 4. Look the video on youtube. Im so sad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ewpbwe3758&feature=related
is there a time during the video where it actually says that it’s gaius’s funeral? ‘cuz i missed it if it did … lol! seems odd that so many knights would be all lined up at the pyre for the court physician … sure it’s him and not a knight? lancelot maybe? lots of rumors going around … i just think it looks more like a knight’s funeral rather than an old man’s 🙂 and reading all the comments, i think it’s safe to say that i’m the only one who thinks the “old man” in the pic doesn’t look like merlin … lol! it probably is, but i find it looks more like merlin’s father, balinor … man that actor struck me as good … and his character was so friggen awesome 😀 … i loved merlin’s scenes with his father and i thought the whole relationship was much too important to just have a few minutes of it … : / i sooooo hope that the writers managed some way to bring him “back from the dead” … hahaha!