Merlin - Tulsa World: Colin Morgan Interview

Source: Tulsa World [follow link for complete interview]



TULSA WORLD: 'Merlin' fourth season has darker take on Camelot

"Merlin" is back for a fourth season, and the magical tale of knights, fair maidens, the Round Table and wizardry is deeper, darker and more sinister this season.

1/5/2012
By RITA SHERROW


"The tagline of the season this year is 'the darkest hour is just before dawn,' " explained Colin Morgan, who stars as the talented young wizard. "So that is a hint of the tone of the series. ... The stories have become a lot more powerful. They've become a lot more complex. They're pushing connectors in directions that really there is no going back on - so big shifts, big steps, big changes."

Spoiler alert for those who DVR'd the whole season but haven't watched it yet: When last we left the inhabitants of Camelot - where magic is still forbidden - Morgana had gone from queen to powerful, vengeful outcast, Excalibur ("the sword forged in the breath of a dragon") found its home in stone, the knights of the Round Table pledged their loyalty, rivals became friends, Arthur (Bradley James) was crowned king, and he and Gwen (Angel Coulby) revealed their love for all to see.

Now, Camelot is on "the brink of a Golden Age," and Merlin must use all his power to ensure that Arthur acts wisely as king of the greatest kingdom in existence. The season opens with a festival celebrating the Day of the Dead that brings horrific demons who kill at night after Morgana creates a tear between the veil of the real world and the underworld. And Merlin, who is powerless to stop them, must confront the creatures.

Later, as both Arthur and Merlin mature, the young wizard becomes even closer to experiencing what Arthur is going through, Morgan said.

"Arthur has so much on his plate," the actor said in a recent teleconference. "And the kingdom is in its most dire need of strength at this stage. And it's very much about Merlin being engaged in exactly where he is and what he should be doing.

"At one point in season four, he gets the biggest opportunity he's ever going to get to change Arthur's opinion about magic. And he takes it, and it's a big risk and one of the boldest decisions he's made..."


Merlin season four premieres on Syfy on Friday, January 6, 2012 at 10/9C.