The episode opens in 5^th-century Britain. A blood-covered, distraught Arthur Pendragon (Iain De Caestecker) kneels over a dead warrior. Owain (Daniel Ings) warns of the Saxons regrouping before suggesting they take the deceased Prince home to his father. The boy is placed on a gurney and carried through the war-torn battleground. Arthur and Owain lead the battered warriors along a windy road to a fort on top of a hill. Inside the fort, Owain asks Arthur to let them deliver the Prince to his father. When Arthur refuses, Owain warns that his father will not welcome him.

Arthur apologizes to King Uther (Eddie Marson) for the loss of the Prince, his brother. Ordering him to stand up, Uther asks where the ambush took place. Arthur says White Horse Plain. Uther demands to know who led them there. Arthur assures him that it is not the Prince’s legacy. Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder) tries to convince Uther to retire but he refuses. Arthur explains how they were forced to open ground by the Saxons from the west and south. After warning that an heirless land is cursed, Bedwin assures Uther that he is still young enough to sire another heir. Arthur promises to lead the guard when it is time. Reminding him of his bastard status, Uther says he dishonors before beating him. As Uther prepares to behead Arthur with his own sword, Morgan (Valene Kane) begs for him to be spared. Uther beats him with the sword and his fists.

Uther reminds the Tribe Kings of how he begged for their aid when the Saxons breached their land. King Tewdric (Sagar Arya) admits to denying him aid. Uther says Dumnonia fought and died for him. He tells King Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite) that he never fought beside Dumnonia because of his daughter’s wedding. Cadwys asks what he can do to earn his forgiveness. He accuses them of envying Dumnonia’s resources. He says his bastard son was more loyal before kicking Arthur. He demands they recall this day when he asks for aid in the future. As he prepares to plunge his sword into Arthur, Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) yells, “Banish him.” Reminding him of his dead son, Merlin assures him that the Gods do not want him to lose another.

As Arthur is being taken away, Owain asks to speak with him. Alone, Arthur tells him that Uther is blind to the fact that Domnonia continues to rule the isle. He urges Owain to convince Uther to reunite the Tribe Kings to prepare for the impending war. Owain asks how will Domnonia defeat the Saxons without him. Arthur warns that Domnonia and the Tribes are doomed if any Saxon steps one foot West of Calleva. The guards banish Arthur from the kingdom.

Fishing Settlement, Northern Dumnonia – Arthur arrives to find the settlement ransacked and burning. The dead are amassed in a large hole. He discovers a young boy with a spear through his body. He removes the boy’s weak body quickly from the spear.

Avalon Dumnonia – Upon arrival, Arthur calls for Merlin. Hywel (Sifiso Mazibuko) takes his horse while Arthur drops the dying boy on a step. Merlin asks why he brought the boy there. Arthur reminds him of what he said about Avalon being a home for people who do not fit in. Nimue (Ellie James) rushes to the boy. She claims to see stakes in a death pit. Arthur informs them of the boy’s fishing village being raided. Slowing waving his hand over the boy’s wound, Merlin envisions the raid before ordering Hywel to move him inside. Arthur asks Nimue to care for the boy. Merlin says dispatching Mordred to settle a dispute at the border was foolish but sending him to fight the Saxons. Arthur refuses food and treatment for his wounds before departing Avalon.

The injured boy mutters while his wounds are being treated. Hywel identifies the boy as a Saxon. Informing him of his mother’s death, Nimue tells him that he will become one of them. She calls him Derfel (Jordan Dark).

Eight Years Later –  Derfel Cadarn (Stuart Campbell) and Nimue play with a butterfly. He asks if Arthur will return this year. She says it is believed Arthur has traveled as far as Gaul. She assures him that they bond regardless. After Nimue leaves, Morgan urges Derfel to find another girl. Later, Lunete (Olumide Olorunfemi) holds up two necklaces. Derfel chooses one before clasping it around her neck. Hywell asks Derfel if he would be interested in taking on the farm someday since he has no heir. Derfel admits to being unsure of his future. Hywel encourages him to give it some thought.

Merlin gives a speech about Avalon being closer to the Gods, fates, and heavens. Ralla (Charlie Duncan) and Culwyn (Gwion Morris Jones) are wed. Nimue smiles at Derfel across the room. Later, Nimue tells Nimue that they should wed during the next solstice. Not responding, she undoes her lace tie. During intimacy, she sees a wolf. He asks what is wrong as the wolf howls. Nimue tells Derfel that the Gods are forcing her to choose him or them. Merlin stresses the importance of making her decision now. He orders the wolf to leave. Derfel looks around but sees nothing. Merlin boasts of her being Dumnonia’s most ever powerful druid and divided Britain needs her. He warns that it will be childless, husbandless, and difficult. She asks what if she refuses. He says the Gods will turn their backs on her. She chooses the Gods.

Derfel asks a tattooist (Bryony Morgan) about her mark of Siluria. She claims to have been a Silurian slave. He has a flashback of his mother being murdered by someone with a Silurian tattoo (the cinematography is not the best). Lunete watches as he drinks heavily. When she asks if he is intoxicated, he asks to be left alone before mounting a horse. His haphazard ride ends when he falls to the ground. He has a flashback of the day Arthur saves him. Back to the present, he says, “You are a warrior.” He rides back to Avalon to discover Queen Norwena (Grace Ackary) is in labor. Merlin orders him to ride with them.

Merlin gives orders while Morgan catches Norwena’s baby. Nimue shows the newborn’s deformity to Merlin. Grasping the deformed limb, Merlin sees death. Outside, Derfel helps the guards set up fires. A Dumnonian guard (Rob Murphy) says Britain takes notice when Caer Cadarn lights its fires. A bell tolls in the background. Later, Merlin informs Uther of his son’s leg deformity. He warns that his son will never run. Uther tells him that kings walk and ride, not run. Merlin expresses concern for the baby’s “evil” nature that will destroy Dumnonia. Describing what he saw when touching the infant, he says a man was butchering his own people and the end of Dumnonia and Britain. Nimue places the newborn in Uther’s hands. After comparing the baby’s eyes to his father’s, Uther says the evil is in Merlin, not his son. Merlin says since Arthur’s banishment, the isle has been in peril. He urges him to find Arthur and beg for his forgiveness.

Uther orders Merlin to raise his son at Avalon. Merlin tells him that he will find Arthur if he refuses to do it. Uther threatens to banish him forever if he walks away now. Merlin accepts his faith to bring Arthur back to Dumnonia. Uther dispatches his men to spread the news about Dumnonia’s new heir, Prince Mordred. Outside, Merlin describes what he saw to Nimue. He says on Arthur who is a true Pendragon can unite the tribes and conquer their enemies. She frets about not being ready to assume his role. He warns that faith has forced their hand.

Ligessac (Enoch Frost) prepares to escort Norwena and Prince Mordered to Avalon. Derfel informs Nimue of his decision to stay in Dumnonia to become a warrior.

Three Months Later – Derfel crawls through an access to a large room where he practices his sword. His last swing is met with Owain’s sword. Owain says he and Arthur are friends before offering to train him to be a warrior. Derfel prepares to demonstrate when they hear Silurian riders approaching. King Gundleus (Simon Merrells) and his men are escorted to Uther. Morgan tries to encourage Uther to avenge the Silurian victims by slashing Gundleus’ throat. Uther says they keep their enemies close. Derfel watches as Gundleus commits his allegiance to Dumnonia. Uther accuses him of murdering their people. Holding up his cross charm, Gundleus assures him that his hands are clean. Uther jerks the necklace off his neck before ordering his men to kill him. Gundleus suggests giving him a challenge. Uther orders him to stop Gorfydd from plundering Dumnonia’s borders. Kneeling, Gundleus kisses Uther’s hand. Uther promises to forgive his sins if he takes care of Gorfydd.

When Gundleus reaches down to pick up his cross, Derfel sees the Silurian tattoo on his chest. A flashback shows Gundleus slinging his mother over his shoulder and howling.

Gaul, The Land Of King Ban – Sagramor (Ken Nwosu) informs Merlin of Arthur being injured during a battle. Arthur is washing when he looks over to see Merlin. After an embrace, Merlin pleads with him to return to Dumnonia as the episode ends.

 

The Winter King Cast

• Arthur Pendragon (Iain De Caestecker)
• King Uther of Dumnonia (Eddie Marsan)
• Queen Norwena (Grace Ackary)
• Derfel Cadarn (Stuart Campbell)
• Nimue (Ellie James)
• Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White)
• Lord Owain (Daniel Ings)
• Guinevere (Jordan Alexander)
• Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder)
• King Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite)
• King Tewdric (Sagar Arya)
• Hywel (Sifiso Mazibuko)
• Lunete (Olumide Olorunfemi)
• King Gundleus (Simon Merrells)

The Winter King Synopsis

King Uther of Dumnonia sends his only son and heir to fight against the Saxons. He is killed on the battlefield. When Arthur, Uther’s bastard son, delivers the Prince’s body to Dumnonia, Uther threatens to kill him but Morgan and Merlin intervene. Uther exiles him.

Arthur travels to a North Dumnonian fishing village where he discovers a young Saxon boy clinging to life. Silurian King Gundleus and his men had recently raided the settlement. Injured from Uther’s beating, Arthur takes the boy to Merlin in Avalon. Merlin reluctantly takes the boy but sends Arthur away. Nimue names in Derfel. He and Nimue develop a relationship that is severed by the Gods. She chooses to live a life with no children and husband to secure her powers. Derfel stays in Dumnonia to become a warrior like Arthur. Owain agrees to teach him to fight.

Queen Norwena gives birth to a son with a deformed leg. While holding the infant, Merlin senses Dumnonia’s end. He warns Uther that the baby will grow up to be a tyrant and destroy Britain. Seeing his father in the baby’s eyes, Uther orders Merlin to raise Prince Mordred at Avalon. Disobeying Uther’s orders, Merlin sets out to find Arthur. As a true Pendragon, Arthur can unite the tribes and conquer the Saxons.

The Winter King Review

As a big fan of the medieval period and Bernard Cornwell, I was eager to watch “The Winter King.” Minutes, more like nanoseconds, in it was apparent few resources were invested into the series. The amateurish cinematography, if you can even call it that, nearly ruins the show. I am currently reading “Saxon Stories.” If “The Warlord Chronicles” novels are even close to the caliber of “The Last Kingdom,” “The Winter King” series is a complete failure. I will go ahead and choose the latter.

I have been a fan of Eddie Marsan since 2015 when he portrayed Mr. Norrell in “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.” Marsan played alongside Bertie Carvel as Jonathan Strange. Two of the best English actors to ever grace the stage.

While the acting is satisfactory, some of the actors and actresses are miscast. Cornwell is highly known for his ability to describe his fictional characters to a tee. I will stop here for fear of stepping on someone’s toes.

The dialogue needs a major revamp. Good dialogue is transparent, not misleading, and confusing.

The episode deserves a 5.8. Get more The Winter King recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.