Merlin is back on the air in the UK! Let me get you caught up with the happenings of the first two episodes. There are spoilers, so if you don’t want to be spoiled, turn back now!

Episode 1 – The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

You know your day's going to be rough when you wake up with poo on your face

King Uther has commanded that his people look for lost treasures buried beneath Camelot. What they discover is a tomb of an ancient sorcerer, said to have built most of Camelot. Cornelius Sigan’s story was believed to be myth, however Gaius believes it to be truth. It seems to be confirmed by Morgana’s nightmare of a raven. Meanwhile, one of the people who discovered the tomb has told a schemer (Cedric) about the large jewel embedded in the coffin. Since Arthur has been placed in charge of keeping the tomb secure, this means that cedric must get close to the prince. Once again, Merlin watches as Arthur gets played by the newcomer, just wishing that for once Arthur would trust him. The thief steals the key, runs to the tomb intent on stealing everything he can fit into his satchel. Then his eyes fall on the large blue heart stone in the coffin, which he pries out. The very essence of Cornelius Sigan had been kept locked in the gem, and now attaches itself to the thief.

Merlin tries to warn the prince of what is about to transpire, but he has none of it. When Merlin attempts to confront and draw out Sigan from his host, Arthur has him sent to the cells. In the evening, Sigan awakens the gargoyle statues of the castle and begins his reclamation of the city. The castle walls crumbling, Arthur’s men severely injured, Gwen, Morgana and Gaius tend to the wounded, and Merlin blasts his way out from the cells. The only one who can give Merlin the guidance he needs to stop Sigan is The Great Dragon, but Merlin wants nothing to do with him. But to save Arthur, who has run back out into the fight to save the Lower Town, Merlin must return to the caves where the Dragon is kept captive.

Oooo! Creepy blue soul of an evil sorcerer! Fight it!

Assistance does not come cheaply. In exchange for giving Merlin the spell he will need to defeat the resurrected sorcerer, the Dragon wants Merlin to promise that one day he will free the beast. A showdown between Merlin and Sigan looks worrisome, until Merlin comes out victorious, Sigan now trapped again in the heart gem. Uther’s vow to wipe out sorcerers and their followers is renewed, and all is right again with Merlin and Arthur.

Episode 2 – The Once and Future Queen

A grieving father and ruler, Odin, has hired an assassin to end the life of Prince Arthur. News of this plan has reached Uther’s ears, but not before Arthur fakes a trip out of the city in order that he can participate “undercover” in the jousting tournament. Merlin is hiding Arthur at Gwen’s, and we start to see more of the relationship between Gwen and Arthur emerge throughout.

Transforming a farmer into a knight

Myror (the assassin) infiltrates the castle, in search of the man who provided him the information that Arthur has gone to the border. He questions why Merlin, the prince’s servant, is still in the city when his master is supposedly gone. Meanwhile, Arthur has found a farmer to pretend he is a nobleman that he can switch places with during the tournament, to prove to himself and his knights that he should not be given special treatment on the practice field purely based on who is will become.

As the title hints to, a lot of the episode focuses on Gwen and her opinions and interactions with Arthur. With her being a gracious hostess and allowing him to hide out in her home, she does have a few choice words for the prince which seem to take him aback. In an effort to prove he is more than what she accuses him of, he promises to cook her dinner. Of course, Arthur can’t cook, so he sends Merlin to steal two meals from the castle kitchens. Arthur denies that he is trying to impress her. But we all know better than that.

All the while, Myror has been snooping around, and has discovered the true whereabouts of the prince. He nearly gets away with his evil deed while Arthur and Gwen are enjoying dinner, but guards spot him and he runs off. A guard found dead alerts Uther to the fact that the assassin is definitely after his son. With Arthur and Merlin also aware of the intentions, they continue to keep him hidden at Gwen’s the night before the final day of the tournament.

Gwen & Arthur have a moment before the last round of the tournament

Right before the final round, Myror kills Arthur’s opponent and dons his armour, also modifying his lance. His new plan is to finish Arthur off on the battlefield. During the first pass, the assassin pierces Arthur’s armour, which sends Merlin checking the opponent’s tent. Noticing the real knight is dead, he and Gwen run out to the field, but it’s too late to tell Arthur. Merlin uses his magic, cutting the saddle behind the killer, allowing Arthur to take down Myror.

With Arthur the winner of the tournament, instead of revealing himself as he had originally planned, he sees that this may not be the best decision. He “returns” to the castle as if he had been gone the entire time, telling of how the assassin found and tried to attack him but perished. Arthur has another heartfelt moment with Gwen, and Merlin has to clean Gaius’ leech tank. Never lie to Gaius!