In a series of new interviews set to be featured in the latest issue of SFX Magazine, Merlin stars dished on what fans can expect from their respective characters in the show’s upcoming 5th season.

The November issue, which will be available for purchase within the next couple of days, features a four-page spread with interviews from Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Alexander Vlahos, Rupert Young and Eoin Macken.

Here are a couple of the more notable quotes from the SFX’s Merlin feature:

Though various members of the Merlin cast and crew have been quoted as saying the upcoming season will be much darker than the previous four, Colin Morgan assured fans that the show has not lost it’s lightheartedness:

“There’s definitely a maturing in general of the whole series, but the banter’s still there between [Merlin and Arthur] because that’s who they’ll always be, even though their situations are a lot more serious.”

Bradley James elaborated on how the 3-year time jump in season 5 has affected Camelot on the whole:

“The one thing to pick up on purely from my character’s point of view is we’ve got a lot closer to the Camelot Arthur’s been trying to achieve and having got there it’s now under threat.”

Alexander Vlahos who plays Mordred in season 5 (a role previously portrayed by Hugo star Asa Butterfield) gave fans a preview of how his character gets introduced into the plot of the show:

“The first time you see him, it’s Mordred and Merlin knows it’s Mordred…People are thinking he’s come in to do the double act with Morgana but it’s so much more complicated than that.”

Finally, Katie McGrath gave some insight on what’s been happening to Morgana during the 3-year time jump between seasons 4 and 5:

“You discover in the three years that [Morgana] has been held captive by a bandit king in another land, and that it’s a direct persecution of her as a magical being…that’s why in series five she’s much more committed.”

Be sure to pick up the November issue of SFX, for even more interviews and exclusive photos with the cast of BBC’s Merlin!

What are YOU most excited to see in season 5 of Merlin?