Merlin actor Colin Morgan talks about the third episode of season 5, “The Death Song of Uther Pendragon,” in which Anthony Head returned. He reflects on Merlin and Arthur’s emotional turmoil in the episode, and how it’ll shape the rest of the season.
What did you think about last night’s episode of Merlin, “The Death Song of Uther Pendragon”? Anthony Stewart Head reprised his role of Uther for this one episode in which Arthur found a horn that allowed him to raise his dead father.
But unsurprisingly, Uther was less than happy with how Arthur had been ruling his kingdom, and attacked both his baseborn knights and Guinevere. Luckily Merlin and Arthur stopped him, and just in time – the “Merlin has ma-” sent chills down our spines. But this was not the time for a magic reveal!
See what Colin Morgan has to say about the episode:
Morgan says that the episode entered into new territory for Merlin, “Almost into a slight horror genre, suspense.” He also talks about how happy he was with the return of Anthony Head, “a great friend,” although obviously the characters weren’t as excited about that.
“For Merlin, [Uther was] his greatest enemy, in a way,” Morgan reflects. “The guy who’s responsible for all of his hurt and his pain and everything. So having this guy come back was pretty terrifying for him.”
As for Arthur, Morgan says it was “hugely emotional” when his father returned. “It’s the last person Arthur needs, in Merlin’s eyes, but it’s also his father and Merlin understands that. Not having a father is an important thing.” So for Merlin, there are “mixed emotions” that come to light, “these hidden thoughts and emotions that he’s kept embroiled, I think. He’s protective over Arthur, and he’s also very – as it turns out – very confrontational when it comes to Uther.”
Morgan points to Merlin and Uther’s confrontation as “one of the moments I really liked in this season, whenever Merlin finally got to say to Uther, all these years and who he is, and essentially Uther put him there.”
Finally Morgan says that this was a very different episode than what Merlin would usually do, and that it will affect how the rest of the series plays out.
What did you think about “The Death Song of Uther Pendragon”? Listen to the Talks of Camelot podcast episode reflecting on this episode, and see the promo for next week’s “Another’s Sorrow”!
And don’t forget that there’s still time to vote for Colin Morgan and Merlin in the National Television Awards! Let’s help send the show off in style.