< Merlin (TV series)

Merlin (TV series)/Characters


The characters of the BBC 1 series Merlin:

Note: Season 4 has aired, so there will be spoilers!

Note to editors: See the Spoiler Policy before blanking everything out.

Main Characters

Merlin (Colin Morgan)


The titular character, Merlin must protect Arthur—who will one day become king of Camelot and unite the lands of Albion—while keeping his magic a secret.

Katie McGrath: You do everything to not kill anyone else. The Dragon says kill [Morgana], and you're like "all right."
Colin Morgan: No, I kill loads of people. I kill at least one person an episode.

  • Mr. Fanservice
  • Nice Guy
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Series 2 Episode 12 has a double whammy: he releases the Great Dragon and poisons Lady Morgana. The former allows the dragon to finally take revenge on Camelot and King Uther, while the latter is a huge reason behind Morgana's face heel turn.
    • Series 4 Episode 3: In disguise, he accidentally kills King Uther with magic and in front of Arthur: Arthur has now lost both his parents to magic and he knows.
  • Papa Wolf: A non-parental example, but he is fiercely protective of Arthur and Gwen.
  • Playing with Fire: As with Blow You Away, Merlin's elemental powers are usually based in fire or air.
  • Power Perversion Potential: Fanfic has him magically undress a partner rather often.
  • Secret Keeper: He's the only one who knows about Lancelot's feelings for Gwen.
  • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: His actions against Mordred and Morgana, at the guiding of the Dragon, are significant factors in driving both to become the very evil the Dragon predicted in the first place.
  • Servile Snarker: Occasionally.
  • Shipper on Deck: He ships Arthur/Gwen, probably more than they do themselves.
  • The Smart Guy: He's definitely this (especially when compared to Arthur), as he is one of the wisest characters. From the cast's commentaries, the actor is described to be this in Real Life, as well.
  • The Snark Knight
  • The So-Called Coward: According to Arthur.
  • Trickster: Combined with Trickster Mentor at times, when Arthur starts seeking his advice, due to his witty, carefree and joking attitude. Merlin apparently possesses this trait in all the legends, as well.
    • Particularly when masquerading as the elderly "Dragoon", he seemingly revels in this role.
  • Underestimating Badassery: Everyone does this to Merlin, except maybe Lancelot and Gaius (who know his secret) and Guinevere, who has teamed up with him in several dangerous situations.
  • Unlucky Childhood Friend: Will.
  • Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Morgana.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Arthur.
  • When He Smiles: Merlin has a goofy grin that is both adorable and quite beautiful at the same time.
  • With Friends Like These...: Arthur.


King Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James)

The prince of Camelot, Arthur starts out as a Jerkass but ends up developing a Hidden Heart of Gold thanks to his gradual strong friendship with Merlin, Morgana's guidance, and his inevitable and budding romance with Gwen.

  • 24-Hour Armor: It's not very consistent, but sometimes he can wear his armour at the oddest times, including to banquets and other casual celebrations.
  • Anchored Ship: Arthur and Gwen. Since Series 2, although both know of their mutual feelings for each other, they've refused to upgrade their relationship because of, among other things, their different social classes.
  • Anti-Hero: Type III.
  • Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: With Merlin and Morgana... sort of.
  • Badass in Distress: All the time. Most of the time he doesn't even realize it.
  • Badass Longcoat
  • Badass Normal
  • Berserk Button: He reacts badly to any perceived slight against his honor or integrity. Likewise, threatening his servant, foster sister, or especially his beloved is a surefire way of getting killed by a very angry prince.
  • Big Damn Heroes
  • Blue Eyes
  • Cannot Spit It Out: His feelings for Gwen.
  • Catch Phrase: "Shut up, Merlin." and "I am not fat."; note, the last one no longer applies, as Arthur is fat now, or at least, he is getting fatter.
  • Chick Magnet:
    • Although this is kind of lampshaded in the Series 1 Episode 2 DVD commentary for the scene where Merlin mentions that Arthur "gets all the girls":

Bradley James: All the girls? Morgana? That one girl who's my adopted sister? Oh yeah, he gets all the girls, he does. Look, they're surrounding him! Argh! Someone get a stick to beat them off with!

Arthur: After Sophia left, I wanted to take my mind off things. So, I went for a hunt.
Morgana: And killing things mends a broken heart?
Arthur: No, but it's good fun.

Lady Morgana Pendragon (Katie McGrath)

"What if... magic isn't something you choose? What if it chooses you?"

Morgana is the beautiful ward of Uther who suffers from premonitions in her dreams, unaware that she is in fact, a seer. She is close to her maidservant Gwen. Her strong sense of justice often clashes with Uther's rules and judgement.

In Series 2, Morgana discovers that she is a seer, but fears what Uther may do if he finds out she has magic. She also briefly befriends the sorceress Morgause, unaware that Morgause is her half-sister. However, Morgana's growing resentment towards Uther and his treatment of those who use magic inevitably leads to her Face Heel Turn. When she is used as a catalyst for a spell under Camelot, Merlin is forced to poison her. Morgause rescues Morgana, and it is implied that she can save her life.

In Series 3, Morgana has been recovered and returned to Camelot, but she is firmly set on the Dark Side, pretending to be the "loving ward" while she secretly plots with Morgause for the downfall of Uther and Camelot.

  • Action Girl/Dark Action Girl: In Series 1/2 and Series 3 respectively. As well as the last episode of Series 4.
  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: Seems particularly interested and intrigued by Alvarr in Series 2 Episode 11.
  • Antagonistic Offspring: To Uther.
  • Anti-Hero: Pre-Moral Event Horizon.
  • Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other: With Arthur, although the specifics of this trope don't apply due to their mostly siblingly relationship.
  • Badass Princess
  • Bad Boss: Consitently treats Agravaine poorly and is very quick to insult and blame him when things go wrong, even though he has been of enormous help to her at great personal risk.
  • Bad Dreams
  • Big Bad: Series 4 onwards.
    • May be in a teBigBadDuumvira with Mordred come Series 5, if the leaked info is any indication.
  • Big No: In Series 3 Episode 13, after Morgause is gravely injured; she literally brings the roof down.
  • Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: In the first episode of Series 3 alone, Morgana's killed a knight, plotted with Morgause for the downfall of Uther and Camelot, while making numerous Psychotic Smirks to pretty much let us know she's way into The Dark Side.
  • Bond Villain Stupidity: Where do we even start?
  • Bratty Teenage Daughter: Practically an Inversion. She could be quite bratty in the first series (understandably so, given her status) when she was merely Uther's ward, but by the time her true parentage is revealed, she had moved from "bratty" to "homocidal".
  • Break the Cutie
  • Broken Bird: Morgana's resentment towards Uther's hatred for magic and those who use magic led to her Face Heel Turn, so much that Merlin sympathizes with her in Series 3 Episode 2 and even tries to pull a "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight.
  • Cain and Abel: Now that she's trying to kill Arthur. Even after learning that he's her brother. It's a far fall from when she actively defended him in Series 1 Episode 7.
  • The Caligula: Her short stints as Queen of Camelot didn't seem to involve anything except demanding that the people accept her as their ruler, killing them when they refused, and burning their crops just to drive the point home.
  • Clasp Your Hands If You Deceive: A couple of times in Series 3.
  • Cleavage Window: Most of her outfits.
  • Conflicting Loyalty: Ended by Series 3.
  • Cool Big Sis: To Arthur. At least in Series 1. Ironically, neither of them knew it at the time, and when they both finally realize that she is his big sister, she's already tried to kill him several times.
  • Dark Magical Girl
  • The Dark Side Will Make You Forget: She starts out with the best of intentions, (her first act of treason is to avenge the death of her best friend's father), but her fear and tendency to take everything personally eventually leads to violence and genocide.
  • Defrosting Ice Queen: Only to revert back into an Ice Queen in Series 3.
  • Dreaming of Things to Come
  • Driven by Envy: This seems to be the source of her newfound hatred toward Guinevere, considering that her former serving maid is destined to be Queen of Camelot - a position that Morgana believes is hers.
  • Et Tu, Brute?: She did not take Merlin's betrayal or Uther not publicly recognizing her as his biological daughter well...
  • Everything's Better with Princesses: Averted; she is always known as Lady Morgana and apparently has not been awarded the title of Princess, even though she has been Uther's ward since early childhood and is secretly his daughter.
  • Evil Is Petty: Sure, her animosity toward Uther and Merlin is almost Shakespearean in nature, but her treatment of Gwen is just catty and mean.
  • Excessive Evil Eyeshadow
  • Eyes of Gold: Like Merlin, when she uses magic.
  • False Friend: Towards Merlin, and later towards Arthur, Gwen, and (in a daughterly manner) Uther.
  • Faux Action Girl: She is presented as a feisty girl with a sword, but she never accomplishes anything. Read this.
  • Flirty Stepsiblings: Arthur and Morgana are kind of like this during Series 1 since Uther is the guardian of Morgana, and she is like a daughter to him. It is almost as if Uther adopted Morgana, which would make Arthur and Morgana like stepsiblings.
    • As of Series 3 Episode 5, Arthur and Morgana fall into Brother-Sister Incest, given that they share the same father. Of course, this is only applicable if you interpret their interaction in Series 1 as flirting and not banter.
  • Foregone Conclusion: Morgana becoming evil (or at least becoming an enemy of Camelot and its people).
  • Green Eyes
  • Hard Head: Holds the record for being knocked unconscious more than any other character on the show, which is saying something. What do you expect? She's Merlin's equivalent of Lex Luthor.
  • Heroic BSOD: Kate McGrath said that Morgana sort of "shuts down" in Series 2 Episode 12 as she realizes her role in Morgause's plot.
  • Heterosexual Life Partners: With Gwen. This starts to deteriorate in Series 3. Also, with Morgause.
  • Hot Chick with a Sword: Series 1 Episode 10, Series 2 Episode 4, Series 3 Episode 2, and Series 4 Episode 13.
  • Internalized Categorism: Morgana explicitly tells Uther that she hated herself for years after realizing that she had magic, having been brought up for a significant portion of her life by a man who claimed that it was evil and executed anyone who possessed it. It almost becomes a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: having taken in Uther's teaching that magic was evil, she subconsciously believes that having embraced her magical side, she has to act evil.
  • In the Hood: Is often wearing one when she's up to no good.
  • Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Has shades of this through the first two series, attempting to kill Uther at least twice because of her hatred towards him. By the third series, she's long since become a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing and crossed the Moral Event Horizon. By the fourth, the Morgana who'd rather die than see a child hurt in Series 1 (Mordred), callously reacts to the news of innocents death with an expression of "So?".
  • Katie McGrath
  • The King's Ward
  • Knife Nut: She carries a knife with her at all times during the course of Series 4.
  • Lady in Red
  • Let's Get Dangerous: Series 1 Episode 10 and Series 2 Episode 4.
  • Like Brother and Sister/Platonic Life Partners: Arthur and Morgana become this in Series 2 and are revealed to be half-siblings in Series 3.
  • Like Father Like Daughter: The great irony of her character.
  • Long-Lost Relative: She is revealed to be Morgause's and Arthur's half-sister.
  • Making a Splash: Whereas Merlin's powers seem to be based on air and fire, Morgana is often connected with water, most obviously in "The Tears of Uther Pendragon" in which the damp mandrake root conjures up visions of drowned murder victims.
  • Mama Bear: Morgana's strong attachment towards Mordred causes her to become very protective of him and a willingness to do anything for him in order to keep him from harm's way.
  • Memento MacGuffin: The bracelet she received from Morgause to help her sleep.
  • The Mentally Disturbed: You could definitely make a case for Morgana.
  • Morality Pet: Is more or less one for Uther, and is definitely one for Morgause.
  • More Than Mind Control: Being under Morgause's guidance for an entire year must have made her the way she is in Series 3.
  • Ms. Fanservice
  • Not So Different: Annis calls her on her similarities to Uther, despite her hatred of him.
  • Oh Crap: Morgana in "A Servant of Two Masters" upon seeing the 80-year-old disguised Merlin, having had visions of him as "Emrys" and forseeing that he will stand over her on a corpse-littered battlefield, admonishing her for her misdeeds. Occurs again for "The Sword in the Stone: Part 2".
  • Parental Abandonment: Her father died ten years ago, and her mother's whereabouts are unknown. But as it turns out, Uther is her biological father and kept it secret all along.
  • Parental Substitute: Of sorts, towards Mordred.
  • Pimped-Out Dress
  • Plucky Girl
  • The Power of Hate
  • Rebellious Princess
  • Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: With Gwen and Morgause.
  • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Which leads to her Face Heel Turn.
  • Shadow Archetype: To Merlin.
  • Shipper on Deck: Morgana became a bit of a shipper of Merlin/Gwen in Series 1 Episode 3 and Series 1 Episode 4.
  • Show Some Leg: Morgana devises this plan in order for Gwen and her to escape from bandits in Series 2 Episode 4.
  • Slap Slap Kiss: With Arthur.
  • Smug Snake
  • Smug Super: When she doesn't have to hide her magic, she's not shy about lording it over non-magic users.
  • Tall, Dark and Bishoujo
  • Unlucky Childhood Friend: Arthur.
  • Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Merlin.
    • And with Morgause and Gwen, depending on the viewer.
  • Vain Sorceress: Subverted, as the more powerful and evil she gets, the less interested she becomes in maintaining her appearance. Though she's still beautiful, her messy hair and dark make-up suggest she's not really trying to impress anyone.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Along with Morguase. Given Uther's treatment of those with magic, her shift in alignment is understandable and her side may even have the moral high-ground over Uther, but like Uther, she uses some ruthless tactics to achieve her end.
  • Wild Hair: In series four.
  • Woman in Black: As of Series 4, all part of the general theme that Dark Is Evil.
  • Woman in White: Sometimes in Series 2 and 3, highlighting her vulnerability.
  • Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Occasionally. She gets really good at almost fooling everyone.
  • You Are What You Hate: As several characters point out to her in Series 4, Morgana has become just like Uther.

Queen Guinevere [Gwen] Pendragon (Angel Coulby)

Merlin: "You have such a good heart, Gwen. Don't ever lose that."

Guinevere—nicknamed Gwen—was the maidservant of Morgana and a good friend of Merlin's. She is a hardworking and kindhearted, young woman who is often awkward and shy when it comes to romance. As of the Series 4 finale, she is Queen of Camelot.

Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head)

Uther Pendragon is the ruthless king of Camelot who has outlawed magic within the kingdom. Often his hatred for magic blinds him from his tyrant-like nature, but he nevertheless believes what he is doing for Camelot is right. While Uther does not often show it, he does strongly care about his son Arthur and his ward Morgana, as well as acknowledging loyalty from his subjects e.g. Gaius and Merlin (occasionally).

  • Adults Are Useless
  • Anti-Villain: Type 3 with a bit of Type 1 as well.
  • Badass Longcoat
  • Badass Normal
  • Blood on These Hands: He clearly suffers from a guilty conscious when faced with the apparitions of his deceased wife and the children he drowned.
  • Broken Pedestal: Arthur gradually comes to realize that his father is not the infallible father/king that he initially believed him to be.
  • Create Your Own Villain: Uther certainly played a large part in how Morgana turned out.
  • Despair Event Horizon: When he realizes the depths of his daughter's hatred for him.
  • Disproportionate Retribution
  • Final Speech: He manages a few last words to Arthur before slipping into a coma that he awakens from only very briefly.
  • Freudian Excuse: His extreme hatred of magic comes from the circumstances of Arthur's birth: Uther was desperate for an heir. His wife couldn't conceive, so he asked Nimueh to help him have a son. She didn't tell him, however, that giving life by magic requires the taking of a life to keep the balance. Arthur was born, but Uther's wife dies.
  • Heroic BSOD: Is rendered catatonic after Morgana betrays him in the third series finale. One year later, he's still a shell of the man he once was, leaving Arthur ruling the land in his stead.
  • Hypocrite
  • Jerkass
  • Jerkass Has a Point: His extremist stance toward magic would be considerably less understandable if not for the fact that nearly every magic-user in the series who isn't named Merlin turns out to be evil—and not in the "we're desperate and fighting for our lives" sense, but full-on murderous sadism and smirking villainy.
    • Unfortunate Fridge Logic implies that the crazy villains were the only ones to survive his great purge, thanks to their paranoia and justified fear of the king. The less dangerous magic users wouldn't have expected for a just king to slaughter them all.
    • Or that they were Driven to Villainy.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: On every issue except magic, though there is rather more Jerk than Gold. Notably he is very sympathetic to Merlin's mother when Ealdor is being attacked and expresses a desire to see the Jerkass who's doing it wiped off the face of the earth.
  • Kick the Dog: Just about every episode.
  • Killed Off for Real
  • Knight Templar/Knight Templar Parent
  • Like A Daughter To Me: Morgana. Quite literally.
  • Love Makes You Evil: He hates magic so much, because it caused a death of his beloved wife.
  • Mr. Fanservice
  • Papa Wolf: Is very protective of Arthur and Morgana when it comes to life-threatening situations (usually Arthur) or kidnapping attempts (usually Morgana).
    • We all knew that once Aredian pulled a knife on Morgana in Series 2 Episode 7 (in front of Merlin, Arthur, and Uther, no less) that he wasn't going to leave Camelot alive.
  • Parental Substitute: For Morgana. At least, it seems this way until it is revealed that she actually is his illegitimate daughter.
  • Pet the Dog: At the end of "Excalibur". It's obvious that Uther loves his children, and speaks of his late wife as "my soul." He's also fond of Gaius, and can be made to see reason on several issues. When Guinevere is found innocent of witchcraft in "Queen of Hearts", he looks a little guilty for what he put her through.
    • He personally acknowledges what Merlin has done and thanks him when Merlin lies to protect him from an enraged Arthur who found out the truth about Uther and his birth. He also warns Merlin that he will hang him if he ever reveals to anyone what happened, which you could interpret as protecting his son.
  • Troubled Sympathetic Bigot: His hatred of magic stems from his grief and guilt over his wife's death (troubled), he dearly loves both his children (sympathetic) and yet he is utterly ruthless and hypocritical when it comes to eradicating those that practice magic (bigot).
  • Villainous BSOD: Suffers a nasty one once Morgana brings to light how much she trully hates him in Series 3 Episode 13.
  • Villain Protagonist
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: He is convinced that magic is evil and threatens Camelot.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Uther gets this A LOT.
    • But only sometimes to his face.

Gaius (Richard Wilson)

The court physician, Gaius took Merlin under his care in his arrival to Camelot. He attempts to voice reason to Uther's judgement and ideals, but often gets rebuffed until his suspicions are proven correct.

  • As You Know: Gaius is the KING of this trope. How many hundreds of time have we heard him say some variation of: "you/he/she can't use magic or you'll be killed" or "we can't tell the anyone about Morgana/Agravaine/any other obvious villain because they'd never believe us."
  • Badass Grandpa: Gaius takes on a Dorocha without even flinching in order to save Gwen.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Saves Merlin from Morgause in Series 3 Episode 13.
  • Canon Foreigner: You won't find any Gaius in Arthurian legends, he was created specifically for the show.
  • Cool Old Guy
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Demoted to Extra: In Series 4, with the exception of one episode.
  • Fascinating Eyebrow
  • Like a Son to Me: Merlin.
  • The Masquerade: He's a retired magician.
    • Becomes a Broken Masquerade in Series 2 Episode 7, as it's revealed that Uther always knew.
  • The Medic
  • The Mentor
  • Mentor Occupational Hazard: Almost dies three times.
  • Oh Crap: In "Queen of Hearts", he is asked to identify a poultice as magical. After confirming it, he asks where it was found and is told: "Arthur's bedroom." He looks over at a smirking Morgana and realizes that he's just condemned Guinevere.
  • Parental Substitute: For Merlin.
    • To a lesser extent, Gwen as well.
  • Retired Badass: He may have given up practicing magic, but he still has it in him.
  • Secret Keeper
  • Shipper on Deck: From the looks of Series 2 Episode 13, he approves of Arthur/Gwen.
  • Team Dad: To Merlin and Gwen especially, but also Arthur and Morgana (though he messed up spectacularly in that case).

Characters Introduced in Series 1

Nimueh (Michelle Ryan)

"I have watched so many people I love die at your hands, Uther Pendragon. Now it is your turn."

The sorceress who cast the spell that allowed Uther and Igraine to concieve Arthur. After Igraine died in childbirth as per the conditions of the magic, it served as a catalyst for Uther's hatred of magic and the massacre that followed. Throughout the first season, Nimueh works against Uther from a distance in order to undermine his rule.

Mordred (Asa Butterfield)

"My name is Mordred."

Mordred is a young Druid boy who Morgana grows instantly attached to. According to the Great Dragon, Mordred will one day kill Arthur. Merlin's desire to help Mordred becomes heavily strained because of this. Also, another prophecy states that Mordred and Morgana will be united in evil.

Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera)

"I would die for you one hundred times over. Live for me, or everything that I am has been for nothing."

A commoner who desires to become a knight of Camelot. He shares a brief romance with Gwen.

The Great Dragon: Kilgharrah (John Hurt)

Characters Introduced in Series 2

Sir Leon (Rupert Young)

A Knight of Camelot seen throughout Series 2 and made a semi-regular in Series 3.

Morgause (Emilia Fox)

"Arthur Pendragon, a great destiny awaits you. The battle for your soul is about to begin."

A mysterious sorceress who has a connection to Morgana, Morgause desires the doom of Uther and Camelot.

  • Action Girl: So much that she can best Arthur in a duel.
  • The Baroness: The Rosa Klebb type.
  • Big Bad: Series 3, after being built up some during Series 2.
  • Big Sister Instinct/Cool Big Sis: Towards Morgana. Seriously, what sister would give you a kingdom to reign over?
  • Blondes Are Evil
  • Breakout Villain: She was only going to be around for a couple of episodes until the writers released how important she was to Morgana's Story Arc.
  • Brown Eyes
  • Chainmail Bikini: Averted. She gears up for combat appropriately.
  • Enemy Mine/Fire-Forged Friends: Morgause and Cenred seem to be allies over their mutual hatred for Uther.
  • Evil Sorceress
  • Eyes of Gold: When using magic.
  • Hair of Gold
  • Heterosexual Life Partners: With Morgana.
  • Hot Chick with a Sword
  • Kick the Dog: Putting a spell on Morgana to make her the vessel to summon the Knights of Medhir in order to destroy Camelot without telling Morgana probably wasn't Morgause's best idea in the world...
  • Killed Off for Real: By Morgana in the Series 4 premier. It's a Mercy Kill, with Morgause's full consent.
  • Knight Templar Big Sister
  • Lady in Red
  • Long-Lost Relative
  • Ms. Fanservice
  • Only Mostly Dead: Apparently killed in the Series 3 finale, but she comes back in Series 4. Given her mutated face, it's clear that she and Morgana went to extreme lengths to keep her alive.
  • Pet the Dog: In spite of her plot to murder Uther, Morgause does find time to reunite with her half-sister Morgana and give her a bracelet that would help her sleep. And help her take over Camelot...
  • The Reveal: She is Morgana's half-sister. Series 3 Episode 5 throws this into doubt. The only way they are truly related is if they share the same mother, or if somehow Uther Pendragon is also her father as well.
    • Not necessarily. It is possible to come up with a logical, if convoluted, timeline that reconciles their relationship and Uther and Morgana's, though it pretty much hinges upon her mother becoming rather... lonely on a somewhat regular basis while her husband is on some sort of epic quest.
      • It's like this: Vivienne is the mother of Morgause and Morgana; Gorlois is Morgause's father and Uther is Morgana's father. Simple. They share the same mother, as Morgause got the special sleeping bracelet that she gave to Morgana, from her mother.
      • Confusion arises out the fact that when Morgause first appeared in Camelot, Gaius and Uther referred to her as "Morgana's half-sister". But at that point, Morgana's true paternity was a secret, which meant that if Gorlois was considered both Morgana and Morgause's biological father, they should have been described as full sisters, at least until the truth about Uther's true relationship became known. As such, the only way the "half-sister" comment makes sense at that point would be if Morgause's father was someone other than Gorlois, leaving Vivienne as the parent they share in common. If Gorlois was supposed to be the shared parent, then they are clearly not half-sisters at all - which doesn't make sense considering they continued to call each other "sister" after The Reveal.
  • Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: With Morgana.
  • Samus Is a Girl: Her Badass debut.
  • Thanatos Gambit: She ensures that her death furthers Morgana's cause.
  • Unkempt Beauty: When fully armored. Otherwise, she seems to take time to style her hair and also dress very nicely.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist

Igraine (Alice Patten)

Arthur's mother and the late wife of Uther.

Freya (Laura Donnelly)

"You already saved me. You made me feel loved."

Freya is a young Druid woman with a dark secret who Merlin protects from captivity. They develop a strong bond in the process. Freya becomes Merlin's first love.

Characters Introduced in Series 3

Cenred (Tom Ellis)

The ruler of the rivaling kingdom of Cenred (named after himself), Cenred seeks the downfall of Uther and Camelot by becoming an accomplice of Morgause's.

Cenred: You are very beautiful when you're angry.
Morgause: Is that why you continue to defy me?
Cenred: You wouldn't like it if I made it easy for you.

Gwaine (Eoin Macken)

If there's one thing that I learned from my father's life is that titles don't mean anything. It's what's inside that counts.

A man who saves Arthur during a brawl at a town tavern, Gwaine is given hospitality at Camelot until his injuries heal. He resents nobles and is secretly the son of a knight. He helps Merlin in protecting Arthur from danger during the melee. He is a future Knight of the Round Table.

Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun)

Guinevere's estranged brother and only sibling.

  • Aloof Older Brother: Often away traveling from one place to another and never even visited Gwen when their father died.
    • And where the hell was he when Guinevere was accused of witchcraft and almost burnt at the stake?
      • Twice.
  • An Axe to Grind
  • Back for the Finale
  • Badass Normal
  • Black Dude Dies First: Averted, but only just. He's the first (and only) knight to get injured.
  • Deadpan Snarker: On seeing the ruined castle that Arthur has brought them to, he comments: "It's gotta be better than that cave."
  • In the Hood
  • Long Lost Sibling
  • Mr. Fanservice
  • Now Let Me Carry You: He pledges his fealty to Arthur in repayment for the rescue Arthur undertakes in "The Castle of Fyrien".
  • Race Lift: The legendary Elyan was known as "Elyan the White". In the series, he's played by a black actor. Granted, "the White" would have referred to his pure soul, but it's still pretty funny.
  • Remember the New Guy?
  • Shipper on Deck: At the very least, he certainly isn't opposed to his sister dating the Prince of Camelot, judging by the smile on his face when they kiss at the end of "The Coming of Arthur".

Percival (Tom Hopper)

A warrior who arrives with Lancelot in order to help Arthur and his loyalists take back Camelot. Having showed up in the very last episode of the third season, we know virtually nothing about him yet.

Characters Introduced in Series 4

Agravaine (Nathaniel Parker)

Arthur's uncle on his mother's side, Agravaine has been helping his nephew run the kingdom during Uther's sickness. It soon becomes clear that he's not a man to be trusted.

Aithusa

A white baby dragon that Merlin hatches from a long-dormant egg, and said to be a good omen for the coming Golden Age of Arthur's reign. The events of the Series 4 finale throw this into some doubt.

Helios (Terence Maynard)

A womanizing warlord that Morgana enlists in her crusade against Camelot and whose army attacks it at the end of Series 4.

Tristan and Isolde (Ben Daniels and Miranda Raison)

A pair of smugglers (and lovers) who don't think highly of Camelot or its King, but who decide to throw in their lot with Arthur after he and Merlin save Isolde's life.

Back to Merlin (TV series)
  1. ↑ In order, they are: Morgana, Sophia, Guinevere, Vivian, Elena, Mithian
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