Merlin would have been killed by a giant griffin (half eagle, half lion) if not for valiant Lancelot, who bravely attacked it and got them safely away. Learning Lancelot's life dream is to become a knight, grateful Merlin brings him to court, but when told only noblemen may apply, magically forges proof of nobility. Lancelot passes hazing and close combat tests against Prince Arthur but is found out as commoner and jailed. When the griffin attacks Camelot - even inside the royal castle - the knights' arms prove unable to penetrate it . Arthur frees Lancelot, who in return (with Merlin's magical help) triumphs where all knighthood fails miserably, but will Uther finally hear Arthur's plea to allow the best sword to serve in chivalry despite existing social restrictions?

Gwen is mistaken for Morgana and kidnapped. Against Uther's wishes, Arthur heads out to fight for her freedom, with Merlin by his side to help him.

The new queen of Camelot proves to be far crueler than Uther, who is made to watch from his dungeon as she slaughters innocents. Guinevere helps Sir Leon escape from prison and joins her brother Elyan, Gaius, Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine, who are hiding in the woods. Soldiers follow but they are saved by Lancelot and a youth of immense strength, Percival. Merlin looks into the waters of Avalon in the phial given him by the Fisher King, which directs him to Excalibur, the sword which will defeat the enemy. The fugitives find a round table, around which they movingly declare allegiance to each other, and Arthur knights all the young men - except, of course, Merlin, though Lancelot, aware of his powers, tells Merlin he is the bravest of them all. The group launches its invasion of Camelot, which gives Gaius his finest hour as the sisters are routed, largely due to Merlin's use of Excalibur. However, he places the sword in a rock until it can be used again.

Morgana takes the dying Morgause to the Isle of the Blessed where she unwittingly tears the veil to the spirit world, unleashing the Dorocha, invisible ghosts that begin to attack the kingdom. At Camelot, where a weakened Uther has given over much of his rule to his scheming brother Agravaine, Merlin senses what is happening but finds his magic inadequate to stop it. As Camelot fills with refugees, Gaius reasons that, as one death opened the portal, only another will close it. Arthur offers himself as the sacrifice and travels to the Isle of the Blessed with Merlin and a group of young knights. Here, after Arthur has finally praised him for his bravery, Merlin appears to have a fatal encounter with one of the Dorocha.

The kingdom is on the brink of collapse, with Morgana poised to strike. As Lancelot races back to Camelot with the dying Merlin, Arthur must continue on his mission to vanquish the Dorocha without them. Though the knights know their journey to the Isle of the Blessed is fraught with danger, none anticipate the sacrifice Arthur intends to make there. Friendship and loyalty are tested to the limit, but in the end, it is the power of love that changes all their lives forever.

Learning from Agravaine that Arthur plans to wed Guinevere, Morgana uses necromancy to revive Lancelot, though he has no proper recollection of his past life and, grateful to Morgana, returns to Camelot to seduce the future queen. Guinevere resists, until she is presented with an enchanted bracelet supplied by Morgana for Lancelot to give her. The two meet in secret and are observed by Arthur. Merlin, suspicious of events, convinces Gaius of how the knight was resurrected, but can they stop Arthur from banishing Guinevere and putting Lancelot to death?

The kingdom is on the brink of collapse, with Morgana poised to strike. As Lancelot races back to Camelot with the dying Merlin, Arthur must continue on his mission to vanquish the Dorocha without them. Though the knights know their journey to the Isle of the Blessed is fraught with danger, none anticipate the sacrifice Arthur intends to make there. Friendship and loyalty are tested to the limit, but in the end, it is the power of love that changes all their lives forever.

Merlin would have been killed by a giant griffin (half eagle, half lion) if not for valiant Lancelot, who bravely attacked it and got them safely away. Learning Lancelot's life dream is to become a knight, grateful Merlin brings him to court, but when told only noblemen may apply, magically forges proof of nobility. Lancelot passes hazing and close combat tests against Prince Arthur but is found out as commoner and jailed. When the griffin attacks Camelot - even inside the royal castle - the knights' arms prove unable to penetrate it . Arthur frees Lancelot, who in return (with Merlin's magical help) triumphs where all knighthood fails miserably, but will Uther finally hear Arthur's plea to allow the best sword to serve in chivalry despite existing social restrictions?

Gwen is mistaken for Morgana and kidnapped. Against Uther's wishes, Arthur heads out to fight for her freedom, with Merlin by his side to help him.

Learning from Agravaine that Arthur plans to wed Guinevere, Morgana uses necromancy to revive Lancelot, though he has no proper recollection of his past life and, grateful to Morgana, returns to Camelot to seduce the future queen. Guinevere resists, until she is presented with an enchanted bracelet supplied by Morgana for Lancelot to give her. The two meet in secret and are observed by Arthur. Merlin, suspicious of events, convinces Gaius of how the knight was resurrected, but can they stop Arthur from banishing Guinevere and putting Lancelot to death?

The new queen of Camelot proves to be far crueler than Uther, who is made to watch from his dungeon as she slaughters innocents. Guinevere helps Sir Leon escape from prison and joins her brother Elyan, Gaius, Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine, who are hiding in the woods. Soldiers follow but they are saved by Lancelot and a youth of immense strength, Percival. Merlin looks into the waters of Avalon in the phial given him by the Fisher King, which directs him to Excalibur, the sword which will defeat the enemy. The fugitives find a round table, around which they movingly declare allegiance to each other, and Arthur knights all the young men - except, of course, Merlin, though Lancelot, aware of his powers, tells Merlin he is the bravest of them all. The group launches its invasion of Camelot, which gives Gaius his finest hour as the sisters are routed, largely due to Merlin's use of Excalibur. However, he places the sword in a rock until it can be used again.

Morgana takes the dying Morgause to the Isle of the Blessed where she unwittingly tears the veil to the spirit world, unleashing the Dorocha, invisible ghosts that begin to attack the kingdom. At Camelot, where a weakened Uther has given over much of his rule to his scheming brother Agravaine, Merlin senses what is happening but finds his magic inadequate to stop it. As Camelot fills with refugees, Gaius reasons that, as one death opened the portal, only another will close it. Arthur offers himself as the sacrifice and travels to the Isle of the Blessed with Merlin and a group of young knights. Here, after Arthur has finally praised him for his bravery, Merlin appears to have a fatal encounter with one of the Dorocha.