The Poisoned Chalice (Merlin episode)

"The Poisoned Chalice" is the fourth episode in the first series of BBC One's fantasy drama series, Merlin. Albion and Camelot celebrate the coming together of their two kingdoms, but the sorceress Nimueh exacts her revenge on Merlin by poisoning him.

Merlin slips into a coma, and as his state worsens, Arthur is sent on a quest to find a cure to save Merlin's life.

"The Poisoned Chalice"
Merlin Episode

Episode

Nimueh prepares a potion using her blood, at the same time making a chant that ends with Merlin's name.

Later, in Camelot, the kingdoms of Camelot and Albion come together in truce, and Nimueh, posing as Kara is in the Albion contingent. She sneaks into one of the rooms in the castle and replaces a chalice with the poisoned oneshe prepared earlier.

Merlin is invited to the ceremony later that night, but only in his official capacity as a servant of Camelot. At the ceremony, Bayard presents the chalices to Uther and Arthur. While he does this, Nimueh tells Merlin that the chalice is poisoned and that Bayard, the king of Albion, is behind the treachery. As the court prepares to drink a toast, Merlin accuses Bayard, and swords are drawn.

In order to prove the chalice is poisoned, Uther tells Arthur to drink it. Despite the protestations of Arthur, Merlin drinks the potion and soon falls ill. Gaius takes Merlin back to his chamber to identify the poison. Gaius identifies the antidote and tells Arthur where it can be found.

When Uther hears of this, he forbids Arthur from leaving the castle to search for the antidote. Morgana tells him to do what he thinks is right "and damn the consequences". Arthur rides out on his quest as Merlin's fever increases. As Gaius investigates further, he discovers that an enchantment may have exacerbated the poison. They suspect the serving girl had something to do with the poison.

In the forest, Arthur comes across Nimueh pretending to cry. As he approaches her, a huge lizard-like beast appears and attacks him. He dives beneath the beast and throws his sword at the beast, killing it. She innocently asks him what he's looking for, and he tells her about the flower he's seeking. She offers to show him, and leads him into the caves.

Leading Arthur onto a precipice, Nimueh casts a spell that breaks the rock. Arthur realises at the last minute and leaps for a ledge which he hangs from with his hands. Nimueh leaves him alone in the dark, but back in Camelot, Gaius discovers Merlin is chanting in his delerium. He pulls back the covers and sees a ball of light in Merlin's hand.

In the caves, the same ball of light illuminates the cave for Arthur, and he finds the flower he needs and escapes the spiders which are giving chase. However, as Arthur escapes into the forest, Merlins condition worsens.

Arthur arrives at the gates of Camelot and is arrested on the orders of Uther. He asks Uther to take the flower to Gaius, but Uther throws it to the ground. Gwen visits Arthur in prison to find out what happened, and Arthur places the flower on the plate of food she brought and gives it back to her. She brings the flower to Gaius, and he persuades her to leave the room so that he can use an incantation to complete the cure.

He gives the concoction to Merlin, but Merlin stops breathing. Gaius checks him and discovers his heart has stopped. As the two comfort each other, Merlin wakes up and chides them.

Gaius interrupts Uther as he plans for war and tells him of Nimueh's plot. Uther asks for evidence of this, and Gaius tells him of the enchanted potion, and claims that Nimueh would only want to see the two kingdoms at war. Cryptically, Gaius asks the King if Arthur should know the truth about Nimueh.

Uther later admits to Arthur that he did the right thing, despite his disobedience. Gaius tells Merlin that Nimueh obviously recognises his powers and wants him dead.

Cast

• Colin Morgan as Merlin
• Bradley James as Prince Arthur
• Richard Wilson as Gaius
• Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon
• Angel Coulby as Guinevere
• Katie McGrath as Morgana
• John Hurt as The Great Dragon
• Michelle Ryan as Nimueh
• Clive Russell as Bayard