List of Camelot episodes
Camelot is a historical-fantasy-drama television series beginning in 2011 on Starz. It is co-produced by the Starz cable network and GK-TV and produced by Graham King, Morgan O'Sullivan and Michael Hirst.
The series pilot premiered February 25, 2011 as a special preview after the season finale of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,[1] and began regular weekly airings on Friday, April 1, 2011.[2]
The show both follows and alters various aspects of the classic Arthurian legend, following the deeds and interactions of the primary characters of (Merlin, Arthur, Morgan le Fay, knights of the round table, etc.), beginning with the discovery of King Arthur and the famous castle of Camelot. The show draws upon Arthurian historical fiction, Welsh & Celtic mythology, and is set in the post-Roman exeunt of Britain.
The show stars Joseph Fiennes as Merlin, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young King Arthur, Tamsin Egerton as lady Guinevere, Claire Forlani as Queen Igraine, Eva Green as Arthur's half-sister and nemesis Morgan le Fay, Peter Mooney as Sir Kay, Philip Winchester as Leontes, Clive Standen as Gawain.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| 1 | 10 | February 25, 2011 | June 10, 2011 | — | — | — | |
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | U.S. viewers (million) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Homecoming" | Ciaran Donnelly | Story by: Michael Hirst & Chris Chibnall Teleplay by: Chris Chibnall | February 25, 2011 | N/A | |
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The series begins with Morgan talking to her father, King Uther Pendragon. She offers him forgiveness for cheating on her mother and for sending her away for 15 years. Uther dismisses Morgan and says he no longer has a daughter. Morgan swears he will pay. Morgan kills her father and promptly banishes his wife, Igraine, inviting her father's most powerful enemy, King Lot to Camelot to formalise an alliance in the process. Merlin, Uther's most trusted adviser, finds a young man named Arthur, who has no direction in life. He tells Arthur that he is of royal blood and is the new king. Arthur has trouble believing this but his adoptive parents tell him it is the truth. Merlin asks him to go with him and find his destiny, and Arthur agrees to find out answers about his past. Merlin, Arthur and his adoptive brother, Kay travel to the abandoned fortress of Camelot — the future site of Arthur's leadership. Back at Uther's palace, Morgan hears of the 'new king' and believes it is impossible and that she is the rightful heir and decides to go see Arthur for herself. Arthur asks Merlin about his birth, Merlin tells him his father had an affair with an enemy's queen, and that it was he who arranged the tryst. The enemy's queen turns out to be Igraine who is at Camelot and tells Arthur she has always loved him from afar. Morgan along with King Lot show up at the castle, and tells everyone that she is the only legitimate heir and Igraine says it is true. Morgan offers Arthur a way out of this before anyone gets hurt. Arthur says that he is the King now and that he is not giving up his throne. Morgan promises war and death to Arthur and to anyone who stands in her way. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Sword and the Crown" | Ciaran Donnelly | Chris Chibnall | April 1, 2011 | 1.13[3] | |
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Arthur meets Guinevere, the woman of his dreams. Morgan and King Lot conspire to attack Camelot and take the throne. Merlin has Arthur reclaim the legacy sword in the stone, known here as the sword of Mars, to prove his worthiness as king. It is hinted at that Merlin has rigged the contest in advance so that only one who first pushes the sword in can then pull it out, while he suggests to Arthur that this is how to retrieve the sword. Merlin uses Arthur's success as propaganda to inspire loyalty to Arthur. | ||||||
| 3 | "Guinevere" | Jeremy Podeswa | Story by: Chris Chibnall & Louise Fox Teleplay by: Louise Fox | April 8, 2011 | 0.85[4] | |
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Kay and Leontes seek out a trusted new warrior to join them. Arthur and Merlin accept an invitation to join Morgan at her castle for dinner. Arthur and Guinevere struggle with their relationship as she readies for her marriage to Leontes. Guinevere's home is ransacked just before her wedding. She flees to Camelot to be protected by her husband-to-be, Leontes. Arthur has sex with Guinevere on the morning of her wedding to Leontes. Merlin suspects Arthur's infatuation with Guinevere. Arthur is forced to concede defeat in his pursuit of Guinevere. | ||||||
| 4 | "Lady of the Lake" | Jeremy Podeswa | Louise Fox & Chris Chibnall | April 15, 2011 | 0.99[5] | |
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Merlin sets off on a journey to find a sword suitable for a king by seeking out a legendary sword-maker, Caliburn, giving him details about Arthur's physique and fighting style to ensure that the sword is suited to him. After the sword is crafted, Merlin accidentally kills the sword-maker. His daughter, Excalibur, runs and rows out to the middle of a lake into which she plans to throw the sword as revenge. Merlin casts a spell causing the surface of the water to freeze and walks out to her. Losing her balance, Excalibur falls into the lake and drowns as the ice forms above her. In an attempt to save herself she uses the sword to punch a small hole through the ice, her hand emerging from the lake clutching it. Merlin takes the sword from her hand, but is unable to break through the ice layer to save her. Merlin lies to Arthur about how he obtained the sword, which he names Excalibur in honour of the sword-maker's daughter. Merlin's deceptive account resembles the traditional Arthurian legend of "the Lady in the Lake". A conversation with Guinevere changes Arthur and he begins to assert his power by sparring with Leontes. Arthur is frustrated that he can't be with Guinevere, and, in his grief, neglects his duties towards his warriors. | ||||||
| 5 | "Justice" | Stefan Schwartz | Sarah Phelps & Terry Cafolla | April 29, 2011 | 0.99[6] | |
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Arthur intervenes in a murder investigation convinced that the killer may have had an honourable motive. Arthur tries to establish the rule of law and begins a trial. Morgan tries to cultivate political favour by promoting herself as a champion of justice while framing a local mercenary for the beating of the nun who raised her. | ||||||
| 6 | "Three Journeys" | Stefan Schwartz | Chris Chibnall | May 6, 2011 | TBA | |
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This episode interweaves three stories: Guinevere's journey to her parent's home where her father is dying, accompanied by King Arthur, Kay's journey (at the bequest of Merlin) to his deceased father's home to retrieve his library, and a woman who comes to Morgan for justice claiming that the nun who helped raise Morgan in a convent and now lives with her has caused the death of her daughter as result of deliberately setting fire to the convent. Morgan finally decides to punish the Nun by burning her hand. | ||||||
| 7 | "The Long Night" | Mikael Salomon | Steven Lightfoot | May 13, 2011 | 0.85[7] | |
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Morgan le Fay invites Arthur and his regiment of soldiers over for an evening's entertainment and an overnight stay. During this time, she sets up a series of intrigues and hoaxes which include a faked attack on the castle, which many believe is by a former rival of Uther. At the end of the episode, Morgan has shape-shifted to look like Igraine and rides back to Camelot with Arthur in Igraine's form. Meanwhile Igraine is manacled in a dungeon. | ||||||
| 8 | "Igraine" | Michelle MacLaren | Story by: Chris Chibnall & Louise Fox Teleplay by: Chris Chibnall & Steven Lightfoot | May 20, 2011 | TBA | |
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Igraine is held prisoner at Morgan's castle, Pendragon, while Morgan, magically disguised as Igraine, roams the halls of Camelot plotting intrigue. As Igraine, she reveals to Leontes that Arthur had a tryst with Guinevere in the morning before their wedding. At Camelot she is also approached by an orphan Redwald, who clearly knows and loves Igraine. That night the spell starts wearing off, and Redwald sees her face change briefly. Trying to stop him getting help, Morgan accidently causes him to fall of the walls and die. The next day Merlin ses his clothes are ripped and realises someone knows what happened. The real Igraine eventually escapes Morgan's castle after killing a guard who tries to have sex with her in exchange for a release, and travels back to Camelot only to run into Morgan who is still in Igraine's form. | ||||||
| 9 | "The Battle of Bardon Pass" | Mikael Salomon | Louise Fox & Chris Chibnall | June 3, 2011 | 1.00[8] | |
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Morgan convices Igraine that she is just hallucinating and escapes Camelot now in her (Morgan's) form. When Merlin and Igraine confront Morgan at her castle about this, she and her followers arrest them. She then anonymously stages a raid at Bardon Pass, hoping that Arthur will be inadequate to stop it, positioning her to become acknowledged as the better ruler of Camelot, and proceeds to travel to Camelot with her new prisoners, Merlin and Igraine. Leontes confronts Guinevere about her relationship to Arthur, and then confronts Arthur about it. During the battle Kay is shot by a arrow, becoming in desperate need of medical attention. Arthur and his friends realize that the only way that they will succeed is if one of them stays behind. Arthur volunteers, and his friends depart the battle grounds, and Arthur prepares for a full out battle to the death with Morgans army. | ||||||
| 10 | "Reckoning" | Mikael Salomon & Stefan Schwartz | Terry Cafolla & Chris Chibnall | June 10, 2011 | 1.03[9] | |
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Morgan's plan to overthrow Arthur is exposed. However, the nun Sybil takes credit for Morgan's treasonous schemes, claiming she planned everything and Morgan knew nothing about it. Sybil is executed, and while the public accepts this story, Arthur and Merlin are not deceived. Leontes dies protecting Arthur at Bardon Pass and Igraine is killed by Morgan. Arthur strips Morgan of the name and banner of Pendragon and says her castle is no longer protected. Morgan visits Sybil's grave and, upon hearing a voice telling her to bear a child, disguises herself as Guinevere and has sex with Arthur. | ||||||
References
- ^ ComicBookResources.com, retrieved February 26, 2011.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (20 December 2010). "Starz Sets April 1st Premiere Date For "Camelot," A New Take On The Timeless Tale Of King Arthur,". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ^ Friday Cable Ratings: Starz Crowned King Of 'Camelot,' Bests Syfy's 'Merlin' in Demo + 'Friday Night Smackdown,' NBA and More
- ^ Seidman, Robert (April 12, 2011). "Friday Cable Ratings: 'Merlin' Dethrones 'Camelot'; Plus 'Friday Night Smackdown,' 'Say Yes To The Dress' and More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (April 18, 2011). "Friday Cable Ratings: History's "American Restoration" Leads Demo; Disney's "Lemonade Mouth" Tops Viewing + "Sanctuary," "Smackdown" and More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (May 2, 2011). "Friday Cable Ratings: NBA Leads Night + NFL Draft, "American Restoration," "Camelot," "Real Time," "Smackdown" & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (May 16, 2011). "Friday Cable Ratings: Thunder/Grizzlies Leads Night + 'American Restoration,' 'Friday Night Smackdown!' and More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (June 7, 2011). "Cable Top 25: 'Pawn Stars,' 'SpongeBob,' 'WWE RAW' Top Weekly Cable Viewing". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (June 14, 2011). "Cable Top 25: 'iCarly iParty,' 'Pawn Stars,' 'American Pickers' Top Weekly Cable Viewing". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 30, 2011.