The Astonishing Twist in the New King Arthur Series That Reinvents Centuries of Magical Legend!

Warning: Major spoilers for The Winter King episode 8 and The Warlord Chronicles books below!

Summary

In episode 8 of The Winter King, a unique perspective on magic is presented, hinting that it might not actually exist in the world of the show. The revelation that Nimue's "curse" is nothing but a deception implies that magic is not a genuine power for her and she lacks any true magical abilities.

While Merlin's visions may imply the existence of magic, the show as a whole presents magic as unassuming and not a prominent element.

In episode 8 titled "The Winter King," the show suggests a distinct departure in how Merlin and the use of magic are portrayed compared to the original King Arthur legend. MGM+'s adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles novels, often hailed as a successor to Game of Thrones, forges its own path. Despite boasting an extensive cast of characters, its scale is considerably smaller than HBO's fantasy masterpiece, and action sequences rarely surpass a simple sword fight. Another notable difference lies in their approach to fantasy and magic itself.

HBO's show established early on that dragons, zombies, and other fantasy elements were real. In contrast, The Winter King follows the approach of the books. While the characters Merlin and Nimue play important roles, the magical elements of the myth are downplayed. For instance, Arthur does not receive Excalibur from the Lady in the Lake but instead finds it next to his mother's grave. Furthermore, most characters no longer believe in the "Old Gods" or magic.

Magic May Not Exist In The Winter King Show

The series heavily suggests that magic does not exist in the world portrayed. Most of Merlin or Nimue's tricks can be easily explained as mere illusions. Gundleus quickly sees through Nimue's attempt to frighten him with a fire "spell" during his raid on Avalon. In the eighth episode, Winter King, there is a strong indication that Nimue lacks true magical abilities. This leads her into conflict with a group of Christians, who have been given permission by Arthur to build a church at Avalon.

When they refuse to leave, Nimue "curses" them, and ominously, a rainstorm occurs immediately after she makes the threat. Soon, several men at the Christian encampment die from an unknown illness. When they confront Nimue about this apparent act of sorcery, she responds with fire and snakes. Arthur eventually confronts Nimue about these deaths. Although she admits to the curse, she claims any fatalities are the "will of the Gods." Arthur soon discovers that Nimue has actually poisoned the men with a mixture of plants, and her "curse" is simply murder.

Do Merlin's Visions Prove Magic Is Real?

Nimue may believe she is possessed by the Gods themselves, but the revelation that her curse was a fabrication adds further evidence to the nonexistence of magic in The Winter King. Nevertheless, Merlin's visions of the "Death of Britain" suggest that there may be some truth to the fantastical. In the opening episode, Merlin cradles the newborn Mordred in his arms and is plagued by nightmarish visions of the future, envisioning the grown heir to the throne transforming into a bloodthirsty monster. He is deeply concerned that Mordred's ascent to kingship will spell the downfall of Britain, yet despite conveying these warnings to both Uther and later Arthur, they dismiss his premonitions.

There is, of course, the possibility that Merlin's visions are mere figments of his imagination, lacking any genuine clairvoyance. However, Arthur's sister Morgan has also witnessed the same disturbing prophecy during Mordred's naming ceremony: the vision of the grown heir metamorphosing into a tyrant who mercilessly kills his own people. The synchronicity of these shared mental images between two individuals is somewhat improbable, but it is worth noting that Morgan was privy to Merlin's apprehensions regarding Mordred as well.

Magic Is Real In The Winter King Books

In The Warlord Chronicles, the first two books and the corresponding TV adaptation handle magical abilities with uncertainty. However, the final novel, Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur, diverges from this, as magic becomes the sole explanation for significant events. For example, Nimue, now a zealous character, employs her abilities to curse a specific individual, while Morgan utilizes her own pagan magic to undo it. Additionally, Nimue conjures a storm that results in the destruction of an entire fleet.

Most adaptations of the King Arthur story retain the inclusion of magical elements, though some, such as 2004's King Arthur starring Clive Owen, significantly downplay them. In the first season of The Winter King, the existence of magic is called into question, but if the series adapts the later books, magic is likely to play a more prominent role in future installments. In the novels, Merlin believes that the waning belief in the Gods is causing magic to fade away from the world, which could provide an alternative explanation for its limited presence in this particular depiction of the Arthurian legend.