The Winter King Episode 3: Unveiling the Most Controversial and Essential Arthur Scene Ever

This article contains discussion of sexual assault

This article contains major spoilers for The Winter King season 1 episode 4 below!

Summary

In The Winter King episode 4, Arthur chooses not to kill the monstrous King Gungleus, even though there is a lot of controversy surrounding this decision. This is because Arthur sees the potential for King Gungleus to play a role in achieving peace and preventing a war with King Gorfydd of Powys.

Arthur is of the belief that it is more advantageous to keep powerful men, such as Gungleus, alive rather than eliminating them. He fears that Gungleus' death could potentially initiate a war, resulting in the eventual downfall of Britain. In a daring move, Arthur decides to release Gungleus, on the condition that he escorts King Gorfydd to Mordred's naming ceremony. Arthur prioritizes the unity against the Saxons over the potential resentment of the kingdom.

Arthur's decision to spare King Gungleus in The Winter King episode 4 has sparked controversy. However, it may have been a necessary choice. Inspired by Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles trilogy, MGM+'s adaptation wastes no time in immersing viewers in the story. The Winter King delivers its own version of a "Red Wedding" with the brutal assault on Avalon. Gungleus, portrayed by Simon Merrells, surprises Merlin's peaceful community by launching a vicious attack. The consequences are devastating: the death of an innocent baby, the murder of Queen Norwena (played by Grace Ackary), and the sexual assault of the priestess Nimue (played by Ellie James).

Gungleus's motive behind this attack is to eliminate Prince Mordred, the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Dumnonia. However, his plan fails when he is mistakenly given a different baby. Episode 3 of The Winter King begins with Arthur's long-awaited return to Britain, following his exile by his father, the late King Uther (portrayed by Eddie Marsan). Arthur and his men successfully capture Gungleus and his betrothed, Ladwys (portrayed by Tatjana Nardone). Instead of immediately executing Gungleus, Arthur surprises everyone by deciding to keep him as a prisoner.

Arthur Needs Gungleus Alive To Avoid A War

In addition to the numerous crimes committed by Gungleus during the Avalon massacre, he also betrayed his promise to the late King Uther to safeguard his son. At first glance, there seems to be little justification for sparing his life, causing Nimue's shock and anguish when Arthur refuses to allow her to "sacrifice" her attacker completely understandable. While the people of Dumnonia yearn for revenge, Arthur adopts a more expansive perspective. He believes that keeping powerful individuals alive offers greater potential benefits than their demise, and he sees the potential usefulness of keeping Gungleus alive to facilitate peace.

Specifically, Gungleus's uncle King Gorfydd of Powys possesses a deep animosity towards Dumonia that has endured for years. Arthur believes that Gungleus' death, no matter how warranted, would provide Gorfydd with the perfect excuse to wage war against Dumonia. This would force the already weakened Dumonia to confront Gorfydd and his allies along with the invading Saxons, resulting in a war that could potentially lead to the downfall of Britain. This explains why Arthur brushes off the controversy surrounding his decision to spare Gungleus, and ultimately releases him.

Will Arthur's Gungleus' Gamble Pay Off?

In the final scenes of episode 3 of Winter King, Arthur confronts Gungleus about the need to change the divisive "old ways" among the kingdoms in Britain. He releases Gungleus on the condition that he brings his uncle to Mordred's naming ceremony, warning that failure to do so will result in Ladwys' death. While the rest of the kingdom is outraged by Arthur's decision without consultation, he takes full responsibility for any negative consequences.

Arthur's strategic decisions involve significant risks, and only time will determine their success. Gungleus has already proven his lack of trustworthiness, although he does appear to genuinely care for Ladwys. Despite the hatred some kingdoms harbor towards Dumonia, they must recognize the logical reasoning behind uniting against the Saxons. It seems likely that Arthur's actions will yield positive results, although The Winter King's previous episode revealed the show's unpredictability.