The Winter King Season 1 Episode 3: Jaw-Dropping Plot Twists Unveiled!

This article contains discussion of sexual assault.

This article contains major spoilers for The Winter King season 1 episode 3 below!

Summary

Arthur's controversial choice to spare Gungleus, the man responsible for the Avalon attack, goes against the survivors' wishes and creates division within the Kingdom.

Arthur is reunited with Derfel, the person he rescued as a child. However, he cautions Derfel about the solitary and arduous path that accompanies the life of a warrior.

Meanwhile, Owain, Arthur's closest companion, assumes the role of interim King of Dumnonia. He harbors suspicions about Arthur's motivations, possibly sparking a rivalry between the two.

In The Winter King episode 3, the story continues after the devastating Avalon attack, and Arthur (played by Iain De Caestecker) returns and faces criticism for his controversial decisions in punishing the responsible individual. With its similarities to Game of Thrones, The Winter King season 1 effectively introduces its main characters within just three episodes. In a similar vein to the Red Wedding, episode 2 depicted the brutal raid on Avalon by King Gungleus (played by Simon Merrells) and his men. During this attack, Gungleus killed a baby, murdered Queen Norwena (played by Grace Ackary), the widow of King Uther, and assaulted the priestess Nimue (played by Ellie James). The episode concludes with Arthur, who was previously banished, arriving just in time to save the survivors from Avalon's destruction. In episode 3 of The Winter King, the characters reflect on Gungleus' betrayal and strategize their next steps, even though Arthur's choices face opposition.

6 Arthur Spares Gungleus (Against Everyone's Wishes)

Gungleus not only committed the horrific massacre of Avalon but also betrayed his vow to the late King Uther by failing to protect Prince Mordred. He mistakenly killed an infant, thinking it was the future King, only to later discover that Mordred had been replaced with another child. Due to the severity of his crimes, the survivors naturally desire a swift execution for Gungleus. As he is forcibly returned to Dumnonia with his Pagan fiancée, Nimue, she prepares to "sacrifice" him by grabbing a sword.

While the majority of individuals in the Kingdom support this plan, Arthur does not. He intervenes to prevent Nimue from killing her assailant and instead has Gungleus imprisoned in the King's former chamber. Arthur believes that killing Gungleus would only escalate matters and that his uncle, King Gorfydd, would seize this execution as a justification for starting a war. Additionally, Arthur understands the value of keeping powerful men alive and envisions Gungleus becoming an asset to Dumnonia.

5 Arthur Reunites With Derfel

In The Winter King episode 1, Arthur saves Derfel from a supposed "death pit" during his childhood, rescuing him from a stake. Arthur takes the injured child to Avalon for healing before leaving Britain for Gaul. Now grown, Derfel (Stuart Campbell) deeply admires Arthur and eagerly awaits his return, aspiring to become a warrior and fight alongside him someday.

Impressively, Derfel chooses not to immediately approach Arthur upon his return. Instead, they cross paths the next day, and Arthur immediately recognizes Derfel as the young boy he rescued eight years ago. While glad to see Derfel again, Arthur is hesitant about his plan to become a warrior. He warns Derfel about the solitary nature of the life, where his only family will be the men he fights alongside. Despite Arthur's caution, Derfel remains undeterred.

4 Owain Is Technically King Of Dumnonia

In Winter King episode 3, Uther's champion warrior and Arthur's closest friend, Owain (Daniel Ings), returns from a brutal encounter with the invading Saxons. He is thrilled to see Arthur again and provides him with an update on the desperate state of Britain since Arthur's exile by his father. The Saxons are advancing, and the continuous raids from Gungleus and Gorfydd's rival Kingdoms further exacerbate the situation.

During their discussion, Arthur points out that as Mordred's protectors, Owain and Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder), along with the somewhat unreliable Gungleus, technically make Owain the temporary King of Dumnonia. This realization disturbs Owain, influencing his decision not to retaliate against Gungleus for the events in Avalon as he carefully considers his next move.

3 Nimue Swears Revenge On Gungleus

After the events in Avalon, Nimue possesses a stronger desire for Gungleus' demise than anyone else. As a consequence of her magical abilities, Nimue is compelled to maintain celibacy, which is the very reason why Gungleus assaulted her initially. Enraged with Arthur for depriving her of vengeance, Nimue vows to inflict upon him the same anguish she feels. She subsequently seeks assistance from Derfel and carries out a ritualistic ceremony where they both cut their hands and join their scars.

By accomplishing this act, Nimue proclaims that she belongs to Derfel, and vice versa. Since Arthur possesses the only key to Gungleus' confinement, she turns to Derfel for aid. Nimue entrusts him with seeds to be added to Arthur's beverage, which will render him unconscious and enable Derfel to seize the key. However, Arthur sees through the deception when Derfel presents him with water and willingly offers the key to test Derfel's loyalty. Derfel refrains from taking it, a choice that further fuels Nimue's fury.

2 Owain Has Doubts About Arthur's Intentions

Owain, Arthur's supposed best friend, confides in the Bishop about his increasing suspicion towards Arthur's true intentions. Owain believes that Arthur has undergone a significant transformation since their last encounter, and he suspects that Arthur's ambitions may now include seizing power for himself. However, Owain's doubts are somewhat alleviated when he witnesses Arthur and his men selflessly assisting local farmers with the harvest, followed by a joyous feast to celebrate their collective efforts. Although this rivalry is only briefly mentioned in episode 3, future installments of Winter King seem to be paving the way for a confrontational relationship between Owain and Arthur.

1 Arthur Releases Gungleus

Although Arthur has no affection for Gungleus, he contemplates sparing his life. Nonetheless, his ultimate goal is to unify the splintered Kingdoms and tribes of Britain against their common enemy, the Saxons. In the climactic scenes of the third episode, Arthur pays a visit to Gungleus in his cell and engages in a deliberation. He asserts that the "old ways" that have caused division among the kingdoms must be transformed. Arthur implores Gungleus to approach his uncle and extend an invitation to Mordred's naming ceremony, envisioning it as an opportunity for reconciliation amongst them all.

Dumnonia and Gungleus' Kingdom of Siluria establish a trade agreement. Arthur decides to release Gungleus, which angers Owain and the others when they discover the news. With his strategic approach, Arthur explains that he will take responsibility if any problems arise from releasing Gungleus secretly. Nonetheless, Arthur holds leverage over Gungleus, as the King's fiance remains captive in Dumnonia, with Arthur threatening to harm her if Gungleus doesn't fulfill his part of the deal. The outcome of Arthur's risky decision will be revealed in episode 4 of The Winter King.