The Winter King Season 1 Episode 4: Jaw-Dropping Story Twists Unveiled!

Summary

In The Winter King episode 4, Merlin tries to kidnap Prince Mordred, but Arthur stops him, suspecting he would harm the child.

Nimue, following her assault by Gungleus, uncovers her pregnancy, of which Merlin perceives as a manifestation of divine intervention.

Arthur reclaims the Excalibur sword from his late mother's resting place and asserts its might by effortlessly overpowering Gungleus in a duel.

This article contains sensitive content regarding sexual assault.

Caution: Major spoilers ahead for episode 4 of The Winter King season 1! In this episode, Arthur anxiously awaits the outcome of his risky gamble, while Nimue stumbles upon a shocking revelation. The Winter King is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles novel trilogy, which blends the legend of King Arthur with historical events. The first three episodes of the show depict Arthur's return to Britain, years after being banished by his father, King Uther. Upon his return, he discovers a divided kingdom on the brink of falling to Saxon invaders.

In episode 3 of The Winter King, Arthur faced the challenge of dealing with the aftermath and had to make some controversial choices. One of these decisions involved releasing the traitor Gungleus, who was responsible for the massacre at Avalon. Despite the majority in Dumnonia wanting him dead, Arthur hoped that Gungleus could help persuade his uncle Gorfydd to attend Prince Mordred's naming ceremony. Arthur's plan was to unite the divided kingdom against the Saxons. However, weeks later, there was still no sign of Gungleus or Gorfydd's arrival...

6 Merlin Tries To Kidnap Mordred

In the fourth episode, Merlin (played by Nathaniel Martello-White) returns and is glad to see Arthur's return to the kingdom, despite his previous refusal of the call. However, their paths diverge as they disagree about the fate of Prince Mordred. In the first episode, Merlin had a disturbing vision of an adult Prince Mordred mercilessly slaughtering his own people while wearing a golden mask after touching the newborn Mordred. Merlin warned King Uther about Mordred's evil nature and his potential to become a ruthless tyrant if he were to assume the throne.

Unfortunately, Uther was not swayed by Merlin's vision and instead appointed three protectors to watch over the infant until he is ready to take on the role of King. In episode 4, Merlin experiences the same vision once again and decides to kidnap the child, using his magical abilities to bypass the guards. Arthur anticipates Merlin's actions and manages to stop him. Merlin argues that it was Uther's abandonment of the "Old Gods" that led to the curse of an evil child, and believes it would be better for Mordred to grow up in a village where his true heritage is unknown by anyone, including himself, so that he can live a normal life.

Arthur instead suspects Merlin would just throw Mordred off a cliff, and having sworn to protect the prince he refuses to let Merlin pass. Despite the magician's protests, he hands the baby over, though this conflict will likely resurface in future episodes.

5 Nimue Is Pregnant From Gungleus' Assault

However, Arthur harbors suspicions that Merlin might opt for a more drastic solution of casting Mordred off a treacherous cliff. As Arthur has pledged to safeguard the prince, he adamantly denies Merlin passage. Despite the magician's objections, he reluctantly surrenders the infant, knowing that this unresolved disagreement will resurface in forthcoming episodes.

The Druid priestess Nimue faced a traumatic incident in episode 2 of The Winter King when she was sexually assaulted by Gungleus, who she had previously ridiculed. Despite her belief that her powers and connection to the Gods depend on her celibacy, Nimue insists that she can still hear their voices, albeit without receiving any response. Nimue expresses her relief at Merlin's return and engages in a conversation with him about her frustration over Arthur's refusal to allow her to seek retribution against Gungleus.

4 Arthur Recovers Excalibur From His Mother's Grave

In a later scene, the shocking truth dawns upon Merlin as he discovers that Nimue is carrying Gungleus' child. Overcome with a blend of shock and disgust, her immediate inclination is to reject the idea of keeping the baby. However, Merlin admonishes her for her decision, asserting that the Gods themselves have bestowed this pregnancy upon her and that the child's royal lineage could hold significant importance. Deeply unsettled by Merlin's unsettling response, Nimue seizes the opportunity to escape from Avalon while his attention is diverted elsewhere.

Arthur receives a barrage of criticism for his ill-advised decision to release Gungleus, with little hope remaining for Gorfydd's return. Seeking solace, Arthur and his sister Morgan (Valene Kane) decide to pay a visit to their mother's gravesite. As a former blacksmith, their mother held a special place in Arthur's heart, conjuring memories of her boundless beauty and affection, coupled with her enchanting storytelling. However, Morgan interjects, correcting Arthur's nostalgic musings. She asserts that their mother possessed none of these qualities, highlighting herself as the true storyteller and revealing a deep-seated resentment towards Arthur, as his birth led to Uther forsaking their mother.

Regardless of the circumstances, Arthur asserts that his mother was always there for him in times of need. While reminiscing about the past, Arthur recollects the captivating stories of the legendary Excalibur sword. He meticulously sifts through a collection of weathered swords surrounding his mother's final resting place, until he stumbles upon one with a distinct handle. Taking it back to the castle, he diligently polishes the sword, transforming it into his new weapon of choice. In a subsequent confrontation with Gungleus, the might of Arthur's Excalibur becomes evident as it effortlessly cleaves through his opponent's sword, solidifying its reputation as a formidable weapon.

3 Derfel Starts A New Romance

At the commencement of the show, Derfel (Stuart Campbell) held deep affection for Nimue. Unfortunately, their love was hindered by her unwavering commitment to the Gods. In the third episode, Nimue cunningly attempted to persuade Derfel into assisting her in the assassination of Gungleus, employing a binding ritual to establish a connection between them. When his efforts proved unsuccessful, Nimue chose to depart from the kingdom. The fourth episode of The Winter King discloses that Derfel has now engaged in a physical relationship with his companion Lunette (Olumide Olorunfemi). Although he acknowledges that Nimue still holds a place in his heart, he comprehends that a future together is unattainable.

2 Owain's Men Murder Some Miners

In episode 4, a significant subplot follows Owain (played by Daniel Ings) as he ventures to King Cadwy's land to collect overdue taxes. Accompanied by Derfel and a small group of men, Owain arrives a day ahead of schedule and uncovers King Cadwy's deceitful act of burying his gold in anticipation of their arrival, pretending to possess none. Despite this discovery, Owain strikes a deal with Cadwy, agreeing to commit robbery against local tin miners who may seek Cadwy's protection afterwards.

Although the plan is to ensure no harm is inflicted, the situation takes a detrimental turn when the miners catch Owain and Derfel red-handed in their theft attempt, resulting in a clash. Regrettably, a few miners lose their lives during the confrontation, while Derfel shelters a young child who witnesses the entire incident. As a consequence of Owain's greed leading to the unnecessary death of these innocent miners, it is doubtful that Derfel will maintain his loyalty towards Owain when Arthur inquires about the attack.

1 King Gorfyddyd Finally Arrives At Dunmonia

Gorfyddyd and Gungleus, after a long wait, arrive at the naming ceremony. Gorfyddyd's behavior proves to be unpleasant as he insults Arthur, Morgan, and the late Uther one after another. Arthur grows weary of his continuous mockery and commands Gungleus to be taken back into custody. Following a brief sword fight between the two, the Winter King episode concludes with Arthur holding Excalibur above Gungleus' head. Arthur turns to Gorfyddyd and declares that he must either swear his loyalty to Mordred or face the destruction of all that he cherishes.