The Winter King Season 1 Episode 5: Jaw-Dropping Story Revelations Unveiled

Summary

Arthur confronts a Saxon spy, reinforcing the need to unite the kingdoms for the impending fight against the Saxons.

Derfel carries a heavy burden of guilt for the untimely demise of innocent miners, and slyly discloses the truth concerning Owain to Arthur just prior to their impending duel.

In order to appease the Gods, Morgan makes a sacrifice of a man, steadfastly withholding from Arthur her foreseen vision of Mordred's destiny.

This article includes discussions about sexual assault and suicide.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for episode 5 of The Winter King season 1! In the fifth episode of The Winter King, Arthur makes a momentous decision, while Nimue rebels against the Gods. The show has seen significant developments in just five episodes, including the death of King Uther, a raid on Avalon by Gungleus, and Merlin's attempted kidnapping (potentially leading to the killing) of Prince Mordred. In the midst of the chaos, Arthur has been working tirelessly to establish peace between the warring kingdoms of Britain. Against all odds, he successfully convinces King Gorfyddyd to attend Mordred's naming ceremony at the end of episode 4.

In the fourth episode, Arthur discovers his own Excalibur, unaware of the fact that his friend Owain (played by Daniel Ings) led his troops to harm and murder innocent miners they were attempting to steal from. Arthur's troubles are escalating rapidly, alongside the pressing matter of the Saxon invasion. Episode 5 of The Winter King introduces significant events that will profoundly impact the future trajectory of the series.

6 Arthur Confronts A Saxon Spy

Prior to Mordred's naming ceremony, Arthur arranges various activities for the visiting royalty, one of which is a fishing expedition with Gorfyddyd. Arthur is particularly determined to establish peace with Gorfyddyd. Although Gorfyddyd partially retracts his previous insults towards Arthur, he remains unconvinced of Arthur's leadership. However, he fondly recollects the time he spent with Uther and acknowledges Uther's understanding of the Saxon threat to Britain, emphasizing that the Saxons will persistently strive to conquer the land.

During their conversation, Arthur's attention is diverted by movement in the nearby trees, prompting him to hurl his fishing spear at a shadowy figure. To his surprise, the figure turns out to be a Saxon spy who has been impaled in the stomach by Arthur's spear. Arthur enlists the help of Derfel to interpret the spy's message and discovers a map detailing arable land in the spy's possession. The spy reveals that he was sent by Saxon King Aelle, who allegedly intends to ravage their crops and consume them entirely. The spy then chooses to end his own life by thrusting the spear deeper into his own body. This unsettling incident further reinforces Arthur's determination to unify the kingdoms in preparation for the impending battle.

5 Derfel Is Consumed By Guilt

Winter King's fifth episode commences with Owain offering his apologies to Derfel for the miners' untimely demise. In an attempt to hush the matter, Owain grants Derfel a handful of gold coins upon their return to Dumnonia. However, the weight of the senseless massacre burdens Derfel's conscience. Despite his unwillingness to squander his newfound wealth, his unwavering loyalty to Owain compels him to withhold the truth from Arthur.

As the episode unfolds, Prince Tristan of Kernow (portrayed by Gabriel Tierney) arrives with a young girl who bears witness to the bloodshed. She unequivocally points her finger at Owain. In a quest for justice, Tristan personally challenges Owain to a duel. Arthur, reluctant to believe his longtime comrade is at fault, cautiously interrogates Derfel prior to the impending duel. The tormented trainee warrior subtly confirms the veracity of the accusations, only augmenting Arthur's pangs of guilt.

4 Morgan Sacrifices A Man To The Gods

As part of Mordred's naming ceremony, a human sacrifice is performed to appease the Old Gods. Arthur's half-sister, Morgan, rides to Avalon to request Merlin's assistance in conducting the ritual. However, in episode 1 of Winter King, Merlin has disturbing visions of Mordred as a bloodthirsty tyrant, causing him to refuse to perform the ceremony. Instead, he assures Morgan that she is capable of carrying it out herself and entrusts her with the ceremonial dagger.

Although Morgan meets with the sacrifice the night before to provide medicine for his cough, this does not deter her from proceeding with the ceremony. It becomes a grim and agonizing sequence, as she slashes the man's stomach, resulting in his painful death. The pattern of his blood confirms to Morgan that Mordred will have a long life and find success in battle, yet she is clearly troubled by her own actions.

3 Morgan Refuses To Tell Arthur About Her Mordred Vision

2 Nimue Has An Abortion

In the subsequent scene, while Morgan is attempting to cleanse her hands from the blood stains, Arthur unexpectedly enters the room. Morgan, just like Merlin, had a profound vision during the sacrifice. In her vision, she witnessed Mordred donning a golden mask and ruthlessly beheading individuals. Intrigued by her experiences, Arthur approaches Morgan to inquire if she witnessed something significant during that moment. Doubting Arthur's belief in her abilities and prophecies, Morgan raises the question and receives no definite response. She reiterates her conviction that Mordred will triumph in battles and live a lengthy life. Perhaps she also dreads the consequences of revealing the truth about Mordred's future to Arthur.

In the fifth episode of the series, the focus shifts to Nimue's story following her escape from Avalon in the previous episode. Having discovered she was pregnant as a result of Gungleus' assault, Merlin insisted that Nimue should carry the child as it was the will of the Gods. However, Nimue chose a different path and ventured into the forest in search of a special plant. After consuming a concoction made from the plant, Nimue is discovered by Merlin the following day, sitting against a tree with blood flowing from her legs, having terminated the pregnancy.

In the aftermath, Nimue fears reprisal from the Gods, who will not tolerate being denied or defied. Merlin acknowledges his uncertainty about the Gods' actions but assures Nimue that they are not devoid of mercy. He also addresses a potential inconsistency by revealing that his discovery of her in the expansive forest was possible because the Gods "guided" him.

1 Arthur Kills Owain In A Duel

Instead of accepting any monetary compensation from Dumnonia for the killings, Prince Tristan adamantly rejects it and ardently demands to confront Owain in a one-on-one battle. Fully aware of Tristan's slim chances against Owain, I bravely step forward to take his place, supported by Derfel's confirmation of the truth. This unexpected turn of events astonishes Owain, as well as the entire kingdom. However, Arthur persists in his belief that my friend must be held accountable for his perceived act of cowardice.

In episode 5 of The Winter King, the final scene features a gripping battle, drenched in rain, where the equally skilled warriors continuously gain and lose the advantage. Eventually, Arthur emerges victorious, delivering a fatal blow to Owain's chest. Cradling Owain in his arms, Arthur becomes the de facto ruler of Dumnonia until Mordred reaches adulthood, despite potential opposition from Owain's followers.