The Winter King Season 1 Premiere Unveils 7 Jaw-dropping Story Twists

Warning: Major spoilers for The Winter King episode 1 below!

Summary

"The Winter King" lays the foundation for a captivating fantasy series that skillfully merges the realm of Arthurian legend with historical events.

Arthur's exile, brought upon by his father, stems from his illegitimate birth and the perception that he was unable to rescue his brother from a tragic fate.

Derfel's illicit love affair with Nimue and his clandestine martial arts education foreshadow future clashes, as Merlin embarks on a mission to locate Arthur and rescue Britain from the malevolent reign of King Mordred.

The inaugural episode of The Winter King reimagines the myth surrounding King Arthur, laying the groundwork for a captivating initial season. Crafted by Bernard Cornwell, the visionary behind the Last Kingdom series, The Warlord Chronicles commences with The Winter King and proceeds with Enemy of God and Excalibur. With a fusion of Arthurian lore and authentic historical events, these novels offer a reimagined narrative that eschews the fantastical facets of the tale.

7 Why Arthur Is Banished By His Father King Uther

The Winter King has the potential to become the next big fantasy show in the style of Game of Thrones. The Warlord Chronicles trilogy serves as an excellent narrative foundation for this. Taking place in 5th Century Britain during the "Dark Ages," King Uther Pendragon, portrayed by Eddie Marsan, faces the challenge of uniting the warring tribes of the country against the invading Saxons. Despite his greatness as a warrior and leader, Uther's illegitimate son Arthur (played by Iain De Caestecker) is despised by his father.

The Winter King begins with a gruesome scene, showing Arthur soaked in blood and cradling his lifeless brother Prince Mordred after a fierce battle against the Saxons. Overwhelmed by grief, Arthur brings Mordred's body back to Caer Cardarn, the capital of Dumnonia, where he personally informs his devastated father, Uther, about the tragic loss. Uther's anger and sorrow drive him to brutally assault Arthur, even going so far as to threaten to end his life with his own sword. However, Uther's daughter, Morgan, and the wise Merlin intervene, persuading the King to spare Arthur's life.

6 Arthur Saves Derfel From A Death Pit

Instead, Merlin proposes exile, suggesting that Arthur be expelled from Britain due to his perceived failure in saving Mordred. However, Merlin later discloses to Arthur that the banishment idea was primarily to safeguard his life, while also allowing him to gain valuable experience and wisdom beyond the kingdom. Uther's strong aversion towards Arthur primarily originates from the fact that he is considered a "bastard," causing Uther to reject him as his legitimate son.

After being expelled from the confines of the castle, a gravely injured Arthur seizes a horse and navigates his way out of Dumnonia. During his journey, he chances upon a fishing village that has recently fallen victim to a raid, stumbling upon a ghastly "death pit" brimming with lifeless bodies. In the midst of the lifeless corpses, he stumbles upon a surviving Saxon slave boy named Derfel. Upon rescuing Derfel from a spear, Arthur rides him swiftly towards Avalon, a secure sanctuary overseen by Merlin. While the boy receives treatment, Arthur engages in a conversation with Merlin regarding his future. Even though Arthur is offered a nourishing meal to partake in before his departure, he adamantly declines, claiming that his King "commands" his immediate exit.

5 What Happened During The Winter King's Eight-Year Time Jump

The Winter King then fast forwards eight years, where Derfel (Stuart Campbell), now a grown man, is an integral part of the Avalon community. He is also deeply in love with the young priestess Nimue (Ellie James), and together they embark on a clandestine romance. Over the years since Arthur's exile, Britain's situation has deteriorated further due to the lack of unity among the warring tribes and the advancing Saxons. King Uther, weakened by age and illness, miraculously begets a new heir, whom he names Mordred.

4 Why Derfel And Nimue's Romance Is Forbidden

In the midst of their love, Derfel and Nimue face the distressing reality of their forbidden union. In a poignant moment of intimacy, Nimue envisions a snarling wolf while Derfel remains oblivious to this apparition. The arrival of Merlin brings forth an explanation that foretells Nimue's future as a formidable sorceress, albeit accompanied by a solitary existence. Engaging in a sexual encounter would result in the forfeiture of her powers, banishing the Gods from communicating with her ever again. Despite the anguish it brings, Nimue elects to prioritize her relationship with the divine rather than her connection with Derfel. The latter, in his desolation, seeks solace in alcohol, only to be plagued by haunting memories of the night he and his mother were cruelly cast into a pit.

3 Derfel Trains In Secret To Become A Warrior

After accompanying Merlin and Nimue to the castle where Winter King's future villain Mordred is born, Derfel decides to forsake life as a farmer in Avalon and stay there. While he tells Nimue he'll be tending horses, his true intention is to train as a warrior. Derfel deeply admires Arthur for saving his life and longs for his return. In the meantime, Derfel aspires to acquire combat skills, envisioning a day when they can fight alongside each other. Arthur's comrade, Owain (Daniel Ings), stumbles upon Derfel's covert training grounds and, after playfully teasing him, offers to provide sword training in the days to come.

2 Why Merlin Seeks Out Arthur

The Winter King episode 1 takes a dramatic turn with the birth of the future King Mordred. However, this joyous occasion is marred by a dark revelation. Merlin, the wise magician, quickly notices the boy's clubfoot and is overtaken by a disturbing vision. In this vision, Merlin sees a grown Mordred wearing a mysterious golden mask as he mercilessly beheads countless individuals, causing a chilling river of blood to flow from the gruesome aftermath. While Uther, the king, rejoices at the arrival of his new son, Merlin voices his concerns about the inherent "evil" within Mordred, which will inevitably grow with each passing year. The magician solemnly predicts that Mordred will eventually transform into a tyrant, ruling over his own people as a cruel oppressor, and even carrying out the Saxon's bidding.

Uther discards Merlin's ominous prophecies about the impending "death" of Britain and commands him to raise the infant in Avalon until Mordred is prepared to assume the throne. However, instead of complying, Merlin earnestly implores Uther to locate Arthur, beg for his forgiveness, and bring him back to his homeland. Despite the passage of time, King Uther's affection for Arthur has not softened since his banishment, leading him to adamantly refuse Merlin's plea. Unfazed, Merlin solemnly swears to journey to Gaul and retrieve Arthur, as he firmly believes that only Arthur possesses the ability to unify the clans and ultimately rescue the nation in the challenging years ahead.

1 Derfel Realizes Gundleus Killed His Mother

In the final scene of episode 1 of The Winter King, Gundleus (played by Simon Merrells), the King of the rival kingdom Siluria, arrives to pledge his loyalty to King Uther. Siluria is infamous for its ruthless killings and raids, prompting Morgan to propose just killing Gundleus instead of hearing him out. Uther himself does not hold much affection for Gundleus, who claims to have undergone a religious conversion. However, when Gundleus swears to undertake any task Uther assigns to prove his loyalty, Uther challenges him to kill his own uncle, King Gorfyddyd of Powy.

Gundleus agrees to the request, however, as he bows to kiss Uther's hand, Derfel immediately notices the tattoo on his chest. It dawns on him that Gundleus was the one responsible for his mother's death eight years ago, and it becomes evident that he will undoubtedly plot his revenge in the forthcoming episodes. The conclusion of the first episode of The Winter King leaves a glimmer of hope as Merlin finally catches up with Arthur in Gaul after a lengthy three-month journey and appeals to him to "return home."