Unveiling the Unprecedented Twist on Excalibur's Origins in the Epic New King Arthur TV Show

Summary

The Winter King episode offers a new, grounded take on the origin of Arthur's sword Excalibur, stripping away fantastical elements.

At his mother's grave, Arthur discovers Excalibur, transforming it into his own by honing its edges and wielding it in combat. Unlike in other legends, the Winter King's Excalibur is not depicted as possessing magical powers, but rather as an exquisitely crafted sword distinguished by its one-of-a-kind handle.

Warning: The content below contains major spoilers for episode 4 of season 1 of The Winter King! In this episode, a unique and devastating twist is introduced to the story of how Arthur obtains his legendary sword, Excalibur. Throughout the years, various interpretations of the King Arthur legend have depicted the iconic sword, such as Disney's Sword in the Sword and the 1981 fantasy epic Excalibur. However, each rendition differs greatly in their portrayal of Excalibur's origin.

Notably, The Winter King's fourth episode presents a fresh perspective. This new fantasy series on MGM+ is based on Bernard Cornwell's novel of the same name, which seeks to ground the Arthurian legend in historical accuracy. As a result, the show embraces a more realistic and gritty approach, veering away from the fantastical elements found in other adaptations. Nevertheless, the core characters and plot points remain intact, making it vital for the series to explore how Arthur acquires his trademark weapon.

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Arthur Finds Excalibur At His Mother's Grave

In the fourth episode, Arthur (played by Iain De Caestecker) and his sister Morgan (played by Valene Kane) pay a visit to their mother's grave. Their mother was a skilled blacksmith, and Arthur fondly recalls her intelligence and beauty, as well as her knack for storytelling. Among her tales was the legendary Excalibur, and while rummaging through a heap of old, rusted swords, Arthur comes across one with a distinctive hilt. There's an indescribable connection he feels with this blade, prompting him to bring it back to the castle and hone its edge. Eventually, he decides to make it his primary weapon. In a subsequent battle, the sword's extraordinary power is revealed as it splits an opposing sword clean in two.

In essence, this sword becomes his very own Excalibur, offering a more grounded explanation for its origins. In Arthurian myth, there are multiple accounts of how he acquired the sword. One is the myth of the sword in the stone, where warriors from all over the island assembled in an attempt to withdraw the legendary weapon. Whoever successfully extracts it will be crowned King, and young Arthur, unaware of his Pendragon lineage, is the one who accomplishes this feat.

Another version of Excalibur's origin involves the original sword shattering, prompting Merlin to accompany Arthur to a lake. It is here that Nimue/the Lady of the Lake grants Arthur Excalibur, which is believed to possess magical properties. Some variations of the legend unite the sword Arthur draws from the stone and the Lady of the Lake's sword as one, the latter representing an enhanced version. However, most scholars concur that these are two distinct weapons, with the sword in the stone not being Excalibur.

Who Made Excalibur In The Winter King?

During their conversation about their mother and the legend of Excalibur, Arthur is interrupted by Morgan, who confesses to being the one who shared the story with him. Surprisingly, Morgan claims that their mother never told them any stories and challenges the existence of the version of her that Arthur remembers. Morgan reveals that their mother blamed Arthur for everything and that his birth led to King Uther's rejection of her. While Uther didn't mind having an illegitimate daughter, he didn't want their mother to bear a son. Despite this painful revelation, Arthur still holds fond memories of his mother. He mentions how she once promised to craft him a sword, and he hopes to find the blade with the distinctive handle among the discarded swords near her grave. Unlike the traditional tale, Arthur's mother made the Winter King's version of Excalibur, and he did not have to participate in the classic sword-pulling or lake adventure.

Is The Winter King's Excalibur Magical?

As mentioned earlier, The Winter King reduces the presence of fantastical elements. Nevertheless, Nathaniel Martello-White's portrayal of Merlin and priestess Nimue (played by Ellie James), who worship the "Old Gods," showcases their limited magical abilities, including foresight. Some versions of the Excalibur legend describe the sword possessing special powers, like blinding Arthur's enemies due to its extraordinary brightness.

Although Winter King's Excalibur does not exhibit any unique abilities, it does impress with its sharpness despite years of rusting on rocks. Apart from its distinctive handle, there is no indication that it is anything more than a finely crafted sword. However, various renditions of the myth conclude with Excalibur being cast back into the lake, where the Lady of the Lake awaits to retrieve it. If the series progresses to Arthur's life's end, it will be intriguing to see if the show also explores this aspect.