Recently there was a press conference with Colin Morgan star of SyFy Channel’s Merlin. He spoke to us on a break before shooting season five or series 5 (if you will) about season 4.(series 4)

Can you kind of tell us like something about the season, kind of how it’s going to be different and just some of what’s going – we can expect this year?

Colin Morgan: Yes I think one the – one of the first things people will notice will be  it looks very different. It’s got a different tone to it this year.

There’s a – we’re shooting on 35 mil which is what movies are shot at the moment. So it’s got a real movie look to the French kind of theme . Stories have become a lot (powerful). They’ve become a lot more complex. They’re pushing connectors in directions that really there’s no going back on. So big shifts, big steps, big changes.And of course it – the (tagline) of the season this year is the darkest hour is just before the dawn. So that is a hint of the tone of the series. It definitely is much stronger.

I have a question from Twitter. They want to know if you can compare Merlin’s friendship with both Arthur and Gwen.

Colin Morgan:   well, you know, Arthur and Gwen are destined to see the future  king and queen.And it’s Merlin’s destiny to ensure that Arthur becomes the greatest kingdom, you know, the king of the land that kingdom. Then Gwen is probably the right person for that. And Gwen’s a great friend of Merlin’s also.So I mean there’s a huge amount of respect and loyalty among the three of them.But really this series a lot of things have broken up, certainly about that trio of Arthur to Gwen and Merlin. There’s a huge way, a (district) between them, kind of halfway sort of towards the end of the season which is going to be very difficult to repair.

I wanted to ask about because it is a lot darker and everything, does that present new challenges for the actors or the writers? Is that harder to sort of work in the humor that you guys always get in there?

Colin Morgan:  Well what’s great this season is that it struck a really good balance. As dark as the stories go they never go of in (unintelligible) the realm of complete darkness.There’s always an element of fun to them there in a sense that as dark – the darker it goes almost way to cope. And that’s something that I think Merlin really appreciates is that the darkness is  always there and that the characters are still themselves as dark as the stories go.

I was also wondering if you prefer going off the legend as we know it? Is that more fun for you guys or is it harder to do that?

Colin Morgan: It’s always more intriguing actually you – whenever you get the script done and, you know, it’s called something quite like, you know, (Lancelot like), you know, that’s sort of the story of  kind of original kind of legend. So it’s good to have develop, you know, the preconception of how it’s going to be. So I think when things veer slightly off of that in a fantasy way in the way that Merlin does it, I’m always intrigued by that.But equally so, whenever those iconic images. Excalibur are performed right in front of your eyes that’s also huge and exciting.And I think that’s what works about the show is the two blend very well together.

I guess one thing I want to ask you is about Merlin and Arthur’s relationship.Can you talk a little bit about how we’re going to see that grow and change over the course of series four?

Colin Morgan: Yes I’ve mean it’s one of the most iconic relationships in the legend. It’s very much about bringing Arthur to the point where he can really be king that is fit for him and that he’s fit for himself.And in the fourth season we see them grow apart a little bit actually. There’s a new character called Agravaine who’s Arthur’s uncle who goes on the scene who very quickly he realizes he’s not all that he seems. He’s exactly where Merlin should be.And it’s about Merlin trying to regain that position to try to get by Arthur’s side to be there for him and to get him to make the right decisions.Because as things very quickly change and Arthur gains more responsibility and it’s exactly what Merlin should be.  It’s about  friendship.

Colin what is your favorite Merlin to play? Is it the sort of clumsy funny Merlin or the dramatic Merlin or that great Dragoon Merlin?

Colin Morgan:  I would say I mean it’s the variety that I like. It’s the facets of the character. It’s that part that fascinates me.It’s the – it’s I think variety is the spice of life and getting a chance to place yourself in (all) directions being (unintelligible) parts where there is a complexity that I enjoy the most.

So at this point does Merlin believe Morgana is beyond redemption or does he still hope that he can save her from her dark destiny to be her greatest enemy?

Colin Morgan: No, she’s beyond redemption. I think that Merlin – Merlin’s definitely come to that conclusion. He’s given her chances. She’s – he’s tried to show her the good prop.Merlin knows that if magic part of you then you choose where to pick it. It doesn’t choose you. And he’s always chosen the good path. And she’s just gone by further, further. She’s kind of a bit power hungry now and she just wants – she wants power for herself and she wants the throne and she wants it all for her. That’s irredeemable. And she is his ultimate nemesis in the series.

Does Merlin continue to resent the fact that he must keep his magical abilities secret or is comfortable hiding in the shadows and being the man behind the great man?

Colin Morgan: I think it’s very frustrating for Merlin. He really wants to – I think, you know, his great objective, his great dream is to live in a land where magic is free under the rule of the greatest king ever known.And if – he wants to be right in the open that people can live and gather that there isn’t the segregation, that there is no hiding anymore.And yet for him it’s usually frustrating because it’s a lonely existence and, you know, to – for to – for him to live without (unintelligible) day and night.So whenever the time comes that (unintelligible) but a lot (unintelligible) the times he was right I think Merlin will grasp with the full hands and ensure the future of magic.

I’m getting the impression from all the things that I’m seeing online right now is that season four is going to be a bit of a game changer in regards to the whole Arthurian legend. Is that – am I off base on that?

Colin Morgan:  Yes it’s definitely moved in that direction I feel because the characters are maturing. It’s moving more towards the legends that we know.And as our characters grow up we’re become more synchronized with the legends that we know because of characters grow older that’s when some juicy stuff could start coming along. And we certainly start fading into that stuff in this season.And there are some huge iconic moments that any legend will recognize and anybody who doesn’t will probably be intrigued to find out a bit more.But it’s definitely driven more towards the legends. But that was never the theme of the producers and the writers anyway.It was always to have, you know, legend of the business and have a sort of layer to work off and tell stories and you’re not expected with. And that’s certainly the theme that’s carried throughout this season as well.

What attracted me to this series was the fact that, you know, throughout – you know, growing up I read all the different variations on Camelot and the Arthurian legends.And what I liked about it is that Merlin – this one is focusing on Merlin’s, you know back story. I mean Merlin to me was always a mysterious character and I, you know, I like that.But I am also – is he going to be – in season four and five will he be taking more of that puppet master role that I was used to seeing in a lot of the previous stories in previous tellings of this legend?

Colin Morgan:  Yes that’s a big thing actually coming up in this season because that’s absolutely what Merlin’s striving towards.He’s gaining wisdom and a certain kind of power in that wisdom and certainly imparts a lot of Arthur. And you’ve seen Arthur listen to him a lot more. You’re seeing Arthur in fact change the way he’s thinking sometimes because of what Merlin says. But they’re also growing a little bit further apart. So it’s – Merlin has to work awful hard to try and be heard.And hopefully by the end of the season you’ll see that the relationship has come to the point where maybe they’re ready to set rules and set grounds and perhaps become a good team to rule the kingdom.

Why do you think the Camelot legend has such staying power in pop culture?

Colin Morgan:  I think because it’s problem that  stayed right through the centuries is because it’s been retold and retold and – in different ways so you’re never saying just the CM legend all the time.It  started out as a legend then Tennyson did them, you know the wants and future King. We’ve even got the Disney version of it. We’ve got everything.It’s just been retold and retold and added to and added to. And that’s something that we’re doing as well in a (in fantasy) setting.And that’s something it seems to be a timeless topic that people constantly seem to be inspired by and moved by.It’s just a platform for a lot of different things – magic,  loyalty, friendship. It covers all the grounds. And that’s something that I think works in any time in any age.

Wanted to find out in what ways have you seen Merlin further grow and develop as a character in season four? And have you discovered any new acting challenges would you say associated with that growth?

Colin Morgan:  A big thing is the maturity of the character this year. He’s really, really studying what Arthur is going through.You know, he’s actually in a way experiencing what Arthur is experiencing. Arthur has got so much on his plate.And the kingdom is in its most dire need of strength at this stage. And it’s very much about Merlin engage in exactly where he is and what he should be doing.He gets – at one point in the season four he gets the biggest opportunity he’s ever going to get to change Arthur’s opinion about magic. And he takes it and it’s a big risk and he does and it’s one of the boldest decisions he’s made.And as an actor it’s interesting to really study the emotion he has about – that he’s going through. And in terms of friendship what’s – what do you do for good friend when they’re going through hell and yet you’ve got such a motive to make sure he gets through the other side to the future? And for again, a little bit of selfish reasons because Merlin wants to live in a land where he can be free.And so he’s got to keep everything as a balance and he’s got a lot on his plate. He’s literally, you know, juggling plates it’s – at one point.But there are bigger stakes and bigger objectives. And, you know, I don’t think Arthur’s never been in as much need of Merlin as he is now. The only problem is he doesn’t realize it.

I also wanted to ask you about Merlin’s relationship with Gaius in season four. Maybe you could tell us a little bit about that and also what’s it been like working with Richard Wilson in the series?

Colin Morgan:  Richard Wilson is an absolute gentleman. You speak to anybody on set or any of the cast members and they will have nothing but praise for him. He is a pleasure to work with and an (honor).And the relationship between Merlin and Gaius is one that I love hugely. I think it’s fantastic.And what’s great there’s an episode this season which takes the two of them away from each other for a while.And it’s really interesting to see how Merlin reacts when Gaius isn’t around because maybe you don’t realize how much he needed him until he’s gone.And it’s a really interesting episode about their relationship and the love that they have for each other.And my guess at some point Merlin is going to use Gaius and he’s not going to be around forever. And it’s just a taste of what that will look like and how it will be like.And that really, you know, at the minute Gaius is the only one that really Merlin can confide in. So if Gaius wasn’t around, you know, it – life becomes even more lonely.So it’s a really good relationship. It’s a father son relationship. Merlin was, you know, was always sort of a father relationship and it’s always been missing in his life. And Gaius and him are very much a sort of surrogate father and son.

Tony Tellado:  Hi Colin. It’s great to talk to you again after seeing you this summer at Comic-Con.

Colin Morgan:       Oh yes? How’s it going?

Tony Tellado:        Good. One of the mantras I guess for season four is magic and more magic.  Will we see Merlin’s powers kind of evolve a little more this season?

Colin Morgan: We do quite a bit. He’s – I think one of the big things is the power of his words and – in this season and understanding that, you know, magic is good for a lot of things but sometimes you’ve got to talk to your friends and you got to understand what they’re going through and think more and use things more wisely.I think from previous seasons we’ve seen him use magic very sporadically and very instinctually. And although he is – it is his instinct sometimes he needs to put the brakes on and say hold on, what’s best for me, what’s best for Arthur? What’s best for the kingdom?And those are questions. He’s becoming up a lot wiser now. He’s becoming a lot more clued in to when he should use his logic and how he should so that’s something that’s really, really interesting.

Tony Tellado: And have you heard anything about season five? I know you’re going to start shooting in a little while.

Colin Morgan:  Yes in fact we know nothing about it. They keep things so secret from us for quite a while. We only find out really like three episodes at a time.So when we started season four I only knew episodes one, two and three. And then once we finish shooting those we get four, five and six.So I know nothing about season five. I only know that season four ends on such an intriguing note that they cannot do a fifth season and you’d have a lot of very upset people if we ended on that I note .

Special thanks to Gary Mierneau and John Singh. Special kudos to the SyFy Channel and Freemantle Media. Part two of the transcript coming soon. Look for my podcast special on Merlin with cast on January 2nd.