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Merlin S4E1 — The Darkest Hour (1)

8.6

Merlin•Season 4•Episode 1

The Darkest Hour (1)

8.6/10 · 1,200 votesOct 1, 201144 min

Ranked #3 of 13 in Season 4•+0.4 vs season avg

Evil sorceress Morgana summons mighty gatekeeper the Cailleach, who opens a door to another world from which hellish creatures pour forth. As Arthur and his loyal knights take up arms, Merlin discovers the only thing that will stop them is an unimaginable sacrifice.

Directed byAlice Troughton

Written byJulian Jones

Previous seasonSeason 3 Next episodeE2 · The Darkest Hour (2)

Seasons5

Season 4 Episodes13

The Darkest Hour (1) still

E1 8.6Now viewing

The Darkest Hour (1)

The Darkest Hour (2) still

The Darkest Hour (2)

The Wicked Day still

The Wicked Day

Aithusa still

Aithusa

His Father's Son still

His Father's Son

A Servant of Two Masters still

A Servant of Two Masters

The Secret Sharer still

The Secret Sharer

Lamia still

Lamia

Lancelot du Lac still

Lancelot du Lac

A Herald of the New Age still

A Herald of the New Age

The Hunter's Heart still

The Hunter's Heart

The Sword in the Stone (1) still

The Sword in the Stone (1)

The Sword in the Stone (2) still

The Sword in the Stone (2)

Cast11

Colin Morgan

Colin Morgan

Merlin

Angel Coulby

Angel Coulby

Gwen

Bradley James

Bradley James

Arthur Pendragon

Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath

Morgana

Richard Wilson

Richard Wilson

Gaius

John Hurt

John Hurt

Kilgharrah (voice)

Nathaniel Parker

Nathaniel Parker

Agravaine de Bois

Eoin Macken

Eoin Macken

Gwaine

Tom Hopper

Tom Hopper

Percival

Tomiwa Edun

Tomiwa Edun

Elyan

Santiago Cabrera

Santiago Cabrera

Lancelot

Crew11

Julian Jones

Julian Jones

Writer

D

Dale Elena McCready

Director of Photography

A

Andreas Petrides

Stunt Coordinator

Paul Herbert

Paul Herbert

Stunt Coordinator

A

Arran Topham

Stunts

Tony Lucken

Tony Lucken

Stunts

Simon Reglar

Simon Reglar

Editor

Alice Troughton

Alice Troughton

Director

G

Gary Kane

Stunts

Sian Milne

Sian Milne

Stunts

Andy Bennett

Andy Bennett

Stunt Coordinator

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Episode Summary

"The Darkest Hour (1)" is episode 1 of Merlin season 4. It scored 8.6/10 from 1,200 votes, ranking #3 of 13 episodes this season (season average 8.2). Directed by Alice Troughton and written by Julian Jones, it aired on October 1, 2011.

Next: E2 · The Darkest Hour (2)Best of Season 4