The series pilot premiered February 25, 2011 as a special preview after the season finale of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, and began regular weekly airings on Friday, April 1, 2011.
The show both follows and alters various aspects of the classic Arthurian legend, following the deeds and interactions of the primary characters of (Merlin, Arthur, Morgan le Fay, knights of the round table, etc.), beginning with the discovery of King Arthur and the famous castle of Camelot. The show draws upon Arthurian historical fiction, Welsh & Celtic mythology, and is set in the post-Roman exeunt of Britain.
The show stars Joseph Fiennes as Merlin, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young King Arthur, Tamsin Egerton as lady Guinevere, Claire Forlani as Queen Igraine, Eva Green as Arthur's half-sister and nemesis Morgan le Fay, Peter Mooney as Sir Kay, Philip Winchester as Leontes, Clive Standen as Gawain.
Plot : In the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther’s unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control. These are dark times indeed for the new king, with Guinevere being the only shining light in Arthur’s harsh world. Faced with profound moral decisions, and the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur will be tested beyond imagination. Forget everything you think you know…this is the story of Camelot that has never been told before.
