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The final season of 'Merlin' on Syfy, Jan 4 (VIDEO)

By April MacIntyre Dec 27, 2012, 21:11 GMT

For three years, Camelot has known peace and prosperity with Arthur as its benevolent king and Guinevere as his beloved queen. But even the advice and counsel of their trusted adviser Merlin cannot prevent what is about to happen.

Tune in alert as Syfy's "Merlin" airs this January 4.

The fifth season sees evil threaten Camelot’s Golden Age...Friday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, Only on Syfy

From Syfy

For three years, Camelot has known peace and prosperity with Arthur as its benevolent king and Guinevere as his beloved queen.  But even the advice and counsel of their trusted adviser Merlin cannot prevent what is about to happen.

The destiny of a kingdom is at stake as the fifth and final season of MERLIN begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Jan. 4, only on Syfy, with new episodes of the globally popular series scheduled to air every Friday.

In “Arthur’s Bane, Part 1,” the first part of a two-part season premiere, Morgana has reappeared after a mysterious disappearance – as Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table learn very quickly.

“Camelot is under threat once again,” explains Angel Coulby, whose portrayal of Queen Guinevere is one of the most startling changes immediately apparent in this first episode.  “Gwen has been left to look after the kingdom while Arthur goes away. Everything that has happened to Gwen has been working up to this point.”

Adds Katie McGrath, who plays Morgana, “In Season 5, Gwen is now the Guinevere of legend” – and, as for Morgana herself: “The period between Seasons 4 and 5 is the most important character-defining time for Morgana.  Everything she has feared about being magical has come to pass – she has been discovered, she has been locked in a dungeon, and the fact that it did has helped push her down the road to her own destiny. This has given her the extra push to be even more malevolent.”

“Arthur’s Bane, Part 1” finds Morgana in wintry exile, obsessed with finding a mysterious object known only as “The Diamair,” or the key to all knowledge.  To aid her relentless search, Morgana has taken prisoners from throughout the kingdom – including Sir Gwaine and Sir Perceval, who toil in the depths of Morgana’s lair while plotting their escape.

 Merlin and Arthur join the effort to find the Knights, but it’s only a matter of time until they are captured themselves – but not before discovering that an old acquaintance is also back in Camelot, a mysterious Druid named Mordred.

 Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham co-stars in “Arthur’s Bane, Part 1” as Ruadan, whose hatred of Camelot makes him a perfect match for the evil Morgana.

“Arthur’s Bane, Part 1,” an all-new episode of MERLIN, airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Jan. 4, only on Syfy.  All four previous seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD, on iTunes and on Netflix. Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.