Merlin (The Series)
THE POISONED CHALICE
06-28-2009 9:00PM

ARTHUR RACES AGAINST TIME TO SAVE MERLIN— Posing as a servant girl, the witch Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) enters Camelot seeking revenge on Merlin (Colin Morgan) with a plot to poison him. Meanwhile, Bayard and the Knights of the Western Isles are welcomed to Camelot to celebrate the union between the two kingdoms. Unaware of Nimueh’s true identity, Merlin saves Arthur (Bradley James) from drinking from a poisoned goblet by drinking the potion himself, which puts him in a deep coma. Gaius (Richard Wilson) discovers the origin of the poison and needs to make an antidote to save Merlin. Arthur disobeys Uther’s (Anthony Head) commands and sets off on a quest to save Merlin. Angel Coulby and Katie McGrath also star.

Show Cast: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Richard Wilson II, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Anthony Head

I couldn't stop giggling when Merlin was being told about the poisoning of the chalice...

Hawkins: I've got it! I've got it! The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true! Right?
Griselda: Right. But there's been a change: they broke the chalice from the palace!
Hawkins: They *broke* the chalice from the palace?
Griselda: And replaced it with a flagon.
Hawkins: A flagon...?
Griselda: With the figure of a dragon.
Hawkins: Flagon with a dragon.
Griselda: Right.
Hawkins: But did you put the pellet with the poison in the vessel with the pestle?
Griselda: No! The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true!
Hawkins: The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.
Griselda: Just remember that.

The Court Jester (1955), staring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, and Angela Landsbury

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049096/quotes

I missed the premiere on Father's Day of the first two episodes but I made up for it this week by watching both the episodes that were aired. I'll have to say, pretty sure there's some editing going on. It's subtle, but there's something missing...... I need to go back and watch copy of the episodes and then I'll know for certain. In THE POISONED CHALICE I'm fairly sure when Arthur returns to Camelot with the flower there's a bit more before he gets slammed in prison...... Hmmmmmm.....

I cant believe how badly they thought these scene's through.

The Sorcerer:
What is with the sorcerer and her faces? Does she enjoy contorting her face perversely when she's looking at her own crimes? Who has makeup (that's aton of lipstick!) and a full gown in the middle of the woods? She says she isn't suppose to kill Arther but decides to collapse a ledge below him? Not to mention the beast before this event.

Merlin:
Not much in Episode 4 but ill let the crazy hat pass off as a comedic standpoint but still pretty lame if that's how they plan to make the viewers laugh.

The King:
Simple logic makes this whole episode a vortex of Alzheimer's. The whole point of conflict is that Arther is going to save a servants life but the Kings decides to quickly overlook that Merlin saved his sons life.

If we take a step back and go to episode 1 where Merlin saves Arther's life he IMMEDIATELY says "You saved my boys life, a debt must be repaid".

Kind of odd how Merlin did that exact same thing in this episode but apparently no debts need to be repaid?

Arther:
What is with these fight scenes.... Is it really that difficult to put an animated figure and a person in the same scene for more then 5 seconds? Arther does a forward roll and throws his sword behind him only for us to see his face and hear a sword clanging in mid air? Why is the sword making noise if its being thrown in mid air? I like how we are not able to see any precision of the throw only to just expect that it hit the beast in a spot that "kills it".

The cave scene is just perfect. Arther is checking out the edges of the cave and is going for the flower on the other side. He has a woman basically yelling out words behind him and doesn't decide to turn around till he has to adjust to the collapsing ledge? He then make a whole 2 foot lunge and lands on the ledge. How is now holding all is body weight with 1arm (hes on roids) and swinging his sword with another, not to mention he doesn't even pause to catch his balance after swinging at the spider and missing the first time.

The Physician:
So he finds a flower in a cup and quickly finds it in a book. He notices it's antidote cant only be a from the pedal of that flower (what is he holding?) and clearly spits out the details on where to get it. When he first notices the rash and finds out that the poison had to be enchanted, did he forget about the 20+ people who died from water poisoning in the last episode? He clings so fast to these conclusions but cant seems to put flower enchantment + Merlin dieing = sorceress who poisoned all the towns water. He also sends the "servant" to go find her, while having a huge hunch she's a sorcerer. What does he expect the "servant" to do when she does find her?

He later has a massive breakthrough and tells the king at the disposal of Arther and the other Kingdom.

This episode has cheese all over it.

Your analysis is pointless at worst and funny at best. I could sit down and explain each of your complaints, but if you felt so strongly as to write an entire explanation of each plot point you either disliked or misunderstood, it's not really worth my time.

I will say this... It's just a little adventure series for entertainment. If you can't enjoy it for what it is, better not to watch it.

I agree all of my points are double sided, as they should be. I enjoy the show as the next guy but i feel that they have a baboon deciding on how to pull off the humor scenes. The show in my opinion is still cheesy on how they attempt to do the drama scene.

For example: Merlin puts the "orb thing" under the pillow and cures the father of the sickness. I find it very cheesy that they end the scene with him smiling out a window and expect none of us or Merlin to remember the "orb thing". Cheesy.

He later gets his friend almost killed over using his magic to help cure someone of a disease. Cheesy.

Its all subject to opinion but I think kings has more depth then this show in terms of drama scenes and I've heard it has a Merlin who's the opposite of this one.

Hi People,

This isn't a "reply", it's actually an inquiry.

Does anyone know if this episode (The Poisoned Chalice) is available to download?

I missed most of the beginning of the series and would love to see each of the episodes. Is Season 1 to be released on DVD (US Format) sometime in the (near) future? (God, I hope so!)

Appreciate any help offered. Thanks.