While the show's first two seasons stretched out its characters' back stories to the sometimes-tiresome breaking point, Merlin's alternately dark and hilarious third season gets on with it, Monty Python-style. Prince Arthur (man-candy Bradley James) and servant girl Gwen (Angel Coulby) finally get their relationship moving, Morgana and Merlin throw down, and the battle for Camelot's progressive future — where magic and humanity can at last live in peace — is, well, sorta, waged.

Season 3's smart, accessible spectacle is further enhanced by a roll call of new faces, including sci-fi and fantasy veteran Warwick Davis (Willow, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and a gauntlet-full of Harry Potter guest stars. The series is also swimming in sexual and political subtexts, whether it's pitting male potency (Uther and Arthur) against female power (Morgana and Morgause, played by Emilia Fox), or so-called normal humans against perceived magical terrorists. (Can't we all just get along?)

Wired.com picks Morgan's clever brain, and explains some of Merlin's new and recurring characters, in the gallery above.

Authors: Scott Thill

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