I said on your review comments actually, how I kind of agreed with you on the Uther front. I thought the first scene had a great balance to it. I thought the scenes where Uther was in the castle were done really well, but I think it lacked a tad explanation. For a show that has it's own character for exposition, it really wouldn't have been difficult for a slight reference to the fact that an escaped spirit would be vengeful. I always want more of Uther though. It always seemed a little bit too early for me, when he left. ALthough I've liked some of the things and stories explored that couldn't have been done with Uther there (and I loved his death ep), I still think there was a lot more life in the old dog before they killed him off. I know the point of the legend is 'King' Arthur, but since they threw Lancelot under a bus, sticking to the greatest hits of the legend doesn't seem to be high up on the producers wish list.
I love disecting Merlin as a character too, I think he's so interesting and layered, but there is definitly something about Arthur that makes him suprising as a character. I think you are probably right about his approach to leadership; that maybe it isn't suitable as a King. I think that makes me root for him a bit more though. That he has all these character flaws/strengths that don't suit his job at all. But he's there anyway. It's an interesting dilema over whether he should change his morals to actually do his job well and be sucessful. Like you said in your review, ultimately what Uther said was probably bang on accurate about how to run a successful kingdom. Arthur is a good man, but maybe to be a good king you can't be a good man. Would he be a better King if he actually had Merlin being truthful with him and using his skills. Merlin has that bit of stubborn vengence. Would that work better if he had the power to work that beside Arthur, rather than behind his back?
I said on your review comments actually, how I kind of agreed with you on the Uther front. I thought the first scene had a great balance to it. I thought the scenes where Uther was in the castle were done really well, but I think it lacked a tad explanation. For a show that has it's own character for exposition, it really wouldn't have been difficult for a slight reference to the fact that an escaped spirit would be vengeful. I always want more of Uther though. It always seemed a little bit too early for me, when he left. ALthough I've liked some of the things and stories explored that couldn't have been done with Uther there (and I loved his death ep), I still think there was a lot more life in the old dog before they killed him off. I know the point of the legend is 'King' Arthur, but since they threw Lancelot under a bus, sticking to the greatest hits of the legend doesn't seem to be high up on the producers wish list.
I love disecting Merlin as a character too, I think he's so interesting and layered, but there is definitly something about Arthur that makes him suprising as a character. I think you are probably right about his approach to leadership; that maybe it isn't suitable as a King. I think that makes me root for him a bit more though. That he has all these character flaws/strengths that don't suit his job at all. But he's there anyway. It's an interesting dilema over whether he should change his morals to actually do his job well and be sucessful. Like you said in your review, ultimately what Uther said was probably bang on accurate about how to run a successful kingdom. Arthur is a good man, but maybe to be a good king you can't be a good man. Would he be a better King if he actually had Merlin being truthful with him and using his skills. Merlin has that bit of stubborn vengence. Would that work better if he had the power to work that beside Arthur, rather than behind his back?
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