Am also peeved at the show. And I agree that in most of the episodes this season he's taken a big step back in terms of how he interacts with people. I don't think the same is necessarily true of his willingness to question orders but I think the overall impression is not a positive one as far as character development goes.
I think I'm more positive about this episode because, together with parts of 2.6, it feels like Arthur is more or less where he is supposed to be at this point in his arc. Certainly it feels like he's closer than he has been at any other part of this season. And yes, he still has to be prompted by Gwen into stopping the execution but that is one of the most public, obvious challenges to Uther's authority that he could make so I'm willing to make allowances for a bit a push in the right direction this time :-)
I think from the starting point of Arthur 2.6-2.7 and assuming a reasonable character arc (something that is by no means certain given season 2 so far) it's possible he could be ready to be king by the end of season 3. If he goes back to early season 2 Arthur he could be ready to draw a pension before he's ready to rule though.
Short version - I agree it would be good to see and episode where he doesn't need Merlin's magic to save the day and doesn't wait for Gwen's prompting to do the right thing. And while we're on the subject, it would be nice (and necessary for the character development) to have an episode where Merlin realises that magic can't solve everything.
And while we're on the subject, it would be nice (and necessary for the character development) to have an episode where Merlin realises that magic can't solve everything.
*g* Agreed. Poor Merlin - that magic really is a double edged sword. It's part of him, and he relies on it, but at the same time he never seems to get any joy from it. The one time we see Merlin having fun (although let's not go into the foolishness of the where and when) it all comes tumbling down around his ears. I'd love an episode where Merlin was forced to rely on Arthur and Arthur was forced to rely on himself. (The fan in me assures me that this happens all the time, but it would be nice to SEE it at least once.)
I think I'm more positive about this episode because, together with parts of 2.6, it feels like Arthur is more or less where he is supposed to be at this point in his arc. Certainly it feels like he's closer than he has been at any other part of this season. And yes, he still has to be prompted by Gwen into stopping the execution but that is one of the most public, obvious challenges to Uther's authority that he could make so I'm willing to make allowances for a bit a push in the right direction this time :-)
I think from the starting point of Arthur 2.6-2.7 and assuming a reasonable character arc (something that is by no means certain given season 2 so far) it's possible he could be ready to be king by the end of season 3. If he goes back to early season 2 Arthur he could be ready to draw a pension before he's ready to rule though.
Short version - I agree it would be good to see and episode where he doesn't need Merlin's magic to save the day and doesn't wait for Gwen's prompting to do the right thing. And while we're on the subject, it would be nice (and necessary for the character development) to have an episode where Merlin realises that magic can't solve everything.
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*g* Agreed. Poor Merlin - that magic really is a double edged sword. It's part of him, and he relies on it, but at the same time he never seems to get any joy from it. The one time we see Merlin having fun (although let's not go into the foolishness of the where and when) it all comes tumbling down around his ears. I'd love an episode where Merlin was forced to rely on Arthur and Arthur was forced to rely on himself. (The fan in me assures me that this happens all the time, but it would be nice to SEE it at least once.)
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