Board Thread:Rewatching "Merlin" - Season Three/@comment-5102537-20130914110054/@comment-5102537-20130924114846

ErinKenobi2893 wrote: When I said that Uther was provoking Arthur, I'm referring to a scene in "The Poisoned Chalice." When Merlin is dying and Arthur brings back the antidote, Uther has Arthur arrested for disobeying him. Uther comes to visit Arthur in the cells and they have a nice little father-son conversation (please note my sarcastic tone.) At the end of it, Arthur asks Uther to take the leaves of the Mortaeus flower to Gaius so that Gaius can save Merlin's life, but Uther refuses, closing his fist around the leaves and crushing them. This ceases to be punishment within reason at this point-- Uther is, in the plainest of terms, allowing Merlin to die and for what?! To get back at Arthur for disobeying him. THIS IS NOT DISCIPLINE. THIS IS BRUTAL REVENGE. Uther may not be trying to provoke his son, but he is being horribly callous of his subjects lives is he not? And that is the best possible way to make Arthur mad.

You can find the discussion about "The Poisoned Chalice" here:

http://merlin.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:72394

The subject of punishing Arthur has been discussed there. Maybe you'll find it informative.

Err, and no need to call me "master"...