User blog comment:Fimber/Nine questions about "The Wicked Day"/@comment-4135736-20120625091758/@comment-209.73.132.53-20120626192108

It was absolutely obvious and out of question that Merlin did not want to heal Uther before he saw his chance for re-establishing magic in the land. Every glance and body and facial expression showed it when he told Arthur that, no matter how hard it is, he has to accept it. Also, he didn't mention the possibility of healing Uther with magic just one single time before Arthur said that only magic can heal Uther. When Merlin later talked to Gaius about healing Uther, Gaius was more than surprised and even shocked. This indicated that Gaius had heard of it the first time in this particular situation.

Merlin definitely did it only for his own and other sorcerers advantage. True, he had helped Uther before, even when risking his own life, so fearing for his life and safety or the possibility that it didn't even occur to him to help Uther with magic can't be the reason. It's not that Merlin has never healed anyone before, even when he had difficulties. When he healed Morgana, he asked Kilgharrah for help, when Uther was dying because of the bugs, Merlin used magic. He used magic on several occasions, always at the risk of being caught. Just not this time, and the reason is that he simply did not want to. He acted indeed cold-hearted and very seflfish, and I am sure that it was the writer's intention to show us that he has "matured" and moves closer to his darker side.

What he felt when Uther was dead wasn't exactly sorrow or sadness. He did not regret that Uther was dead because he didn't mention it just once, neither did he mention that he was sorry for Arthur. What he felt was self-pity and great disappointment that his plan had failed, no less, no more. Did anyone see anyone grieving about Uther except for Arthur who grieved for, I don't know, a few hours? Every word from Merlin showed undoubtfully that he did not feel sorry for Uther or Arthur but only for himself. And this is not a question of interpretation but it was shown during the entire epsiode as well as during the rest of the season. There was no sorrow for Uther and no sorrow for Arthur, maybe a tiny bit compassion for Arthur. When Merlin talked to Gaius after Uther's death, he did not mention Arthur and his loss just once. Doesn't this ring a bell? If a parent of my best friends died and if I would feel responsible for it, I would at least mention my regret and sorrow towards the one I'm talking to. I would feel sorry for my friend, and most of all, I would have tried everything in my power in the first place instead of coldly saying "yeah, it's hard, accept it. Get over it".

It's a fact, Merlin did not want Uther to recover but he wanted to restore magic. Uther was just a chance and a tool. Uther as well as Arthur were necessary sacrifices, collateral damage. I loathed it. This was not the Merlin we have come to know.