User blog comment:Edrea/Why so many bad things happened because of Merlin?/@comment-4495575-20130619065059/@comment-5102537-20130625124933

"In the early seasons, he protected him less because it was the right thing to do and more because he believed that Arthur wasn't ready to be King."

The first time that it was clearly demonstrated that Merlin only helped Uther because of Arthur was in "The Sins of the Father". Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't remember another episode before that one where it was clearly stated that Merlin didn't just follow his moral code but only helped in order to keep Arthur happy.

In "A Remedy to Cure all Ills", Gaius and Merlin didn't even reconsider for a second whether or not it was a good idea to heal Uther. It came naturally to them to save him from death. In "To Kill the King", Merlin was tempted to just let it happen when Morgana plotted with Tauren. He was angry and sad about Tom being killed, but Gwen opened his eyes by saying that killing Uther wouldn't make them any better than him, and Merlin agreed when he realised that Gwen was right. It was a lecture in not giving in temporary emotions but acting morally right. This was what defined Merlin's character up until season four, with the exception of "The Sins of the Father".

Merlin also helped Uther (together with Gaius) in "Love in the Time of Dragons" from the manticore's poison. Then in "The Tears of Uther Pendragon" where  he even came to look after him at night, in "The Crystal Cave" and in  "The Sorcerer's Shadow" from Gilli's wrath. In season two he also saved his life in "The Fires of Idirsholas" and in "The Last Dragonlord". In none of these episodes was it mentioned or stated that he only did it to help Arthur because especially in "The Fires of Idirsholas", Merlin risked everyone else's life when trying to save Uther.

Whatever Merlin's true reasons were, it was only "The Sins of the Father" and only up until that episode that the audiences had even reason to believe that Merlin did it all only for Arthur. Every other episode demonstrated Merlin's moral code and that killing others is no solution.

While you're right, ReganX when considering season four and five, I think it was a very disappointing move to subsequently make Merlin only protecting Arthur and giving a damn about others. This is what changed Merlin as a character and when he said that he "grew up".