Thank you very much - that's a lovely long answer.

Poor Arthur is definitely suffering, and it's not that you can't see that in the original, but the way it's filtered through Merlin (and his hormones) makes it much more subtle.

I think that's one of the things I love about the story, the way that it feels so realistic (given a universe in which magic gender changes exist) - the attention to the political implications and the existing character dynamic.

Anyway, I'll stop distracting you and go back to lurking - I hope you enjoy the new season. :-)