#T5W – Books / Shows I Felt Betrayed By

Top Five Wednesday is a fabulous group on Goodreads where, every Wednesday, we get to run down our top 5s of various subjects. This week –

Beware the Ides of March! What books (or characters) did you feel betrayed by, for whatever reason…big or small.

So, it’s pretty difficult to really think of something I felt truly *betrayed* by. I have that more in TV shows than in books, thankfully. But I will list here the 3 books and 2 TV shows I felt let down by – bar number 1, which I DID feel betrayed by, since it was supposed to be my ultimate series.

5. Merlin – Their Treatment Of Mordred *spoilers*

Above is Alexander Vlahos, as adult!Mordred, and Bradley James as Prince Arthur.

Merlin was my favourite TV series for a long time, (especially series 2, the most consistent) despite occasional dodgy episodes and acting from some guest stars. The leads, particularly Colin Morgan as Merlin, were incredible. Then, in the final season they introduced Adult Mordred – be still my beating heart – who was a fascinating, wonderful character. The fact he was destined to kill King Arthur, and that Merlin
was shunning him instead of helping him, despite Dreddy boy being the absolutely adorable puppy faced dude, and so loyal / appreciative of his Knighthood…. why would he turn against Arthur, the person who believed in him? What could POSSIBLY cause him to do a 180? Though he was criminally underused it was a question leading up since SERIES ONE when he was played by Asa Butterfield.

And how did the writers get him to finally turn his loyalties against the Knights, Arthur and Camelot?

A woman. A woman we had NOT seen, had not heard about, and whom the writers just introduced at the last second, so that he had a reason to be angry when she’s promptly killed by Crown Law for trying to blow up the King.

NOW LISTEN HERE. FIRSTLY women are not just created to be fucking killed off for a man’s game, that’s old now. SECONDLY the audience didn’t give two flying fucks if the character was killed, nor did we understand Mordred’s heartache, since you a) didn’t introduce even a mention of her by Mordred who was supposedly in love with her all this time, b) threw her in an episode as the most single-handedly unsympathetic character because she wanted to kill off Arthur, a beloved lead, for rushed reasons, and c) WAS SO UNDER-DEVELOPED IT WAS SHAMEFUL.

Mordred could have been SUCH a complex villain, and it would be so much more interesting to have him turn against Arthur or Merlin for more sensible reasons other than “oh shit, yeah, we have to make Mordred bad at some point, better give him a doomed love interest!”

Second thoughts, this has to be #2 or something. Just imagine it’s #2.

ALSO THEY DIDN’T DO THE BIG REVEAL TIL THE LAST EPISODE WHERE WE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO TRULY REVEL IT ok I’m done, I’m done now, ok.

*breathe*

4. Ember in the Ashes

Less betrayed, more… let down? There was so much melodrama I didn’t know where to look, and then the characters seemed, as my Mother puts it, “thinly sliced” so they didn’t really hit me in the feels. I DNF’ed this one. I understand people adore this book, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t get the point of it.

3. Rebel of the Sands

Another disappointed, let down moment. I couldn’t imagine this world, the romance felt contrived, and I wasn’t invested with why she wanted to get to this masterful, mythical city. Again it felt a bit melodramatic, though I know it’s popular. A classic “it’s not you, it’s me” moment. I DNF’ed again.

2. FREQUENCY – Raimy’s Fucking Actions

Now, this series was ***amazing*** until the point the female lead COMPLETELY IGNORES EVERYTHING SHE HAS LEARNED UNTIL THAT POINT AND GOES AGAINST EVERY SINGLE IDIOM OF REASON KNOWN TO MAN DUE TO STUPID ‘HELL WITH IT’ IMPULSES SHE’S ALWAYS MANAGED TO CONTROL.

I haven’t even watched the next episode of this. I was just… like… “WOMAN!” Why did they write this wonderful, strong, determined and rational woman as someone who goes against the knowledge she’s had? She basically put ALL her eggs in one basket, relying on her father to complete his mission 20 years ago,  (it’s wibbly wobbly timey wimey). Like.. WAIT until your father has said he has successfully done it before you ruin your present life!!! JESUS.

I got so annoyed, it kept me up at night. I’m not kidding.

Even the fucking TV poster is ripping off Twelve Monkeys, COME ON.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I know this is probably going to be a shocker for some people, but I really didn’t like the ending to Harry Potter at all. I was about 18 or so when I read this I think, and I was SO prepared to get into it. I just… didn’t feel it.

My disillusionment started around Half Blood Prince but worsened with this. I was confused, it didn’t make sense, a lot of it seemed to digress into pointless tales, I did NOT understand the point of the Deathly Hallows at all, while it made a pretty cartoon in the movie I still didn’t get it, and generally I felt like I’d lost half my love for all the characters. The only bit of it I liked was the beginning, where they’re at the wedding, then they’re in London fighting bad guys and almost getting run over by buses.

Maybe one day I’ll do a re-read of this with a fresh, unprejudiced mind. But it’ll take a while.