The A Court Of Thorns & Roses onscreen adaptation have become somewhat bleak, the series still has quite a bit of potential to bring both new audiences and much-needed changes to the series. This is especially true of some of the relationships within the books, including the one that sets the story in motion: Feyre and Tamlin.

A Court Of Thorns & Roses' show, barring any further delays, will have its biggest issue adapting this relationship. Feyre and Tamlin spend most of the first book getting to know each other, slowly falling in love before being forced Under The Mountain by Amarantha. The book still ends happily ever after, but some audiences know that by the second book, that is not the case for these two. Hulu's A Court Of Thorns & Roses show should not only showcase this but set the groundwork up earlier than the books by acknowledging Tamlin's red flags from the beginning.

Hulu's Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Must Acknowledge Tamlin's Red Flags From The Beginning

Tamlin's Problematic Behavior Is Not Exclusive To Later Books

Hulu's A Court Of Thorns & Roses show must acknowledge Tamlin's red flags early on, as his problematic behavior can be seen throughout the first book. A Court Of Thorns & Roses goes from being aloof to charming throughout the book as he and Feyre fall for each other, but a part of that is due to audiences being in Feyre's perspective. Despite some of Tamlin's kinder moments, such as the limerick and Summer Solstice scenes, many of his behaviors were very problematic in the first book.

A Court Of Thorns & Roses was published on May 5, 2015.

Tamlin's problematic behavior did not really begin in the second A Court Of Thorns & Roses book. His coldness when Feyre first arrives at the Spring Court only abates due to the constant reminder of his bargain with Amarantha. Even so, his drive to limit Feyre's awareness of what is going on, his actions on Calanmai, and his inaction Under The Mountain are all either cast in less harsh tones or ignored until the second book. Hulu's series must acknowledge these red flags earlier in order to rectify this tonal inconsistency and make Feyre and Tamlin's breakup less surprising.

The ACOTAR TV Show Can Make Feyre & Tamlin's Break-Up Much Less Surprising

Setting Up Those Issues Earlier Will Give Audiences Less Whiplash

By acknowledging these red flags earlier for audiences, the Court Of Thorns & Roses show can make Feyre and Tamlin's breakup less surprising and give Feyre more agency. These red flags were present throughout the first book, but audiences were still surprised at Tamlin's actions in A Court Of Mist & Fury and A Court Of Wings & Ruin. His dismissal of Feyre's autonomy, his aggression towards his court, and his teaming up with Hybern seemed incongruent with his character. However, those warning signs were there but were dismissed since Feyre did not see them as such until later.

This sense of whiplash is a book problem the Court Of Thorns & Roses show can fix by acknowledging these problems earlier. If the series still follows Feyre, having her see those issues early could give her more agency as she attempts to confront him about it over simply accepting it. Failing that, Feyre and Tamlin could still break up, but it would be less jarring for audiences as her reasoning would be made clearer. That being said, the series must also make sure their romance is still compelling, which is a fine line to walk for such a tumultuous storyline.

Hulu's Court Of Thorns & Roses Must Walk A Fine Line Setting Up Its Tamlin Change

Tamlin Still Needs To Be A Compelling Romantic Lead

Hulu's A Court Of Thorns & Roses series must make Tamlin both able for his red flags and a compelling romantic lead, which is a fine line to walk considering the subject matter. While many of his actions are problematic, the series still makes him captivating in the first book and later on through his final actions in A Court Of Wings & Ruin, setting up a possible redemption arc for Tamlin. The series must make sure they do something similar in making him an attractive lead without ignoring his red flags.

Feyre's love and devotion to him would no longer make sense as, even as affection-starved as she was, no one would risk their lives for someone like that.

If the series leans too far in the opposite direction, the story will not appeal to old or new audiences. Feyre's love and devotion to him would no longer make sense as, even as affection-starved as she was, no one would risk their lives for someone like that. It would also erase the hand that Tamlin's trauma had in creating these behaviors, which does factor in even if that does not excuse them. Hulu's A Court Of Thorns & Roses needs to make sure that romance still works or risks losing the catalyst of the story within its first season.