This article contains discussions of abuse.

Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses TV show can fix some of the shortcomings of Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy series, and it can finally improve Tamlin’s story more than a decade later. Tamlin is one of the more controversial characters from Maas’ ACOTAR books, as he starts as Feyre’s love interest but eventually becomes abusive. Tamlin is never portrayed as wholly evil, and the later Court of Thorns & Roses books hint at a redemption arc for his character. However, he makes a dramatic shift from the first book to the second, then fades into the background later on.

Needless to say, there are issues with the way Tamlin’s arc is handled in A Court of Thorns & Roses. Fortunately, the upcoming Hulu series will be able to expand on his evolution throughout the series and make more sense of it. In addition to making his journey feel less jarring, the show can also ensure it’s clearer on where viewers should stand regarding Tamlin. This is one of many ways the Court of Thorns & Roses show can improve the source material, and it will help that the series can showcase multiple characters’ perspectives.

A Court Of Thorns & Roses’ Tamlin Story Is Jarring And All Over The Place

Tamlin Changes Dramatically From One Book To The Next

Tamlin’s story throughout A Court of Thorns & Roses feels a bit all over the place, as Maas dramatically changes his character from one book to the next. While there are some signs that Tamlin is possessive and angry in the first ACOTAR novel, there’s not enough to suggest he’ll treat Feyre as poorly as he does in A Court of Mist & Fury. In fact, Tamlin seems absolutely committed to protecting Feyre in the first installment, but he appears to care little about her well-being in book two.

In some ways, it feels like Maas doesn’t know what to do with his character, though many readers are expecting a Tamlin redemption arc to happen.

Book three takes a middle ground, with ACOWAR trying to redeem Tamlin but not going far enough. And the Court of Frost & Starlight novella and A Court of Silver Flames suggest Tamlin is still struggling after the war. In some ways, it feels like Maas doesn’t know what to do with his character, though many readers are expecting a Tamlin redemption arc to happen. It seems like we’re supposed to pity him at times, but his behavior makes him difficult to care about. It’ll take a lot for Tamlin to win fans over again, and a more nuanced portrayal would help.

Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Can Finally Fix Tamlin’s Arc From The Books

The TV Series Needs To Commit To A Direction For The Character

Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses show can finally fix Tamlin’s character arc, especially during the jump from book one to book two. The Hulu series needs to make a decision about Tamlin’s character: whether it wants to paint him as an irredeemable person or whether it wants to portray him in a more nuanced light. If the adaptation goes with the former, there needs to be more obvious signs of Tamlin’s bad behavior in the first season. This will make it harder to get viewers on board with Tamlin and Feyre’s romance, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

If the Hulu show intends to give Tamlin a redemption arc, it should commit to this more clearly. It should make the shift from ACOTAR to ACOMAF easier to digest, writing the character more consistently. It could even benefit from toning down Tamlin’s behavior in the latter book, or it could offer insight into what he’s going through. While it won’t justify how he treats Feyre, it could make a redemption arc more believable. Perhaps the show could even confirm the theory that Amarantha is Tamlin’s mate, offering some explanation for his sudden behavioral shift.

The Next ACOTAR Book Could Help The Show Navigate Its Tamlin Approach

Sarah J. Maas’ Decision Can Influence The Show’s Direction

If the next Court of Thorns & Roses book digs deeper into Tamlin’s story, the Hulu adaptation could use it to shape the character’s journey from the very beginning. While there are ways the ACOTAR show can improve Tamlin’s book arc even in its earlier seasons, it will be easier to do this knowing where his character is headed. That currently remains a mystery, as Tamlin’s Spring Court is in disarray, and he’s navigating grief and guilt in a self-destructive manner.

There’s no word on when the next
ACOTAR
book will debut, but Sarah J. Maas confirmed it’s the next thing she’s working on.

While you could argue that Tamlin deserves this fate, it feels like his arc is meandering and going nowhere. Maas could have written him off, but she has chosen to keep Tamlin around in recent books. That means he’s likely to regain a bigger role and try to make amends at some point in the series. Maas making a decision on what to do with Tamlin’s character could help the Court of Thorns & Roses show determine what path it wants to take with him. And any insight she offers will be useful to the series’ take on his character, too.