Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-14138255-20180109165438/@comment-14138255-20180109183154

Something I really want Merry to get into their heads is actually put Ozpin into some doubt on whether he is a good guy. Nothing he has done is evil, only utter sociopaths (and they are out there) would use the villain's motives as a sign that Ozpin is clearly evil.

Something they could have at least done with Hazel's backstory is let Hazel tell the backstory and have Ozpin be unable to refute it. Or hell, just not have Ozpin explain it at all if he was going to be so objective about it.

Imagine if this happened in Star Wars:

Luke: How did my father die?

Obi-Wan:...Your father is Darth Vader, and I killed him on a lava planet because he killed all the Jedi.

EPISODE V

Darth Vader: Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.

Luke: He told me enough! He told me you killed all the Jedi!

Darth Vader: He didn't tell you that he was jealous and he was holding me back!

Luke: No, that's not true...that's impossible!

Darth Vader: Search your feelings you know it to be true!

Luke:....no, it's not true. I feel it, you're just projecting.

It doesn't work, saying it objectively doesn't make someone look evil unless what they did was frankly questionable or stark, so Merry trying to paint Ozpin as someone we have to doubt is time that is wasted on all but the most simple viewers.

Now Ozpin taking over Oscar against his will? MUCH better, that's clearly more morally grey and can be construed as more dubious in intent (especially in that it ruined whatever chance Oscar's diplomacy could have provided).