Is it just me, or was Merthin useless? *spoilers*

Okay, as I said, do not read this if you want the series spoiled for you, but for anyone who has seen it, they know its already spoilt.

Anyway, as my topic notes, was it just me, or did anyone else find Merthin to be completely and utterly useless? Both as a character, and in a fight? I mean, the guy could not beat up anyone...so much so that in the final episode, a little boy has to save his life. A child has to save him from getting killed...and we are meant to be rooting for this guy and Caris to get together.

(Btw, this is me talking about the show, not the book which I know is far superior.)

First fight against Ralph? He lost.

He took abuse from his master, who was a coward (he committed suicide when he got the plague, unlike others who braved it with a 50/ 50 chance), and only stood up to him once, when he was hitting Caris. Didn't stop to help her when she was getting violated on the table though. Rest of the time, bruises.

He gets into another fight with Ralph. He lost.

Final Fight with Ralph. Saved by a kid. Even a former knight with one arm who has not wielded a sword in 10 years is a better combatant than he is.

So when the show is trying to get us to root for him and Caris (who was a really boring love interest, nothing like Hayley Atwell. I personally blame the script and actress equally) it was like watching Timber dry...but less wooden.
And why did we not see him bury his wife and/ or kid? They just dissappeared. The wife got boils, but what about the kid? We never hear from her again. And if people are going to say 'Well, they did not want to show a child's burial, too disturbing' I say what about when they showed Wulfric and Gwenda burying their child? Even the King's daughter got an offscreen ending.

Ah, but I digress. The show was lacking in everything.