Based On What I've Seen From Fandom, I Think A Lot Of People Misunderstand What It Means To Call Mel

Based on what I've seen from fandom, I think a lot of people misunderstand what it means to call Mel a political manipulator.

It does NOT mean that she's an evil schemer who lies to get people to do things they don't want to do.

What it means is that she knows how to be persuasive, how to get people on her side, and build points of support for her own ends. It means she knows How To Win Friends And Influence People. It means that she knows how to be "the fox" - how to exert influence without needing to resort to force. It means being able to "bend other people's magic".

And she very much is those things. That's how we're introduced to her, she flatters Hoskell so that he votes with her on the council. That's how we see her behave in her flashback in s1.

Mel being manipulative is not a flaw, it's a skill.

And the way that she uses her skills on Jayce is really interesting. Unlike with Hoskell or whoever, Mel is only ever honest with Jayce. I think that shows a certain respect for his intelligence, and also that she had an accurate read on his character: he is a sincere and honest guy - when he's on trial in front of the council he can't bring himself to lie about his work. It's by being utterly honest with him that she gains his trust, she puts herself on his team, and in doing so is able to make the case that their interests are aligned, that by following her advice Jayce will be able to advance his science.

The really fun thing with Mel and Jayce is that Mel is clearly someone who likes to hold all the cards and be in control of the situation. She gets Jayce on the council to better promote her interests. But then Jayce keeps surprising her. And every time he does - she takes a chance on him. Both on the council, and in their personal relationship.

He shakes things up for her, and he doesn't even realize he's doing it. And every time he does something that surprises Mel, whether it's confiding in her about Viktor or reaching a peace deal with Silco, he just automatically trusts her to be on the same page as him. And that surprises her too, but she opens herself to him. And they have this partnership that we don't see her have with anyone else.