User blog comment:Cartoonprincess/Was The Arc a Mistake?/@comment-4130061-20110821194605/@comment-4184884-20110821205720

I don't think it was sudden. I suppose I could see how someone could feel that way, but I personally think their relationship has been developing and changing over the past four seasons. They went from enemies to frenemies to more friend than enemy to friends who simply played like they were enemies because it was their game and they were afraid to stop playing for fear of what would happen to where they are now.

I think it could seem sudden if you missed out on some of the subtler clues, but I really don't think it was at all personally. This relationship was a long time coming. That said, I think that there are some unanswered questions and loose ends in regards to their relationship, and that's why the arc is necessary. The arc is necessary in order for them to have a good, stable, and believable relationship.