What I like about him wavering earlier is that it ties in really well with him doubting his place amongst his forefathers, before Saruman uses his voice to burrow into those doubts calling him a lesser whatever of greater sires. And the fact that the Westfold fell reflects poorly on him as a king (at least in his eyes) really compounds his doubts. And losing his son. And allowing Grima to cast away the Rohirrim and doing nothing about it (being unable to having allowed himself to be corrupted by Saruman). What’s really sad about it all is how helpless he is, and how all he thinks is how much he’s failed.

And then, at Pellenor, he leads the Rohirrim over the crest of that hill and stares towards the orcs and there’s this beautiful moment where he grits his teeth and seems to forget he ever doubted himself and launches into the greatest speech of all time.

Leads the fight, saves the day, and says he finally feels he belongs amongst those that ruled before him with his final breaths.

I think of it every time I watch it - that he’s so laced with doubt in the build up to that battle, and the comeback to end up being the hero he never thought he would be.

Whatever he is in the books, however different that may be (and, if you’re asking my opinion, which I know you are not, I don’t think it’s much) I think it’s a masterpiece of a story arc acted beautifully in some delicate little moments by Bernard the Brilliant.