Marcone didn't like the odds in Battle Ground and declined and it cost him the Eye and his castle.

I mean if you're going to try and take Harry straight-up, something that'll let you survive the death curse is pretty much mandatory, the likeliest outcome of trying for it there was a mutual kill.

I both agree, and disagree.  With book examples (and head cannon) Harry's talent in magic falls into three main categories:

1.  Combat magic:  Least technical, relies on his formidable raw power.  Hits really really hard but technical wizards can see it coming, defend, and counter. 

2.  Non combat magic:  Harry is a wizard, capable of all forms of magic.  If he sets his mind to it, and has time, he can pull off really impressive magic.  It requires time, and effort, so not effective in a pinch.

3.  Crafting magical items (blasting rod, rings, bracelet ect).  Jim has said that Harry is Senior Council level at constructing this stuff.  So he has a rare talent for it, think Lucio and how nobody can craft enchanted swords like her.  So this is a legit magical talent, and Harry is expert level. 

So yeah Harry is limited in some ways, but an expert in others.  Give him time to prepare, and he can pull of some incredible stuff.  In combat there are wizards who can beat him, but very few could actually take Harry's best shot.  They need to avoid direct combat with him because he hits so hard that they aren't likely to survive his first pyro blast (if he wants blood). 

Harry is genuinely the worst Wizard in the entire series, it's not really a surprise that he loses to people like Carlos or Namshiel, who have actually heard the phrase "fight smarter not harder" before.

Like, when Harry takes on that team of Fomor Sorcerers in BG he talks about how they're basically loser scrubs that can make big booms but have no skill and real Wizard's laugh at them and I'm just like "Harry, how's about you put the stones down and just enjoy the view from that glass house of yours, m'kay"

Of two minds about this, on one hand yeah he is kind of bad at magic but it's getting a bit exaggerated just how incompetent he is at times. But on the other hand he definitely isn't senior council level considering Ebenezar is running around with a staff blast that's at least 1000x as strong and better coat equivalent and he's not the senior council's enchanting specialist, he's top of the line for his generation when it comes to making things but still can't hold a candle to the older wizards in skill.

I assume you mean Namshiel and his previous host? Fair enough...although past performance isn't always a reliable indicator of future outcomes. Namshiel still has to teach Marcone etc. But that being said, he is the Fallen who has displayed the most magic through his host. Which does make you wonder why not the others...it isn't like angels (fallen or no) have an issue with magic. Must be to do with who they are and how they work.

groinkick
Totally agree, in universe. By rights Marcone has already displayed enough to show he is advanced of Harry and should beat him in a duel, not including Namshiel's tricks in hi previous host.

However. The way Harry talks about Marcone with disdain and being a magic novice etc belies the above. Only one of two possible conclusions can be true. Either Harry is absurdly overconfident/in denial about Marcon's power and skill/talent etc. Which Harry normally isn't. Or Jim doesn't want Marcone to be better...but hasn't shown why that should be true, yet Harry will somehow "prove" Marcone is the lesser despite Marcone clearly can pull off more complex magic.

He's probably right about Marcone being not up to par in a number of ways, because Marcone is supposed to be keeping pace with Harry rather than being better both in terms of brawling and organisation. Marcone could still win a 1v1 if he let Namshiel take the wheel for a few minutes but fat chance of that.

As for why the other denarians don't really make with the magic too much, presumably because if every denarian was a super-wizard on top of their other abilities it'd be just absolutely impossible to balance them as an antagonist.

I don't know that we'll ever see it. It'll probably happen mostly off-screen between the end of one book and the end of the next.

With all the buildup it's gotten that'd be a bit disappointing.

I'd be surprised if there's only two sides in the inevitable White Council civil war (which book is that going to dominate? It doesn't really seem to fit any of the next few book pitches).

The sword didn't spontaneously explode when Murphy misused it, it dropped from her hands and Nicodemus shattered it on the sidewalk.

See, I figure Cristo is just an idiot, and PT/BG reinforced that idea to me. Idk he just seems suck up and too into posturing. He's just in the 'game' of politics. I've always thought Langtry was the other traitor. For various reasons, the look he gave Peabody when Harry outted him being the most prominent. That shark look, idk. It reminded me more of him looking at fellow predator whose been injured during a feeding frenzy. He knows Peabody's been had and doesn't want him to mess up and expose him too. He's ready to take him down rather than being bit too.
I've also always had this idea the Merlin, being a titled position and not a name, might have a mantle attached to it, and that mantle might be corrupted already.
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PT/BG also did nothing to lessen my opinion. Most important battle in years and the Merlin is nowhere to be seen? What really could have been going on that half the senior council was absent? Especially if everyone really wanted the eye.

Or to put it charitably to Cristos, his first impulse is to go for the peaceful option over the violent one.

If the Turn Coat plan had been successful, it would have seen LaFortier dead, Luccio executed, Langtry embarrassed, and Morgan discredited, Harry implicated for his relationship with Luccio (which would be conveniently revealed), Cristos the rising star, and Peabody still in place to manipulate things.

Then, Cristos could accept the peace summit from Arianna, look like he's pushing for peace to save wizard lives, and when things fall apart with Listens sick and the other Seniors missing, he could take control just like he did. If the curse had succeeded, then Harry and Eb would be dead, Harry could be blamed for the illness that swept through Edinburgh after his visit, Listens might be dead, the missing Seniors would have been painted as cowards that hid in the Council's time of need, and Cristos would be the leader of the Council in one way or the other.

It's a quick rise to power for Cristos, who could completely control the Council with Peabody's ink.

Instead, things fall apart, he isn't the undisputed champion of the Council, and he has to change tactics. He has to play nice with the other Seniors, and remain involved in things. He's shown himself to be brave in Changes, so now he's got to keep up appearances. I have no doubt Eb is suspicious of him, so he's sticking close, and Cristos had no choice but to show up for the talks for numerous reasons. And once he's there, he's got to fight for real to keep himself alive and keep up appearances.

Maybe he's just a pawn, witting or otherwise. Or maybe he's manipulated things to put himself in power over all wizards in order to change the nature of the Council itself from the top down, and bring about that corruption he mentioned in Dead Beat first-hand.

And here I thought you were on the Simon Cowl train.

Also if being pummeled by Ethniu was all part of the plan he wouldn't be still mad six months after it.