#should note that in hindsight what britain did to malta was the equivalent of a demented stockholm syndrome

[fumblingmusings]

I wish Malta would get an appearance because I feel you could get a series of jokes revolving around them (ideally a her) and Arthur's relationship. Either for why don't you love me jokes or something a bit more nuanced. Reasonings are:

Malta has been host to several odd fanatical religious groups and switched ownership between multiple hands multiple times. One reason Britain won out in the end was because they would allow the people to speak Maltese, which went down a treat with the local population.

During the war, if England was America's unsinkable aircraft carrier, then Malta was Britain's unsinkable hospital ship. The assorted sieges of Malta, the legacy of nursing and hospitals, and the general protective nature of Britain to their independence gives way to the idea of a rather caring but almighty stubborn character.

Malta at one point very much wanted to become a part of the UK, not as a colony but on equal standing as England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or, at the very least, a Dominon like Canada, Oz and NZ. Despite being repeatedly refused home rule at various times in the 19th Century, they flip and then at some points it looked like Britain was trying to shake Malta off only for them to cling real stubborn, like no 😠 love me.

Of course, it's more complicated than that, and when integration to the UK failed, it kind of set the precedent that UK overseas territories would not end up like in the French or Dutch model and instead would not be fully integrated into the country...

Anyway. Malta. I think you could get quite a funny character out of them. Very devoted to God, nursing, and just a little bit too cosy with the UK bros in a way that they find really off-putting (what do you mean you want to stay? Nobody wants to stay. Who hurt you, Malta, to make you like that? Wait. Don't answer that question). They still give the UK points at Eurovision to this day. Like that is dedication and loyalty right there.