Tom and Star (and why it’s not over yet)
Before we get into it, please put your shipping preferences aside for the sake of this analysis. I love ships as much as the next guy, but first and foremost, I’m a fan of the show. That being said, let’s get started.
Tom has done a complete 180 in character since we were first introduced in season 1, and for that, I give him major props. He’s at a place where his anger issues are controlled and he’s able to have a healthy relationship with Star…kind of.
Their relationship appears to be going well, openly affectionate and spending quality time together, but as we go deeper, we see they’re on different pages. It’s the little things at first. Going through the photo album, we see how Star remembers these events. Tom sees their second date, she sees the day she got her horns. Tom sees her going away party, and Star can’t even recall him being there.
That’s easy enough to brush off. This was their first attempt at a relationship when they were younger and dumber, before the show had even started. But then there’s the big one.
Not only did he not explode in rage as he once would have at the revelation that Star and Marco kissed, but he didn’t even mention it. He’s seemingly known about about this for a while, and kept it to himself, waiting for Star to tell him. But she never even got close. And now that he finally brings it up and tells her that he wants to talk about it, Star “copes” with this problem by reverting to her past method of running away (something she’s supposed to have stopped doing recently because she learned her lesson–looking at you, writers).
The only thing that stops her from getting away is a literal storm that physically prevents her from doing so. And every rationalization that Tom gives her is met with deflection or silence.
Not once does Star pipe up and tell him that kissing Marco meant nothing to her. Because it did mean something. That doesn’t necessarily mean her feelings for Tom aren’t real, but they definitely aren’t reserved for only him.
And yes, the storm dissipates and Star stays to spend time with him, but it feels like a temporary resolution (if it can even be called that given she refused to talk about the kiss). It seems like the calm before another metaphorical storm between them.
Tom has gotten better at dampening his anger, but he may have done so too heavily. Rather than only seeing threats and insults, he’s now only seeing what he wants to see, and keeping the peace by stifling his own feelings because he’s desperate not to lose her. Meanwhile, Star refusing to engage in conversation with him is the cherry on top of her not seeming to be as engaged in their relationship as Tom is. And it isn’t healthy. They’re both blind to their own feelings and needs, so of course they’re blind to each other’s.
Basically, it isn’t over yet. “It” being their relationship, it’s glaring issues, this conversation, and pretty much everything pertaining to it. And it’s a mess.
But please remember it’s only episode four! Out of twenty-one! There’s time for things to change and fall into place as they should. Take a deep breath.
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