Let me join you on Reading Way Too Much Into Things Island
Personally, I don't trust any of The Pitt interviews or treat their interpretations as canon. But, this still got me thinking... what if Garcia doesn't like loud noises (due to PTSD or otherwise), and what if that's a sensitive topic for her? So sensitive that she's not willing to share this info with someone she doesn't feel emotionally safe with?
If that's the case, I could see Garcia having agreed to watch fireworks because she convinced herself she could handle it, but then as it approached, she started realizing, 'oh, maybe I'm not up for this after all' ("I may need a raincheck" S2E6), before finally admitting to herself that she can't do it and she isn't comfortable saying so outright ("I made other plans" S2E9)
Hmm, who else never speaks directly about her feelings and instead pushes people away?
What's making this buzz in my brain is that Garcia then says, "I'll try hitting you up tomorrow." Recontextualized, this would then comes off more as, 'I still wanna hang out with you, just not tonight (and I don't want to seem like I'm trying too hard)'
AND THEN, the "we're just keeping it casual, right?" also feels more like Garcia checking, 'we said nothing deep, yeah? So, you won't push to know why I'm flaking, and I won't push to tell you?' And Santos agrees immediately, solidifying that, 'yep, that's what's happening here!'
Because then the ramen comment in the next episode doesn't read as harsh either; it's no longer coming from the person who canceled on Santos last minute for asshole reasons, but rather from the person who's being equally deprived of emotional support. It becomes more of a bitter, 'you aren't trying to know more about me, so I'm not gonna continue listening to youâthat's not fair. We're nothing serious? Then great, hit me up for sex and ramen, leave me alone RE Langdon and whatever else'
That's harsh, but it's not as one-sided/power imbalanced anymore
And if those two pillars fall, then the Parkour Girl comment is vague again. There goes pillar #3. And it makes Santos' perception of how Garcia views her in S2E12 less reliable as well. There goes pillar #4
So what's left solidly standing? (A) Garcia's poor treatment of Santos with Langdon and in the stairwell, and (B) Garcia's obliviousness or careless disregard for the fact that Santos has become attached to her
For (A), don't get me wrong, I still wouldn't love either of those scenes. But they don't sting as much if Garcia actually does care about Santos. In fact, that changes everything. Because, just as Santos is extra-mean to Whitaker due to him being her bestie, if Garcia and Santos have truly formed a deeper bond that neither are willing to recognize, then Garcia's severity probably is more the tough love that the writers were going forâkey word being love (or "strong like," or whatever, you get the idea)
FTR, regardless, I will not excuse the "call a therapist" line. That was some bullshit and deserves a proper apology
As for (B), again, it's petty and immature, but if Garcia is also attached but just better at hiding it, then she's not using Santos as a "stress relief squeeze toy." Rather, these are two people hurting each other, and Garcia won't admit that she's aware of this until Santos admits she wants moreâaka, she's playing "confess your feelings for me" chicken
All together, this means that their relationship still isn't healthy nowânot by a long shotâbut there's a better chance that they could get there someday
Unfortunately, I don't think any of this is very likely. (Sorry!!) But Garcia's dismissal in the stairwell didn't appear to be layered with secret yearning. She simply seemed annoyed that her hookup wanted To Talk. However, could that've been an acting/directing/editing issue? Maybe? Barring the ambiguity of the Parkour Girl comment, Garcia's sweetness in the last episode would make more sense/feel less like playing games so, who knows
But ty OP! Your post made me realize that, if just this one moment of Garcia blowing Santos off is given a proper justification, then the ship might have viable sails yet ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ