When do you think Ressler fell in love with Liz or realized he had feelings for her ?
And when do you think Liz realized she had feelings for him?
That’s a tough question, anon. Honestly, I’m not sure Ressler has dared to admit to himself, even now, that he’s in love with Liz. I think he’s getting close, though, after the Brothers final scene and Liz kissing him in 8.01. I hope he is. I want him to admit it not only to himself but to tell her how he feels because she needs to hear it.
In terms of when Ressler first realized he had feelings for Liz - I think he had genuine feelings for Audrey and he respected Liz’s marriage until it began to really fall apart so I view most of season 1 as more the building of a friendship/close bond, but I can’t deny that there were a lot of looks in there that certainly signaled there might eventually be more than friendship between them.
Regardless, I think at some point after 1.20, when Liz’s marriage was revealed to be a sham, his feelings towards her slowly began to shift, especially when he believed that Tom was dead and later that Tom was at least out of her life permanently. Even Tom seemed to pick up on it when he joked in 2.08 “what are you, her boyfriend?”
Even Diego teased the directions they were being given midway through S2 but the will they/won’t they always hung over it.
The way Ressler looked at Liz during that birthday dinner in 2.17 definitely signaled some genuine “more than just friends” interest.
I think those feelings contributed to that tension filled scene in 2.22 when he let her go, to Red already picking up on those feelings in 3.01 “what you know about her, what you feel about her could make all the difference,” to Ressler nearly choking Tom in the hallway of his apartment building in 3.02, to his emotion throughout the manhunt, and to him kicking that gnome into oblivion and having a one night stand with Samar in 3.07 when he learned that Tom was back in her life.
But then we had a pregnancy and a spinoff, Liz was freed, went back to Tom for two seasons, had his child - I think Ressler buried the feelings he had for Liz deep down at that point, figuring it was futile.
I only began to see Ressler’s feelings really resurface and build throughout Season 6 after Tom was dead and Liz returned to the Task Force after her injuries, and especially after 6.08 and all their banter. It felt like we were starting to pick up where S2 left off - finally.
For sure by Season 7 - this moment early on was a clear signal to me that there were things he wanted to say but hadn’t gotten up the nerve to say yet.
As for Liz, I think she also let herself see him as potentially more than just a friend during S2 and especially during that birthday dinner date in 2.17.
But then she shot Tom Connolly, her self-worth plummeted, suddenly she didn’t consider herself a “good person” anymore. She returned to Tom, had his child, endured that child being kidnapped, and then Tom left and was eventually killed and Liz went on her revenge quest. With all that going on, I don’t think Liz ever really looked at Ressler as more than just a good friend again until Season 6 - and especially 6.08 - when she saw how Hannah, his hired date turned girlfriend, felt about him. Suddenly, she saw him in a different light.
And I think they built those feelings authentically over S6 and S7 as he became her main confidante until finally, by Brothers, Liz admitted she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
And Ressler’s reaction to that spoke volumes - I think it was the first time he allowed himself to believe that she felt something more than just friendship for him too.
And all of that built, of course, to that kiss in 8.01. They’ve so far avoided any meaningful discussion of that moment, but I hope it’s coming as S8 progresses. It’s time for him to admit his feelings! Thanks for the ask!
kianamaiart
gracieabrams
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
2087
areudirty
stormborns
origamiaround
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
