HEY GIRL,trying to get into tlw Era here..I wanna see a rant why you LOVEE BarkOlson..👀👀👀 that's all!
Okay i’m ngl i’ve spent the most part of my day writing this down coz I am absolutely crazy abt them LMFAO (tears in my eyes) 😭 This is a long read I am sososo sorry. I just couldn’t help myself so plz feel free to send me questions for any further clarification. Coz i have far too many thoughts abt them which probably all got jumbled up here 😭 Even questions!!! Coz erm yeah, clearly i like talking abt them LOL
I’m going to try and be coherent as possible, but I probably will repeat points I’ve brought up before, BUT!!! I will also try to bring in new points coz i cannot stop thinking abt them <333333
BarkOlson, to me, is THE enemies to friends to lovers. The ragebaiter x ragebaitee. The guy who self isolates as a way to cope x guy who desperately doesn’t want to be isolated. The guys who see eachother before they see their own selves. The guys who would rather die than admit they like eachother, but would miss the other if they were gone. The guys who go through a roundabout trying to define what they are. Do we hate eachother? Do we just make eachother laugh? Why do I even care? Because the answer is you. Who have fallen in too deep before they even realise and that terrifies them.
But they keep coming back.
Dramatic af ik LOOOOOL!!! But I am so enamoured by their push and pull. Because I do absolutely find it hilarious that Gary’s first speaking line is in response to Hank’s joke. Pull. And then Hank doesn’t get it dismissing Gary who gets angsty. Push. That Hank is the first one to say something when Gary does his shoe thing and then continues to be the most vocal abt Gary’s shitty plan. Pull. Which then ofc leads Gary to get angry and curse him out before breaking off. Push.
Actually speaking on the bridge scene (wow aren’t they so sweet to eachother!!!) But I’ve always thought, even before I shipped BarkOlson, that part of the reason Gary does his shoe shtick is that just before he does, Hank is praising Stebbins for taking a warning early to understand a limit. Hank’s right, it is objectively smart. Except Gary misinterprets Hank’s praise and tries to do the same thing, but takes it too far. Taking 3 warnings instead of the 1. That maybe if he plays the bigger risks he gets a higher reward. But we know he doesn’t and again, Hank is the one who lets him know that.
Gary who takes needless risks and is rather impulsive, vs Hank “you gotta be prepared” Mr. adjustments. They couldn’t seem anymore different from eachother and they would agree with that!!!
Except, they die right after eachother. That before they do they both experiences forms of isolation. Hank’s who’s isolation is moreso self inflicted. The cost of keeping himself “”together”” in order to avoid death. Whereas Gary isolation is his own fault, yet he makes multiple “”attempts”” to include himself in even they are in bad taste. I’ve already talked abt this point so I won’t go in too much detail.
So it’s insane too me when both were vocal about having a plan to win the walk. Gary was bullshitting tho, saving face. He still said it! And for Hank he did believe he did have a plan, but couldn’t live up to it (Coz we do see early in the movie him struggling more compared to the others) (This includes Gary who was skipping up the fucking hill)
As much as they bicker, these guys are pulling similar shticks!!!! Who are playing the role of a bigger man than they really are. Only for them to show their most vulnerable selves, the part they were keeping hidden, when they are about to die.
Sosososo. Guys. hear me out.
What if they explored their vulnerabilities.
It definitely isn’t intentional. It would be a nightmare scenario for either of them initially. Coz come on, Gary isn’t exactly a picnic to be around and this doesn’t bode well with Hank’s straight forward of talking. Who isn’t afraid to call Gary out. It should not happen at all
But they do have similar humours…
This is probably where it all starts with me
I lovelovelove the idea of Hank finding amusement in teasing/messing with Gary. (coughcough go read Short Stack on ao3!!!) And obsessed with the idea that the humor that Hank displays, is what Gary secretly admires whilst also being smthing he deeply envies
Because that’s the thing with Hank vs. Gary. I strongly believe that Hank is the guy Gary wishes he was. Someone who is able to draw people in and effortless blend in with the crowd. Who can get people laughing with him and not at him. That even when Hank gets short with ppl, it’s never enough that ppl are offput by him. They continue to be by his side rather than push away.
Hank can do what Gary can’t.
This is where I get this ragebaiter x ragebaitee dynamic. Gary is always trying to insert himself in the group. He tried genuinely at first, but when he got shot down he doesn’t try to be any kinder. You could argue after Ewing death and him trying to “cheer” them up was another attempt that’s a 50/50 for me tbh. But I digress. Instead Gary is mean spirited. Always making offensive jokes to rile up the others
Bridge scene again, but we see that Hank is not afraid to call Gary out on his BS. Hank is the one who keeps going after everyone has settled. He still had to point out to Gary how stupid it was even tho Gary was trying to play it cool. Hank keeps going. Maybe he just can’t fathom why Gary would do smthing like that. It’s stupid. He’s never do it but Gary takes that risk anyways. It’s like a question unanswered when the answer should be obvious! But Hank doesn’t know the answer. Only Gary does.
So to me at the start of their relationship is that. Gary thinking that he can try and mess with Hank/the others and Hank meeting him halfway. Instead of taking it, he challenges Gary. Flips the script on him and flusters Gary more. Is quicker with it and doesn’t typically react so sensitively to what Gary says or does. Like yes he will not tolerate what Gary says, but at the same time he’s going to have some fun with it. And in turn this enrages Gary who doesn’t like having the lesser hand, but Hank won’t give in. Push and Pull.
Bridge scene blesses me coz it makes me crazy thinking that even tho it’s best to just ignore the other. Both are too mouthy, full of their own versions of pride to ignore the other. So they would be sizing each other up. That one of them is taking the bait. Who will speak the loudest between them? Who will fall first?
Yet even crazier. That despite this whole song and dance in actuality, we see these two guys are actually pretty sensitive. Gary is more easier to tell. He has issues, yet Hank has his moments. That for all the jokes he likes to make, he can get in his head leading him to snap and even self-isolate/disassociate under duress.
So imagine Gary’s surprise when he realises that it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for funny guy Hank Olson. Imagine Hank’s surprise when Gary takes notice of that. That Gary can’t help himself from needling him because why would you ever want to be purposefully alone when you have all these people who want to be around you? And honestly? That’s pretty annoying. Gary would be projecting and dismissing Hank’s ways which would start that more personal turmoil between them
Ik i post alot of sweet, goofy BarkOlson, but I have plenty of angsty, moodier thoughts for them as well. Trust I will be drawing those
Taking this, it’s just the image of them being so similar but so far apart and how they could potentially navigate that. Hank who tries to push Gary away because Gary doesn’t get it. And Gary doesn’t, but it’s these differences that can pull them together!!!
There have differences that confuses them. That cause conflicts between one another, yet they have similarities that make them drawn to eachother. so drawn to eachother that it makes them want to understand what exactly makes them so different yet so similar even when they don’t purposefully mean to do so.
I really think they are parallel eachother really well. Like they are two sides of the same coin
It’s what pulls Gary to push at Hank. To try and understand him even when he doesn’t realise that’s exactly what he’s doing. It’s what makes Hank open up just a bit even tho Gary is the last person he expects to open up too.
And when they do open up, bit by bit, and begin to see where the other is coming from. Understand those differences and see those similarities. It creates a connection. That’s the scary part here.
Hank and Gary who can go from annoying eachother, to making each other laugh, to frustrating eachother that they give each other the cold shoulder. Who then lay awake at night thinking about eachother. Slowly figuring out the pieces they don’t understand because deep down. The other does get it. But it’s so hard to admit and it’s easier to make eachother laugh instead. Hank who feels the need to be prepared for anything he can be prepared for, except for how he feels about Gary.
Gary who wants to hate Hank but can’t help but admire him. Whose admiration turns into more when he truly gets to know Hank outside of his admiration turned relatability and understanding. That connection he’s been searching for
I just think, and find really funny, that these two could bring out the best in eachother. They just don’t realise that it is eachother and when they do. It pisses them the fuck off LOOOOOOOOL
Even just personality wise!! They can bounce off eachother really well!!! They are both rather vocal guys who joke around, even if one is more successful than to other. They both like to talk!!!!! They could make eachother laugh so bad and even have so much fun trying to outwit the other!!!
And even then I think they can be sososo sweet but sosososo messy. Like 2 emotionally closed off, but sensitive boys at heart and you put them up against eachother? And they’re both annoying???? Guys this is the enemies to friends to lovers ever!!!!!! The drama!!! They could be clawing at eachother one second, coz someone took the bit too far and then holding eachother like they’re the last person they’ll ever hold!!! Before pretending like it never happened because being vulnerable with my enemy? Nope!!!! But he’s kinda funny!!!
I have so many specific BarkOlson thoughts but I want to keep this general coz this is already long but covers up the base of my BarkOlson thoughts.
I, hopefully, have a fic coming out that explores Gary’s developing feelings for Hank which I hope better articulates what I’ve said her :3c
Again i am so very free to answer more abt my thoughts on them!!! Just send me an asks :3c
If u read this far I’m so sorry but also want to give u a huge kiss or hug whatever floats ur boat!!!