I love how Will brings out totally different sides of himself depending on who he’s with. Like, what does his vibe with Leno say about him versus his vibe with Gabe, Mack, or Will Vote? Which of these friendships do you think brings out the 'realest' version of Will? Could you provide some insight as to how his dynamic differ with the four?
I find it hard to compare Will’s dynamic with any non-Mack entity simply because we have so much less footage and content of those relationships. But based on old BC clips, articles, and the elaborate mind palace I’ve constructed for myself, here’s how I see it.
WillSquared (WillWill? WillVote?)
This is the friendship that brings out the most unfiltered, unbothered, and unpolished version of Will. You know that childhood friend who’s seen you in diapers, held your hair back after five tequila shots on an empty stomach, and listened to your three-hour rant about the guy who ghosted you after saying he wanted you to meet his mom? That’s the vibe. The kind of friendship where you can sit in complete silence for hours, doing absolutely nothing of interest, and it never feels awkward. Where nobody worries about social niceties because he already knows where the fridge is. No need to offer him a Coke or a protein bar. He’s basically a permanent fixture in the house.
Thinking about how Gabe has said before that he and Will think very similarly about things, this feels like the friendship of #twinsies and #samesies. They’re the same flavour of weird. Neither one needs convincing to do something stupid and fun. They’re probably the pair everyone finds mildly annoying at social events because they’re always scheming, laughing too loudly, shoving each other, and accepting dares that get them banned from multiple establishments. They’re both extroverted, high-energy, adaptable people. The perfect vacation partners. The perfect roommates. The type of friends who rarely argue because arguing would cut into valuable fun-having time.
Whew, boy. This one feels like a coming-of-age story, tragic and beautiful in its permanence. It’s the friendship that teaches you things about yourself that you can’t unknow, even if you desperately want to return to simpler times. There’s affection there, but also friction. Protection, but also cruelty. I’ve seen your bruises, and you’ve seen mine. Sometimes I press on them just to remind you I know they’re there. I don’t think Will could ever be fully himself around Leno. He was too busy trying to be cool, detached, macho, indifferent, above it all. Meanwhile, Leno seemed to like him best when he was none of those things. Yet he’d still poke fun at the softness he was drawn to, because acknowledging that attraction would’ve meant acknowledging his own softness too. So they spent years orbiting each other. Pushing each other away while keeping each other close. Speaking in half-truths. Never fully saying what they wanted, or who they wanted to be. Then time, circumstance, and fate pulled them apart. Now they’re friends with history.
And then there’s Willmack. I think Mack gets the most complete version of Will. Not because Will changed for him, but because he’d already done the work. He’d faced his insecurities, looked honestly at himself, and decided that his quirks, interests, and unconventional hobbies are worth loving. As a result, he was able to meet Mack exactly where he is and love him wholeheartedly, flaws and all. In a lot of ways, Willmack are a combination of all of Will’s prior friendships. They have the comfort of WillSquared, the spark and tension of Willeno, and the attachment of WillGabe.
But what truly separates this friendship from the rest is, in my opinion, Mack. Because Mack has never learned how to want anything quietly. Generational talent, face of the franchise, and future saviour of Canadian hockey. This is a man who moves through life like weather—impossible to ignore, impossible to contain. When he believes in something, he carries it like a banner. And somewhere along the way, that unwavering devotion turned toward Will. I’ve said this before, but Mack would sooner conclude that the ice is crooked, the coach is blind, and the refs are being bribed than admit Will had a bad game. And faith that absolute can change the shape of a person. To be seen that clearly. Chosen that consistently. Held in someone’s certainty even on the days when your own confidence slips through your fingers. In Mack’s eyes, Will’s already enough. And because of that, Will has morphed into the most relaxed, confident, and self-assured version of himself. He laughs louder, blushes brighter, and plans all their little adventures. And Mack is right there beside him, indulging every single one of Will’s whims. Like a flower turning instinctively toward sunlight, Will is slowly unfolding into himself, knowing Mack is delighted to witness it. To witness him and all of his perfectly imperfect ways.
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