Fox is a Jerk BUT he cares: A Not-so-Mini Discussion (w/some analysis) of Fox and Wolf's Relationship in Don't Eat The Neighbours
While the romantic moments with Fox and Wolf are very sweet wholesome and domestic, like the slow dance in "Dances with Terrapin"
They actually have quite a bit of toxicity in their relationship (It gets better dw, they aren't doomed).
Well, to some extent it can be from both sides but it definitely leans more towards...
Especially in the Episode, 'Wolves in the cold', 'Fox comes to stay' and 'Happy Birthday Mr. Rabbit'.
Before we start, I would like to note some things first!
Fox is a "Millionaire Playboy". (This will be important later) He refers to himself as this in the episode, "Vote for Lucy" (The clip is under the same name)
Fox is my favourite character (other than Wolf). Some of my hits at him may seem harsh at times but also he's my favourite lovable pompous jerkwad and I think I should be allowed to clock the bs he gets away with in this show.
Starting with the MOST INCRIMINATING EPISODE, but also the chronologically early episode of his issues. In "Wolves in the cold", Wolf says no to his kids when they want to buy a popular video game and they decide to FAKE a RANSOM with the help of Fox to get the money.
This situation is obviously VERY EMOTIONALLY and MENTALLY STRESSFUL for their literal father who is so scared and worried for them and their safety. Fox, then recommends he uses to money he gets from his relatives (we WILL talk about his shitty family in another analysis) to pay for the game, but unfortunately he had spent all those funds already.
So Fox starts with what sounds like an offer to pay it himself BUT this MOTHERFUCKER switches it up and says that he's just gonna lend him a table to SELL all of Wolf's stuff for the ransom money. Mind you this man is RICH, he is a millionaire and does this? And not only that he has the balls to ask this very distressed man to pay him COMMISSION FEES for his help. You can watch the scene yourself. It's actually insane. (Funny ass hell but so so cruel)
The even more insane thing is by the end of the episode, after Wolf's kids come back, he hides and KEEPS a portion if not all of the money earned from this fake ransom. It's such a scummy thing to do and by the end of it Wolf, thinks he was such a helpful and supportive friend and it just ends there.
That being said. It was a masterful play by Fox that shows his competence as a character but why would you pull ALL THAT on the guy you CLEARLY HAVE A THING FOR??? Unc please lock in :((
In the Episode 'Fox Comes to Stays', Fox is moving his stuff out of his house to get his room redecorated and Wolf is helping him. Fox is in an exclusive Canine Club and Wolf wants to get in to find his place in England. Fox doesn't think he should join and then gets a letter from the Club itself.
He thinks it's some sort of appraisal from the President, only to get kicked out for "undignified behaviour" on Quiz night. He then decides to use Wolf wanting to be in the club to his advantage by saying he'd teach him how to be more "civilised" He also HAS THE AUDACITY TO SAY, "you can pay me later" because he's helping him? YOU'RE RICH?? STOP MAKING HIM PAY FOR YOUR TIME??
Anyway, the whole episode Wolf is basically Fox's personal butler, as he follows through with everything that he says to potentially join the club. His children even get in on this when, they find Fox's letter and blackmail him.
Wolf eventually finds out that Fox was playing him for a fool, but it's too late since he only realises after Fox's redecorating is finished. It ends with him threatening to break Fox's house door down, because YEAH I'd be pretty pissed to if I was used like that for What? Like a week or more? A lot of it is just Wolf suffering tbh and mid-way when Wolf crashes out, Fox manipulates the situation so that he can say that was the outcome he actually wanted. Again THIS IS THE MAN YOU YEARN FOR AND YOU DO THIS TO HIM??? YOU COULDN'T JUST ASK?? It does end pretty well though for Wolf, with him getting a new TV that day as well.
In 'Happy Birthday Mr. Rabbit', it is quite minor as there are still some wholesome moments in the episode. In the episode, we get a scene that mimics going to a therapy session. Wolf is venting to Fox about his own personal traumas and problems. Now this would be very sweet and comforting, if it wasn't for the fact that in a humourously cruel way, Fox was not listening the whole time. Opting for his earphones instead.
Dude is literally in the zone while his crush is trying to be vulnerable with him. Also note that he has a pencil and notepad, implying that he was prepared to help listen to his problems and still zone tf out. This whole decision leads to him giving him the wrong advice (weight management advice) unrelated to his problem.
Wolf is genuinely offended by this responding with, "Okay, I'll be having traumatic flashbacks of this moment for the rest of my life. So, you might want to show me your best side."
Which is reasonable considering he had been so open with him about his past traumas, only to be completely unheard. Fox does end up giving some good advice by the end of it though.
So with all these examples (yeah those were just examples...), I believe one could suggest that Fox has a lack of empathy for people and is capable and HAS in fact taken advantage of Wolf on multiple occasions, at his expanse, for his own personal gain.
While yes, he cares about Wolf, all these example could imply that his interest and attraction to him is less sincere due to the kind of crap he is willing to put him through in his own self-interest.
So where does that bring us?
Is that it? Fox x Wolf are actually toxic asf? Does Fox actually give a shit about Wolf as a person???
WELLLLLL, this is where the wholesomeness comes back.
Lucy Blows Her Top A.K.A Fox does care SINCERELY about Wolf
This episode in particular is really special because this is one of the few times we really get to see Fox be vulnerable for a change.
In this episode, Lucy gets really anti-wolf (this is the best way I can summarise what happened) and she makes a prank call tricking Wolf into thinking his identity as a Wolf had been revoked. So, the now named non-wolf, Steve, breaks the news to his kids and Fox. And this whole episode is implied to be after about a year after the Wolves had moved to England. Wolf Sorry Steve makes the decision to move back to Canada for the sake of his children.
And what I find really interesting in this episode is there is some clear development in Fox and in how he treats him compared to the past examples. Fox as GREEDY as he is, actually offers some solutions that would require him to LOSE MONEY himself.
He tells him, "My dear, this isn't a problem. Just tell me who you want me to bribe." and "Surely there's another way. A private tutor perhaps I'll have one flown in."
There is a certain desperation in his approach here when he realises he can't convince Steve to change his decision that really shows how much he cares about him staying the UK. Him changing from "haha, you can just pay me later", to actually locking in and coming up with very plausible alternatives for him to go through with that would be at the expense of losing his own money. Plane tickets don't grow on trees!
This, for me, was one of the moments in the episode that really shows the shift in Fox's priorities and makes it very clear to the audience he does really care about Wolf. The episode continues to show us this with Fox often expressing sadness to the idea of Wolf leaving in not so subtle with him mumbling under his breath, saying what he truly wants to say. (It's As if he's hoping Wolf would read between the lines so he doesn't have to say it directly.
It could be a stretch, what I'm suggesting here but I believe Fox is ashamed to admit that he actually really likes (loves, let's be fr) Wolf even though, he was literally ogling him the first day they met. He himself seems afraid of vulnerability, which may also lead to him being very non-receptive to vulnerable situations (like the Therapy Scene). Btw, not to excuse his actions, just trying to dissect his mindset.
And by the end of the episode he come so close to openly confessing it, when he is interrupted by the door. That desperation to not have them leave for me really showed much he cares about Wolf being in his life. He needs him, whether can admit or not.
Which considering all the examples of his selfishness, really shows that he's developed in some aspects to truly come to care for Wolf.
So The Toxicity in the old man yaoi is detoxifying!!! (in a good way)
Also working on this before any of my many unfinished Wolf x Fox sketches which I hope to post soon!!!
