the point of nathans character is
a) finding his own identity as a blood growing up with fains
b) bridging the gap between the two groups.
the same way he doesn’t have to pick a side, he doesn’t have pick one of them. it’s both of them. it can be both of them because the relationship he has with both of them (people and groups of fairies) are different but not inferior to the other
annalise’s arc is detaching herself from the fain community long enough to see that bloods are equal to them/not the cause of the war. IS IT NOT perfection for her to fall for nathan (claiming he couldn’t be a blood because he’s too good of a person, so in spite of the fact that he might be one) and then for gabriel (regardless of the fact that he’s a blood, because she’s realized that it influences his personhood 0%)
gabriel as a character is a lot more detached from the politics of the show so it doesn’t relate to the plot specifically but more so his personal issues. he’s all alone except for a handful of friends that very easily turn against him, never fully tying himself to anyone. the way that he bonded with annalise and nathan is special because he’s never had that before, never had anyone to go back for. when he talks to his ex, he gives him the line “someday you’ll have to see something through” and when gabriel says it back, he doesn’t say it to one of them. annalise is the one who asks, but he looks at both of them in the eyes before replying. he has to see this thing through. with both of them because they’ve both become part of his inner circle, the people he’s chosen
apart from the way the relationship adds to their personal arcs there is just. the funsies of the way they work as a trio
nathan and annalise have the sweet friendship to lovers. they know each other and have cemented they’ll stay by each others side. it’s something they needed to be able to go through the first couple of episodes and stay sane, that foundation of having something to fall back on.
adding Gabriel to the mix adds a healthy dose of lightheartedness to their interactions though. gabriel has gone through his own shit and he’s learned his attitude of nonchalance and poking fun at his misfortunes which the guys desperately need by the time they reach him. especially the gabriel/annalise bickering!! its fun and entertaining, especially considering nathan does absolutely nothing but get amused by them rather than try and resolve anything. but especially because it could be so much deeper than it is (ie hate each other because of politics) but it’s not. they just find each other the perfect level of annoying.
it’s embodied perfectly in the scene where she buys him the lighter. she’s genuinely trying to get in his good graces, he’s just. being annoying. “I didn’t say I didn’t want it I said I’m ungrateful”. he appreciates the gesture, since I’m sure he actually cared about the lighter, but he won’t let it on. just to keep things interesting
and it’s perfect because they always manage to make you see how it really is all surface level crap. when they’re crushing the fain to death before the giving ritual, gabriel takes her hand because he realizes how hard it is for her and because he doesn’t actually want anything but the best for her. and annalise let’s him!! because her care for him has been masked but it has been there, and she can actually accept comfort from him.
nathan and gabriel’s chemistry and likability is not something to explain I don’t think so I guess my last point is. their trio moments just hit different. they always seem to happen when stakes are highest and/or one of them just nearly died and it’s reason they all feel so much more honest and real.
I know people are already using the scene after Annalise removes the poison from Nathan as a him holding his hand over annalise but. so clearly it is a scene for the three of them. in the chaos and panic, gabriel encourages and believes in annalise. when nathan comes back to, he hugs her because he’s important to him and takes Gabriel’s hand for the same reason. it’s such a moment of the three of them coming out unscathed, I only wish you could see gabriel and annalise also holding hands
the scene after gabriel comes back for them at the bar. he goes back for both of them, and they both go back for him when they hear him outside their door. it’s nathan to pull the guy off, but annalise to check on him. it’s then gabriel to hold nathan back, and annalise to ground him. they all work as a group to move forward, and those moments are not of two of the people only. it’s all of them
the same goes for ep 8, finding annalise again as jessica is tormenting her. my girlie has had one hell of a night, and both nathan and gabriel reach for her at the same time. gabriel’s line is “we’re here”. both of them.
and finally the last scene. again, it’s each of them going back for the others. gabriel knocks soul down, but it’s annalise who saves them both from soul. most immediately Gabriel, but it’s about the entire situation. they’ve become her people, ‘I’ll spend the rest of my life thinking about you’. she can’t bare to see them threatened or hurt, and soul is only the shell of her father. so she makes her choice
