Only Friends- Nick breaking my heart
The more I kind of ruminate on the first two episodes, the more I just become so worried for Nick. With Mew, like most of us, there's a suspicion that he's manipulating his situation, that he's not nearly as innocent as he presents, virginity aside. But Nick's behavior, while not innocent...is almost guileless.
Watching that first episode and his reaction to Boston, the reveal of the photo on the phone...
it's so bold. And it leads us to believe that Nick's operating about at the same level as Boston, that it's about attraction and sex only.
But to watch this second episode, and Nick's interactions with Boston, it's so heartbreaking and stressful to watch.
He's being so open with Boston, talking about his insecurities, and then the conversation about what they are, and Boston offers fuck buddies or friends with benefits. And it's so clear that that first advance on Nick's part was him taking a giant leap of faith for Boston because he was genuinely attracted, and he wants more than just those two things.
And it just breaks my heart, to see him be so genuine while Boston is literally just toying with him, and also far more focused on how he can get Top. Poor Nick is barely even an afterthought, and it just makes me feel so sad.
I don't know how to feel about potential resolutions. Would it be great for Boston to recognize the depth of adoration Nick has for him? Yeah, but adoration doesn't make a relationship that can stand the test of time, at least not alone. Would it be nice if Boston fell for Nick? Yes, but that clearly isn't going to happen overnight, and so even if he comes to that realization, Nick may be gone for good. And I wouldn't blame Nick for choosing not to forgive and forget, to learn you've only been used by the person you were falling for more and more everyday...that's a difficult thing to reconcile.
I'm just not certain there's a realistic way that everyone in this show will really get a happily ever after. And it's not required, life doesn't often end in HEA's. But I'm a soft-hearted romantic at the core, and as flawed as all of these characters are, I want them to have love and connection and family.
I guess that's really all I have to say. Well, one more thing, Mark and Neo are doing wonderful work, but Mark especially is shining in this role. It feels so different to me from anything he's shown us before.
