I finally realized what specific brand of resentment izzy has for Ed and Stede …
It’s watching your ex be a better person for someone else.
Izzy has given Ed his everything for decades. He stood by Ed’s side, he supported him, he killed for him, he undoubtedly went through so much pain and suffering for him. And all Ed ever gave him in return was roughness and cruelty, which Izzy didn’t have any problem with, he loved ed and he was willing to take what he can get.
but suddenly there’s Stede.
Stede does essentially nothing to win over Ed, no blood, sweat, or tears, actually Stede does things that could be considered disrespectful, so Izzy waits patiently for Ed’s wrath, the only thing he’s always been able to count on.
… but it doesn’t come. Instead Izzy watches Ed fall in love with Stede. All the soft touches and quick glances, the laughers and kindness that has never reached the light of Izzy and Ed’s relationship.
Izzy has to watch Ed become a better person for stede.
It reminds me a lot of the good place scene where Eleanor watched her mom being a good parent to another kid and she refuses to believe it.
“Izzy why can’t you believe that Edward is a good person. That he’s a kind and loving partner, who genuinely cares about Stede”
“Because I wanted that Ed. I wanted the captain who thanked me after I almost died on a mission for him, instead of being told ‘to stop whining cuz it’s your job’. I wanted the Edward that was willing to make room in his life to for someone to be his equal, to co-captain with someone who deserves it. why does bonnet deserve it??
If Edward has really changed for stede bonnet, that means he was always capable of change. I just wasn’t worth changing for.”
So anyways that’s why Izzy sets off Ed at the end of season 1, he wants to prove to himself that Ed didn’t actually change, because admitting that Ed changed was admitting that he wasn’t worthy of Ed changing after all that time.
Also here is that good place scene for anyone who wants to watch it
