Rambling about Oliver's sexuality/interests
Anything sexual Ollie did with others in the film was always part of a plan, he was wearing a mask, playing the character he thought would yield him the best results.
The stuff with Vencia came after a conversation with Elspeth - he used that info to his advantage, thinking that having Vencia and possibly Elspeth on his side would be good for him.
The scene with Farleigh, (however you interpret it), again was part of a plan. He had observed Farleigh for long enough to conclude that the character to best play in that scenario. I don't think he had it planned for weeks, but I think he observes others and files away information for later use. Oliver went to Farleighs room with the goal of getting rid of him. The goal was always to send that email, regardless if Farleigh agreed to be good or not. But, Oliver is smart enough to know going into that room, he had to give the most enticing character curated specifically for Farleigh for the best chance of getting his goal.
In my opinion, the only real indication of Oliver's sexual interests is indicated by the bathtub, the grave, and the way he speaks of Felix. I always perceived Oliver as like a 'felixsexual' , like once he met Felix, that was it. It wasn't a real interest or even something he thought of much until Felix came along. I mean Oliver's family was so surprised he even had a friend, I can't imagine he had many dates.
Then, it became everything so intertwined with the obsession, possession, and intensity of his feelings toward Felix.
It makes the scene with that girl in Oxford more interesting. I don't think it was part of a plan, I don't think Oliver thought it was going to make Felix jealous, He said as much, really. I do think it came from sadness, desperation, grief of losing Felix and maybe a little bit of hope that it might change things, maybe if he gets drunk and sleeps with this girl it will miraculous cure his broken-heart.
It's interesting the way they paint that scene. The absolute stress Oliver was in leaving the pub when he saw Felix there. The rejection, the sadness, and that poisonous anger.
Encountering the girl back at the dorm, two people connected through the sadness of being cast aside by the same person. It could even be seen as Oliver trying to be Felix, to be so close to him by being with someone he's being with. Trying to reignite that tie between them anyway he could, it was so desperate. The callous way he didn't take note of the girls intentions behind it, I think, shows how distracted Oliver was. The one who was constantly watching, in the shadows always observing, and he'd missed such overt clues to what the girl was wanting from the interaction. In my mind, more of an indication of how much the obsession and now potential loss of Felix, without Oliver's consent, was really messing with him.
