TuaDean. I’ve seen people blame Tua for his reaction, claiming he didn’t give Dean a chance to explain himself. I’ve seen others defend Dean tooth and nail, and frankly, I wonder: what exactly is there to defend?
Dean is the most well-developed character (partly because he’s had significantly more screen time than the others), but he is consistently portrayed as someone who acts without thinking—someone who is selfish and determined to get whatever he thinks he wants. Personally, that is exactly why I like him. He doesn’t need a defense; he is a morally grey character, just like any human being. Sometimes he screws up, and unfortunately, he has to face the consequences.
And he messed up. I’m not even talking about his relationship with Jack right now, but regarding Tua, he failed him completely—honestly, even more than Arnold did. He messed up the moment he asked Tua for permission to film content with his crush. He shouldn’t have even entertained the thought. By letting his ego take the lead, he put his friend in an incredibly awkward and difficult position.
And... He messed up the second he disappeared into the woods with Arnold. It doesn’t matter that he was drunk or that they didn’t actually kiss; they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. You don’t take risks with your best friend’s crush. Not if you respect them. Friends are worth infinitely more than crushes or flings.
I love TuaDean dynamic because it feels true.
Dean was a terrible friend and honestly? I loved it. Can I just say that? Because Dean feels like a real, flawed person; there’s no need to sugarcoat his actions. It’s fine that he was a bad friend. And Tua definitely said some harsh stuff, partly out of anger and maybe because a small part of him really thinks Dean can have whoever he wants... but isn't friendship about accepting someone for who they are? Tua accepted Dean with all his emotional baggage; he was always there for him. Always. And now people are saying he’s not a good friend just because for one damn time he put his own feelings first? Wow.
They'll make up. They have a bond that might change a bit, but it's definitely not going to break.
ArnoldTua. I felt terrible for Arnold (even more so than during the whole money situation). He genuinely couldn't explain why things happened the way they did. Arnold is a character who doesn't dig deep into his own personality; he doesn't ask himself "why," he doesn't like question himself. He takes things at face value, and that’s exactly why—aside from the limited screen time—we perceive him as inconsistent.
He even admits it himself: "I’m not like you drama students who know how to handle emotions." It’s true. We never really dove deep into Arnold’s interest in Dean (likely because the plot would have mirrored Raffi's too closely), but personally, I can still understand the attraction.
It’s easy to see what drew Arnold to Dean. It’s the same reason why Tua’s character is so underrated by the audience. Honestly, if he hadn’t been played by Gawin, hardly anyone would have even noticed him.
Dean is gorgeous, brilliant, decisive, and funny. He’s always the center of attention, the kind of person you notice immediately and can joke around with.
Tua, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He's not on stage, he's behind the scenes and never demanding the spotlight. He's always been here, He never pressured Arnold, never demanded answers, and never made a scene. Because of this, Arnold kept believing they were fine as "just friends," even though he knew Tua was in love with him. He took it for granted that no matter what happened, Tua would always be there.
Everything changes in the moment he almost kisses Dean. It's important to notice that in the very same episode, we have an "almost kiss" with Tua as well. In that instance, if Tua hadn't stopped it, Arnold would have gone through with it.
But with Dean—even though Arnold was drunk—he freezes. Why? Because that is the moment he finally understands the difference between what he’s attracted to because it’s performance and where his heart truly belongs.
Arnold’s simplicity is his greatest flaw and his most human trait. I just wished they had handled his character better.
And in the end, Tua finally took center stage. It’s no coincidence that he reaches his breaking point right there on that stage—he, of all people, who usually hides in the wings.
He was amazing. He nailed that feeling of how someone who’s always a 'yes man' eventually just snaps. It’s not even about the almost-kiss itself; it’s about everything he’s been swallowing until now because he always put everyone else first; because he was always there listening, without ever putting up a fight. But not anymore. 'I don't want to hear' is the turning point... can we just let this character make a mess for once? He needs it.
