deadbq03 said:
Way late to the party here. I had typed a response at some point, but never sent it. Story of my life.
Not sure why y'all are so down in this episode. I think there's tons of character development happening still. To me the biggest story of the episode is Nate. He's just realized that glitz and glamour isn't really for him. West Ham isn't a good fit for him, and that's gonna come to blows soon.
I predict Rupert will ask him to do something truly underhand to try to win - probably during the next Richmond game. And Nate will refuse and get fired. But then he will find himself on a path that's right for him (I kinda doubt it's Richmond again, but who knows?)
The tell on whether Nate has a redemptive story won't come until we see how he treats someone who has nothing to offer in return that Nate truly wants or needs.
Just because someone catches a glimpse of a "better way to be" because of being mistreated or slighted by others doesn't drive a change in their behavior and thinking.
If it did: Nate would already be changed through the dismissive belittling actions of his father. ("This doesn't feel good. This isn't right. And I'm going to choose to treat others differently.)
The intimidating, dismissive and disrespectful way he has treated the locker room guy is the perfect case in point.
The lesson he learned well from his dad was: he who has the power, rules the relationship. And the feelings of others, in response, be damned.
And he's done nothing to step away from that in his personal conduct. Instead, he has chosen to embrace that -- whether consciously or simply through years of being "programed" in that way by his father.
Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.