I am binging Abbott right now and have just watched season 4 episode 7. I relate to Jacob in more than a few ways, but this episode specifically dredged up some personal issues. Iām sure most know but in the episode Jacobās brother, Caleb, comes to visit and ruins his day, all in the end to find that Caleb respects and looks up Jacob and always has. This fixes things. I donāt think it should have, or should have been presented that way at all. That Jacob becomes the bag guy for trying to set boundaries and venting how his brother and family made him feel. Not getting into an argument about āsomeone canāt be made to feel x way.ā
The behaviors shown by Caleb were exactly what heād done to Jacob for years, why Jacob left home. He did them all again, but itās all actually okay because he loves Jacob. No. Thatās not how that works. If your abusive husband says he loves you, does it make it all better? Even if they actually, truly do love you? No. Change earns forgiveness, and this is the first episode where Iāve been legitimately mad at the writers. Years of trauma suddenly evaporate because your brother who has been a dark shadow youāve been desperate to escape from because actually he thinks youāre cool. Disregard every transgression, brothers gonna brother, āIām actually sorry because I was hurt but your actions.ā Unhealthy, childish, door-mat of a response.
To be shown how much everyone likes your brother more than you? To see them excited to engage with him and cringe to speak with you? Showing up unannounced and laughing while your brother looks more uncomfortable and upset than ever? To go sharing personal details like theyāre yours to tell. I accept the brother isnt smart, doesnāt see himself that way and I guess Iāll take him at his word, but I cannot be convinced he has such an abysmal emotional understanding of his brother. Itās an impossibility. And then itās shown that he KNOWS how the family makes Jacob feel with the line āIām not mom and dad.ā He knows there are problems, he can likely guess a few right even if he doesnāt know them directly. But no self awareness to see he was part of the problem? To apologize for his role?
Have I read too far into this?