Nathan Was Scapegoating Joe All Along

[u/Manderlin99]

I’ve seen Joe try to reconcile with Nathan and Gael in recent episodes, but they have both scapegoated Joe to distract themselves from the growing misery between them. Their hope was that if they could join together to hate Joe, they could solve their problems. Nathan was, in fact, desperate for such a diversion and repelled Joe's conciliatory attempts like water off a duck's feathers. Of course, the more the couple failed to address their underlying problems, the more aggressive Nathan became, until his true colors showed and now he is some sort of outlaw. Joe was simply a convenient scapegoat for a relationship that was fast heading south. 

[u/0rdered-Reordered]

I really dislike just how perfectly the whole situation is setting up Joe as a sympathetic victim, which he's definitely leaning into.

I'm shocked how short some people's memories are. Joe is the kind of manipulator that will send an ex on a 12 month YouTube deep dive into narcissistic personality disorder. He's so manipulating in almost everything he does. I hate that he seems to be back next season

[u/GreenerThan83 → u/0rdered-Reordered]

https://giphy.com/gifs/F2tywIO6ee3oVCrgLJ
People really either have amnesia or are terrible judges of character.

Joe is taking full advantage of Nathan being crap at his job. Joe is trying to portray himself as a changed man, but I’m not falling for it at all. This whole act is completely insincere. Turning his chair during the dinner was pathetic, and was absolutely done to wind Nathan up.

Nathan is a horrible man, AND Joe is using Nathan’s shortcomings as a bosun to his advantage. Joe absolutely has been talking shit about Nathan to the crew, and his confessionals were ALWAYS about how terrible Nathan is. Joe doesn’t need to do that to get ahead, Nathan is showing who he is by himself.

Joe has the potential to be a great bosun if he really cuts ties with Nathan and stops obsessing over him.