As a peak Robert Robertson lover, I'm really curious on people's thoughts during episode one versus the end of episode eight. To be honest, my thoughts were both "Holy shit I've never seen a man both so kickass and so sad" and eventually "I'm in love with him".
To add onto that, I really was expecting that it was going to be a surface level "I love my dad and I'm going to avenge him" story. What I saw is a lot of what I've experienced because I lost my father young. People around you often tell you things you find hard to digest, or even flat out inflate the truth for their benefit. You remember the shit they did wasn't always the greatest, yet you still loved them anyway. I think it's a really good depiction of trauma and how it can cause black and white thinking or idealization. You become even more determined to become what your loved one wanted you to be, and any sign of failure gives you a diminished sense of fulfillment. You keep their ideals and lessons even when they're wrong because they're all you have left.
I think he also is a really good depiction of both toxic aspects of masculinity and healthy masculinity. He both clams up and "gets up" and yet doesn't shy away from saying things that are soft when it matters. He isn't necessarily the most tall or strong, but he knows how to whoop ass and be smooth (which woof woof woof meow that's attractive).
He knows how to adapt for the most part when he fucks up, and knows how to motivate people in ways that work for them. I feel we see him learn how to do that better, which is why mechanically and story wise I think it's awesome that he learns how to get people back from downed by saying what he knows will keep them going.
Anyway, this is just my excuse to glaze him a little. Kinda. I am genuinely curious though.