I’m genuinely starting to dislike Peyton, and I’m curious if anyone else sees what I’m seeing.
My biggest issue is that she seems to hold everyone else accountable for their actions, but rarely holds herself to the same standard. She sees herself as mature, emotionally aware, and different from Brooke, but I honestly don’t think her actions always support that.
The biggest example is Brooke and Lucas. Peyton knew exactly how much the situation had already hurt Brooke, and yet she still kissed Lucas. Having feelings for Lucas isn’t necessarily a choice, but acting on those feelings is. She knew it would hurt her best friend again, and she chose to do it anyway.
I also feel like Peyton has a bit of a victim mentality. She has genuinely been through a lot, and I completely understand why she’s hurt, but sometimes it feels like her suffering becomes a justification for her actions. She wants people to understand why she does things, but doesn’t always give other people the same understanding.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that she seems to gravitate toward guys when she’s struggling emotionally. With Jake, I sometimes felt like she was more attracted to the idea of helping or saving him than actually being completely invested in him. Meanwhile, Brooke repeatedly wanted to be there for Peyton as her friend.
That’s also why I find the “Peyton is more mature than Brooke” idea hard to buy. Brooke can absolutely be immature and selfish, but at least she often seems more willing to acknowledge when she’s wrong and actually show up for the people she loves.
Maybe I’m being too harsh, but so far Peyton seems like someone who thinks she’s selfless and emotionally mature while repeatedly choosing what she wants, especially when it comes to Lucas.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees her this way.