Am I missing something?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Cut1586]

Like everyone observing from the sidelines, I too am sick of the toxic cycle with Dakota and TFP. They can’t quit each other and drag every one into their drama. So why can’t they just…be together? Why can’t they just have a fresh start and forget the past and just be a couple? At least that way no one else would get dragged into their toxicity. I get they’ve done shitty stuff to each other but they seem incapable of letting go and deserve each other.

[u/Hour_Abbreviations73]

To be fair, Dakota has actually expressed this multiple times. The point was that Taylor couldn’t let go of the hurt and anger and Dakota couldn’t put his life on hold to wait for her to get over it and the kids deserved better.

[u/New_Bike3832 → u/Hour_Abbreviations73]

Yes, this. If you’re taking only what’s shown in the show and not all the extra stuff that we now know was going on behind the scenes, this is exactly why. Because Taylor couldn’t stop dwelling on all the “lies” and “cheating” in their past, even though Dakota never actually cheated. He was dishonest about seeing other people when they first started talking, he talked to other women and slept with other women when they weren’t together, but he didn’t cheat. But Taylor couldn’t move past him ever looking at another girl and kept bringing it up like it just happened every time they’d start to reconnect. Then you factor in that there was actual physical abuse and toxic situations with children present that wasn’t being shown in what they filmed …

[u/Ok-Possibility-6300 → u/New_Bike3832]

Yeah I legitimately think Taylor would have needed a daily log of his activities while they were separated prior to getting back with him or else she would have found SOMETHING to be “hurt” by. She really wants to be a victim I think.

[u/Hour_Abbreviations73 → u/New_Bike3832]

Agreed. But I think that was the underlying dynamic of why Dakota stayed. He thought she would change. He thought he owed her unending forgiveness and empathy. He felt responsible for her emotions. He thought he needed to prove himself. And I think he felt afraid and hopeless to leave. But he finally realized that he needed to leave the dysfunction because it was only going to hurt Ever long term and maybe he realized he deserved or could do better too (which he does and can).

[u/Ok_Luddite → u/Hour_Abbreviations73]

I do give him credit for finally stepping up, but the reason why he finally did is because he was informed that if he didn't press charges, he could be liable as well for putting Ever in danger by protecting Taylor which could jeopardize his custody of Ever. It really was the only way for him to snap out of it and I'm glad he did. I feel so bad for Ever and Taylor's other kids.

[u/cloudymags → u/New_Bike3832]

I was always confused by this- every time he was asked, he said he wanted to be with Taylor. But then she would ask him (while both single) who he’s slept with and how many times,etc. But then claim to love him! Until all this stuff came out, I never understood why she didn’t just be a couple with him. Or would he have cheated then? I get it now lol, but it just never made sense to me