David is abusive

I started this show a bit ago and just finished. Let me first say, WOW!! It’s immaculate. I adore it. The writing, the cinematography, the acting, it’s all incredible. One profound point I found myself lingering on was my disdain for Syd and empathy for David. I couldn’t initially grasp why. David, we were lead through his life to form empathy for. But Syd? Her life was displayed as a series of her personal sins. This I now see is though it was through David’s perception and personal lense. He truly never “saw” her. He never knew her. He loved the idea of her.

The trial for David... hit me hard. I’m out of an confusing abusive relationship and it fucking enraged me HE thought himself the victim when faced with the fact he drugged and sexually assaulted the woman he claimed to love. He couldn’t even admit it! He noped out. Despite his actions, he never acknowledged that severe pain he caused. He repeated how worthy he was of love, as though it absolved him. He was worthy alone, others suffering was a byproduct he has no responsibility for. It was horrifying he began a cult to clearly feed his ego and I CONTINUED TO LOVE HIS CHARACTER. Superb writing. I had to step back and see the atrocities committed without my lens of empathy for him. This echoed with me how the cycle of abusive continues.

Syd was accurate later by claiming he never saw her. She gave him many opportunities and even walk throughs to see and understand her but he failed time and time again. He never really did see her. He saw who she is to him, not who she is as a person. He saw her as he does anyone else, a figure in his story for his own needs, not a person.

My lord, what amazing development. I rooted for the villain. I sympathized with him. I found moments I disliked the victims of his cruelty because I could justify his cruelty based upon his past. This show perfectly displays the cycle abuse. It’s perfection.