I've seen people argue that Assad and Eric couldn't convincingly portray a romantic relationship because Assad referred to Eric as his grandfather. What do you think about that?
Thank you for your question. I’m actually going to use it as an opportunity to talk about something that‘s been on my mind for quite a while now.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve watched more and more people suddenly start discrediting Eric‘s acting, his chemistry with Assad, and even his ability to play a convincing romantic lead. And the common denominator always seems to be the same: his age. Honestly, I‘m tired of seeing it. You don‘t have to find Eric attractive. Attraction is subjective, and everyone has different preferences. However, there‘s a huge difference between saying, „He’s not my type“, and claiming that he isn‘t attractive, can‘t carry a romance, or should be replaced simply because he's older.
Personally, I find Eric incredibly attractive. I love his curls, his eyes, his arms, his smile, his humor, his charisma... To me, he‘s absolutely captivating. I’m not expecting everyone to feel the same way, but just as nobody gets to tell someone they have to find him attractive, nobody gets to tell me,or anyone else, that we can‘t
I’ve also seen people take Assad’s words far too literally and, in doing so, completely miss what he was actually saying.
Before you immediately focus on Erics age or start making tasteless jokes, take a moment to think about what a grandfather actually represents. For many people, a grandfather represents wisdom, guidance, patience, warmth, comfort, trust and emotional safety. Someone who makes you feel protected, supported and accepted. It’s not about how many candles are on their birthday cake.
Assad could have chosen so many different words. He could have simply said friend, mentor, or colleague. Instead, he chose a word that represents trust and comfort.
That’s why I genuinely don’t understand how some people have come to the conclusion that this somehow means they can’t portray a believable romance anymore. If anything, I’d argue the exact opposite. We’ve seen more than enough moments over the years to know that they clearly trust each other, feel comfortable around each other, and have no hesitation when it comes to sharing each other's space. And that‘s a huge advantage, not a disadvantage. Emotional vulnerability and physical intimacy are some of the most demanding parts of acting. They require trust, comfort, and a genuine sense of safety with your scene partner. If you already have that foundation, you’re not working against it, you’re building on it. To me, that makes the prospect of them telling a believable love story even more exciting, not less.
And Assad has been excited about telling this story with Eric from the very beginning. One of the first things he said to him was, „We’re going to hook up“. And when Eric later asked him, „Are you excited about our budding romance in future seasons?“, Assad‘s answer came without hesitation: „Mister I’ve been excited since day one. Since the day I met you, as well“.
None of that enthusiasm has changed over time. If anything, the opposite has happened. They seem more comfortable around each other, more at ease, and more trusting than ever before. And let‘s not forget what Eric once shared in an interview about Assad regularly saying things along the lines of, „Just wait until I get my hands on you“. And then there's Assad‘s... let‘s just call it rather interesting comment under one of Eric‘s photos.🌝
Nothing about what Assad said suddenly erases everything else we’ve seen and heard over the years.
Another thing that’s been bothering me for quite some time is how differently this fandom treats the relationships between the different actors. When Sam and Jacob talk about how close they are, people celebrate it. They call it wholesome, genuine, and heartwarming. But somehow, when Eric and Assad talk about their bond, it suddenly becomes „fan service“ or proof that they couldn’t possibly play a believable romance anymore. And don’t get me wrong, of course there are moments that are playful and meant to entertain the fans. That‘s part of promoting a show, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. What I don’t understand is why that automatically means every kind word, every heartfelt interview answer, or every genuine interaction suddenly has to be dismissed as fake.
And once again, it all seems to come back to one thing: Eric’s age.
I struggle to come up with any other explanation. If Eric were decades younger, or if a younger actor with the exact same dynamic were sitting next to Assad, I genuinely don’t believe I’d have to write this post in the first place. That’s exactly why this feels like ageism to me. Somehow, the moment an older person is involved, people become much quicker to question whether a friendship is genuine, whether admiration is sincere, whether affection is real, or whether love could possibly exist at all. I honestly don‘t understand that. Growing older doesn‘t make someone less worthy of being loved, admired, desired, appreciated, or deeply cared about. It doesn‘t suddenly make meaningful friendships, genuine affection, or even love impossible. Some of the most beautiful friendships exist across generations. The same goes for love between consenting adults. Age doesn’t erase our ability to connect with other people, nor does it diminish the value of those connections. To me, that’s exactly what makes relationships and friendships across different generations so special in the first place.
At the end of the day, I think it‘s genuinely beautiful when people find someone who makes them feel safe, understood, and accepted, especially in an industry that can often be so demanding and, at times, incredibly superficial. Those kinds of connections are rare, and to me, they're something to appreciate, not tear apart. So instead of looking for reasons why this bond somehow invalidates everything else, I‘d much rather appreciate it for what it is: two people who clearly trust and respect one another, and who seem genuinely happy to tell this story together!
To me, that’s something worth celebrating!
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