mya

They both enter these one sided relationships and quite literally relapse into their respective addictions. Jules never said anything back when Rue said I want to be with you (but we know she does love Rue, wanting to be with her is a separate story). Nate is holding Cassie at arms length but tells her what she needs to hear (apparently he does love her though)

This one is more outlandish but I think Elliot exists to help further this parallel, they needed three and it needed to be a Nate both girls are attached to. Elliot definitely doesn’t share the same qualities as Nate so his characters relationship is way different. But he does serve as a romantic plot device that inevitably comes between what was a seemingly fine relationship. And that boy is also a direct line to addiction. Nate Enables Cassie’s addiction to relationships, Takes part in them with her. Elliot gives Rue drugs, does them with her. And both of their other half’s are also romantically involved with their enablers. and both men could possibly actually like both parties a lot but ultimately does not care abt their hand in ruining their respective relationships. trash. (Imo Jules and rue were still fucked and never gonna last anyways with or without him)

They’re both hiding these predicaments from the strongest relationships they have. Jules doesn’t know Rue is not staying clean and Maddy has no clue why Cassie is acting weird. And while Cassie and Rue dig themselves deeper into a hole the two people they’re hiding from come together. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that while Rue is off to do drugs with Elliot and Cassie is running off with Nate Jules and Maddy are shown alone together forming a bond while their soulmates are out doing shit that would crush them. The juxtaposition was crazy and very much admired.

They have Rue tell us herself that she is a bad person when she acknowledges that everyone is rooting for her as the main character, then proceeds to show us her gaslighting someone. The scene with Gia shows us she knows people see her as a person in need of help and will eventually give in to her if she makes it seem like she’s sad but really trying to be good.

On the flip side they Have Nate (the one person on this show that uses lies to get the truth and later wield it like a weapon.) Tell us cassie is a bad person. In media they often don’t spell things out for you because you have to trust your audience is smart. They did this on purpose because although we know it cassie never would have gone as far as rue had to acknowledge she’s still doing something bad and own up to it. A mirror to Rue who has no shame in the act.