This is a Troy Barret appreciation post!
Troy is so sweet to his mom. He apologizes for all the years he acted like Curtis and he helps pay for her and her bf to go on a global trip, like that’s not nothing.
Troy stands up for women in vulnerable spot. We don’t see any other character have the activism that Troy does. When everyone took Kent’s side, it was Troy, Troy who was Kent’s best friend and who Kent would assume would have his back the most, he’s the one who called Kent out when no one else would. He’s the one that ignored Crowell’s warnings. He’s the one that told the centaurs management if they didn’t agree with what he was doing they could basically fuck off. Troy is giving voices to people who may have lost them, and I feel like that gets overlooked a lot. (Also, he cites his sources!!)
Troy changes for himself, yes, he wants to try and amend for his wrong doings in the past. But he also wants to be a good enough person to stand next to Harris. He’s so in awe of Harris and so in love with him, he’ll do anything to get to call him his bf and be next to him everyday. Harris said he won’t be able to hide a relationship, and Troy said ‘no problem lemme just make out with you in front of the guys’. He learned to stop being afraid of himself and what others think of him and chose to live an authentic life.
His first date with Harris was taking him to a fucking spa resort trip. He brings this man coffee every day, openly worships the ground he walks on and after only dating for a few months he asks Harris to help him shop for houses. This man is a gentleman who treats his man right!
Troy is there for Ilya when Ilya is as far into the closet as he is. Yeah, Ilya never tells Troy about Shane specifically, but Troy’s inviting Ilya over to dinner at the Drover’s and saying his pride night coming out is for Ilya as well. He’s a good friend to Ilya and supports him like Ilya supports him, and I’m tired of people brushing these two off like they’re nothing. Ilya doesn’t have a lot of supports that don’t center around Shane, so for him to have a friend, a best friend later on, it’s huge.
Troy was a shitty person, yes, but so is 90% of the hockey league in the series. This doesn’t excuse it, but Troy does way more work to fix his past than the others probably ever will. He DOES NOT expect forgiveness, he knows he was a horrible person, but he’s choosing to move forward and apologize and leave a positive impact on his wake now anyways. He is such a well written character, and i will stand for Troy bashing no longer.
