I think I've been thinking about season 3 all wrong. I mean, we've all noticed how in love Magnum is with Higgins now - we can all see how close he's getting to realising it and telling her. But I think Higgy's closer to that point than I originally thought, and I actually think episode 3 helps to prove that.
We all noticed how particularly snippy she was in this most recent episode, and, whilst this doesn't excuse her words - at all - I chalked it up to being due to the stress of the situation they were in, especially with her Visa now being on the line again.
But I've been thinking about it more today, especially after seeing so many complaints about her attitude, and I realised something. Higgy is falling just as hard as Magnum is right now. She's just showing it differently.
Back in 2x03, Kumu said, "There are people you've gotten close to. That frightens you." She was right. And Higgy is afraid again now.
I think part of her, deep down, is aware of her burgeoning feelings for Magnum, but she's still scared of being with someone again, of feeling so vulnerable around someone. So she's pushing him away, trying to hurt him so that he leaves and so she doesn't have to run the risk of being hurt all over again.
This may beg the question, "Well, why is she dating Ethan then?" And I think I have an answer for that. Higgins' feelings for Ethan are more superficial, being about attraction more than an emotional connection. Whilst Higgy is most certainly also attracted to Thomas, the thing that is different is that they've known each other for years now, and in that time, despite often being cold and detatched - trying to keep people at arms length - Thomas Magnum has broken down all of Juliet's walls and worked his way into her heart, despite anything she's done to try and stop that.
So that brings us back to 3x03. Again, I'm not trying to excuse the things Juliet said to Thomas. They were cruel and unwarranted after everything he's done for her. Juliet was terrified of having to leave her Ohana, but most of all, she was terrified of having to leave Magnum. So she was lashing out to try and push him away in the hope that it would hurt less when she had to leave (because, let's face it, at the time, she was pretty certain that was going to happen).
I think it's also important to bring up her conversation with the immigration officer about having attachment issues, because I believe everything she said there was completely true, even though she was putting on a show to try and convince him of their story. It also fits with her behaviour towards Magnum perfectly, as people with attachment issues often push away the people they are closest to for fear that they may eventually leave them anyway. It's not logical, but the anxiety caused is real. And I believe, particularly after Richard, it's a major factor of why she won't open up to people.
It's also why I think Ethan has been introduced this season. Ethan will hopefully provide Juliet with an opportunity to realise that she can be with another person after Richard, that she's ready to try again. However, she'll come to realise that the person she wants to trust and open up to isn't Ethan, but it's the man who's been in front of her the whole time - Thomas Magnum. And slowly, I think she'll stop with the snarky comments and cold, detached behaviour and let herself be more vulnerable around him.
And, I mean, it's not like we haven't seen Juliet let down her walls and be thoughtful in regards to Thomas. 3x02 is a brilliant example of this, with her, despite being pretty much broke, buying Magnum's watch back for him after he had to pawn it. That's probably one of the most vulnerable scenes we've seen with her. And perhaps it's what prompted her to be so guarded in 3x03 - she was scared of how close she's becoming to him.
That being said, is the way she's dealing with her emotions healthy? No, no it's not.
Is it fair on Thomas? Again, the answer's no.
Was she right to say the things she said? No, of course not.
However, I do think we owe it to her as a character to be understanding of her struggles in regards to opening up and, like Magnum, be supportive of her until she's ready to tell him how she feels.
Anyway, this descended into a post that's probably slightly less than coherent, so sorry about that, I just had too many thoughts circling around my head about 3x03 and the responses people have had to it, especially as someone who struggles with attachment issues myself.
I'd also like to make a disclaimer here: everyone is absolutely entitled to their own opinion about this most recent episode, and this post is not an attack on those who have been annoyed by Higgy's attitude. I just wanted to say that I think there's probably a greater purpose to it in terms of the arc we're getting this season (I hope). Despite this, I can definitely understand the frustration with the arguing that occurred, as I felt it myself, and any annoyance or disappointment in regards to 3x03 in completely valid.
If you've reached this point, thanks for reading this mess. I hope it makes sense and doesn't cause any offence!
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