I actually really like that the show went with making Kirk a decent person. They very easily could have gone with the "evil, controlling fiancé" trope, but instead they made Kirk kind and understanding. Despite the fact that, as far as I can tell, Sam is never nice to Kirk, he still goes out of his way to take care of her and support her choices to her grandmother. He knows she doesn't want to marry him, and wants to make the whole thing as easy on her as he can. I honestly love him. And I'm so glad, because I very much prefer to like characters. The grandmother is evil enough. I wouldn't want to have to deal with an evil fiancé. And I feel like the show understands that it would be too much negativity to have Kirk be awful.