It’s very clear that the show is a hyperbole of every little and big action we see every day that reinforces misogynistic patterns. But what I think is most important is that it highlights how crucial it is to speak up—no matter how uncomfortable it makes those around us. This is just one of the extreme consequences that normalizing these behaviors can have on society, especially on men. Because no one becomes a rapist or a murderer simply because “it’s common sense”—until a very specific situation arises and the boundaries start to blur. In the end, it’s him contradicting his own conclusions—because before saying them out loud, they didn’t feel wrong. They felt like reality. And that reality was so ingrained in him that his actions naturally aligned with it. That logic felt normal—until he had to verbalize it. “I’m better than other men because I didn’t rape her, so that proves I respect her.” “She’s a bitch because she rejected me when I was trying to take advantage of her vulnerability.” It wasn’t until he realized how wrong these statements sounded—how they might make him look bad—that he felt the need to take them back. And yes, it’s sad that he probably only said he “didn’t mean it” because he knew how it would be perceived, not because he actually believed it was wrong. But that’s exactly why these conversations need to happen, why these ideas need to be deconstructed as much as possible. Jamie, as a character, isn’t necessarily the best example of this in a literal sense. But if we view him as a hyperbole—a metaphor for the young men who are adopting these patterns in their everyday lives—then his role becomes much clearer. Because if they start questioning why these patterns are wrong, then we’ll finally be one step closer to breaking them. Because it’s always “they’re exaggerating” when feminists talk about toxic masculinity. It’s “just what being a man means.” It’s “for the real men.” When, in reality, all of this HURTS everyone. Because sexism isn’t just about women—it affects everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.