#ps this isn't rly a response; i've had this drafted for a while and wanted to talk about it

[sageandred]

Am I the only one that truly recognizes Carter for a victim AND a villian (idk how else to word this 1st sentence but this isn't pro carter, or even anti). He keeps making choices and going down this bad path that he was undoubtedly groomed into at one point. Declan has proved to be worse/more powerful. My take is that it's only fair that Declan gets his comeuppance (haven't watched the new episode yet so idk); presumably he will though possibly after a long string of acting as the villian arc going by Hollyoaks' way of doing things. Carter was once a young boy that was taken advantage of that has years and years of a poor and incorrect belief system to guide him into his own kind of monster, but the thing is the show paints that idea for you. It's more subtle, but it does acknowledge how he was a victim, giving you information on his childhood/context clues (i dont need it spelled out). The parallels with Lucas are obvious and intentional. I do think his fate/ending was always what it's going to be. His relationship with John Paul was always purposeful to his character arc. It served as a useful tool to show a softer side and make you feel for his painfully closeted life. But he was always going down a deeper hole and dark path, because not only was he terrified and lying to himself (understandable), but he would go to the furthest lengths for his own benefit if he had to from the start. He used Maxine to send a message to JP inviting him to see them after sleeping together, he blindsided him more than once, tried CT on him, only went back with remorse when he wanted to hook up, and generally intentionally hurt people if it'd meant it'd protect himself. With JP, what started as a hopeful union between the two was tainted with Carter lying, setting out to trick him, and literally using him down to his weak, yet selfish desire of his lusting after JP following his mistreatment towards him time and time again. Like did Carter ever ever care about JP at all, or did he just have an understandable desire to explore his sexuality as a closeted, non-admitting man, so that's why he pursued anything? (also note the "relationship" started too quick and crashed /burned just as fast, which was the point whether they ever worked out or not)

It's entirely possible for adults to have gone through their own kind of trauma as a child that contributes to their experiences and behaviors and for that behavior to not automatically be demonized because of the long-lasting effects trauma can have, but that's a case-to-case judgement. Maybe Carter would turn out better had he had help and a good support system, long long ago, a juxtaposition to Lucas. But that's the thing, experience makes different outcomes and that's not what happened; once xyz happens the course of time is changed forever and sometimes you can't go back and people that go on to do awful things don't get an eternal permit of an explanation as to why they did the bad acts, meaning you should go easy on them; this happens often when 1 goes on to be the abuser or utilize their power dynamic. My thing is, it's okay for Carter to be recognized as a victim in his own right [please, please do (don't just take 1 part of this post & misunderstand)], but that doesn't have to be mutually exclusive to his villian status that has been well on it's way since the beginning; it is possible for a character to be recognized as a victim without the promise of a redemption arc.