Yeah, I saw your other comment and I agree. It might be splitting hairs, because I think in essence we agree, but I kinda want him to do the opposite of letting go. To believe harder in the identity he's trying to create, and that his efforts *do* bolster that identity, so he's not so fragile about it (like he was…

I understood #1 as a mistake. Still a flaw, as I think she'd make sure, but a more legit flaw than it may have appeared. #2-3 I think we just disagree on those. I'm with you on #4.

I agree with this entire assessment.

I didn't read it as her being out of character so much as doing that thing we tend to do when we're placed in a context we've outgrown. Kinda like how you turn into your 17-year-old self whenever you go visit your parents, or whatever. I think what we're seeing when Taystee interacts with Vee now is who Taystee was…

Enh, I'm pretty sure that most people help others as a an ego trip. We do good because it makes us value ourselves as good, at least in part. That's not such a bad reason.