Wow- so many overwhelming emotions, issues, questions and challenges for one little boy. His life is such a littered minefield that even what others perceive as a happy occasion is filled with hurt, anguish and painful realizations for Ryan when he recognizes how others view him and his circumstances. The more he hears, the more uncertain and torn he becomes as he tries to equate what Dawn told him previously with what he is being told presently. He can't bring himself to let go of the only family he's ever known and he can't abandon them even as Dawn does the very same so cruelly to him. But he can't begin to move forward, trust and let himself relax and be loved while he desperately tries to process so many conflicting messages and feelings. Everyone assumes, but no one clarifies and Ryan pays
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Thanks for your incredibly interesting comment! Ryan's adaptation to his new life is pretty difficult because he's convinced that Dawn is goint to take him back to his old life. We can find that it's a crappy one, but this life is the one he's really used to. With Dawn ditching him he's going to be abble to build something to last with his new family. His reaction is also interesting because it makes the Cohen realize that thier foster son is way more damage than they first thought. They knew he had some issues, but they thought that the stability of their family and their love could fix Ryan's problems. And now, they realize that he needs some help they can give him. But I don't want to spoil the next chapters! Thanks again!
Well, you've touched on a theme and point that I always thought was downplayed if not just ignored in canon. As we rewatch from the beginning, it's more apparent. Everyone assumed Ryan's life was fine once he had a knew legal address and one in such an upscale neighborhood and community. What no one considered was that Ryan had lost everything: his family, friends, life as he knew it- everything that comprised his world. That's unnerving and shattering to be thrown into the unknown and dependent on strangers. No matter how bad his life was, it was his and it was what he knew. In canon he might not have believed Dawn would be back and he didn't even want to find her, but rejection is something no one ever gets over- especially abandonment of that sort. On some level, he needed to know that he was still loved and wanted, not simply cast aside as something useless and worthless
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His reaction is also interesting because it makes the Cohen realize that thier foster son is way more damage than they first thought. They knew he had some issues, but they thought that the stability of their family and their love could fix Ryan's problems. And now, they realize that he needs some help they can give him.
But I don't want to spoil the next chapters!
Thanks again!
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