Is M and S relationship toxic?
Don't get me wrong—I love the small, soft, tender moments between the two of them—but honestly, he is completely incapable of being in a relationship, and she stays with him because of their shared trauma. Trauma bonding. She could actually lead a normal, boring life without him—one where she isn't constantly getting kidnapped or losing her children, and so on. They seem cursed to stay together. Later on, it’s implied that they are a couple, though they break up and get back together repeatedly. It’s kind of toxic. She mentioned in the Emily storyline that she struggles with commitment, so perhaps he’s the perfect counterpart since he doesn't know how real attachment works. He often treats her quite dismissively, constantly leaving her behind because he impulsively rushes off to find his "truth," and for some inexplicable reason, she puts up with it. But if something happens to her, he completely loses his mind and does whatever it takes to save her. I think he’s traumatized because he couldn't save his sister; that had a bigger impact on his adult life than one might realize. He can't stand seeing a woman—or a girl—in pain; that’s something I really noticed while rewatching the show as an adult. I think they do love each other in the end, but it’s doubtful they could ever be truly happy after everything they’ve been through. It’s just that there’s no one else in the world who could understand it, so they stay together.