For years, the After fandom has worshiped Hardin Scott like the blueprint for tortured-poet romance. The bad boy who reads classics, writes confessions at 3 a.m., and loves with the intensity of a man one breakup away from combustion.
But here’s the uncomfortable theory no one wants to say out loud:
Hardin didn’t fall for Tessa — he fell for the emotional demolition derby that came with her.
The Love Story Fans Built… Might Be a Trauma Loop
Fans point to After 2 as the moment Hardin “loved hardest.” But let’s be honest — that wasn’t love, that was possession with a PhD in emotional volatility.
He pushes her away. She leaves.
He spirals. She returns.
He repents. She forgives.
Rinse. Repeat. Romantic? Or a psychological subscription plan?
The Most Addictive Thing About Tessa Was That She Left
Hardin’s most dramatic speeches always came after Tessa walked out, not before. His best writing, his softest vulnerability, his most cinematic confessions — all triggered by one event:
Loss.
Not devotion. Not trust. Not stability.
Absence.
That’s not romance. That’s narrative adrenaline addiction.
Fandom Civil War Begins Here
There are only two types of Hardin fans now:
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“He was misunderstood.”
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“He was manipulative… but hot.”
And a third group quietly emerging:
“Maybe Tessa deserved better from the start.”
The fandom wanted a redemption arc.
Netflix gave them introspection.
And introspection just exposed that Hardin’s evolution wasn’t linear — it was circular, self-serving, and emotionally carnivorous.
