The arguments exchanged here for and against the Sophia/Dylan event are more or less all correct. Dylan is sometimes written as a manipulative (even lying) asshole and sometimes surprisingly sincere and direct.
Dylan desires his mother, this oedipal interest determines his actions.
At the conclusion of the Sophia/Dylan event Part 1, L&P has Dylan take a bold step. The open confession to his mother what he feels for her and what he wants from her. For an (insecure
) teenager of 17, that's a strong move.
Like his action when he took off his pants in the bathtub, he risks everything, but this time he wins. Sophia does not reject him, does not withdraw completely.
This last step reconciles me with his behavior of a Ferengi during the plot of part 1.
This story is in the making, we are thereby thrust into the role of editors, whether we want to admit it or not. I mention this to set the proper context for the next sentences.
Because even though L&P has Dylan make a bold move that suddenly makes him "grow," assuring his mother that nothing will happen that she doesn't want to happen, the "worry" remains that in the very next part, L&P will write Dylan's behavior again in such a way that you have to believe Dylan is again the one who betrayed his mother to Aiden.
I think that is the core of the whole discussion here.