It doesn’t matter how Robin lured Nika or that she used Nami’s name.
No one coerced Robin. She had a choice to say NO to Zara, no one was pointing a gun at her head. Instead she complied. It paints her as a weak person who yelds and lets people use her cause otherwise she might lose their friendship.
That’s in part why I don’t like her, not for what she did but for the principle behind her action. That said she can still become a stronger person.
Depending on paths Nadia apologises, and she owes you. And Robin was coerced, even if she wasn't told directly how to do it. Question is, why believe Nadia? Nika just humiliated her and Zara, Zara still at this point says it's only over when she destroys Nika. Intent is there for all three. All of them are equally shitty, but Nika also uses people and coerces favours. So i'm not sure there is a worse person.
d "Okay enough... So Robin is responsible for mentioning Nami?"
scene ac457 with dssa
na "...Not entirely... maybe. We were a little harsh when we told her to bait you..."
Also, clear example of non performative regret - Robin regrets what happened without virtue signalling it to Nika - he's not there to hear this.
rob "She'll get him..."
scene ac216 with dssa
sas "They will find out."
scene ac217 with dssa
rob "I don't care. He didn't deserve it."
I could probably find some more stuff, but that's enough for me to see there are no innocents, and no-one's really an evil mastermind.
If this is a story about healing, why force us into a situation where we are not given the opportunity to solve problems legally. The situation with Zara and Nadya - just complain to the dean. Same story with Say. Give us the opportunity not to throw that knight in white in the library, but to explain ourselves .And of course, with the emerging story with a psychopath from a rich family (Melanie), under no circumstances should you approach her. Neither for Vika’s sake, nor for Zara’s sake. Absolutely. MC seems to be stuck in a situation where problems can be solved in a darker way he doesn’t have the skills/strength/money for this, but for some reason we are not allowed to solve everything in a brighter way.
For healing, first of all, you need not to be a hero, but to take care of yourself, and look at the problems of others from the outside.
The choice to heal I guess only makes sense when we see how Nika starts off reactive, with uncontrolled emotions. We do get multiple chances to make better choices, but Ocean needs to establish that Nika is not stable and can tend to violence, that he isn't able to control all his actions, or push everything down. Given Ocean's love of SW, there always has to be the temptation leading the padawan astray...
I think that the complexity of allowing a moral choice at every point of the story is just too complex for Ocean to carry out - it's already going to be a long ride. The redemptive arc with Zara already was mostly unchosen, that was done in the lighter way. As Nika says, he's trying to be a better person:
d "But you used the most important person in my life as bait."
scene ad530 with dssa
d "If it wasn't for the fact that I'm trying to be a better person, and your father was dating Noji, I would've retaliated in a way that would make your little stunt look like it was nothing."
d "And I'll tell you the same thing I told Nadia."
scene ad531 with dssa
d "Never! Never ever use Nami or any person I love against me ever again!"
d "Or I'll make sure you regret it."
scene ad532 with dssa
za "Maybe we did overdo it a little."
d "You think so?"
scene ad533 with dssa
za "Yeah... okay... We both did something... uncool."
Also, notice Zara doesn't contradict Nika about using Nami as bait?
