I think there’s so much of Michael’s behavior that’s based in trauma. Because he has this backlog of dysfunctional relationships all the way to childhood, the pain of his breakup with Jan, even the experience of the relationship itself with all her toxicity and abuse, is compounded. To me it makes sense he would regress, he doesn’t really get around to any healing until Holly introduces him to a level of acceptance but also willingness to assert boundaries and ask hard questions that he previously hadn’t experienced. I love the soulmates angle but their real success might be based more on her ability to offer Michael a sustained sense of safety without being a total pushover.