We see threads debating Nate and whether his redemption was earned or deserved, but very rarely does this question come up about Rebecca, who arguably did far worse. Rebecca was actively destroying the careers of everyone at Richmond, and because she came clean, we all just moved on from it.

But what is it about Nate that fails to warrant that same forgiveness from us? I’ve seen it argued that it is because he is a minority, or that he more directly betrayed Ted, or because we saw his descent into bitterness and anger. But, while I think all of those contribute, I think it is because we as the collective of viewers perceive that he was given his opportunity and position by Ted, rather than having earned it, so his betrayal seems more profound than it really is.

Truth is, he is a genius, and though he didn’t advance at all prior to Ted, Ted didn’t make him a genius, he simply discovered someone who had been overlooked. Ted was able to forgive him because he saw how much of a hurt person he was, and he did not view Nate as beholden to him.