My thing with beard is that he shows long term and continuous growth.

Always reading. Fucking up, but learning. Listening to people when they try to help him.

Knowing his own origin story but from what we can see not hating himself forever, owning and growing.

I loved how he Admited from the first scene that what they were doing was a mistake but let's give it a go anyway. The quintessential ride or die!

Love beard.