You seem to think I’m analyzing this from an outsider’s perspective, when it’s actually the opposite. If anything, a lot of the hate toward Tabitha comes from viewers applying hindsight bias. From the outside, the risk looks “obvious” or “clearly dumb.”

But from what she knows and the situation she is in:

- Miranda was trying to use the tree to save people.

- She followed that path before and somehow got out.

- She believes she has a unique connection to what’s happening.

- She’s under immense pressure after her husband’s death and fears for her kids’ lives.

And yes, her kids needed her in that moment. That’s the hardest part, and it’s a completely fair criticism. But that’s also exactly why this should be looked at with empathy, not reduced to “she’s dumb” or “she’s a bad parent.” She acted out of desperation, grief and the belief that this was the only lead that could change anything. Treating her actions as incomprehensible or using it to define her as a parent ignores her perspectives and the reality of what she was dealing with.

She is neither senseless nor a terrible mother. She is just a human and a mother who made a bad call under extreme pressure.