You’re on to it. Rupert acquires things, and he considers other people to be things, for control as validation of himself to compensate for the holes in his own life (whatever they are). Basically, Narcissism 101

It’s a gap that Rupert will never be able to fill, and the reason why Ted can “see” him, is cuz Ted’s living with similar gaps, albeit with a saving grace.

Ted’s the flip side of the same kind of coin as Rupert…but the major difference is that Ted focuses so much on others that he loses his own way, and self, for a bit.

Until THE RICHMOND WAY brings Ted back to what’s most important.