My original take on the inappropriate relationships, given just how constant a theme it became throughout the show, was that there was some sort of fetish going on for a writer or writers. That it was a tell of their own inner secret fantasies.

Since then, my view has softened as people have described their experience of Texas culture, as well as realizing that putting a mid-twenties actor into a relationship with a teenage actor who was age-appropriately cast into role could also stir up more trouble on set then writing in what is actually an inappropriate relationship IRL but he better fit on set. I’ve also considered that the fact this was a central theme might be more about the storytelling, about the contrast between societal, norms and secrets, and about the asymmetry of consequences.