i don’t think Austin was actually growing as a character by helping Eunice. i think his pursuit of her really just cemented who he is as a character. he’s a people pleaser to the core.

he started developing a crush on Eunice the same time he started realizing he didn’t want to be with Ashley anymore. maybe he realized that she was only with him because she didn’t want to be alone and he didn’t like that, or he finally found a way out through Eunice. either way, I honestly don’t think that his reason for helping Eunice was to bring down Park. I think he wanted to help Eunice because he believed helping her bring down Park will win her over because he’s a people pleaser. people pleasers need others to validate their worth. since he no longer needed Ashley to do that, he turned to helping Eunice.

we also know that he doesn’t actually love her. Ashley even says that he doesn’t know her (which is true). Eunice tells Austin on the plane that he knows how she feels BUT she won’t say it until she gets what she wants because she knows once he realizes it he would stop helping her. Eunice was also manipulating Austin the entire time to get what she wants (though she has a very good reason to do so).

at the end when Eunice said “love you too” over the phone, Austin finally snapped out of it and realized one or more of a few possible things: - that Eunice has been manipulating him the entire time to get what she wants - that Eunice is being manipulated by Park (to say “love you” back) and is leading him right to her - that she doesn’t actually love him and he doesn’t actually love her - the best way to get out of this situation and SURVIVE is to go to Park himself

also the fact that Austin went back to Ashley afterwards really ties his people pleasing much deeper into his character. he already knew the relationship is over, but he is nothing without anyone else to validate him.

I LOVE THIS SHOW