Thank you for this perfect comment! It's so cool to see, like, practically everything I was trying to do and convey with this reflecting back in your words.

It's a challenge to really balance a character we've known as long as Sam with one introduced for just a few episodes, you know? And I think that's something I was going for, to put them both on similar pages (but not the same page noo) because otherwise the relationship would feel flat. It's gotta be both of them.

In short, 'perfect characterization' is such a high beautiful compliment, I will still be grinning this time tomorrow! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond!