Wow, what an amazing perspective on a character.

I think I hate you more than words could ever say for making that slimebucket into a sympathetic character.

Because now I can never again despise Truman French with the fullest depths of my loathing.

Because, much like Paul, you are GOOD.

Damn you.

This story is amazing! I love the perspective, the writing, the reasoning. Just great. Thanks for writing!

This is really, really, really good. Wonderful conception of the character. I've always looked at Truman, and thought, yeah, he's a jerk, but people are like that, and Casey shouldn't date him, but I don't have to hate him, either. And you seem to have that POV, too. So thanks.

Your characters are all IC. Paul is awesome. He is so underutilized on this site. Thanks muchly for writing!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

HOW DID YOU DO THIS?

You made me LIKE Truman.

I thought that was impossible. I hated him on the show: his voice, his creepiness, his smirk-(I believe the only moment he did something I liked was when he was saying "whoosh, whoosh", making water noises to try and calm Casey down before her valedictorian speech...)

But THIS. THIS STORY.

All I can say is that you, my friend, are a fabulous writer to take a character I hate, take the raw material of canon, and somehow twist it so that it works into canon, but transforms it into something better. I applaud this amazing feat. I applaud it.

I loved it!I especially liked the subtle competiton between Derek and Trumanm.I also liked how you explained his actions It made him more likeable.

This was... wow. I really hate Truman, but i love the insight on his life:) And his mom D; And not to mention the subtle yet amazing Dasey hints:D Ah.

Faving.

I realize this fic is a year old, but I just found it and I have to give major kudos. I think this is the best handling of Truman I've ever seen. You don't give him any leeway about his jack-assery, but at the same time, you handle him really maturely and give him more humanity than I think the writers or the actor himself gave the character. This was incredibly good.

Okay, three things:

1. Truman is and always will be a douche. At least now he's an understandable douche.

2. I may or may not have been in tears by the end of this.

3. The party scene between Derek and Truman should have been in the show. It was PERFECT.

Kudos and love, because, as always, this was amazing.

This was fantastic in concept, quite good in execution.

I really appreciate this insight into the infamous Truman.

am i the only one who saw implied dasey? there probably wasnt any... it was probably that i just WANTED to see it haha

This is the most amazing piece of writing ive read in months. Honestly. Usually I hate Truman, but u made me see a different side of him. Thank you soo much for writing and posting this

SO.

Why I've never read and reviewed this masterpiece before is completely beyond me. I've never held the Inherent Aversion to Truman's character that seems to be so universal in this fandom, and I LOVE everything you write, so there's really just not any valid reason for why I've put it off for so very long.

I am SO GLAD that I have, at long last, gone through it, because it is, without doubt, one of the greatest pieces this fandom has to offer.

You’ve painstakingly developed Truman into a Real Live Human Being (and the formatting of this fic, by the way, is extraordinary; it throws us straight into the dysfunction, makes us puzzle our way through the veneer of lies, shows us gradually that there are telling aspects of his person in each and every single one of his ‘options’ –absolutely wonderful), made him dynamic and relatable and sympathetic, and you’ve stocked him with the full gamut of motivations and emotions buried (meticulously) underneath the Truman French we (barely) get to know on the show.

AND THEN you highlighted all of the many, many things about Paul (the tragically under-utilized) that make him an indisputable bada**: his ability to really connect with the students, his endearingly dorky charm, the way he lets the kids (namely Casey in the show) steer the conversation and come to their own conclusions –oi. I was already in love with the guy (and it’s just as distressing that the fandom tends to forget about him –myself included), but you’ve really just taken his Awesome to an entirely new level (although that’s pretty much what you do with EVERYONE in this show, so I really shouldn’t be so surprised).

Also, interestingly, this fic really made me enamored all over again with Casey –she was not at all the focal point of the story, but you emphasized so many of the things about her that make her a unique character, that make her so much fun to write about, and certainly a thrill to watch (over and over and over again, like a good little girl with an unhealthy obsession) interacting with Derek and Emily and, yes, even Truman. It was a real treat to get to see her through Truman’s eyes, in all her unpredictable, insane, though ultimately positively remarkable glory. Thanks for that.

AND! How could I leave a review without slobbering all over the (implied) Dasey bits? What sort of obnoxious fangirl would I be if I didn’t offer to throw myself at your feet and flail in veneration of your Between-the-lines-Dasey Prowess? Because golly-gee, I loved those little tastes Very Much, in addition to Everything Else about this fic that is generally untouchable and perfect.

Bravo. Really. Wow.

I loved how you structured the story. The follow up answers - the pick your choise parts where amazing and really created a...I don't how to describe it but when I was reading it, I felt what Truman was feeling. In the actual show, I don't particuarly like him, but in this story you've given him a background which explains quite a lot about his personality. You actually gave him depth. And Paul finally got the credit he deserved. :D

I can't remember how I stumbled across your profile, but it's a goddamn goldmine! LWD, Narnia, Malory Towers, and excellent writing to boot. It's like digging around in a garbage bin (god bless effnet) and finding Santa Claus.