I love the way they each take a moment to reflect on what happened and process that thirty-odd years of fear has come to an end.
Both of them are clearly in a state of shock and then as they turn to each other, when they first see each other after they have come to the same conclusion, that they are safe, they smile brightly. Both of them! Right as their eyes land on each other, one after the other, they begin to smile again!
And than immediately after that realization has settled in, and when they look at each other and recognize that look in each other’s eyes, that knowledge that they are finally safe reflecting in each others gazes - they crash into each other.
The way Charles’s first thought is “You’re not going back to Hell, are you?”
It’s not just a hug, they’re cradling each other, as they pull apart just a bit, keeping each other supported as they begin to separate, they way they both twist away, like they’re prolonging contact, their fingers trail down each other’s arm, brush against each other before they fully detach.
Like the fact that the actors fell in love at first sight as well doesn’t surprise me at all. They are so in tune to one other.
Their mirror each other even as they separate. Charles’s hand goes to his heart, Edwin’s is raised up as if he were about to do the same. They’re not walking straight away from each other, they’re circling each other, the room.
Their chemistry is undeniable, the actors use it to make the decades long relationship feel so very real.
The way Edwin is unable to find the words to the point that he’s just making sounds and Charles immediately is overflowing with joyful worlds. They way that when one can’t do something, the other is right there to help them.
The way the seek out each other’s gaze again and the way Charles immediately goes to sit at the desk after Edwin falls into the chair.
(Also absolutely love the way Charles’s beef with the Night Nurse immediately dissipates once she’s no longer a threat to them. He’s so joyful at the idea of expanding the agency. It’s so sweet. It really highlights how kind he is.)
And then, at the end, despite them being so close already, Charles gets up and leans on Edwin, makes a quip about his smile and grins down at Edwin, so at ease and so happy, in this moment, just the two of them, safe and jovial and content.
This scene speaks so much about them as individuals and their individual growth from the first episode as well as their relationship and it’s growth throughout the season.
It’s genuinely such a sweet, beautiful scene.
I love them, I love this moment, and I love how this moment was their final together of the season.
Standing ovation for George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri as well as a round of applause for episode director Pete Chatmon and writer Ross Maxwell.
Edwin Payne who died by school bullies coming back to the same school 70 years later probably thought sth like "boy I sure hope things at this school got better over the years" and the first thing he sees is again a guy student bullied to death.
Can't stop thinking about Edwin and Charles finally kissing, getting there tentatively and slowly, but when they both discover at the same time that they can actually feel it, Edwin gasps
And Charles absolutely loses his mind
It's everything he missed from when he was alive and more, so much more, because it's Edwin
He can't stop
What started out as a nervous but tender expression of Charles's budding feelings turns into a blinding storm
He can't help but press Edwin into the nearest surface, which just so happens to be a wall, and devour Edwin's sweet and willing mouth that can barely keep up with Charles's new-found desire and love
Not to be overly emotional about this but if you pause the night nurse beurocratic paperwork scenes, you'll find that the file is labeled "PAYNE/ROWLAND".