Why Damien Doesn’t Deserve a Redemption Arc

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The Bright Sessions is notable for denying its main villain any sort of redemption arc. While I found this ending to be optimistic for Mark’s mental health, I’ve seen many fans calling for Damien’s redemption. I do not think the character is irredeemable, as I believe one can change. Lauren Shippen, the creator of The Bright Sessions, introduced this idea herself in her spin off series The AM Archives, with the return of a seemingly reformed Wadsworth. I do not reject the idea of change, but I believe that a Damien redemption arc is not only outside the scope of The Bright Sessions, but it would show a disregard for the characters’ mental health in a show that is supposed to feature a constant struggle towards greater emotional wellness.

Despite the flirtatious interactions that fans know and love between Damien and Mark, we cannot forget that Mark was kidnapped by Damien and psychologically manipulated. Mark hints that he may have some kind of Stockholm syndrome in the conversations he has with Sam in the Safe House episodes. Here, he says that he doesn’t know why he cares about him, or what his feelings are—he has been manipulated to feel something for Damien, but doesn’t know what. This is not a relationship, it is abuse, and to give Damien a redemption arc would be to turn a blind eye to this fact.

When Mark finally rejects Damien, this is actually a step towards healing for Mark. While this is the action that denies Damien a redemption arc, it is an essential piece in Mark’s narrative. I would even argue that his character arc would not be complete without rejecting Damien. Mark is frequently talked about in the show before he appears, but when he does show up his kidnapping is the first story arc that he is given. This is his most significant arc in the entire podcast, with side plots of alcoholism and his relationship with Sam. Even these side arcs are connected to the Damien situation. If Mark’s unhealthy attachment to Damien weren’t resolved, it would be confusing as to why this plot was introduced in the first place, and given so much time in the podcast. In addition, in a podcast primarily centered around mental health, Lauren Shippen would almost be undermining her own ethos as a writer by allowing Stockholm syndrome to go unaddressed.

If Mark had forgiven Damien, it would have completely derailed Mark’s character growth—which is not that significant in the first place, as Mark generally self destructs instead of heals. I do think that Damien could change, but he must do it in a new life, away from the cast of characters of The Bright Sessions. Otherwise, it would prioritize a villain over one of the podcast’s hero characters, and would imply to viewers that it is ok to continue on without recognizing one's Stockholm syndrome.