Yeah that video of Carrie and Oliver is sad and really hammers home the gravity of her current predicament. While I don’t think Oliver ever matched the intensity of her feelings, he clearly cared for her a lot at one point. I think 2018-2020 was the peak of their relationship. It’s also the time Carrie seemed her happiest overall.
Even scrolling back on her IG feed - she was hanging out with more friends and seeing her family more regularly too. And Oliver features a normal/appropriate amount. I think because of Oliver’s nature it forced Carrie to have more of a life outside of their relationship, which did her the world of good tbh. She was more into fitness and running at this time too.
Oliver was very clearly the love of her life. And she wasn’t his. I’m not sure if covid prolonged their relationship or if it speeded up it’s demise. I lean more towards the former. But, thanks to Oliver, the deeper machinations of their relationship were private. So we’ll ultimately never know.
But the feelings between them were clearly real, and very deeply so on Carrie’s part. Her devastation at their breakup is completely understandable. But it’s so sad the way she’s chosen to deal with those feelings! As per the Joel relationship timeline someone kindly wrote out, she was still heartbroken and seriously struggling when she dm’ed Joel and arranged that first date. Then immediately after that she was plunged into immense happiness? Then a few months later she’s engaged???
And it’s super dodgy to me that right when Tattle clocked that Oliver had a new girlfriend and went to Paris with her is when she had that whole IG ‘keeping it real’ post where she discussed how difficult it was playing Cinderella whilst heartbroken (which got picked up by the daily mail). She was (understandably) gutted to see Oliver had moved on so swiftly. So she ran out to find herself someone new to shield herself from that pain, and to stick it to Oliver? Oh you’ve moved on and look happier than ever?? Well I’m moving on too and I’m gonna do you one better! Actually my new guy is the TRUE love of my life!! AND I’m getting married, so there!!!!!!
But none of it is real! Joel is just excited to have reeled in such a lucrative opportunity. He has more than 10x the IG followers he had prior. A future wife with two properties and a millionaire brother with tons of industry connections. Plus Carrie is a beautiful woman. And then for her, she’s found a guy desperate and pathetic enough to feed her ego with a million pointless disingenuous gestures. He listened to every complaint she probably made to him about what Oliver didn’t do and is ticking off every box one by one.
Even all of this #TheMontagues rubbish that he keeps pushing is part of that. Carrie has spent her whole life coveting what Tom and Gi have. And this is such a hollow performance of what they have!! Those two can actually talk sincerely about being soulmates because they were childhood sweethearts. And been together practically forever through all the ups and downs of growing up. Hell, Tom wrote chart topping hits about his wife.
But tbh most people don’t have Hollywood movie style romances like that in their lives. But it doesn’t mean they can’t have rich meaningful relationships. Which is what Carrie fails to understand. She micromanaged every romantic relationship she’s had. Always trying to push some silly narrative instead of just authentically experiencing her partners for who they were. And now she’s met a guy that’s even more egotistical and unhinged who’s happy to run along with her delusions. And she’s mistaking that for true love!
I’ve lost all hope that behind the scenes Joel’s alright really. At first I thought maybe he’s just social media illiterate. Maybe he’s just a bit inexperienced and overly exuberant! But no, I think he’s a greedy opportunist. He’s inappropriate, possessive, clingy, self absorbed and just plain odd. Carrie is delusional, arrogant and a major pick me. They’re a scary combination tbh. I honestly can’t predict where this is all going, but the whole thing massively skeeves me out.