GOD the fact that Helly R has been yearning and empty her whole life without having any context as to why. She's been sore her whole life. She's been hungry her whole life. Her muscles and joints ache from intensely exercising every morning without any calories to burn. Her stomach is always empty and hurting, but she has no reason to believe that's not the default sensation. Every physical touch, no matter how light or casual, feels foreign but also explosive because her body has never experienced being touched in a gentle and loving way. Helly R doesn't even know the full extent of everything she's being starved of, but her body absolutely does and is overloading signals and cues to maybe get those needs met one day.
The first thing that Irving says after seeing Helly for the first time is "She looks nice". Knowing he ends up being a father figure to her this is such a beautiful moment
It's also interesting in comparison to Jame Eagan telling Helly he dislikes Helena. Irving doesn't know Helly, he's in a way watching her being born. But he sees something in her and his instinct is to try and help her, something we see through the season. Despite Helly rejecting everything he believes in at the beginning of season one he never looks down on her.
On the opposite side we have Helena who has been molded to follow her father's beliefs and he still doesn't like her. He has been in her life since Helena was a child, she still lives in his house under his rules and yet he doesn't like her.
And while I think about it, it's so funny how after the overtime contingency Mark was like "Not only did I meet Ricken Hale, He's even part of my family" and everyone immediately believed him, but with Helly it was like "There's simply NO way you saw a gardener at night"
characters who dig themselves out of their graves (whether literal or metaphorical) are at the top of the list. nothing beats a character who should have died but didn't and comes back to haunt their own life and the world around them, benevolent or violent it doesn't matter, it's enthralling either way
i want helly to experience every single good thing in the world. staying home on sundays… going to the park… celebrating new years… breathing and feeling fresh air on her face.. owning a pet.. eating ice cream… eating fast food.. going to the movies.. making ramen… and most importantly.. going to costco