The Cheat Sheet

Miscommunication is a theme that pervades Nathan and Bree’s relationship. Track and analyze the various missed cues, misunderstandings, and half-truths that prevent Nathan and Bree from getting together. What do these miscommunications suggest about them as individuals and about their relationship?

Nathan believes that he cannot allow himself to feel anxious or overwhelmed, and he hides his mental health challenges both from others and from himself. What does this suggest about views of masculinity and mental health within the NFL and in the wider culture?

How does the dual-perspective structure of the narrative function in terms of plot, character development, and romantic evolution? How does each protagonist reveal aspects of the other that are not accessible from that character’s perspective?