The Self-Implosion of Josy Taylor: Hypocrisy, Stagnation, and the Forced Narrative Breakup

Things are not Just Peachy, and everything with Josy is a trap. No, not that kind.

While characters like Isabella and Jill exhibit high degrees of hypocrisy as their stories progress, Josy Taylor starts her arc with it. Introduced in Episode 1 as the sweet, easygoing "girl next door," Josy immediately engages in emotional and physical intimacy with the Main Character (MC) while secretly dating Maya. This initiates a foundation built on infidelity and deception.

1. The Original Cheater: Infidelity and Deception from Day One

Josy's entire narrative is a mistake.

From the very beginning, Josy's core conflict stems from a lack of honesty and transparency.

In Episode 1, Josy pursues a romantic connection with the MC despite being in a secret, somewhat committed relationship with Maya. This may be due to their homosexuality and fear of social reprisal (brought about my Maya's circumstances), or the lack of conversation as they slowly drifted apart, but it's never properly addressed or resolved before she pursues the MC.

This all comes to a head as a it forces a major plot twist in Episode 4: When Worlds Collide, where the MC discovers her secret past with Maya. Rather than taking early ownership, Josy omits the truth, allowing the deception to linger, setting a baseline of conflict that undermines trust across the entire group.

You might be thinking "what great character writing! Right off the bat, the first romantic interest is a trap to generate conflict!" That's what we call forced drama, and that's not impressive. That's a poor setup for a poor character, especially when past romantic experiences become a slut shaming weapon in Episode 12.

2. Inability to Handle Conflict: Comparing Tommy to Derek

Josy, violently putting her feet in places they don't belong.

While Maya and her healthy personality deals with profound family drama (her father Patrick's financial abuse and her mother's illness) with poise and maturity, Josy struggles with basic conflict management.

In Episode 2, Josy complains about her stepbrother Tommy stealing her nail polish to get high and blames his short temper on his mother, Monica. However, unlike Maya -- who handles her volatile twin brother Derek with adult clarity -- Josy reacts to Tommy with raw anger and physical violence (such as kicking him in the groin in Episode 6 when she finds out he gave the MC a blackeye). It's backwards behavior to blame Tommy for a short fuse when she's just as emotional and now violent toward him. One does not describe someone with a short temper by responding with hypocritical violence, well after the fact a problem is resolved between young men, where her involvement is not required.

Now you might be thinking "hey that's just comedy. Besides, Tommy got what he deserved!" And part of that is correct. However, that was a violent outburst by Tommy based on a memory flashback of Vinny reflected in the MC. Tommy immediately gets his comeuppance, through the fighting mini game or otherwise, and even apologizes to the MC right after. The MC and Tommy are cool. Josy had no business getting involved in a guy's argument that was instantly resolved.

Guy talked poorly to her? Josy would appreciate violence.

3. Post-Breakup Reactions: Stonewalling vs. Maturity

Josy doesn't take breakups well. Or, perhaps, at all.

When the MC exits the Maya & Josy (M&J) route at the Episode 8: Crossroads, the contrast between the two girls becomes stark.

Josy's Passive-Aggressiveness turns her introverted and sullen. She stonewalls the MC and others, refusing to speak or engage during shared scenes. This essentially goes on from Episode 8 onward until Episode 11, where she opens up a fashion/lifetstyle blog to express herself.

Maya in contrast, openly communicates, acknowledges her pain, reminds the MC of their original "no strings attached" agreement, and encourages everyone to maintain a healthy friendship. She still wants to befriend the MC, and reminds him of his value to her.

But even without a throuple-to-break up scenario, it appears the author wanted Josy to go through some kind of negative or self-imploding arc, as her story continues. Or he was just lazy, and had Josy always devolve into a negative conclusion to her life, since he couldn't be bothered to write it otherwise. Worst still, is if DPC believes that a throuple is impossible (they're not), and is trying to tell all those AVN players out there that they only exist in fiction, and you should get your dirty little mind out of this fantasy...

4. Stagnation and the Episode 11 "Identity Crisis"

Josy, using social media to find meaning in her life. What could go wrong?

Unlike other love interests who undergo clear developmental arcs, Josy exhibits minimal personal growth throughout Season 1 and Season 2.

In Episode 11, Josy reaches a narrative breaking point, admitting she feels lost and questions why she is even attending B&R. One has to ask the author: why did he include Josy there in the first place if she's always going to question her existence and choice of attending the college? It's more than forced melodrama; it's existential. The Episode 1 girl had to be in the story, so...have her attend the college? We do get a story of her father crying tears of joy for Josy following in his footsteps in attending B&R, but there's no guilt or trying to get fatherly attention from him, being inspired, losing faith in going to B&R...there's just nothing.

So, she retreats into her HOTs dorm room (so happy she's part of the HOTs still?) to run a fashion and lifestyle blog focused on fitness and healthy eating. Which is ironic, given her complete physical and social isolation from her friends. I think she attended the gym once with the MC. Maybe growing up with Iris made her good at fashion?

This fashion blog also drains her savings, where she must buy clothes for photo shoots without any plan for what to do with them afterward, masking a deep existential anxiety behind material consumption. She gets a tripod and takes great pains to pose and go to places with clothing, taking multiple images of herself. We can't simply score this as her being a girl who likes buying clothes and looking pretty; she's doing it specifically to find purpose in life.

Finding oneself in college and deciding what to do is a common hurdle in ones young life; but this is an existential crisis brought about by nothing, having no animus, and no foundation. Even with a potential throuple breakup. She seemed to like economics, but didn't like various tests she took.

Josy just woke up one morning, choose existentialism, and decided she doesn't know why she's here. So, blog?

Good job, DPC. Why do people go to school indeed, Being a DIK, sorority style.

So they weren't in a real relationship, but it felt that way, and she just went along with it?

5. Resentment and the Unraveling of the Bond -- The big "wah" moment.

This is about as much insight we'll get into her character.

During the Episode 11 epilogue at Isabella's party, Josy's emotional drift reaches a turning point.

When Maya asks if she is okay, Josy admits she isn't by shaking her head. She reveals lingering resentment toward Maya for keeping her father's abuse a secret, even though Maya and Derek have already processed the trauma and chosen reconciliation. Did Josy want to be the caregiver? Was she going to face off against Patrick and kick him in the groin? Not even Maya or Derek would want the MC to do that, yet circumstances forced him to act on Thanksgiving.

Josy ultimately admits she no longer knows if she loves Maya, throwing their entire dynamic into question regardless of the player's choices or route history. Considering her reclusiveness, it can be assumed she doesn't care about much of anything, nor could she, since she's trying to figure out her entire existence.

The only reason we know why Josy stops liking Maya is because the author said so.

Which is an interesting philosophical point, and for ones development. One could argue one would hold fast to emotional attachments like relationships, not toss them aside. Especially when one is romantically involved with Maya Bailey, a mature, absolute emotional rock. This doesn't concern Josy though because she gets more excited over attention on social media.

To hell with Maya; Jojsy's got layers of clothes to try on, and to tell people about dietary saturated fat after cardio. That blog isn't going to write itself.

And she even reveals the blog to others, including Heather, her mom, Isabella, Maya and the MC (via date). She was shy at first, unsure what others would think. But even Heather thinks this is a good idea. So with so many people supporting her choice, making her feel confident...where does all the lack of romance and love for Maya go? Why?

There is absolutely no buildup or degradation of romance with Maya, the MC and Josy; especially not considering all the lewd content throughout the chapters.

Josy simply doesn't have feelings for Maya anymore, because DPC said so.

6. Episode 12 Code Logic: Hostility Toward the MC

In Episode 12, when the MC's past liaison with Jade is exposed, Josy joins the rest of the group in condemning him, completely ignoring her own history of secret-keeping and non-monogamy. The narrative also forgets her absolute obsession or crush over the MC, and neglects the concept that other women might feel the same, or at least, be strongly attracted to him for some reason that she can at least relate to.

You'd think someone with a crush over the MC, noticing his relationship fallout, would take advantage of the situation. But hey, she's got a fashion blog.

In the script logic, if the player chose Zoey over the M&J route, Josy's internal script reflects complete hostility:

if ep12_josy_hurt:
    js "I feel like I don't need someone like him in my life."
    js "He is someone who hurt and betrayed me. I can't forgive or forget that."
else:
    js "Honestly, what's the point of it? I feel like he betrayed my trust."
    js "I don't respect him anymore."

Josy frames the MC's choices as a personal betrayal, ignoring the fact that the original arrangement was explicitly non-exclusive. True, she never agreed to those terms, but she also never made that clear to Maya or the MC. She's just a happy-go-lucky kind of girl, until she seriously isn't but doesn't tell anyone.

Zoey is a whole other ball to deal with. But this shows that no matter what negative outcome Josy is presented with, she always turns hostile in a no strings attached setup.

7. The Narrative Problem: Forced Breakups vs. Player Agency

The fundamental issue with Josy's arc isn't just her hypocrisy; it's how the narrative handles the M&J dynamic, which is forced.

Which is odd, since throughout Episode 12, regardless of post M&J breakup event, Josy seems to be...totally fine. It's like if they did break up, the MC and Josy seem to have made amends. They're hugging and consoling each other, trading Christmas gifts, even taking pictures and massaging the other. Josy is smiling again, she's excited on taking pictures at the NYE party, and thinking about fashion and her blog. Everything is looking good. Josy is her usual self.

Josy confiding in the MC that even though he screwed up with Bella, she was frozen when Derek was hurt.

Josy gets the MC a necklace. She seems no longer crying internally.

After exams, the MC gives Josy a massage. I guess she's back to being friendly.

Josy taking photos of the MC and Mel for her blog

And then the whole game ends with the final scene, where we click on M&J on the New Year's Eve Midnight Kiss event.

The New Year's Eve Implosion

Instead of allowing player choices to determine the health and longevity of the throuple relationship, or at least have the canon scripted event of Josy's emotional state and soul searching be stable, the game forces an inevitable breakup at the end of Episode 12 during the New Year's Eve party for the throuple, or. just for Maya's relationship with Josy. A moment intended to celebrate romantic commitment becomes a forced termination of the triad, driven entirely by Josy's sudden declaration in Episode 11 that she lacks romantic feelings for Maya.

Even in a non-throuple scenario, Maya, the emotional rock of the group, has to point out their lack of romance (which is off screen, or just, never shown, because narrative). And, like a healthy personality suggests, she puts the blame on herself for not giving enough of herself to Josy's "Schrödinger emotional needs" -- whatever those even are.

Except there's no evidence of them fighting. Show, don't tell, DPC?

What exactly does Josy need?

This also forces the player to choose between the two, or neither. Well, how about both? Instead of a triangle, a chevron? Or at least have the MC chooses to have two girlfriends who aren't into each other? Why would not being into Maya anymore cause everything to stop? Why must we choose between the two, or not at all?

DPC: No, you have to choose right now.

DPC: No.

DPC: Too bad. So sad. Your dad.

There are 2 simple solutions.

How the Mechanics Should Have Handled the Triad

• Have it event based. Failing to resolve Maya's family contracts or Josy's identity crisis should create specific, choice-driven rifts. Instead, we get a +5/-5 or -5/+5 option between Maya/Josy depending on ones dialogue choice right after failing the Maya contract subplot, which again, does nothing to stop the breakup. (Which implies DPC was going to use the point system, but simply didn't for this scenario.)
• Use the point system to not favor one girl. Players who carefully balance time, attention, and affection between both girls should be rewarded with a stable continuation of the route, rather than having it dismantled by a scripted character implosion. This is how throuple players played the game throughout the years, yet they always get shafted. Dealing with 3 relationships should be difficult, and there should be a relative payoff for doing it right.

But this is a greater issue; it implies the writer, DPC, thinks throuples are bad, or will always fail. If so, why have the player go through all this effort? Is the scoring system just to see if the girls like you, but not romantically? Is Being a DIK here to show us that a 3-way relationship is always going to fail? Why even have options to choose one over the other, to balance time and attention, throughout the years, if it always fails?  Why have declarations of I Love You, if we're all going to break up anyway? Surely, people have schedules in life and balance relationships and time everyday. So why not here in a fictional romance college setting?

No, DPC?

Summary of Underlying Hypocrisies & Weaknesses

Aspect	Josy's Action / Stance	Underlying Contradiction / Hypocrisy
Infidelity	Pursues the MC in Episode 1 while dating Maya.	Demands absolute transparency and loyalty from the MC in later episodes despite starting their connection on deceit.
Conflict Management	Lashes out violently at Tommy and stonewalls the MC.	Expects total emotional grace and understanding from others during her own identity crises.
Character Growth	Retreats into consumerism and isolation via her fashion blog.	Promotes "wellness and healthy living" on her blog while actively engaging in self-destructive habits.
Relational Loyalty	Blames Maya for concealing past family trauma.	Ignores her own pattern of withholding emotional truth from both Maya and the MC throughout the story.
Episode 11 Wah moment	Admits to existential angst	Was totally fine/happy-go-lucky the entire story. It seems the breakup from Episode 8 choice would've been this branch, but DPC made this always happen.
Episode 12 Reaction	Condemns MC over the Episode 4 Jade reveal.	Hypocritically judges past non-monogamous behavior after engaging in secret relationships herself.
Episode 12 Breakup	DPC Torpedoes the throuple.	Forces the player to choose between her, Maya, or neither. Not allowing for both, nor caring about your past choices or relationship balancing.

Conclusion: The Illusion of Agency and the Dictated Fall of Josy Taylor

Ultimately, Josy's narrative arc reveals a fundamental flaw in how Being a DIK handles character agency versus authorial intent. Despite being built up as the foundational love interest across twelve episodes, Josy’s development is routinely sacrificed to force specific plot outcomes which have nothing to do with player choice. The mechanical reality of her (and Maya's) route exposes a rigid blueprint that nullifies player investment.

The game enforces a mandatory downward spiral. Regardless of player decisions, route history, or affinity scores, Josy must experience an existential identity crisis in Episode 11 and fall out of love with Maya. Despite receiving universal support for her new blog, and having finally achieved the academic path her father Pete was so proud she followed at his alma mater, she rejects all foundations of her life.

Episode 12 presents a misleading facade of healing, showing Josy smiling, exchanging gifts, getting massages, hanging out with friends, and confiding in the MC, only to abruptly torpedo the triad on New Year's Eve. By enforcing this inevitable breakup regardless of how carefully the player balanced time, affection, and narrative resolution between Maya and Josy, the game renders years of player choice irrelevant. Josy’s self-implosion isn't a natural consequence of player agency, but an unavoidable narrative mandate from the author.

Is this because fans wanted individual paths with just Maya or just Josy, and DPC gave in? That seems a logical conclusion. But it's clear to state that there are a number of ways to achieve that outcome without destroying a throuple option in the process. And worst still, blaming it on a character who loses her identity in Episode 11 for no reason.