Crew Girl's love triangle worked because it veered away from old tropes

I love an intense love triangle when it's done right, meaning the series doesn't give away the clear winner a mile away. Netflix's Crew Girl made waves with its love triangle between Teagan Tao (Miku Martineau), Josh Regis (Sam Braun), and Cam Dillinger (Kyle Clark). While it initially seemed that Josh was only an arrogant jerk and Cam had a rough exterior, Teagan cracked both of them and saw their softer sides.

That made both guys more layered, but it made Teagan's decision harder. It complicated matters since both guys were also on the varsity rowing team and competing for the stroke seat. Teagan worked tirelessly to help the team form a bond, and she didn't want to break that fragile connection. It felt like she was doomed to have an "illicit affair" with one until she made up her mind.

Teagan didn't like either of the guys originally

Teagan didn't like either of her love interests originally. She and Cam experienced one of those meet-cutes, where they literally bumped into each other. He insisted she needed to learn better bike safety, and she initially thought he acted rude. However, he seemed impressed that she spoke her mind and gave opinions while she watched the rowing practices. It was obvious he liked her since he casually invited her to the end-of-summer party. He had the boy-next-door vibe and had her back.

On the other hand, Josh Regis was a gorgeous, arrogant blond jerk. Even I understood why he thought girls should flock towards him. He reminded me of a young Teddy Montgomery from 90210 with his athletic ability and commanding presence. He assumed that because his family owned the boathouse, everyone would keep him in the stroke seat, and Teagan's arrival shook things up.

He disliked her, but she intrigued him. She wasn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with him and be brutally honest, and that tripped him up, since most girls fell at his feet. The ice finally cracked when he rescued her after she fell into the water.

Josh and Cam's backstories made them more relatable

I hate love triangles when you can tell the winning choice immediately, or when one option is a good guy and the other is a jerk. While Josh acted like a jerk and Cam had his walls up, both teens had family issues that explained their behaviors. It might not have excused their attitudes, but it fleshed out their personalities and made them more relatable.

Almost every teen drama has a character like Josh. He acted more arrogant because his family expected perfection in sports, and he and his cousin competed for affection and internships based on their rowing rankings. He couldn't even share his family drama or his health concerns with his girlfriend, Britney, because all she cared about was the perfect image. It felt like Josh lived in a glass bubble, and it was about to burst. Being with Teagan allowed him to lower the mask slightly, but he was still cautious with her, too.

Cam's story also felt relatable since most of us don't have the funds to attend a prestigious school. He liked his teammates, but he never fit in since he needed financial aid to attend. We saw how that affected him when he couldn't afford tickets to the formal after-party with Teagan. He was embarrassed because he wanted to give her a memorable evening and struggled to admit the truth. She only wanted him to open up to him, and it hurt her when he ditched her at the dance, yet she still tried to reconnect with him.

Teagan was very busy in Crew Girl season 1. Besides getting to know two gorgeous guys, she was also the keeper of their secrets, since she was the only person either Cam or Josh felt comfortable with. Cam liked Teagan but was terrified to ask her out because he wasn't sure he had much to offer, yet their taco date felt natural. They looked so cute at the fall formal, but Cam needed to get out of his head. It was obvious how much Teagan liked Cam when she risked everything so that Cam could win the indoor race. She believed in him.

I liked that Teagan brought out Josh's softer side, too. Miku Martineau was a chemistry magnet with both of her leading men. Teagan and Josh had such fun banter, and their karaoke scene, singing "Mr. Brightside," was spot-on. That is such a love triangle song. Their relationship felt more like an "illicit affair" vibe, with sneaking kisses in dark rooms and closets. It was hot and sexy, but they likely couldn't date in public. Josh also worried that he wasn't good enough for Teagan.

Crew Girl season 1 ended with Teagan and Cam finally kissing. It seemed like Josh stepped aside, partly because Cam came through for him, both in fixing his car and choosing him to be the stroke seat over Ryder. Since Josh respects loyalty, that meant a great deal to him, and he returned the favor both in the boat and in the triangle. Ultimately, it's Teagan's choice, and I thought she connected with Cam on a more emotional level. They're more alike and understand what it's like to fight for their dreams.

This is a teen drama, though, and if Crew Girl gets renewed, I suspect the love triangle will continue and that's great given it was a fun one.

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