Talk:Seddie/@comment-24015721-20140701094928/@comment-14284535-20140701121613

IMHO, Freddie hangs on to Carly because he wants to tell Sam, "I told you so!" Hence, without Sam's unrelenting pressure, he just folds his hand over Carly -- and lets his Mom dominate him even more. Thus, in the alternate universe, Freddie is mentally weaker, so he gives up on Carly and settles on Rona Berger, who dominates him like a mean of Carly.

Obviously, in that universe, Carly also finds Nevel's pretentions appealing rather than creepy - she can't see through his behaviour there. That lack of perception can't just come from Spencer not being normal; that has to be something she doesn't have without Sam. Carly is weaker-willed without Sam.

In hockey terms, Sam gives Carly and Freddie "grit." This point gets lost as the series evolves. If you want a reason for Freddie to start becoming attracted to Sam, it is because he recognises that the top reason he has any backbone is largely because of Sam. Similarly, without Sam, Carly would always think Freddie to be spineless and she would be weaker-willed too.