Cassidy may be deeply flawed and cynical but says the right words and stands by Jesse through some mean misadventures. But what we eventually learn is he’s a parasite (a literal and metaphorical one). He’s left a field of friends and lovers in his wake — either destitute, addicted to drugs or dead — all abandoned to circumstances he’s set in motion himself. His nature inevitably betrays Jesse by letting Tulip think he’s died. He then addicts her to drugs, turning her into his own lover. And then, of course, holds zero culpability for his actions.

We all have the “bad friend” somewhere in our history (some of us have multiple offenders). This is the type of person who sees the friendship as an advantage rather than a bond. They call you only when they need something, or seems to be waiting for you to fail (or worse yet, contribute to your failing). They know how to play the victim card, or come at you with weird dramatics. They take your money, take your stuff, take your time, or piss on promises given. In vampire myth, a bloodsucker can’t enter your house without consent. That’s what makes getting rid of them the hardest of all.

Xavier (about Cassidy): “I honestly don’t believe he’s an evil man. Just careless. And thoughtless. And terribly, terribly weak.”