I Love This Because I Often Wonder What Their Dynamic Really Was Before The Crash. Were They Good Friends?

I love this because I often wonder what their dynamic really was before the crash. were they good friends? was it toxic and manipulative? has curly gone through the same treatment, but downplays it for himself because their relationship? did the abuse only start after? It can only be assumed what the dynamic mightve been based on Curly's response to Anya and the treatment he faced post crash. It's clear that Jimmy has this inherent need for power and enjoys reveling in it, even if it's stolen. but we know nothing of anyone's past other than Swanseas. it could've been a behavior that formed after working in the tulpar or he could've always been this way. maybe he repressed it in the beginning, luring Curly into a false sense of security, and it becoming an on-and-off thing. maybe Curly repressed any memories of Jimmy ever doing anything. Maybe he even told Anya that he'd do something to comfort her, knowing he couldn't; not only because they were "friends", but because he knew what would happen to him.

Either way, Curly is both the witness and victim as you said.

Also I'm incredibly sleep deprived rn so I hope this makes sense

Curly isn’t just a “man protecting a man” from his actions, he’s an amazing juxtaposition of both victim and witness. There is an unspoken story of potential sexual abuse in the relationship between Curly and Jimmy told exclusively through the pill sequences. The choking and gasping as Curly is forced to have pill after pill shoved down his throat while Jimmy gets his own private high off of knowing the power he now holds over the ex-captain. Anya isn’t the only one being forced to take blame from her rapist, Curly experiences a similar experience as Jimmy contemplates cannibalising him, forcing his autonomy over Curly’s own and blaming him for making him do something Curly has no control over.