Aahana Swrup
In ‘Ballard,’ the titular main character has plenty of tasks to juggle in her professional life. As the new head of the Cold Cases Division, the LAPD’s most underfinanced and undermined department, Renée Ballard has big things to prove with her work. Thus, alongside her eclectic group of investigators, mostly comprised of volunteers, the detective dives headfirst into many complicated, long-abandoned cases. Consequently, she spends long hours in the office and on the field, unraveling mysteries around a serial killer, interdepartmental corruption, and more. However, in contrast to her high-pressure job, she has a light and breezy romance waiting for her in the form of the charming lifeguard, Aaron. Yet, as the two get closer and fall deeper in their noncommittal commitment, their relationship turns all the more complicated. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Aaron Falls For Ballard Hard and Fast
Ballard and Aaron’s relationship has a slow and unrushed beginning. From the start, it’s clear that the duo has some sort of a friends-with-benefits situation, wherein they enjoy each other’s company but without any strings attached. The detective’s inkling of the ocean keeps her in the lifeguard’s orbit, periodically bringing them together. Furthermore, she has a habit of inviting him over, especially at the end of a particularly bad day. Thus, in some ways, Aaron becomes her safe escape from her otherwise chaotic life. Yet, it’s obvious that there’s only so much that Ballard is willing to give into this half-baked relationship of hers. For the detective, her work, which often deals with life and death situations, always inevitably takes priority over every other aspect of her life.
This includes Aaron, allowing him only a small portion of his lover’s time. Nonetheless, the casual partnership seems to work for both of them. That is, until one disastrous night changes everything. One night, a suspect from one of Ballard’s cases invades her home and attacks her while she naps on her couch. Fortunately, her training kicks in at the right time, allowing her to fight back against her assailant. However, the altercation results in a complication when the attacker’s airway gets blocked, putting his life in danger. Since his cooperation can be a breakthrough for Ballard, she needs him alive at all costs.
As a result, Ballard calls up Aaron, mindful of the first-aid course he had recently taken. Consequently, he’s able to guide her through performing a tracheostomy on the dying man. Ultimately, the night ends in surprising ways for the detective. Nevertheless, the lifeguard walks away with a whole other realization. Ballard’s near-death experience forces Aaron to examine the reality of his budding feelings toward her. While the friends-with-benefits thing was easier at the start, it becomes painfully evident that he can no longer be satisfied with only being a small, negligible part of the detective’s life.
Aaron and Ballard Want Different Things From Their Relationship
In the aftermath of the life-changing realization, Aaron attempts to make things work with Ballard. He comes close to confessing his real feelings and tries to spend more time with the latter. Nonetheless, around the same time, the detective’s professional life becomes more complicated than ever. She’s constantly pulled in different directions, too invested in solving one case or the other to allot any quality time to her lover properly. In fact, on more than one occasion, she has had to take a raincheck on their plans, even when it was evident that Aaron was in desperate need of her company. Simply put, she doesn’t have the time to juggle her work with an actual, dependable relationship.
Eventually, Aaron also begins to realize the same. As such, he has no choice but to break things off with Ballard. He knows that feelings have never been a part of the deal when it comes to their relationship. For the same reason, he doesn’t blame the detective for putting him in the backseat of her life. Still, he knows that the situation is no longer healthy for him. He can’t keep things casual between them, not when his feelings toward Ballard are no longer anything that resembles casual. Even so, he also knows that a more serious relationship isn’t something that the detective has the bandwidth for. Thus, the two ultimately decide to amicably part ways. Still, just because they couldn’t work it out now doesn’t mean things can’t change for this couple somewhere in the future.
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