I feel like he was brainwashed by the police or smth, and that made him act and feel those strong emotions that pushed em to do it. I don’t condone his actions, and I fr agree with you, just theorizing
My guess is that the officials just broke him psychologically to make him feel more guilty more harmless which of course didn't last long.
John deliberately make himself in public a cripple to punish himself...
It was a very stupid decision because at the end he became everyone's target and a ticking time bomb.
I wouldnt call it a dumb desision, it was his way to making amends for all the ppl he had hurt. He made himself a target and was fine with it.
He only broke when Seraphin became a target to, because the ppl that should have had her back.. traight up abandoned her.. Arlo. for one..
Alro knew John had powers but was hiding them and yet he pushed and pushed. Then the Seraphine kidnaping happend and she needed ppl to protect her, yet Arlo was like "john has power, he sould do it on his own".. Bur Arlo She IS also Your friend.. yet you abandoned her to John and then complain of him going mental..
Also the "corectional officer" definetly messed with Johns mind.. he not only showed him instances of him hurting ppl but also physicaly punished him for it for months.. and he nit picked the "bad" behavior and memories and has supressed the good or better ones.. He wasnt rehabilitating John.. he was making a Time Bomb..
I have a very hard time to like, forgive or sympathize with John...
I think he kinda got off easy when you fought against Sera who was still quite soft on him. He was quite very entitled, sadistic and whiny.
So you keep hurting others just because you feel so guilty and unworthy etc...
He is a violent manchild who didn't realize and admit his own mistake until the FL saves with him with her empathy/emotional labor.
And let's not forget he has a very smart and loving father in his life...
Let's see how he is going to atone for his shit actions.