Eugine and Rapunzel fall in love at first sight, but this is obscured by the fake persona of Flynn. Rapunzel is only attracted to Eugine as he really is--not when he's trying to fake being something he's not. After an initial stumble, they both hold back for fear of rejection until sure the other reciprocates.



When they first meet, Eugine gets a rare chance to make a good first impression--by being unconscious. He is naturally cute, after all. But when he sees Rapunzel...



...he tries to use his best Flynn Rider routine. This falls flat on Rapunzel. Good for her? Not really. It falls flat on all the girls. While he claims to be having an off day, he later admits his reputation is fake. We also find out his dream is to live alone on his own island with his wealth. That's an odd dream if he were actually lucky with the ladies like his role model Flynnigan Rider. Without any ladies around, he wouldn't be able to exercise his talents. But if he's not actually good with the ladies, then no one will find out he's a fake.



After Flynn blows it, his attitude changes. While he's attracted to Rapunzel, it's clear he's getting nowhere as usual. She'll reject him just like they all do. So, he falls back on his dream of filthy wealth alone on an island. He's actually very close to this dream, he just needs that crown back. If he can just get the crown back quickly, he can cut his losses, avoid another humiliation with a girl, and get on with his life plan.



While Flynn thinks he's blown it as usual, Rapunzel's actual feelings at this point are unclear. Even if she's not impressed by his smolder, she doesn't recoil either. Conveniently, she doesn't have to make any immediate verdict. She needs him as a guide to follow her dream anyway, and forcing Flynn Rider to be her guide is also a way to spend more time with him.



We don't really know for sure that Rapunzel's got it bad for Eugene until she talks about him to Mother. The way she talks about him is unmistakable, and it confirms what Mother Gothel already figured. Gothel merely needs to frame this one guy to betray Rapunzel, and she'll return home forever no matter how nice everyone else is to her.



With Maximus on their side on "day two", the couple can relax and enjoy themselves in the city. Max even helps out by prodding Eugine into action. Both Eugine and Rapunzel have been holding back out of fear, but things blossom quickly once they go for it.

Now, those of you without much love experience might wonder how serious Eugine can be about Rapunzel, if he had been trying to woo every pretty girl he meets. Let me tell you, it's all completely different if she's the first to reciprocate any feelings back! And Rapunzel is surely his first. Flynn must be pretty used to disappointment, for him to give up so quickly and to be so reluctant to try again even though she's showing so much interest.

Rapunzel, of course, is also worried about the possibility of rejection. This is a more explicit part of the story, thanks to Mother's helpful suggestion to test him. Rapunzel's too afraid to do it, though, and puts it off as long as she can. Less obviously, Eugine's feelings of fear of rejection mirror Rapunzel's throughout the day.



So far, this is a sweet little story about a couple who timidly fall in love with each other, but neither of them has yet to make any tough choices for love. Even Flynn's seeming rejection of the crown is actually just a choice to trust Rapunzel. He's still set on running away with the crown to some deserted island. The only difference is that he now wants to do it with Rapunzel. It doesn't matter which one of them is holding the sachel.



Eugine's critical moment comes when the Stabbingtons catch up with them. He can't risk Rapunzel to another death defying escape, so he calculates the best way to get rid of the Stabbingtons is to give up the crown. He's a skilled thief, so he can always try to steal something else for wealth. Rapunzel, on the other hand, is irreplacable.

Unfortunately for Eugine, this was all part of Mother Gothel's plan. As such, his choice doesn't pan out properly. Still, he made an honest choice of Rapunzel over his (admittedly lame) dream.



As for Rapunzel? She's doesn't really make any tough choices until the "day three reunion". Her one tough choice is a doozy, though! It more than balances out how she previously took the path of least resistance. Eugine doesn't let her do it, and reciprocates with the same choice. Then a miracle occurs, but that doesn't negate the choices they made. The bottom line is that Eugine and Rapunzel were willing to sacrifice for love.

So, were Eugine and Rapunzel intrinsically meant for each other, or were they just lucky? Does it matter? Rapunzel might have easily charmed any lucky man she wanted. Flynn might have ended up with the first girl to see him as Eugine. Still, the fragile string of circumstances that brought them together just makes their true love all the more precious.