Brit's Assault (Spoiler)

Britt seems like he had a bad childhood and never a decent father figure. I think season 2 would of explained his casual use of violence. Remember the fight in the pilot when he kicked that guy in the face. Even that was a clear sign of this. Hank let Britt down instead of giving him better advice to handle the situation. He told him to stay home and drink his problems away. He also advised Kate to keep her one night stand a secret. Britt is the only real friend that Hank got. While everyone seemed to cut him out their lives post his stay in Rehab. Britt stood by him through thick and thin. One of saddest moment in their relationship is in the finale when Hank is sending subtle hints that he going on a suicide mission. Britt is unable to pick up on it.

TERRIERS R.I.P. The Chicago Code R.I.P

Hank forgives him quickly because of his own guilt -- this never would have happened if Hank had not told Katie to keep quiet about sleeping with her professor.

Also, Britt is violent throughout the series, not just in this one incident. Not to mention Katie has him perform a breaking & entering and rape fantasy. Britt is a (former) thief and criminal and a lowlife who happens to have a good heart and fairly reasonable smarts (the latter two things are why Hank loves him).

I disagree that he almost kills the guy. He beats him up really good, but he doesn't almost kill him.

Also, it would have been out of character for Britt not to do what he did. I'm glad the filmmakers did not compromise the show.
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Why wouldn't Hank forgive him quickly? It's partially Hank's fault, but on top of that, that's his best friend. That's what best friends do.

It totally doesn't justify a beating, but that guy was trying to get Katie in bed. Just sayin.

I can promise you a day of reckoning that you will not live long enough to never forget.

The weirdest part in my opinion, was the way everyone acted like this was the beating of the century. When they showed Gavin in Quid Pro Quo, he had some bruises and band-aids on his face, but he didn't look that bad. Then in the finale, Katie says "he looked pretty bad." Not really.

Also, Britt was totally hammered, I'm surprised he couldn't fight him off in the first place.