I dont think I can add more to the discussion of how Norman's quick turnaround in chapter 154 is actually fitting of his character but here a lot of folks were attracted to the cool, strategic, "merciless" Norman, but that's the thing. People mistake Norman for ONLY being these https://twitter.com/bweeebz/status/1257561199304232960

We shouldn't forget the fact that Norman is still that kid who smiles without a care in the world, the kid who cares for every sibling he has, and with that is scared of losing his family. The only reason why he became cold in the first place is he couldn't afford to be "weak".

Being weak means danger for his fam. And since Norman is the strategic 4D chess player, he couldn't afford any flaws to the plans he makes. Even if the plans involve sacrificing every last bit of his individuality. and with that he slowly started to change.

He had this tendency to sacrifice ever since he got shipped out back in grace field, and since then, there have been chips at what makes him the person he is. He had no one to fall back to in Lambda, he was all alone further convincing himself that "his way" is the only right way

his "selflessness" has cost him his identity and by the time he's at the capital the kid's already a mess of emotions he's been bottling up for the sake of his "perfect" plan. He's peak emotional instability here and Emma stepped in right on time

Emma gave Norman a chance to find his individuality again. And unlike back at Grace Field where Norman was utterly convinced there was no other way except his, right now Emma showed him a way out of his cycle of self inflicting pain, and this time he's not alone.

By that time, Norman has already suffered greatly from the horrors he has faced without his family beside him. The moment Emma and Ray revealed about how they knew about Norman's cowardice is the moment where he finally breaks down.

Yes the Norman right now may seem cold, distant and merciless, but deep down where he locked away what he considered are his weaknesses, is the Norman who is soft, sweet and scared of what he has become. While he may think that he's too far gone, Emma and Ray are way past that.

Emma and Ray see past through all the lies he's convinced himself. They embrace him for what he is now and offered how they could help with Norman in being his true self again. He is not alone this time.

After shouldering the burden for so long, he can now finally share it with the rest of his family, and work it all out together