The idea that Ben's involvement with the Panesar story - particularly if it's him struggling with it - 'undermines' Callum's PTSD storyline shows a fundamental misunderstanding of ensemble drama and the kind of partnership that #Ballum (and Max and Tony) have as part of that.
A storyline does not just belong to one person - just as Ben's hearing loss story was also a story for Callum, so Callum's PTSD story is also a story for Ben. Their issues are shared because they're a partnership. Plus, stories always interweave and overlap in ensemble dramas.
Additionally, if Ben is struggling with guilt (which I suspect he will be), that actually puts #Ballum on a similar page, as they both have trauma deeply entrenched in self-blame for other people getting hurt (eg. Callum in the army, Ben for Paul's death).
If we are to say that Ben (a prime candidate for also being diagnosed with PTSD) also getting to struggle undermines Callum's PTSD storyline, then surely we must condemn 'what about me?' in the same vein for undermining Ben's hearing loss story? And yet, it's a fan favourite.
Tony and Max said that them being married now means that their issues are shared - an issue for one is an issue for the other, in an even stronger way than before, and that feels like it could be about to be fundamental to them both dealing with their overlapping issues.
(No I'm absolutely not manifesting a story where they realise from Callum's PTSD that Ben also has a form of PTSD, and then it's how they deal with it together, as a partnership, how dare you, I refuse to hope)
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