Both of them explore how the three main characters have been affected by the death of a loved one. In the case of "180 Degrees," it shows how the (ex) wife, the son, and the (male) friend have coped with the absence of their husband/dad/former crush and how his absence has also influenced the dynamics and relationships between the three main characters. Similarly, in "Dear Ex," we see how the wife, son, and (male) lover are coping with the death of the person they loved, and we get to see how his death brings them together, thus forcing them to learn more about the other while reminiscing the memories they have of the person they lost.

Both "180 Degrees" and "Dear Ex" also address LGBTQ + topics since the person who dies in both stories is a queer man who ends up marrying a woman and having a son with her to keep up appearances despite being in love with another man.