I like that you're all thinky about this. Mostly, when I think about Julian Lodge, I get stuck imagining his sexual exploits. :P

I think he likes Ellie and wants her to succeed, and so takes especial pains to goad her past hurdles, including the ones she puts in her own way.

He did want her to harness her inner strength. :D I can see that; him taking a liking to someone and then being all sneaky about helping out.

when Julian is arguing over lunch about whether kids should be allowed to call each other discriminatory names in the playground and seems to be saying they shouldn't -- from that moment on, he reads as "Liberal" to me.

Same here! It confused me, because it didn't mesh with the image of him that the show was projecting.