I don't think that it sounds trite at all. There are not many miracles in a withdrawal process and people make minuscule progress sometimes only to fail over and over again. I think it's much more realistic if he doesn't become a convinced anti-alcoholic in the blink of an eye.

And yes, Viggo certainly touches him a lot and there seems to be a lot of concern behind the gentleness of his touches. But to me it appeared to be only that, concern, without a sexual motive/desire lurking in the shadows. But then, in bed he kisses him, too, kisses the inside of his thigh which really is intimate... so, maybe there still is something there :)