it’s analysis time again baby || TJ & Kira vs Tyrus ~ theme of compulsory heterosexuality
okay so i already did a really long analysis about the kind of subtle Kira/ internalized homophobia storyline and the effects it had on TJ, and you can find it here
but this analysis is less about what was going on in TJ’s head and more about the actual storytelling and the point that i think the show was trying to make. we got some super interesting and well done parallels that were just. so cool and clearly deliberate, so i wanted to highlight them.
basically there was a very present theme of compulsory heterosexuality vs natural “born this way” homosexuality.
now, esp in The Media, compulsory heterosexuality // “forced” heterosexuality is often shown by an lgbtq+ character performing heterosexuality by dating/ flirting/ being with someone of an “opposite” gender. TJ does not do this– he never has nor pretends to have any romantic interest in Kira at all ever. he is very clear that they’re just friends and he never says that he’s straight/likes girls/ etc, and also openly flirts with cyrus (when he’s not in front of kira) nonstop bc the boi is whipped
BUT, the show uses the idea of compulsory heterosexuality to show us, the viewers, how important it is that, for a lot of people being gay is natural and when sexuality (straightness) is forced on someone, it is wrong.
This is shown by anytime TJ does a certain thing with Cyrus, it comes naturally and comfortably, but everytime a similar thing is done with Kira, it is because it is forced upon him. Doing things with Cyrus comes naturally to TJ– doing things with Kira does not.
EXAMPLE 1: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR COSTUME DAY” PARALLEL
When TJ asks Cyrus if he wants to do a costume with him, it is brought up BY TJ, and Cyrus responds “listening,” ready to hear his idea– they are both perceptive and open to each other
the costume idea is all TJ’s– it came to him automatically, he already has the entire costume for god’s sake– it is an inside joke that they created together. he brings it up with cyrus, explains the idea, and cyrus is INTO IT.
of course TJ would do a costume w cyrus, he doesn’t even have to think about it. he asks if Cyrus is into it and while they are a bit wishy washy on who will be who, they come to a happy exciting agreement. they love the idea. they banter back and forth, it is equal from both sides: they both want to do it, they both think its funny.
now, compare that to how the costume conversation with kira goes:
same setup, character A approaches B, states an idea, and asks if they wanna do it, literally uses the same words “idea” for costume day, asking “you in?” but this time the conversation is super forced-- it is NOT equal from both sides, there isn’t any natural banter. its kira sitting down, steamrolling with her idea, and getting repeatedly shut down by TJ but blatantly ignoring it
this scene concludes VERY DIFFERENTLY from the cyrus/tj scene. while in that one you have two people coming to an agreement together, in this one you have kira forcing an idea upon tj and literally lowkey blackmailing him into doing it. this is not a natural scene, it is forced. it is one character forcing something onto another character.
THE SHOW IS SHOWING US THE BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING YOUR NATURAL SEXUALITY (leading to excitement, ease, happiness) VS THE HARM OF FORCING A SEXUALITY ONTO SOMEONE (unease, shame, it’s unnatural)
EXAMPLE 2: SWINGSET PARALLEL
when TJ approached the swingset for the first time, he came of his own volition: he approached Cyrus of his own will, because he wanted to talk to him. and as he opens up in vulnerability to Cyrus, the latter gently invites him to swing too
this scene progresses naturally and is built on mutual acceptance and comfort. TJ asks if swinging helps, which is a way of asking “should i swing/can i swing with you,” and Cyrus basically answers “yes you can swing with me” when he says “you look like you need it” bc he can tell TJ is feeling bad. there is consent between the two, a natural progression
we see this AGAIN in swingset 2.0
notice again the mutual respect, even when they’re in an active disagreement: TJ again asking if swinging with him is okay, Cyrus eventually accepting after they talk it all out. during this scene even when cyrus says he should leave TJ is like “no you stay, I’ll go” basically saying “I’m not going to force swinging with you if you dont want to, but i will say sorry and then leave you to your space.” No one forces the other to swing, no one pushes anyone to do anything, everything happens naturally and when they do end up together on the swings it is with permission and it makes both characters feel good and closer together
MEANWHILE the bane of my existence the kira swingset scene:
literally fuck this scene im about to go batshit. i cant believe i had to rewatch it
so FIRST of all, again we have character A (kira) “invites” TJ to swing, but it really isn’t an invitation at all. TJ turns her down twice. TWICE: “i thought you wanted to feed the ducks” “um im not five”: giving her clear signs he does not want to swing, which directly opposes the clear signs he gave cyrus that he DID want to swing (“does it help”/”is this swing taken”/ “okay if i stay”)
and while cyrus picked up on those cues that TJ wanted to swing and allowed him to join him bc he felt comfortable/happy with it, kira ignored TJ’s cues that he didn’t want to swing, and instead of leaving him alone, she kept pushing and tried to force him to join her
and TJ has this dumb boi need to challenge every dare but thats a whole other story. but kira gets him onto the swing NOT BY inviting him as cyrus does, but by daring him, forcing him. and for once, swinging does not help TJ feel better. look at his face; its as if he’s subconsciously searching for cyrus bc he knows that this is wrong. its unnatural.
AND AS IF THAT PARALLEL WEREN’T OBVIOUS ENOUGH, WE HAVE THE FACT THAT IN BOTH SWINGSET 2.0 AND SWINGSET!KIRA, TJ IS WEARING THE SAME GODDAMN SHIRT. LIKE
I know most everyone noticed this but i can’t not mention it. also look how naturally close he stands to cyrus vs how far he is from kira: with kira he is trying to make space between himself and the swing she’s on bc he doesnt want to swing with her, whereas with cyrus he wants to be swinging with him so bad (but respects cyrus’s temporary wish to not) that he is literally reaching out to touch him– he is naturally drawn to be close to him when they’re at the swings, and its the opposite with kira.
also camo shirt? mayhaps an illusion for “hiding”?? this is a stretch but perhaps
ANYWAYS, AGAIN, THE SHOW IS SHOWING US THE POSITIVE OUTCOME (TJ and Cyrus both feel better in 1.0, and make up in 2.0) OF TJ FOLLOWING HIS INSTINCTS W CYRUS VS THE NEGATIVE OUTCOME (TJ is pushed to swing, he is guilty about it with kira) OF IGNORING HIS INSTINCTS WITH KIRA
EXAMPLE 3: PHYSICAL TOUCH
do i even have to talk about how many times TJ touches cyrus without a second thought
boy knew cyrus goodman for 13 seconds and was really like “if i dont put my hand on this kids shoulder i’ll die.” TJ is a touchy person and its almost exclusively reserved for cyrus. he doesnt think or need to be coerced/manipulated into patting him or slinging an arm around his shoulder, it comes naturally to him, its automatic. (and these pics are only 6 examples, there are literally twice that amount not even including the finale lmao)
meanwhile yeah sure TJ throws his arm around kira at andi’s party bc i guess we cant have nice things, but in 3x15….
LIKE ARE YOU SHITTING ME. You can’t make this stuff up the girl literally has to coerce/bet/dare TJ to do literally anything with her. She literally jumped on top of him without any warning literally forcing him to carry her– he’s not going to like drop her on the ground (though i can dream)– so she puts him in a position that he cant say no, and she literally does this all the gd time.
When TJ touches Cyrus, it’s always because they’re sharing a naturally occurring moment of connection and togetherness. When TJ touches kira its because he’s forced to. iTs cOmpULSoRY.
EXAMPLE 4: “MAKING ME PICK” PARALLEL
I’m gonna keep this last one short bc I already did a big analysis on “choosing” and how Kira wasn’t even an option for TJ in the first place, which you can find here
but I think these screenshots much sums it up
it follows the pattern of all prior parallels: Cyrus doesn’t force things on TJ. he doesn’t force him to hang out, or abandon Kira, he simply tells TJ the truth that he feels lonely and that kira doesnt like him, but he still tries to be nice and open, and bares with TJ even when its excrutiating. meanwhile, Kira forces him once again to do something. “If I made you pick.” Cyrus never made him pick. Everything with Cyrus came naturally.
IN CONCLUSION, I want to reiterate that I don’t think TJ himself was thinking in his head “oh boy i need to Be Straight With Kira.” Again, TJ never tried to pretend he had any feelings more than “friendship” with her. HOWEVER, I do think that the SHOW ITSELF used all of these parallels to show the VIEWERS why you should never try to force a sexuality on someone. WE, THE VIEWERS, saw the clear difference between TJ when he was with Cyrus vs. TJ when he was with Kira. Like, HEY PARENTS, if your kid is LGBTQ+, let them be that bc it REALLY IS NATURAL TO THEM. If you try and force them to be cis/straight, and they aren’t, they WILL BE MISERABLE. Being gay is not unnatural. Forcing straightness is.
Kira represented compulsory/forced heterosexuality bc she literally had to blackmail/manipulate/bet/dare/force TJ to do stuff with her. Cyrus represented TJ’s true wants, his natural instincts, and the joy, comfort, and ease of following your heart.
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