I’m cis, and I personally thought Owen had autism. It felt like a metaphor for people on the spectrum and how navigating through life can feel surreal. I also thought they were literally living in the tv show like maddy said. I started to put it together halfway through and realized that’s why they can break the fourth wall and why they said time felt off. It’s because their entire lives were fictional. It’s just my personal way of looking at it. I like movies that let the audience come up with their own theories. This reminded me a lot of twin peaks, silent hill, and Jacob’s ladder as well.
i definitely got neurodivergent vibes as well. i’m glad others are able to gravitate towards the story and themes- it’s a win of representation for all!
I'm queer and autistic and i too thought Owen was meant to represent us on the spectrum! I think it works as a metaphor for both a queer and neurodivergent experience specially when you consider so many of us live through both ^^
I'm cis too, but I'm queer and bipolar and closeted so I heavily related to film. But we can't deny transness of "I saw the tv glow", Owen deadnames Maddy, dad telling him Pink Opaque for girls, Isabelle dress memory etc
Watched it yesterday and damn this movie got into me deep. I know it's never too late, but I'm almost 39 soon and have no idea when I'm ready to follow Maddy to that grave.
I’m trans and the trailer had given me the impression it was a coming of age, very new and refreshing and DIFFERENT mystery horror. I thought Maddie was unwell and I cheered for Owen for avoiding impulsive, scary, chaotic choices she presented. When she disappeared and her tv was burning, I thought there it is. The dad murdered Maddie, and this is about Owen discovering what happened to her. Then she came back and I thought, wow, this is very disturbing unreality content about not knowing what’s authentic or real around you, being told to distrust your senses by someone you love but who seems …off. Then Owen aged. Owen was still undeveloped, un-actualised, wheezing like he was slowly suffocating. I’ve always been very scared by the concept that I don’t know what’s real, so for a protagonist to actually be trapped in an unreality nightmare all along, despite how absurd, was terrifying to me. Even when Owen screamed for help, and all the people suspended around them like empty shells without a purpose, the viscera of Owen’s outburst shook me to my core. But it was also at this moment that something else was clicking together unconsciously. I felt like I’d been grabbed and shaken violently after thinking for a long time no one was going to grab me and do that. And I wanted to cry. Not from fear, but from the realisation something was deeply upset tingly wrong and I was only just catching up to that building poison I’d been sipping. I had my own bias of what I’d expect and it meant I was completely clueless about the literal narrative because I was so wrapped up in what was or wasn’t real in the space they existed in. Maybe I’m so disconnected from myself and from my own world to cope because I’m 10 years into transitioning and I’ve been forced by circumstance to be unable to get top surgery this entire time. Suffocating to death and numbing increasingly over time. The film disturbed me in a way I couldn’t verbalise because what it was saying was also humming through every scene like an un shown frequency. I’m out, and I’m transitioned partly. But I’m not actualised. I’m not living or alive in a way. And the total paralysis of Owen’s life is a current reality. Whew But regardless of
Beautifully put! Everything you said resonated so hard with me. It's been over a week since I watched the movie and I haven't forgotten about for even a second. Repression is something so many queer people feel forced into and it's horrible. You are loved for your authentic self. I know it's easier said than done, but stay strong gorgeous and don't let this ugly world ruin your shine ♡
I love this movie so much and it always felt weird hearing people call it a trans allegory or a trans metaphor when the trans stuff is basically in the text. Also I was confused by so many people not understanding the plot but I guess the mythology is too complicated for most kids.
This movie had so many things going on that I completely missed the part about Owen being a repressed transwoman. Yes, I saw him walking hanging out, and walking around with Mattie in a pink dress, but I thought that was part of Mattie's fevered delusion.
Interesting, never thought of that moment being a dream/not of reality. TV Glow plays with reality so it does make sense and it'll be interesting thinking about this point in future rewatches.
Thank you so much! The ending of the film absolutely crushed me but upon rewatch + context from interviews it gives me a lot of hope- just wanted to give that love back out there
I had a small breakdown after the 8 years later part of the movie. I had at 18 realized I was trans and wanted to come out and go on hormones. I realized myself and tried to tell someone important to me. They yelled at me and I felt so sad I repressed myself and put myself back in the closet, I suppressed who I was for people and all of the discovery of the trans parts of myself and went back to apathy. At 26 I finally started transitioning 8 years later. So when that film hit this 8 years later part I fucking broke down.
@@heykalei thank you, its been 9 months now. I have felt feelings and emotions ive never felt before. My body has changed so much I just did not know it was a thing to like how look in things. There is such a unique experience that comes from transitioning that's brought me joy.
I guess this really is the “are you LGBTQ” test. I liked the beginning but the middle and end were just not it for me. It does help me understand the queer experience better though, so I guess it accomplished what it sought out to do. I just wish it was longer and actually fleshed out the rest of the plot but Owen was a very beautifully written character.
I agree, I wish there were more scenes of Maddy and Owen hanging out and Maddy allowing Owen to openly express himself. I think maybe adding those scenes would've really helped instead of the more artsy approach we got.
This film left everything up for your own personal interpretation and maybe that's smart because people are just making this movie out to be whatever they want it to be and loving their own interpretation. The fact is, we don't know what the story even was (as the writer intended it to be) or what actually happened throughout and after the movie ended. We know nothing! =p Isn't that just lazy writing? Like: "We'll evoke emotions through colors and poetic dialogue but include no answers to anything that happens throughout the film!"
Maybe I am wrong, but this movie beautifully depicts the danger of trans people sometimes may be manipulating and dragging innocent children on a track that leads into madness and doubt. Why would she tell this boy to do her crazy ideas of what she believes is right but simply is insane?
@@copyglow It would be clever I assume. Being self aware is an advantage and in this case would raise awareness of a serious issue. I always support such people with an honest and kind heart.
Its insane to YOU, bc you dont understand trans ppl. If you did, you wouldnt have said that. No one is dragging anyone towards being trans. All we hear are ppl like you telling us that we are bad. Thats all.
glad it resonated with you. a couple months later i feel much better- all the pieces of me have been put back together and this film changed me for the better.
"This movie is turning all the frogs trans!" - Alex Jones, The Doomsday Times
"There is still time" is such a kind and powerful message. This is a wonderful movie. It broke my heart. I haven't stopped thinking about it.
I’m cis, and I personally thought Owen had autism. It felt like a metaphor for people on the spectrum and how navigating through life can feel surreal. I also thought they were literally living in the tv show like maddy said. I started to put it together halfway through and realized that’s why they can break the fourth wall and why they said time felt off. It’s because their entire lives were fictional. It’s just my personal way of looking at it. I like movies that let the audience come up with their own theories. This reminded me a lot of twin peaks, silent hill, and Jacob’s ladder as well.
i definitely got neurodivergent vibes as well. i’m glad others are able to gravitate towards the story and themes- it’s a win of representation for all!
I'm queer and autistic and i too thought Owen was meant to represent us on the spectrum! I think it works as a metaphor for both a queer and neurodivergent experience specially when you consider so many of us live through both ^^
I'm cis too, but I'm queer and bipolar and closeted so I heavily related to film. But we can't deny transness of "I saw the tv glow", Owen deadnames Maddy, dad telling him Pink Opaque for girls, Isabelle dress memory etc
Totally agree.
Watched it yesterday and damn this movie got into me deep. I know it's never too late, but I'm almost 39 soon and have no idea when I'm ready to follow Maddy to that grave.
Such a peak movie
I love this Movie! So much, i cried my Heart out and I just didnt want it to end. I dont want this characteres to leave (me)
same here. pretty much a 100 minute crying session haha
this movie made me ugly cry like 3 times. great vid, loved it!
Speed Racer from 2008 is a deep cut
genuinely one of my favorites of all time- that finale was perfection
I’m trans and the trailer had given me the impression it was a coming of age, very new and refreshing and DIFFERENT mystery horror. I thought Maddie was unwell and I cheered for Owen for avoiding impulsive, scary, chaotic choices she presented. When she disappeared and her tv was burning, I thought there it is. The dad murdered Maddie, and this is about Owen discovering what happened to her. Then she came back and I thought, wow, this is very disturbing unreality content about not knowing what’s authentic or real around you, being told to distrust your senses by someone you love but who seems …off.
Then Owen aged. Owen was still undeveloped, un-actualised, wheezing like he was slowly suffocating. I’ve always been very scared by the concept that I don’t know what’s real, so for a protagonist to actually be trapped in an unreality nightmare all along, despite how absurd, was terrifying to me. Even when Owen screamed for help, and all the people suspended around them like empty shells without a purpose, the viscera of Owen’s outburst shook me to my core. But it was also at this moment that something else was clicking together unconsciously.
I felt like I’d been grabbed and shaken violently after thinking for a long time no one was going to grab me and do that. And I wanted to cry. Not from fear, but from the realisation something was deeply upset tingly wrong and I was only just catching up to that building poison I’d been sipping.
I had my own bias of what I’d expect and it meant I was completely clueless about the literal narrative because I was so wrapped up in what was or wasn’t real in the space they existed in. Maybe I’m so disconnected from myself and from my own world to cope because I’m 10 years into transitioning and I’ve been forced by circumstance to be unable to get top surgery this entire time. Suffocating to death and numbing increasingly over time.
The film disturbed me in a way I couldn’t verbalise because what it was saying was also humming through every scene like an un shown frequency. I’m out, and I’m transitioned partly. But I’m not actualised. I’m not living or alive in a way. And the total paralysis of Owen’s life is a current reality.
Whew
But regardless of
Beautifully put! Everything you said resonated so hard with me. It's been over a week since I watched the movie and I haven't forgotten about for even a second. Repression is something so many queer people feel forced into and it's horrible. You are loved for your authentic self. I know it's easier said than done, but stay strong gorgeous and don't let this ugly world ruin your shine ♡
thank you so much for your kind words, i’m glad others are having the same reaction to this film ❤️
I love this movie so much and it always felt weird hearing people call it a trans allegory or a trans metaphor when the trans stuff is basically in the text. Also I was confused by so many people not understanding the plot but I guess the mythology is too complicated for most kids.
This movie had so many things going on that I completely missed the part about Owen being a repressed transwoman. Yes, I saw him walking hanging out, and walking around with Mattie in a pink dress, but I thought that was part of Mattie's fevered delusion.
Interesting, never thought of that moment being a dream/not of reality. TV Glow plays with reality so it does make sense and it'll be interesting thinking about this point in future rewatches.
The last line of this essay was 100, enjoyed your video.
Thank you so much! The ending of the film absolutely crushed me but upon rewatch + context from interviews it gives me a lot of hope- just wanted to give that love back out there
me too dawg shi was legendary
I had a small breakdown after the 8 years later part of the movie. I had at 18 realized I was trans and wanted to come out and go on hormones. I realized myself and tried to tell someone important to me. They yelled at me and I felt so sad I repressed myself and put myself back in the closet, I suppressed who I was for people and all of the discovery of the trans parts of myself and went back to apathy. At 26 I finally started transitioning 8 years later. So when that film hit this 8 years later part I fucking broke down.
Took me a number of years from realization to actually starting my transition as well. Stay strong with your journey 💓
@@heykalei thank you, its been 9 months now. I have felt feelings and emotions ive never felt before. My body has changed so much I just did not know it was a thing to like how look in things. There is such a unique experience that comes from transitioning that's brought me joy.
Ok.....no one bashes Hereditary and gets away with it! 😅
Why speedracer?
I guess this really is the “are you LGBTQ” test. I liked the beginning but the middle and end were just not it for me. It does help me understand the queer experience better though, so I guess it accomplished what it sought out to do. I just wish it was longer and actually fleshed out the rest of the plot but Owen was a very beautifully written character.
I agree, I wish there were more scenes of Maddy and Owen hanging out and Maddy allowing Owen to openly express himself. I think maybe adding those scenes would've really helped instead of the more artsy approach we got.
This film left everything up for your own personal interpretation and maybe that's smart because people are just making this movie out to be whatever they want it to be and loving their own interpretation. The fact is, we don't know what the story even was (as the writer intended it to be) or what actually happened throughout and after the movie ended. We know nothing! =p
Isn't that just lazy writing? Like: "We'll evoke emotions through colors and poetic dialogue but include no answers to anything that happens throughout the film!"
Where's the new htcg video
i'll make one when you make one
Maybe I am wrong, but this movie beautifully depicts the danger of trans people sometimes may be manipulating and dragging innocent children on a track that leads into madness and doubt.
Why would she tell this boy to do her crazy ideas of what she believes is right but simply is insane?
Why in the hell would the director, someone who happens to be trans, ever imply that as one of this movie’s themes?
@@copyglow It would be clever I assume. Being self aware is an advantage and in this case would raise awareness of a serious issue. I always support such people with an honest and kind heart.
You and your Nazi propaganda blood libel have always been wrong.
Its insane to YOU, bc you dont understand trans ppl. If you did, you wouldnt have said that. No one is dragging anyone towards being trans. All we hear are ppl like you telling us that we are bad. Thats all.
Speed🏳️⚧️Racer
gee, i haven't felt this seen by video since i saw the tv glow
couldn't agree more with how real it was, beyond a metaphor in way
glad it resonated with you. a couple months later i feel much better- all the pieces of me have been put back together and this film changed me for the better.