oh boy here i am with another analysis no one asked for
this is about the tragedy that was kira + implied homophobiaÂ
we all know that from the moment TJ met Cyrus he was struck by him. For TJ, it was like wow, here is this person and wow wow wow this person is AMAZING. and the more they spend time together, the more TJ is just hit over and over by how funny and awesome and kind and cool and loving Cyrus is. and TJ does not keep these feelings to himself. in fact, TJ shows off and talks about Cyrus CONSTANTLY.Â
TJ has no problem talking about Cyrus to other people, especially all his friends, and he literally shows him off and brags about him as if they’re already dating.
TJ has never felt the need to hide his affection for Cyrus before, ever, because why would he? This is the greatest person in the world, of course I’m gonna talk about him every chance I get! Of course I’m going to do a costume with him bc I want to show the world that we are a pair! It’s our thing! He’s my person, hear all about it!
So when Kira comes along, why would she be any different? Of course he’s gonna excitedly tell this girl about Cyrus, because Cyrus is his favorite FREAKING thing to talk about and he is so excited about their inside joke and to display to people that he and Cyrus have their own special things.
seriously look how SMUG he is about their special inside joke. Unbelievable. Smitten and not afraid to show it !
But then, something new happens.Â
what is it? a subtle sprinkling of HOMOPHOBIA, BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For maybe the first time, TJ is being called out on how much he talks about Cyrus, on how attached he is to him, on how close they are. And he’s being called out not in a “wow you really like him huh :)” kind of way, but in a “oh wow, he’s a boy and you really like him, yikes, thats weird” kind of way.
So suddenly, for the first time, he’s analyzing everything about his relationship with Cyrus. Before, he never thought about showing him off and talking about him– it was just natural, he never questioned it before! He had never before thought “wow why do I talk about Cyrus so much, why do I touch him so much, why do I want to spend so much time with him, why is he the person I want to do a couples costume with”, he just did those things automatically bc it felt right! It felt natural.
BUT NOW he is forced to think about the implications of all that– more specifically, the negative implications that Kira thinks it’s weird or wrong in some way.
NOW, we know that this doesn’t cause TJ to change his behavior around Cyrus, in private or public. In 3x18, he still acts ridiculously and openly flirtatious, like he always had, because there’s no one he feels judged (ha) by, he doesn’t need to hide anything, no one is making him overthink his actions.
BUT, it does change his behavior when he’s around Kira, because she is the one person who does make him overthink, who does make him feel like he needs to downplay their relationship. Which leads me to this interaction which was like a brief second but REALLY stood out to me:
if anyone else had asked him that question, he would have answered with “Cyrus! my funny kind smart person! look he got me this shirt! isn’t that nice! did i mention he’s funny” but now, TJ doesn’t do that with Kira. because he subconsciously wants to avoid feeling like his affection for Cyrus is wrong. so if he just hides his affection from her, he doesn’t have to overthink it. He doesn’t have to deal with what Kira is telling him: “you have a crush on Cyrus” and moreover “you should feel bad about it.”
which is why when she makes him go on the swings, he feels like he has to, because not swinging would be admitting to kira that cyrus is so important to him that swinging with another person would be an act of betrayal. and the last time he rejected something because of cyrus (double dribble costume idea) he got that blast of homophobia. so, just like the double dribble costume, he gives in and swings with her to avoid this homophobia, to avoid feeling wrong and bad.Â
anyways this whole thing sucked and im really glad he finally called her out bc he deserves to brag about cyrus, his now BOYFRIEND, to anyone and everyone without feeling like he needs to hold back. send tweet.
snowghoul
yousharknotpass
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