Y’know, it’s funny because I was talking to the wonderful @shortstackedkyman about this exact thing weeks ago, and the conclusion we came to was no. He’s not. Basically, our shared thoughts from that conversation (and in general, from other discussions of Kyle) are as follows:
Kyle enjoys being a back-up or a follower more, so he’d be more likely to be a secretary or a supervisor than, like, the CEO of a major company.
When they’re in a band, Kyle likes to be the bassist and play the back-up. When they’re on a stakeout, Kyle is the geek hacking into databases and looking up information behind a computer. That’s the kind of guy he is.
Kyle relishes in being an important part of something special while not stealing the limelight for it. He takes pleasure in being the background, functioning as the foundation, of any project or cause which he and his friends undertake.
The few times when he has led something, it hasn’t ended well for him (e.g. becoming “Jesus” in Margaritaville, someone people looked up to, and landing himself in a lifetime of debt; becoming the leader of M.A.C. and getting Canada nuked in Super Hard PCness).
He seemed to act as an okay king in The Stick of Truth; but, at the same time, he did manage to lose the fucking Stick while it was under his care.
In the sequel, The Fractured But Whole, it is by no mistake that Kyle is a healer, i.e., a supporting class. He helps and he heals. When you call for him, he comes. When you tell him where to fly, he obeys. Kyle chose this role, and I think that says something.
Kyle can’t be in charge of too much power, otherwise it goes to his head and he abuses it, consequently damaging either himself, others, or both. He needs to be in a role that, while being influential, can also be kept in-line. He needs to be important; just not too important.
Kyle can panic in high-pressure situations. He’s neurotic, an over-thinker, a worrier. He likes to think he’s logical and practical, but no, he is actually ruled by his emotions. He gives in to anger, stress, sympathy, etc, and, in doing so, is unable to lead with the necessary impartiality and practicality.
Kyle would be the solid foundation which something could stand on, the single entity who will keep everything flowing and prevent anything from falling apart or halting in its tracks, while not being the face of it.
In that respect, Kyle would be like Matt (which is apt) in the role he plays. Matt isn’t the main director of the show, but he is indisputably Trey’s rock when shit gets tough. People who don’t know better will say, “Trey does it all, Trey does everything,” but Trey himself knows that South Park would not survive without Matt there to support him and to be strong where Trey can’t be strong. And it’d kind of be like that with Kyle, I think. He’s the guy in the slightly smaller office, who confers with other staff on the boring but necessary bullshit that keeps the company going.
Kyle is, by all means, a nurturer. He seems to have this strong compulsion to take care of those who are more vulnerable than him (e.g., Ike, Blanket, Willzyx, and all of his closest friends at one point or another). He wants to guide and protect people. He wants to supervise and support. He wants to help and heal. He wants to be a shoulder people can cry on and stand on.
Kyle needs to feel needed. He needs to have a purpose without too much pressure on it. That’s why I don’t think he is a leader; but he is definitely a formidable force, an immovable object, that his friends simply could not do without.
Agree? Disagree? I don’t care, haha! This is how I see him, and I’m sticking to it.
