I Saw The TV Glow refuses to be labelled. One of the most meaningful moments is interlaced between a small amount of dialogue - after Maddy comes out to Owen about liking girls, she asks him the same question, to which he responds, “I don’t know. I think I like TV shows.” That’s just how it is. There doesn’t have to be more to it than that.
The acknowledgement and the acceptance of the unknown is enough, if not liberating, to understand that uncertainty can be its own experience rather than a step or a transition into a better one. This sentiment is consistent throughout the length of the film - the two leads have a purposefully ambiguous relationship that functions without labels.
And besides, it’s the least interesting element about them. It’s not about what they identify as, but rather their dynamic. Their shared love of TV shows. The VHS tapes they leave in the dark rooms. The sleepovers.
This rejection of identification serves as validation in itself - Maddy likes girls, and Owen likes TV shows. By letting go of the need to compartmentalise who you are for the comfort of others, you create space to securely sit in the discomfort and uncertainty of who you are or who you may become. In this way, Owen’s physical (and metaphorical) deterioration by the end of the film is not the consequence of not embracing who he is, but the consequence of never giving himself the chance to question it - this is what makes this film stand out amongst expected queer narratives that push for "embracing who you are."
Jane Schoenbrun denies us a clear resolution, and in doing so encapsulates how challenging the questioning experience can be. Between the pressure to define your identity and the alienation that comes with seeking belonging, Owen’s constant return to the Pink Opaque is a vicious cycle disguised as a comfort show - he watches it to feel like himself again, when in reality, he doesn’t feel like himself because he won’t allow himself the discomfort to find who he is.
And perhaps in a time with the ceaseless necessity to label and identify every trend to make it more marketable, I Saw The TV Glow serves as a reminder to breathe in the entirety of where you are in life right now. Notice it, acknowledge it, and move forward.
Support our work
You can subscribe to the OBSCURAE newsletter for free, or become a paid Aficionado for £5/month to help fund independent coverage, contributor fees, site hosting, and admin costs.