I Saw the TV Glow

I Saw the TV Glow is a 2024 live-action film. The film became meaningful to many trans people upon its release.
==Canon==
The two lead characters, Owen and Maddy, bond over their fannish interest in the monster of the week show The Pink Opaque, inspired by the director's love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among other things (at one stage in development, the film was going to focus on Frasier fandomhttps://www.tumblr.com/joculine/751356791323082752/oh-my-god-so-real-for-this-i-know-a-guy-like?source=share). The Pink Opaque's protagonists, Isabel and Tara, share a psychic link and fight monsters from opposite sides of their county. The fifth season of the show ends on a cliffhanger, with Tara and Isabel buried underground and sent to the Midnight Realm.
When Owen and Maddy reunite after eight years apart, Maddy tells Owen that she believes that they are Tara and Isabel and that their suburban town (and by extension, the rest of their universe) is the Midnight Realm. Maddy believes that they can return to the universe of The Pink Opaque by burying themselves alive. 
==Fanon==
The film is widely regarded as illustrative of trans experience. Many fans also view the film as resonant with autistic, plural, and otherkin experiences.https://letterboxd.com/kadybat/film/i-saw-the-tv-glow/
=== Gender ===
==== Fan Interpretations ====
Some fans disagree on what name and pronouns with which to refer to Justice Smith's character. Some fans consider the character to be definitively a trans woman named Isabel and believe the use of they/them pronouns to be degendering.https://www.tumblr.com/isabelopaque/753824027664121856
 Others believe that since the writer and director is transfeminine and uses they/them pronouns, that might be an equally valid interpretation of the character's journey. 
==== Mass Media Interpretations ====
Most press for the movie refers to Justice Smith's character as Owen and uses he/him pronouns. A not-insignificant portion of reviewers opt not to discuss the film's trans themes, instead shaping their discussion of the movie around fan culture.
==== Creator's Response ====
Jane Schoenbrun's response to fans feeling frustrated with divergent interpretations by mass media and other fans.1. Trans and cis critics generally had different initial reads on the film, which is an interesting litmus test and fruitful to discuss. 
2. And also there is absolutely no *correct* way to experience or interpret a work of art nor should there be. 
Imho both things can be true!https://x.com/sapphicspielbrg/status/1809644561053933612
=== Race ===
Some fans feel like the script should have done more to consider race, highlighting scenes where Maddy rebuffs Owen's non-existent advances, as well as the overarching theme of Owen's fear being informed by the transmisogynoir that creates more barriers for Black trans women wanting to transition.https://letterboxd.com/bornfilmbear/film/i-saw-the-tv-glow/
=== Asexuality ===
Some fans interpret Justice Smith's character responding to the question "Do you like girls or boys?" with "I think I like TV shows" as evidence that the character is ace. Others consider that to be more indicative of gender dysphoria than of asexuality.https://www.tumblr.com/vriskadyke/753692386575745024/im-gonna-be-real-looking-at-the-scene-where
==Fanworks==
===Fanart===
*can't stop thinking about this movie tbh.. (May 2024) by cherryysocks
*my things by starzones
*profoundly impacted by i saw the tv glow 
*watched i saw the tv glow the other day (Jun 2024) by mustbemyexit
==== Art of Fan Reactions ====
*this is an endorsement (May 2024) by serenityfails
*four trans people walk into a movie theater … (Jun 2024) by unluckyprime
=== Fanvids ===
* BIRDS OF A FEATHER by Mel
* to feel like that once again by vulprits
* WRATH by cooper
* you can't stay here by catbfs
=== Meta ===
* I Saw the TV Glow’s Ending Is Full of Hope, If You Want It to Be by Emily St. James
* knowing her before she knows herself by t4tvglow
* the feeling of the narrative haunting you after you've seen it by grimmthorne
* the streaming version is a fabrication by gotylocks
==== Webweaving ====
* alex g lyrics by wollstonecrafted
* On graves, and resurfacing from the ashes (in tandem) by isabelopaque
=== Zines ===
* fairglow magazine, a text and visual magazine inspired by I Saw The TV Glow and We're All Going To The World's Fair
==Resources & External Links==
*I Saw the TV Glow (2024) - Ao3 tag
==References==
category:Live-action Film
category:Fandoms by Source Text