I Saw The TV Glow Ending Explained

As a queer film enthusiast who has spent countless hours diving into diverse narratives, I find “I Saw The TV Glow” to be a profoundly impactful masterpiece that resonates deeply with my personal experiences and emotions. This movie is not just about the struggle of self-discovery or the blurred lines between reality and fantasy; it’s about embracing who you are, even when society tells you otherwise.

The 2024 Psychological Horror Film ‘I Saw The TV Glow’ has been Highly Praised by Martin Scorsese: In a surprising turn of events, the esteemed director Martin Scorsese has expressed his admiration for this movie, labeling it as one of his top picks of the year. If you had earlier overlooked this film, perhaps now is the time to reconsider, given that one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history has bestowed his seal of approval upon it.

It’s not hard to see why A24 film “I Saw The TV Glow” didn’t create much excitement. Following Jane Schoenbrun’s 2021 film “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,” this movie continues her pattern of making movies that are mysterious and puzzling, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The intricate themes, vivid colors, and complexity might account for why a director as renowned as Scorsese finds it worthy.

What Is I Saw The TV Glow About?

It’s a Coming-Of-Age Film About Gender Dysphoria

In this coming-of-age movie, titled something like “The TV Glow,” we follow the journeys of two characters, Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), as they grapple with self-discovery and identity issues spanning from their teen years to adulthood. The story begins in a quaint American town in 1996, where young Owen (Ian Foreman) encounters Maddy for the first time when he spots her engrossed in a book about “The Pink Opaque” – an enigmatic, supernatural teen TV series that intrigues them both in ways the film doesn’t immediately clarify. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this show serves as a means of escape from reality for Maddy, helping her cope with the struggles of embracing her queer identity, and for Owen, it offers a diversion from an emotional void and disconnection to the world around him.

As fellow enthusiasts of that captivating show, our shared passion drew us closer, and our connection deepened as we gathered every Saturday night to immerse ourselves in it. Fast-forward two years, Maddy proposed a wild escape, but I declined. Life took an unexpected turn when three cataclysmic events struck almost simultaneously: Maddy vanished without a whisper, leaving behind only the smoldering remains of her TV in the yard; the show we adored, The Pink Opaque, was abruptly axed; and my mother, battling cancer, finally succumbed to it. Amidst these hardships, I soldiered on, maintaining a detached spirit.

In 2006, Maddy resurfaces, looking distressed and agitated. She confesses that she stepped out of the reality and into the world of The Pink Opaque series itself, but not as herself, Maddy, instead taking on the role of one of the main characters: Tara. She further reveals that Owen isn’t who we think he is; he’s actually Isabel, the other primary character in the show. When Owen watches the final episode of The Pink Opaque, it dawns on him that he truly is Isabel. However, overwhelmed by this revelation and unable to cope with the implications, Owen flees when Maddy proposes they entomb themselves to be reborn within the show’s world. This encounter would prove to be their last.

How Does I Saw The TV Glow End?

It’s A Tragic and Complex Ending

Despite carrying on with his everyday life, pretending to be a valuable contributor to society and even maintaining a family (which remains unseen in the movie), Maddy’s final words continue to haunt him. On rewatching The Pink Opaque, he no longer finds it as captivating and terrifying as before; instead, it appears as a low-budget children’s program. Now a ward, his manager has transferred him from the theater job to a fun center, where he now refills a ball pit with balls.

Twenty years on, now fully grown, Owen appears weak and bears little resemblance to his vibrant younger self. During a birthday celebration at a children’s party with his peers, Owen experiences a psychological collapse, shouting for assistance that falls on deaf ears. Overwhelmed, he retreats to the restroom and carves a deep gash across his chest in front of a mirror, exposing what appears to be the fading, static-filled screen of a TV show titled “The Pink Opaque“. While there are indications that this entire event transpired within his mind, Owen emerges triumphant, as if he has finally accepted his alternate reality. As he navigates through his colleagues and clients, he repeatedly apologizes for his previous outbursts, yet once again, no one seems to notice.

What Is The Message Behind I Saw The TV Glow?

There’s No One Answer to I Saw The TV Glow’s Questions

The TV Glow is a thought-provoking film that subtly leaves viewers feeling puzzled and unnerved. Director Jane Schoenbrun intentionally crafted the movie to be open-ended and avoid traditional resolutions. Given Schoenbrun’s identity as queer and non-binary, it’s not surprising that they wove a narrative about gender dysphoria into the film.

The central message is for viewers to embrace who they really are. Owen’s character is a living metaphor for the emotional and psychological toll that comes with repression. His insecurity is evident right from the time he asks permission from his dad to watch The Pink Opaque and is told that it’s a show for girls.
Whether or not Owen chooses to accept the truth that The Pink Opaque is left open to interpretation so that when he comes out apologizing, it could either be taken to mean final acceptance or merely apologizing to the public for who he is.
Owen spending his 40s miserably working in an entertainment center could be interpreted as an attempt to take solace in his childhood and shy away from addressing the problem that lies in the present.

Is The Pink Opaque Real in I Saw the TV Glow?

Not Quite…

In the movie titled “I Saw TV Glow,” the program known as “The Pink Opaque” is a 90s-themed horror series for kids, airing every Saturday night. This show follows Tara and Isabel, who use their psychic abilities to combat Mr. Melancholy and his minions. The movie concludes leaving viewers pondering whether the show exists in reality or if it was merely a creation of Owen and Maddy’s overactive imaginations. Throughout the film, the border between fiction and truth becomes ambiguous, with hints suggesting that “The Pink Opaque” could be an actual realm where the characters lived in a past life. This is supported by moments such as Owen breaking the fourth wall and the protagonists expressing that the show feels more real than their actual lives.

It’s more plausible that “The Pink Opaque” symbolizes both characters’ idealized world (Owen stating the show is the only thing he’s ever liked) and their real world serving as a restrictive environment that prevents them from embracing their true selves. Alternatively, it can be debated that “The Pink Opaque” is merely a TV show that Owen and Maddy became fascinated with as children. As an adult, Owen appears less enamored by the show, while Maddy remains enthralled and aims to draw Owen into her persistent infatuation, leading them down a questionable path.

2024-12-04 19:34