impala_chick (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
impala_chick) wrote2023-03-16 06:08 pm
impala_chick) wrote2023-03-16 06:08 pm
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One of my favorite Kyle Valenti parts in s2
Much has been written about how Kyle makes a great friend and he's very good at empathy, and I agree. But this scene in 2x04 is really a turning point for Kyle as he starts to set boundaries to protect himself and start to figure out what he wants. I also have my Kyle/Max/Liz glasses on, so I have some thoughts about that too.
After Liz is pretty blasé about their kiss in the closet, Kyle thinks he knows that Liz isn't interested. Liz doesn't say how she feels for Kyle. Instead, we see her realizing that Kyle still has feelings for her. I think it's worth noting here that Kyle specifically brings up Max, too. He's trying to figure out why saving Max matters so much to him. At that point, Liz says Max comes first. I think that's reasonable, because Max is the one who is dead - and Kyle is critical to bringing him back. But I also think that statement makes Kyle realize that no matter what, Liz and Max are going to be a packaged deal if/when they bring Max back. Even if they aren't able to save him, Liz will always love Max. Kyle has to figure out how he feels about that eventually.
I know that Liz goes on to talk about how the cutting edge science they are doing could help humans, too. But she also implies here that Kyle deserves to derive some sort of emotional fulfillment out of helping Max. She makes clear that Kyle is important to her, and she makes the distinction between 'family' and 'brother.' I think she's so adamant about that distinction because she wants to leave open the door for physical affection. Kyle and Liz were physical almost from the moment they saw each other again - on the one hand, that's because it's relatively easy to fall into old patterns, and Liz said she felt safe with Kyle. On the other hand, it had been ten long years and yet Liz obviously still felt attracted to Kyle. Possibly Liz knows that Kyle and Max might be interested in each other, if they ever got the chance? That could make Liz and Kyle a different kind of 'family' if they formed a triad or V relationship.
Kyle clearly sees at this point that he's stuck in a rut. He and Liz were in a 'friends with benefits' zone that Kyle does not want to stay in. It would seem that at this point, Kyle is saying either he wants their relationship to escalate, or he wants to back off. I also see this part as Kyle admitting he has been staying as strong and stoic as possible, even in the face of Max's death, to try and comfort Liz. I think Kyle is trying to be very logical, but he's been holding back his grief about Max. This tipping point creates a great opportunity for Kyle and Max to reconnect after Max is saved. I just wish we would have seen Kyle and Max interact right after he'd woken up!
Also, later on in 2x06 Kyle tells Isobel that there's someone else. He doesn't say who he's thinking of just then. The show does imply that he's talking about Steph, but I think it's entirely possible he's talking about Liz and Max.
Also posted on tumblr here.
Kyle: I think I'm mad at me.
Liz: This is about the kiss, isn't it? We kissed a million times. I-I didn't think it would be that big a deal.
Kyle: Yeah, that was clear.
Liz: I didn't realize you still felt that way.
Kyle: I don't know how I feel. I keep risking my job, uh, my medical license for you ever since you got to town. Lying to my mother to protect your boyfriend... giving every minute of my free time to save him.
I keep putting you first, constantly, and I just...
Liz: I put Max first. I know. I love him, Kyle.
After Liz is pretty blasé about their kiss in the closet, Kyle thinks he knows that Liz isn't interested. Liz doesn't say how she feels for Kyle. Instead, we see her realizing that Kyle still has feelings for her. I think it's worth noting here that Kyle specifically brings up Max, too. He's trying to figure out why saving Max matters so much to him. At that point, Liz says Max comes first. I think that's reasonable, because Max is the one who is dead - and Kyle is critical to bringing him back. But I also think that statement makes Kyle realize that no matter what, Liz and Max are going to be a packaged deal if/when they bring Max back. Even if they aren't able to save him, Liz will always love Max. Kyle has to figure out how he feels about that eventually.
Liz: [...]I want you to be happy, too. I love you, Kyle. You're family.
Kyle: Great. "I love you like a brother" speech...
(scoffs)...it's... Just... [he starts to leave]
Liz: No! [she grabs Kyle's arm] I did not say "like a brother." I said "like family." There's a difference. You know, what we're doing, you and me... it doesn't only have to be for Max.
I know that Liz goes on to talk about how the cutting edge science they are doing could help humans, too. But she also implies here that Kyle deserves to derive some sort of emotional fulfillment out of helping Max. She makes clear that Kyle is important to her, and she makes the distinction between 'family' and 'brother.' I think she's so adamant about that distinction because she wants to leave open the door for physical affection. Kyle and Liz were physical almost from the moment they saw each other again - on the one hand, that's because it's relatively easy to fall into old patterns, and Liz said she felt safe with Kyle. On the other hand, it had been ten long years and yet Liz obviously still felt attracted to Kyle. Possibly Liz knows that Kyle and Max might be interested in each other, if they ever got the chance? That could make Liz and Kyle a different kind of 'family' if they formed a triad or V relationship.
Kyle: I'm gonna help you save Max, Liz. But after that, I'm gonna need a little space, okay?
( laughs ) Because the truth is, I like being your rock. And if I'm being honest, I like being whatever you want me to be, whenever you want me to be it. I always have.
But as long as I'm your rock, I'm standing still. We can't do that anymore.
Kyle clearly sees at this point that he's stuck in a rut. He and Liz were in a 'friends with benefits' zone that Kyle does not want to stay in. It would seem that at this point, Kyle is saying either he wants their relationship to escalate, or he wants to back off. I also see this part as Kyle admitting he has been staying as strong and stoic as possible, even in the face of Max's death, to try and comfort Liz. I think Kyle is trying to be very logical, but he's been holding back his grief about Max. This tipping point creates a great opportunity for Kyle and Max to reconnect after Max is saved. I just wish we would have seen Kyle and Max interact right after he'd woken up!
Also, later on in 2x06 Kyle tells Isobel that there's someone else. He doesn't say who he's thinking of just then. The show does imply that he's talking about Steph, but I think it's entirely possible he's talking about Liz and Max.
Also posted on tumblr here.