Tuca & Bertie Review: Kyle (Season 2 Episode 3)

Tuca & Bertie Season 2 Episode 3, “Kyle,” addresses toxic masculinity and the Me Too movement in one fell swoop.

Despite being an animated comedy, this show never shies away from tackling heavy hitter topics. This episode is proof that Season 2 will continue to shine a spotlight on the important issues. 

Bertie clashes with a “bro” at her job. Dirk is exactly who you think he is — he speaks in clipped sentences, cares too much about sports, and treats women like objects. Bertie feels her concerns about him are being brushed under the rug. 

So, she decides to embrace her inner bro, and “Kyle” is born. 

Bertie learns through Kyle that no two bros are alike. They often fall into toxic, masculine patterns because of their upbringing.

Tuca & Bertie pulls back the veil on “bro culture” with a fun jazzy song featuring a plethora of bros. In reality, they’re just insecure messes like everyone else. 

On top of the Dirk debacle, Bertie is reexposed to her old boss, Pete, when she finds her fellow coworkers playing one of his baking videos. In the said video, he doles out a shoddy apology for his inappropriate behavior while subtly asserting his innocence. You don’t say words like “allegedly” if you’re truly remorseful. 

Bertie freezes at the exact second she hears his voice. It’s a moment to which every survivor of harassment and assault can relate.

Of course, Bertie is subjected to outsiders telling her, “But he said he was sorry.” Can a mere cookie-cutter apology really right that wrong? Is it enough to just slap a band-aid on the issue? 

Short answer: No. Long answer: No, it’s not.

Tuca & Bertie artfully explores Bertie’s mental state upon seeing the face of her harasser again. Her bro-alter ego, Kyle, manifests himself after this incident.

You could say that Kyle is a response to Bertie’s trauma. We do see her undergoing certain exercises in therapy to lessen the severity of her emotional burden. 

Tuca’s story serves as the B plotline. She finds herself at a career crossroads as she tries to narrow down her job choices. Tuca decides that being a crossing guard is her true calling. But with great crossing guard power comes great crossing guard responsibility. 

While Tuca gets too power-hungry, Bertie struggles with stepping into her own power again. The juxtaposition of these problems between our eponymous characters is interesting to watch unfold on screen.

In Bertie’s case, victims of harassment and assault feel as though their voice has been silenced, and their power brutally snatched out of their hands. 

Tuca & Bertie‘s “Kyle” takes two vital social issues and seamlessly weaves them together as part of a singular narrative with humor, heart, and plenty of pastries.

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Tuca & Bertie airs Sundays at 11:30/10:30c on Adult Swim.

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