Jyler

Jody and Tyler are the longest standing residents of the Dumping Ground. Their close friendship, which later blossoms into romance, has been a big focus in the show and has led to a large following of “Jyler” fans, who ship the two characters relationship and are excited to see further romantic developments

Jyler Development

After the arrival of Jody at the end of Tracy Beaker Returns Series 3 we very quickly see Jody and Tyler become friends. At the beginning of Series 1 they steal Gina’s secret stash of chocolate biscuits and Jody helps Tyler with his pranks and tricks. In episode 3 Baby, Jody makes a memory box for Tyler. Originally it is the idea of Carmen and Tee, to stop her interfering with their own memory box creation for lily’s baby brother. However Jody loves the idea and takes it very seriously as she is aware that Tyler has very few belongings to remind him of his past. When she gives Tyler the box, Johnny laughs at her and the other kids get annoyed as it is full of their belongings not Tyler’s own memories. However Tyler understands the kind intention and he reassures Jody. Together they prank Johnny to get their own back. This storyline is the first time we see a close relationship forming between Tyler and Jody.

In the following episode SOS Jody has to return home. She gives Tyler a big hug before she leaves and it is clear that she is going to miss him in particular. Later Carmen and Tyler realise that Jody is being kept prisoner in her bedroom and they break in to rescue her. Kingsley finds them and locks them in with her but Tyler uses a torch to flash morse code, which Gus can decode, to ask for help. In Series 2 Jody and Tyler are shown to be best friends and very supportive of each other. When Tyler goes on a diet, Jody supports him and helps him with his calorie counting. She also backs Tyler up when Bailey is being rude to him. In Experience when Jody decides to make her own documentary about life in Ashdene Ridge she turns to Tyler for support. Although she gets annoyed with him when he uses the camera and drains the battery, ultimately he supports her and defends her to the other kids when they think she is just trying to impress the filmmaker. In Sticks and Stones Carmen is rude to Floss and Jody, saying Floss is acting weird and that Jody was born weird. Tyler is shocked by her rude comments and helps Jody to get revenge by gluing Carmen to her bed sheet.

In series 3 Jody and Tyler’s friendship is less focused on but they are clearly still close friends. Tyler lends Jody money to buy a music box, no questions asked, in episode 3 acting as if the money is as much Jody’s as it is his. In episode 6 when Jody discovers Tyler is involved in an insurance scam set up by Ryan that involved stealing the office computer, she helps Tyler put things right and get the computer back. When Ryan lets Tyler take the blame for the scam, Jody confronts him, as per usual she has got Tyler’s back no matter what. She doesn’t judge Tyler for his actions, all she cares about is that things are put right and Tyler is ok. When Tyler returns from the police station she is anxious to know he is ok and when Tyler admits that he was scared at the police station, Jody gets revenge on Ryan by soaking him with a water gun. Later in the series Tyler meets Chantelle, the daughter of a magic shop owner, who he develops feelings for. Jody seems oblivious to this and unconcerned that he is spending time with Chantelle, and even helps distract the magic shop owner so Carmen can speak to Chantelle to get her to come back to the DG. Unlike in Series 5 where Jody realises she is not happy with the idea of Tyler asking out Sophie. Clearly at this stage they are very much best friends but this has not developed further.

In series 4 we see Jody and Tyler’s friendship deepen and they become closer as they support each other through difficult times. Tyler supports Jody when she suffers from low self-esteem in episode 3 Stepping Up. He defends her, when Carmen and Tee are frustrated by Jody’s lack of confidence; he explains how her past has triggered this. He shows an insight into her past and behaviour that clearly demonstrates the closeness of their friendship and that they have shared details of their difficult pasts. Towards the end of the series Jody is upset to learn that Tyler is planning to move back in with his mum. However Tyler reassures her he will visit regularly and they both promise they are best friends forever. Tyler later realises that he is not ready to move back in with his mum and that the DG kids are as much his family as his mum. In the series finale it is revealed that Jody’s brother Kingsley has been released from prison. Jody starts stealing items from the DG and plans to move into a flat with Kingsley. It is clear that her motivation is partly due to the fact that she knows Tyler plans to move in with his mum eventually, so she wants to create a future for herself with her own family. When Tyler realises that Jody is back in contact with Kingsley, he is not happy about it as he is well aware of how much of a bully Kingsley was to Jody in the past. When a fire starts at the flat and Jody is trapped inside, Tyler enters the flat to rescue Jody, whilst Kingsley runs away. Later Jody tells Tyler that if she could choose someone to be her brother she would choose him. This storyline is the first time there are hints that they could become more than just friends. Tyler is willing to risk his life to save Jody and clearly cares for her deeply. We see them embrace twice during the last scenes of the episode, something we haven’t seen them do before and by Jody’s own admission Tyler is like family to her.

In series 5, their friendship starts to evolve as they are now teenagers. During this series we learn that Jody has feelings for Tyler but is scared of admitting this as she worries it will ruin their friendship. In Sitting in a Tree, Jody discovers the rest of the DG kids see her and Tyler as a couple. She is shocked by this and isn’t comfortable with them joking about it and putting on a pretend wedding. Tyler, on the other hand, isn’t fazed at all and tries to join in messing about with Jody. Jody goes to great lengths to prove that she and Tyler are just friends to put an end to the gossip encouraging Tyler to ask out Sophie, a girl from the skate park. Later Jody begins to realise that she does in fact see Tyler as more than just a friend and she does a quiz in one of Candi-rose’s magazines which concludes that she has a crush on Tyler. Jody deliberately smudges the phone number on Tyler’s hand to stop him from calling Sophie but when she realises how upset Tyler is, she goes back to the skate park to get Sophie’s number again. However, Sophie turns Tyler down and Tyler blames Jody. Jody later admits to Tyler that she isn’t happy that people see them as couple as their friendship is important to her and she doesn’t want it to be affected. Tyler agrees and suggests that if they really want to show boys and girls can just be friends, that she should join him at the kids in care forum dinner. As series 5 progresses Jody continues to go to great lengths to ensure that her feelings for Tyler are not revealed. Jody is horrified when Sasha makes a recording of her snoring and calling Tyler’s name in her sleep. Sasha threatens to play the recording to Tyler so Jody hides sasha’s favourite jacket and will only give it back if the recording is deleted. Similarly Jody is determined to get her phone back when Mike confiscates it as it has important photos of her and Tyler. When the DG faces closure, Jody tells Tyler that she doesn’t want to be stuck in a manky flat without him. She is really upset about being split up from Tyler but Tyler doesn’t act that bothered as he so focused on finding a way to stop the sale of Ashdene ridge. However he admits to Frank that he can't say goodbye to Jody. It is clear that he doesn’t want to be split up from Jody, and that this is a big part of his motivation to stop the sale.

In the Dumping Ground Island special we finally learn that Tyler has feelings for Jody too. We see Tyler ignoring Jody as he is so overwhelmed with writing his podcast and responsibilities as forum representative. Tyler becomes so overwhelmed that he locks himself in his room and retreats into his imaginary desert island. On the island Tyler finds that some of the other DG kids have been shipwrecked there and he is happy to see Jody is one of them. He soon realises the only way for them all to get back to the DG is to face their fears. Jody’s fear is admitting how she feels about Tyler and losing him. Tyler is convinced his biggest fear is becoming mentally ill like his mum. However, he eventually realises that his biggest fear is losing Jody and to get off the island he has to admit to Jody how he feels about her. Jody comes to the cave and they kiss. Tyler wakes up from his dream and is shocked. He makes Jody a birthday card to show her he cares as she didn’t receive a card from her mum and was also upset that Tyler only wrote in the big birthday card from all of the DG. He also admits to Jody that his biggest fear is losing her as a friend but doesn’t tell her that he sees her as more than just a friend. This is the first time in the series that it is confirmed that they both like each other romantically, as previously only Jody had shown that she liked Tyler in that way.

In series 6, Jody and Tyler struggle to admit their feelings to each other. In Jody on the Ropes and Saved by the Bell Jody runs away. Tyler is really worried about her and is the only DG resident to stay out late looking for her and then to go out the next morning before breakfast to search again. Clearly showing how much Tyler cares for Jody. In Utopia, when asked to paint the thing that makes her most happy, she paints a picture of Tyler. She gives the painting to Tyler, to show how much she cares about him. In Ryanman Jody is asked out by her boxing partner Brandon. She is shocked and doesn’t know how to react and doesn’t understand how he can like her in that way when he doesn’t know her that well. She tells Tyler and asks him to give her one good reason that he would take her to the cinema and he says he wouldn’t because he can’t afford it. As Tyler doesn’t admit his feelings to her, Jody decides to go out with Brandon. Tyler is unhappy that Jody is dating someone else but won’t admit his feelings to Jody. In episode 22 the situation between Jody and Tyler finally reaches breaking point when Brandon invites Jody to go on holiday with him. Realising that the relationship is starting to become serious Jody decides she needs to find out once and for all whether Tyler has feelings for her before it’s too late. She locks him the attic with her and eventually he admits that he hates the fact that she is in a relationship with someone else. They are relieved and happy to finally admit to each other how they feel but they realise that they cannot openly be in a romantic relationship as this would be against the rules and they would not be allowed to live together at Ashdene Ridge. They agree to remain just friends for the time being but not to date anyone else and Jody breaks up with Brandon.

In series 7 episode 5 Tyler buys a necklace for Jody, but is nervous to give it to her. Meanwhile he befriends his boss’ daughter Piper at the radio station. They hang out and Jody thinks Tyler is romantically interested in Piper. Tyler eventually learns to take risks and gives Jody the necklace and makes it clear that he is not interested in anyone but Jody. In episode 7 Tyler and Jody babysit May-li’s baby son Henry. Whilst Tyler enjoys babysitting, it makes Jody worry that she would not be a good mum due to her difficult upbringing. Tyler and Jody take the baby for a walk to the park and have fun on the swings and roundabout. Tyler helps Jody to see that she would be a good mum. In episode 8 Snake Jody takes her boxing training to the extreme to make the regional team and ends up fainting as she has pushed herself too hard. Jody reveals that she has pushed herself so hard as she wants to be good at something and be someone and as usual Tyler is ready to support her and show that she is loved, telling her “You’ll always be a contender to me” and even has biscuits for her!

Tyler vs Brandon

What I love about Jody’s relationships with these two is how they are such good representations of the differences between a healthy relationship based on true love and an unhealthy one.

The first scene we see Brandon he is standing at the door holding a gift bag. He is there to give Jody a present. So from the start the relationship between Brandon and Jody is defined by materialism. Brandon then asks Jody out on a date to the cinema. This is in total contrast to Tyler, who’s idea of a good time with Jody is watching a shark documentary at the DG. When Jody asks Tyler to give one good reason why he’d take her to the cinema, he says he wouldn’t because he cant afford it demonstrating that jyler is definitely not based on money and materialism, they are two care kids with no money, but what they have is much more important – true love. The reality is he doesn’t need to take Jody to the cinema to have a good time. They have a great time enjoying the little things in life like watching a documentary on sharks or pulling pranks or hanging out at the park. When Brandon reappears later in the series he asks Jody to go on holiday with him and tells her his parents are willing to cover the cost of the flights. Again it seems to be all about money and big gestures with Brandon. Meanwhile an afternoon in the attic is all Tyler and Jody need for romance to blossom, looking through photos at the memories they share and guess what none of those memories involved anything materialistic – no presents, no holidays, just hanging out together at the DG supporting each other through the good times and the bad. There is no exchange of gifts between Jody and Tyler until series 7 episode 5 when Tyler gives Jody a necklace. In this instance it’s definitely not materialistic; it’s about Tyler showing how much he cares with a thoughtful gesture. A gesture so emotionally driven that he was initially quite nervous and indecisive about giving it to Jody.

Similarly there is a stark contrast between Jody and Tyler’s relationship being based on true love and trust, and Jody and Brandon’s relationship being based on lies. Trust and honesty are crucial to any relationship and we know from the beginning that Jody and Brandon’s relationship is fundamentally flawed as Jody is not honest with him about her feelings for Tyler and motivations for going on a date with him. Jody has had feelings for Tyler for ages and only agrees to go on a date with Brandon when Tyler doesn’t admit that he has feelings for her too. Dating Brandon is a gut reaction to Tyler’s behaviour. Jody is hurt and upset that Tyler doesn’t interested in her romantically. It’s just a way to prompt Tyler to be honest but when this doesn’t happen, she continues with the relationship anyway. Also with Tyler, Jody can be her true self, she doesn’t have to hide her self-esteem issues, or pretend to be something she isn’t. In comparison, with Brandon, Jody’s behaviour changes and she becomes a new Jody, who is frustrated and aggressive and rude towards her friends. This leads Mike to want the old Jody back when she is being aggressive and obnoxious when they are cleaning the old school. The fact that Jody always mentions Brandon and boxing together is a constant reminder that there just isn’t the same emotional depth to their relationship as with Jody and Tyler. It’s as if from Jody’s perspective there are no deeper dimensions to the relationship than boxing. It is also a constant reminder that Brandon, like boxing, is a coping strategy to deal with her frustration. Jody started boxing to channel her aggression and frustrations. Dating Brandon is also an outlet for her frustration about her feelings for Tyler. She doesn’t know how to cope with her feelings for Tyler and the possibility of losing him, if he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. So she takes Brandon up on his offer to spite Tyler and also out of sheer desperation as she doesn’t know what else to do.

Brandon is the stereotypical boyfriend you would expect in a TV show and his relationship with a Jody a stereotypical TV romance. It’s all about big romantic gestures, gifts, going on dates etc. It’s such a breath of fresh air to have the Jyler relationship which involves none of those things. It’s fantastic that children are for once being shown a healthy relationship based on true love rather than being bombarded with the usual romantic drivel that seems to be on TV. Even better they don’t even have to kiss to be quite truly and deeply in love. Instead the closest they have physically been is cuddled up on a sofa together. Again it’s the little moments that mean the most with Jyler and that’s exactly how it should be.

Jyler forever

Not everyone is a fan of Jyler – there are some DG fans that would have preferred to see them just stay platonic best friends to show that a boy and girl can be best friends without any romance involved. A totally understandable view but to me Jyler is a lovely representation of true love and has been a natural and beautiful development between the two characters. Ultimately if you are truly in love with someone they are as much your best friend as your romantic partner. Jody and Tyler have always been best friends and that’s not changed, they always will be, just with a new romantic dimension.

Another beautiful aspect of their relationship is that they are each other’s rescuer and support system. Tyler not only rescues Jody from being kept prisoner in her room in SOS and from the fire in Two for Joy, he also saves her from herself. Every time she struggles with her self esteem – Series 4 Stepping Up, Series 6 Ryanman, Series 7 Return of the Freaky Twins and Snake - Tyler is there to boost her confidence and remind her that she is loved. Equally Jody is always ready to back Tyler up and support him – she stands up to Elektra when she throws juice at Tyler, to Bailey when he makes comments about Tyler’s weight, to Ryan when he lets Tyler take sole blame for the computer scam and to Floss when she says she would make a better forum rep than Tyler. Whatever the situation you know Jody will always be there to back up Tyler. If one of them is in a bad mood, the other will provide support and put a positive spin on things. When Tyler is worried about his mum when she doesn’t turn up for a visit, Jody is quick to react with all the possible normal reasons that she may not have come – Tyler may have got the time wrong, Sally’s phone may be broken, she may have missed the bus etc. Whilst Tyler is thinking of all the negatives – she's not taken her medication and has become mental unstable again. When he thinks his mum’s boyfriend is cheating, Jody offers to help find out the truth - “That's what you've got me for”. This response to Tyler says it all – she’s his partner in crime and shoulder to lean on. Similarly when babysitting Henry leads Jody into a negative spiral of believing she wouldn’t be a good mum due to her own difficult childhood, Tyler is there to provide a positive outlook and reassure her that her difficult childhood means she will be good mum because she wouldn’t let her child go through the same experiences she did.