Kyle Braxton (also Bennett) was a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Nic Westaway. Kyle debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 August 2012. The actor was nervous about joining the established Braxton family because of their popularity with viewers. Kyle is a "damaged individual" who grew up without much love. His father, Danny Braxton (Andy McPhee) walked out on him and his mother died. He was placed into foster care. Kyle developed a vendetta against his half-brothers and when Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) kills Danny, Kyle kidnaps Casey and leaves him for dead in the Australian desert. Kyle moves to Summer Bay to begin a new life and seeks his brother's acceptance. But he falls in love with Casey's girlfriend Tamara Kingsley (Kelly Paterniti). Westaway has revealed that he developed a unique "death stare" for Kyle to give other characters.
Critics of the show have reacted positively to the character. The Daily Telegraph's Amy Harris branded him a "popular addition to the cast". The actor has been long-listed for a Logie Award and TV Week said that the role had made Westaway one of the "rising stars of 2013". Laura Morgan of All About Soap has labelled Kyle the show's "crazy bad boy". Westaway decided to leave the show after almost four years and Kyle was sent to prison for armed robbery. His exit scenes aired on 21 April 2016. Kyle was the last of the Braxton brothers to leave Home and Away.
Casting The character and casting was announced on 28 June 2012. Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly reported that Lincoln Younes had been tweeting about Westaway joining the cast and revealed that he had been listed as a Home and Away series regular on his agency profile. He added "the page names his character as Kyle Braxton, so it seems that recent arrival Danny won't be the last addition to the family!" Westaway was nervous joining the established Braxton family, who he believed to be "loved" by viewers. His first scene was with Andy McPhee (Danny Braxton) in the Summer Bay caravan park.
Development
Backstory Kyle's mother had an affair with married man Danny Braxton. He grew being Danny's secret child and never met his three half-brothers. Kyle's early life was difficult because of his mother's alcohol addiction. He enjoyed occasional visits from Danny and resented him leaving because he did not like sharing a father. Danny was sent to prison for committing an armed robbery and his mother's alcoholism worsened. She died while Kyle was eleven and he was put in foster care. They provided him with an education and tried to give him a good life. But Kyle later made contact with Danny and had him all to himself because his brothers wanted nothing to do with him. Kyle was happy to accommodate his father's requests and smuggled weapons into prison and ran violent errands for him. Kyle was sent to juvenile detention for breaking and entering and spent time in prison for assault and the theft of a vehicle. He committed endless crimes to impress his father. But then his half-brothers made contact and Danny gave all of his attention to them.
Characterisation
Westaway told a reporter from Home and Away Official Collector's Edition that Kyle is a damaged individual who grew up with no love in his life because he was young when his mother died. His oldest brother Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke) identifies good within Kyle and can see that he has been damaged and misplaced his trust with Danny. But Kyle's good side has been buried in the crimes he committed. Westaway's biggest challenge when portraying Kyle is "keeping his edge because he's constantly trying to maintain a balance. If he becomes too vulnerable he's going to get hurt, and if he shuts himself off he's never going to get anywhere with his brothers.". Westaway has to visit the show's make-up department who create a brush-on tattoo for his scenes as Kyle. The actor enjoys his character's dark persona and spent hours practicing Kyle's "death stare" in front of a mirror.
Desert kidnapping
Kyle is upset and wants revenge when Danny is killed by half-brother Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes). In September, Kyle kidnaps Casey and holds him hostage in the desert. Younes told TV Week's Erin Miller "There has certainly been someone watching him for few weeks, which you've seen snippets of, and the inference is that it's related to his dad." Kyle eventually reveals that he is Danny's son. The storyline explores Kyle wanting revenge on Casey and exacts it by chaining him to a car in the remote Australian outback. Their eldest brother Brax tracks them down in an effort to save Casey. While on The Morning Show, Westaway told host Kylie Gillies that the episodes are action packed and full of surprises for both Casey and Kyle. Peacocke added that there were helicopters filming aerial shots, stunt men doing driving sequences and an explosion. While his character tries to save Casey and hurt Kyle. He added that the scenes are both unpredictable and dangerous. Younes revealed that Casey does not know who Kyle is, but he suspects that Kyle could be associated with the Braxton family. Executive producer Lucy Addario told Miller that Kyle's revenge on Casey required a remote location and it was "imperative" that they filmed outside of the show's setting.
Younes told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that Casey wakes up in the desert, badly beaten and greeted with a "mysterious stranger". Casey is shocked to learn of Kyle's actual identity and feels betrayed by their father. He also explained that Kyle becomes annoyed in the scenario as Brax constantly telephones Casey's mobile phone. The storyline cumulates in a series of dramas. They play out as Kyle's plan begins to fail with Tamara Kingsley (Kelly Paterniti) arriving to rescue Casey. Brax and his friend Natalie Davison (Catherine Mack) also find Kyle and a chase ensues. Kyle recaptures Casey but Tamara throws a can of petrol at him causing an explosion and tries to shoot him. Brax soon finds Kyle is unsympathetic when Kyle reveals that they are related.
Younes has claimed to have received "overwhelmingly positive" feedback on the storyline. But Westaway subsequently received death threats on social media website Twitter. Fans of Casey were angry, but Westaway perceived them to be playful and engrossed in the drama. Kyle comes to live with the Braxtons in Summer Bay. He has to give evidence at Casey's trial into Danny's murder. Younes told Miller that "if Kyle helps Casey out on the stand, then it would be the first step towards mending what has happened between them." Younes later told Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy that it will be tough for Kyle to earn Casey's respect and forgive him.
Tamara Kingsley
Kyle helps Casey's girlfriend Tamara when her ex-boyfriend Nelson Gregory (Anthony Gee) becomes aggressive towards her. Paterniti told TV Week's Miller that Kyle helps Casey out and "I wouldn't say they become best friends, but it certainly does soften the tension between them." Kyle grows closer to Tamara while working alongside her in Angelo's. Tamara realises that Kyle has feelings for her when he gives her a meaningful look. Westaway told a reporter from Inside Soap that Kyle "thinks that if he and Tamara hadn't met in the circumstances they did, they'd get along really well. He certainly believes they have a lot more in common than she and Casey do." Kyle is a "go-getter" and he decides to see what happens if he lets Tamara know how he feels. Kyle does feel guilty about betraying Casey but he cannot help his feelings. Even though it will cause trouble with his newfound family, he carries on pursuing her. Westaway described Tamara as a strong woman and if partnered with Kyle, they "could take on the world together".
Paterniti told Amber Giles (of TV Week) that Tamara is shocked because she had always been hostile and unloving towards Kyle. But noticing the change in Kyle's behavior around her, Tamara thinks "gosh, does he have feelings for me". She decides to avoid Kyle but Casey notices and forces them to spend time together. Kyle confesses his love and Paterniti explained that Tamara is "stunned" when he accuses her of feeling the same way. Tamara keeps the admission a secret, but Casey's mother, Cheryl Braxton (Suzi Dougherty) notices Kyle's attraction and notifies Casey. Paterniti explained to Miller that Tamara is only interested in Casey, but Kyle admires her when she is formally dressed. As they are at a party, a dramatic alcohol fuelled fight occurs. The actress said that her male co-stars enjoyed filming stunts in the fight scenes. Kyle's feelings manage to unsettle Casey and Tamara's relationship. Kyle makes the situation worse when he kisses Tamara. Paterniti said the kiss is "very one-sided" and she is scared of damage the kiss could cause. But Brax soon discovers Kyle's latest advance. The actress added that "it's the worst thing that could have happened and it brings back all of the tension between the Braxton's again."
In February 2013, Westaway told Amy Harris of The Daily Telegraph that Kyle had some "bigger storylines" in development. The following month Westaway, Peacocke, Younes and Ewing filmed scenes for a bucks party in Melbourne. The location shoot took place in St Kilda, Port Melbourne and Toorak. Series producer Lucy Addario told a reporter from TV Week that "in a misguided attempt at brotherly bonding, Kyle takes his three siblings away to his hometown of Melbourne, to throw a bucks party. Not everything goes to plan as they navigate through an unfamiliar city".
Phoebe Nicholson Kyle is surprised when his ex-girlfriend Phoebe Nicholson (Isabella Giovinazzo) arrives in Summer Bay to perform at a music festival he has organised, alongside Tamara. Westaway said Phoebe's arrival would bring out a whole new side of Kyle that is "vibrant and bright" and that he is "scared but excited" by having Phoebe back in his life. Phoebe and Kyle grew up together in Melbourne, they met at school and bonded over a mutual love of music, which eventually led to a romantic relationship described by Westaway and Giovinazzo as "their first and strongest relationship". However, the relationship was cut short by Kyle's disappearance.
Departure On 1 April 2016, Jonathan Chancellor from The Daily Telegraph pointed out that Westaway had posted fewer pictures of the Home and Away filming locations on his social media, prompting fans to speculate that he was set to leave the show. Chancellor also noted that Westaway had been seen with "a commemorative photo collage of his scenes", which is usually presented to departing actors. Sophie Dainty of Digital Spy confirmed Westaway had decided to leave the show after almost four years and Kyle departed on 21 April.
Kyle's final storyline saw him take the blame for an armed robbery carried out by his girlfriend Isla Schultz (Samantha Jade). Of Kyle's sacrifice, Westaway commented, "He wants to give Isla a better life. He understands what it is like to be given a second chance." Kyle was given a lengthy prison sentence. He shared "a tender moment" with Phoebe, before he was led away to his cell. Kyle was the last of the Braxton brothers to leave the show.
Storylines