I avoided watching this show for months, fearing that it would treat trans issues in a shallow or sensationalistic fashion. Despite having great respect for Jeffrey Tambor as an actor, I feared that no non-trans actor could ever capture the subtleties of being trans, and that no show on any major network could deal with trans issues in a realistic fashion.
Boy, was I wrong! Tambor was incredible (as was the entire cast), and the writing was so sensitive to the issues we all know too well that when I winced, it was because something hit too close to home. It never made me cry, exactly, but it made me nod, smile, laugh out loud, cringe, recognize myself, accept that all journeys are different, and feel like there is hope that the world will one day understand the path we walk. That's what art is supposed to do, right? (Those who are Jewish, which I'm not, will get even more out of it, since the family's relationship with Judaism is also explored extensively.)
That said, one of the most brilliant things about this series was that it treated trans issues within a robust context. And I especially appreciated that Maura was hardly portrayed as a saint. She has had real problems -- both trans-related and not -- and continues to deal with the fallout from them. These characters are not always attractive, but how many people do you know that are? That type of complexity, where there are no easy answers, and every answer raises ten more questions, is rare in television these days.
All of the characters are fully-formed, with their own story lines which bounce off of one another to create a show that explores trans issues the way we all do -- within the greater context of our own lives. If it had been all about Maura, and if she was portrayed as a victim of some sort, it would have been a much lesser achievement. And, my friends, this series is a very great artistic achievement, which just so happens to also model compassion for trans-folks to the world. Years from now it will be hailed as the moment when trans issues really found their voice within the culture -- in the way people look back at Ellen's coming out. I hope that Transparent has a very long run and that the stack of awards continues to grow (it has already won two Golden Globes).
There is no better way to bring our issues to a larger audience, and my only regret now is that it will have trouble finding that larger audience because it's only available (generally) to Amazon Prime members.
On a side note, it concerns me when I read "I haven't seen the show" followed by criticism of the casting. Actors who are good at their craft, which Tambor very much is, often find and reveal truths that would otherwise remain buried. His portrayal of Maura does just that, and he has spoken eloquently about his preparation and how deeply it affected him, and how it changed his view of our community. It shows in his performance. Perhaps there is a transwoman actor out there with the same chops, but I don't know of one. But I do know that the creator/producer, Jill Soloway, went out of her way to cast trans actors whenever possible, and is currently trying to make the show a training and seasoning ground for writers who are actually trans. (For those who haven't heard the story, Soloway's father came out as trans very late in life, just like Maura.)
So I bristle at "conceptual" criticisms which do not have the benefit of having seen Tambor's masterful performance, and the masterful writing, and the overall beauty of the series. (It's also very funny!) See the show!
Lora
