After a marathon of  the show "Transparent"  how you feel about the show if you had never seen it like me?

Was it Realistic and or Depressing to you?

I am no too far way from Maura's age as I am in my early 60's and she is on her late 60's and in the beginning of my transition, which will probably be very slow due to work and family issues.

Is that the best life I can expect?  We all don't look the same, but will I look and dress better?

Lastly will I be happy and satisfied as the woman I am, at that age?

Comments?

I haven't seen it, not sure yet if I want to. Keep in mind it is a drama, it might be based in reality but it is still fictional even if they do get the research right. Also, as far as I know, the actor playing Maura is cis and not on HRT or considering any form of surgery, facial, genital or otherwise. HRT can make a huge difference (I'm almost 49, only been on HRT 18 months) so I wouldn't despair too much.

As for whether you're going to be happy, that's something only you will be able to answer. The transition period is usually full of turbulence but settles down for most once they are living as their identified gender.

I debated watching it but decided against.

I felt it would end up depressing for me.

I watched it and although I know like Grace said that it is a drama loosely based on real life and that Maura is a cis actor it made me upset.

I wish that they would make a reality show using a transgendered individual and her family and going thru the mtf process.   The producer could pay for her FFS and SRS and also some additional fees and I am sure that they would find an individual that could make the show a success.   

Real life is much interesting and complex that what is on Transparent.

Emily

From what I understand the show at least is sympathetic and not sensationalist or exploitative, that alone is something to rejoice. Personally I'd be more depressed by a show about a teenager going through transition.

*Spoiler Alert*

I did watch it yesterday, and I was pretty impressed. It was well acted, and the script was well-written. I'm FTM, not MTF, but I didn't find it depressing: I'm also in my 60's, and I liked that Maura is an older trans person -- we're not a group that gets much media attention or general public awareness, so to me, something that says "Yes, older people can and do transition" is all to the good.

As to the choice of a cis male actor to play Maura, sure, it would have been more "politically correct" to cast a trans woman, but I don't know that it would have improved the quality of the show. Given that the show (aside from flashbacks) is set in a present in which Maura is just beginning her transition, casting someone who was a few years into hers might have made it less realistic, not more so. I thought Jeffrey Tambour did a remarkable and sensitive job of portraying someone whose physical appearance was completely at odds with her inner self.

Is the content unrealistic or depressing? Nah, not really. I think the way Maura is contrasted with her kids and wife, who are all somewhere between "major jerk" and "sociopath," makes it easier for a wide audience to find her sympathetic. She comes across as thoughtful, loving, and vulnerable, but also as someone who is pretty resilient. It's actually easier to believe that she'll be OK than that her kids will.

**
The only thing I found a bit unrealistic was the ease with which Shelly, Maura's ex-wife, and their kids, decided to dispose of Shelly's husband Ed. I mean, jeez...

Hi

After much discussion and trepidation, we watched the whole season last night.

In my opinion, the show is very realistic in portraying a disfunctional family.  Maura's coming out is the catalyst that is pushing the family to, hopefully, reexamine themselves and their values next season.

There is lots to dislike about these people.  They are all, Maura included, extremely greedy self-centered and shallow people. 

In talking about the show this morning my spouse and I agreed,  that it made us both uncomfortable, but the acting and production values were so good we would watch more episodes.

As far as seeing reality tv/movies about trans characters, there is tons of that already out there.  A lot of it might not hit as close to home for you because the people are younger:

"Red Without Blue", Prodigal Son, 100% Woman" are a few that come to mind

As to your question about your own transition.... No two transitions or starting points are alike.. but in my opinion Maura is doing really well, and she has the advantage of appearing to having a boatload of money.
Her taste in clothes is not my style for a lot of the scenes.  But isn't that part of what most people think on their own transition... "really I wore that and thought I looked good"

Quote from: Tysilio on January 25, 2015, 03:14:09 PM
*Spoiler Alert*

I did watch it yesterday, and I was pretty impressed. It was well acted, and the script was well-written. I'm FTM, not MTF, but I didn't find it depressing: I'm also in my 60's, and I liked that Maura is an older trans person -- we're not a group that gets much media attention or general public awareness, so to me, something that says "Yes, older people can and do transition" is all to the good.

As to the choice of a cis male actor to play Maura, sure, it would have been more "politically correct" to cast a trans woman, but I don't know that it would have improved the quality of the show. Given that the show (aside from flashbacks) is set in a present in which Maura is just beginning her transition, casting someone who was a few years into hers might have made it less realistic, not more so. I thought Jeffrey Tambour did a remarkable and sensitive job of portraying someone whose physical appearance was completely at odds with her inner self.

Is the content unrealistic or depressing? Nah, not really. I think the way Maura is contrasted with her kids and wife, who are all somewhere between "major jerk" and "sociopath," makes it easier for a wide audience to find her sympathetic. She comes across as thoughtful, loving, and vulnerable, but also as someone who is pretty resilient. It's actually easier to believe that she'll be OK than that her kids will.

**
The only thing I found a bit unrealistic was the ease with which Shelly, Maura's ex-wife, and their kids, decided to dispose of Shelly's husband Ed. I mean, jeez...

I agree with this mostly.

Quote from: Emily R on January 25, 2015, 01:58:40 PM
Is that the best life I can expect?  We all don't look the same, but will I look and dress better?

Lastly will I be happy and satisfied as the woman I am, at that age?

Comments?

You dress however you like.  You don't have to dress bad by any means.  There is no telling how you would look, but realize this is about a transwoman in the first year, pre everything.  In the real world how Maura would end up looking and dressing would improve greatly over time.  Not sure if they will be able to portray the physical changes in the future because Maura's actor is not going to be taking hormones or anything.

The focus of this story is not Maura, it's the family.  Maura's transition, like Elaina said, is a catalyst for bringing out the truth in each of the characters, maybe for making them better later on idk.  I don't know how realistic any of them are.  I don't personally know anybody with the level of narcissism that ALL of the family members seem to have.

I don't have the means to watch it , the sheer fact of the arrogance of having a cis male play the part , like having someone in blackface play an African American, You are the only one who can answer your questions . the need to do something usually trumps other reasons. Also, how many trans actors are out of work.

I haven't seen it yet, but I do think it might be good for you to remember the following:

No matter how much Jeffrey Tambor studied, no matter how much he talked with actual trans people to understand their struggles and motivations, he is still at the end of the day a cis man playing a trans woman. Which means that he's not going to have the benefit of HRT like trans women actually do, he's not going to have the benefit of being socialized as female like trans women do, his default mental "programming" is probably a bit more masculine, and also, "Transparent" is about the very early stages of transition... coming out, learning to dress, learning to act, and the other parts of transition where even actual trans women are very nervous and very awkward. So don't let it get to you if you get that feeling of "is THIS the best I can expect?"

It just seems to me it would be far more significant, socially , politically, honestly, innovatively , common sense wise to give the opportunity to a trans person to be discovered. So there is no trans actor who can achieve the caliber of that cis actor. I have nothing what so ever against the actor although I have no idea who he is. Of course I haven't watched TV fo 20 years so I really have no right to talk about TV.

QuoteIt just seems to me it would be far more significant, socially , politically, honestly, innovatively , common sense wise to give the opportunity to a trans person to be discovered.

That may be; but as far as I'm concerned, casting Tambor was a stroke of artistic genius.

And one shouldn't forget that all the other trans characters are played by trans actors (15 speaking roles and 100 extras), and other trans people were involved in the production in one way or another. I've also read that Jill Soloway went out of her way to create an inclusive, trans-friendly atmosphere during the production. I'd give her pretty good marks for combining artistic integrity with sensitivity to this issue.

(And I'm a little surprised to find myself using the word "artistic" in connection with any TV show. But... yeah.)

Stephanie: You pretty much could only see it on a computer as it is not broadcast on regular channels nor cable and only on the amazon website.

I kind of agree with you in that Maura's role should have been played by a trans woman, unfortunately they probably would not have gotten the funding to do it with an unknown actor.

Elaina:   Don't take me wrong, I love NOVA and most documentaries, but most people don't!   They could have come up with a reality show concept where although not scripted but could be guided for things to happen they way that is convenient to the show producer.  It takes a special kind of family to air of the transitioning and family opinions but it only takes one and I am sure there is one out there.   I will say that is is not mine, as attractive as getting SRS, FFS, locally in the States by reputable experienced doctors and maybe cash could be.

TRANSITIONS:  seems that the concept is interesting and I will definetely look for it, but it does not attract viewers to win Emmy's.   Most of the viewers will have a personal interest, like us on Susans.

Emily

I am so happy to see more Trans shows on the tube that cast us in a positive light. With that being said I believe that the son and daughters Represent the worst of the Los Angeles vibe. They are shallow, selfish, and self serving.  I really hope that next season they will cast them in more of a caring and loving light.

 I have no intention to start world war three. I just Googled the actor and found out who he was. As far as I know he's a comedian. I could be wrong because honestly I'm into Science fiction and haven't owned a TV in 20 years so I understand I have no solid argument to offer other than common sense if that. So we have one production out of how many productions being produced annually that hires  trans actors , but gives the main role to non trans. It sounds like the plantation mentality.

I binged the first season in a day the day before my FFS in November.  I was actually a bit disappointed.  While it was titled "Transparent", I found the other family issues were too dominant and perhaps the level of the kids dysfunctionality needed to be toned down a bit.  It was meant to be funny but I think it was over the top.  They are all just too f****d up for me.  Not sure if I want to see any more as none of the characters grabbed me. 

My biggest issue is with a wealthy white patriarch who transitions with much of the associated privilege transferring at the same time.  A bit of Hollywood there rather than what I suspect is the real world. 

Regarding Jeffrey Tambour in the lead role, I really don't care.  He is acting and that is what he is good at.  Of course, Bruce Willis is cast in roles to kill people because he has lived it.  Sorry about that comment - it was just too easy!  Seriously, perhaps given the importance in this time of Trans issues and the plight of Trans folk around the world, more effort could have been made in the casting decision but as others have said, the thing needed to get made with all that involves. 

Is it a realistic example of what is to come over the next 20 years (in my case)?  It doesn't have to be.

I do think there are too few trans actors and if they aren't even given trans roles, how will they ever break in?  Hollywood does not take risks.

However, this show has a lot going for it to consider forgiving it.  First, the lead actor HAD to be a name, or it never would have even been noticed.  Second, all of the other trans chars are played by trans peeps.  Third, the creator, Jill Solloway, has a trans parent and this show came from a place of realness.  Fourth, she went out of her way to hire a trans writer for season two, which is actually the most important thing.

So I am going to give it a pass, personally.

Also, yeah, don't expect the story to center on Maura, it isn't supposed to.

First let's remember this, Transparent is just a TV show, it's not a documentary of any kind. As a TV show it does a decent job of capturing what it's like to some degree to be transgender in a broad sense. All of our transitions are unique and never really the same so it would be very hard to capture everything all in one characters experience as being trans. I can look at the show as a positive thing for the trans community as we are portrayed in a positive light for once. At first I was skeptical about Jeffery being cast as the lead instead of an actual trans actress but I got over that when I asked myself if I were an actress who was in her early stages of transition would I take that part where I was forever going to be seen in that stage of my transition? NO, NO, NO! oh gosh no and even now I would not want my transitional process captured on film. Even for a documentary I still wouldn't but there probably was someone who would have done it. I did wonder if without the "pull" of a named actor in the lead role would the show have even been made had it been made with a trans actress that nobody has heard of??? So once I got past that part the show was enjoyable and they DO have actual trans actors & actresses in the show although they only play secondary characters or are background extras which is still getting trans people visibility. Would I rather of had a trans actress in the lead role, yes but I'm still glad the show represents us in a positive light for once after we've been so grossly misrepresented in the past. 

When I watched the show when it first came out on amazon prime there were things about it that I found depressing and triggering but my overall emotional state from watching the whole 1st season was hope. Jeffery did a pretty good job of capturing that moment when you finally start being yourself, I even found it refreshing to see how hard it was for Maura to tell her family that she is transgender. How many of us can relate to that internal struggle and not be moved to some degree seeing her going through the same thing of telling her family? The most depressing part of the show for me actually had NOTHING to do with being trans at all, not going to spoil that moment but seriously I was reduced to a blubbering mess of tears with how one person was treated by the family.

Hi folks 

Discussing the film is fine, but advertising casting calls is not allowed

Hugs

V M

I strongly disagree with the objections to casting Jeffrey Tambor.  Much of the show takes place before Maura goes full time.  100% of the show takes place before she makes any steps towards medical transition.  I would say anywhere from like 1/3 to 1/2 of Tambor's screentime is in boymode.  So can anyone suggest not only a trans actor in her 70's, but one who would be willing to portray herself as male presenting for that much time on screen?

Beyond that, this show was a huge risk to greenlight.  It probably would have never been made and certainly would not have gotten as much attention without a big name like Jeffrey Tambor.  So without casting him, the dozen or so trans actors in the show don't get hired.  Zachary Drucker and Rhys Ernst don't get hired as producers without Tambor, nor does Our Lady J as a writer for season 2.