What I’m Watching: Transparent

Transparent: Season 1, Episode 9 “Looking Up” (B+)

After a detour into the past that wasn’t fully productive, I’m happy we can return to the present for a much more effective episode. I appreciate this show’s fluid look at sexuality and sexual orientation, but I was especially impressed with this episode and how Ali didn’t just conform to what might have been expected of her. Maura is transgender and Sarah is a lesbian, and Ali was exploring by embarking on a romance with someone who was transgender. Syd’s awkward confession of her feelings after Ali took the news of her history with Josh poorly might have just led to Ali accepting it, but instead things are more complicated, which I think is a result of rich characters. It was good to see Sarah and Len bond as friends in a way that they hadn’t been able to do in a while as spouses, and hopefully that getting along won’t mean obstacles are ahead for her and Tammy. Bianca seemed like she might be a problem for Josh’s budding relationship with Raquel, but they may have gotten past that, and he really does like her. It’s great to see Maura and Shelly getting along so well, particularly after we saw how she took the news of his desire to be transgender so many years ago. Let’s hope Ed gets the peace he may or may not have wanted and that his death can be the perfect way for this family to come together and accept each other for who they all are.