What I’m Watching: Transparent

Transparent: Season 2, Episode 7 “The Book of Life” (B+)

It’s been almost four months since I watched this show, and though I’m still catching up with current television that’s airing at the moment, I’ve decided to finish up the final four episodes of this show’s second season. When people talk about how Jewish this show is, I think this is the episode to which they’re referring. I like how multi-faceted it is, showing each of the members of the Pfefferman family members and how they observe Yom Kippur. I think it’s very genuine and honest, especially since it doesn’t presume that they all know everything about the holiday or that they are strictly observant in their practice. But they do all take something away from it, like Sarah who went to see an uninterested and unhappy Tammy to sort of ask her for forgiveness. It’s good that Steve responded to Sarah’s request for rape by pumping the brakes, and Sarah showing up high to the break-fast meal didn’t go over too well. It was tough to see Josh suffer through the meal with everyone asking him when the rabbi was going to show up, especially after Raquel so bluntly told him that they’re over. I like that Shelly brought home a date in the form of Richard Masur’s Buzz, who actually did a great job of taking care of her when she started melting down after Josh broke his news. I love that Ali gave her form of a religious sermon while they were waiting for Raquel. Maura’s decision to tell Davina that she could do better after Sal was too forward with her was a serious mistake, something I don’t think she’ll do again anytime soon after recognizing Davina’s kindness and compassion.