What I’m Watching: Transparent (Season Finale)

Transparent: Season 2, Episode 10 “Grey Green Brown and Copper” (B)

A friend told me a while ago that he really didn’t like the second half of this season, and while I wouldn’t go that far, I do think that it has been considerably less consistent. I also took a big break of about four months in the middle, so perhaps that affected my perspective. One of the things that was most disjointed about this season was the focus on the Pfefferman family back in the 1930s. It’s infinitely intriguing in so many ways, particularly in how it is symbolic and connectable to the present. But that was never explicitly explained, and therefore its unspoken transition to Maura going and having a very cathartic moment coming out to her mother isn’t as impactful since none of its characters are aware of what Rose went through. Things were relatively neatly wrapped up for each of the children, if just in a way that allows them to move forward and on to the next step of their lives. Sarah is choosing to accept her subservient side and also explore her Judaism, albeit with Rabbi Raquel, something that will surely accept Josh. The brother has found a new father figure in Buzz, who knows how to do more than just imprint his steaks, providing exactly what his adoptive son with no father needs. And Ali could have had exactly what she wanted with Leslie – but only if she dismissed her educational future. The job is obviously worth more than the relationship since that will endure and all signs point to a romance fizzling out soon. This show has already been renewed for a fourth season ahead of the third slate that should premiere this coming December, and I do think this show can go great places. This season was still good, just not as resounding and well-rounded as the first.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Jeffrey Tambor as Maura