What I’m Watching: Transparent (Season Finale)

Transparent: Season 3, Episode 10 “Exciting and New” (B+)

This was a great episode in a lot of ways, but I don’t think it was a terribly fitting finale for what has been an uneven season with plenty of intrigue and not nearly as much cohesiveness. With Buzzy out of the picture, Shelly still got to take the whole family on that cruise and treat herself to quite the vacation. She had a lavish suite and her “gay” to go with it, but all she really wanted was for her family to pay attention to her, which of course they didn’t. I will say that “To Shell and Back” was really something, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this episode won Judith Light awards. Though all but her grieving son were present to revel in the wonder of her performance, this episode felt like it was much more about being alone than uniting even as a family. Sarah is the only one with a remotely healthy relationship, and this is the best shape that she’s been in for a while. Ali just sort of let Leslie go, which I’d think wouldn’t be so permanent, but we knew all along that Leslie latched on to students for a short time only to forget them when she wanted to move on to something new and exciting. Maura is at peace with the fact that she can’t transition anymore, and I think she’s also in as healthy a place as she can be for the moment. Josh, on the other hand, isn’t, and I’m worried about his mental state now that he has nothing left and pushed away the sister he feels is too close to him. We didn’t see Raquel at all in this installment, but that’s because it was just about the Pfeffermans. Looking back at this season’s episodes, they weren’t all lackluster, but I think this was the weakest year yet with some solid strong points along the way. I’m sure season four is just a few months away, and I’m hopeful that it will be great.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Judith Light as Shelly