I remember Jeffrey Tambor's Golden Globes acceptance speech last year for playing one of the show's protagonists, Maura. Never having seen the show I was curious to explore, but didn't have an account. And to be honest I didn't really try all that hard to watch it. However, this winter, over a year after first seeing the impact of the show, I finally had the opportunity to watch it.
Season 1 flew by - and I'm not one to binge watch anything. Two shows in a row is binging for me - and these were only 20-30 minutes episodes! Some days I would watch a third at some other point in time.
The first season began by focusing on Mort's realization, acceptance and gradual transformation to Maura. This storyline became the general overlay of the series. Season 2 has changed that dramatically. Every character has his/her own story. The family is extremely dysfunctional, but more than anything else, each Pfefferman is so selfish. Every time one of them seems to have the potential to get out of their own world, they sadly fall right back into it as the center of their universe.
I wish there was a video I could post of the opening scene of the second season. The first two minutes are one continuous shot. No camera angle changes. Just one scene. A family photo of Sarah and Tammy's wedding. This is quite possibly the best comedic scene I have ever viewed. I couldn't help but relate to it with everyone having his or her own agenda (even the kids) and all trying to come together for one purpose - a simple family photo. Yet, even together they can't cooperate. Add in an incompetent photographer and you've got my mom's side of the family every time we celebrate a holiday.
Transparent is full of great sequences (e.g. the closing scene of Maura and her two daughters singing in the car together). There are moments that are so real and others that become extremely visceral. I'm almost done with the second season and am very much looking forward to a third! Keep 'em comin, Amazon!
