Like many ppl already said , the last episode sucks. But hey there were 4 great seasons before that. And those were good so enjoy the show, and than open a bottle of wine for the last episode ...
89 Reviews
Good show, but the last episode :( omg
tomekweb-177-16175813 October 2019
Really quite touching (and funny to boot!)
k-i-r-s-t-y15 October 2014
I could blurb on about how poignant this programme is.
I could parp on about how fabulous Jeffrey Tambor is.
I could ramble on about how enlightening it is or I could just say that I loved it, a lot.
Tis true, I really truly loved it. I did a spot of that binge watching thing, made my partner watch it and watched it again with her. I do not think that it is being hyped up due to the subject matter, it is simply a bleeding good programme. The humour doesn't come from a man in a dress, it comes from the keen observations in the writing and the great acting (maybe not from Judith Light's portrayal of an elderly Jewish woman, which I thought was a tad over the top on occasion, not so much in the flash backs though, which were quite lovely). It made me laugh, smile, cry, feel a lot of different emotions through each episode.
After watching it twice, I then went onto to reading about it and found a whole new appreciation for what it is and what Jill Soloway has done here, even though I thought it was fab before, I love it all the more knowing the background to the writing and making of it.
Looking forward to season two, I hope a TV channel picks it up, I'm not a huge fan of this video streaming thing and would prefer to see on a big screen.
I could parp on about how fabulous Jeffrey Tambor is.
I could ramble on about how enlightening it is or I could just say that I loved it, a lot.
Tis true, I really truly loved it. I did a spot of that binge watching thing, made my partner watch it and watched it again with her. I do not think that it is being hyped up due to the subject matter, it is simply a bleeding good programme. The humour doesn't come from a man in a dress, it comes from the keen observations in the writing and the great acting (maybe not from Judith Light's portrayal of an elderly Jewish woman, which I thought was a tad over the top on occasion, not so much in the flash backs though, which were quite lovely). It made me laugh, smile, cry, feel a lot of different emotions through each episode.
After watching it twice, I then went onto to reading about it and found a whole new appreciation for what it is and what Jill Soloway has done here, even though I thought it was fab before, I love it all the more knowing the background to the writing and making of it.
Looking forward to season two, I hope a TV channel picks it up, I'm not a huge fan of this video streaming thing and would prefer to see on a big screen.
At least I can say I tried
jm107017 March 2015
I kept watching and watching, hoping that as I got to know them I would begin to care about this extraordinarily shallow, spoiled and obnoxious bunch of people - or even to laugh at them for being so relentlessly revolting - but the opposite happened. By the middle of Episode 7 I loathed every one of them so deeply that I just wished The Big One would finally come along, pull the chain, and flush the entire state of California to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean where it belongs. Then it occurred to me that I didn't HAVE to watch this crap, so I stopped.
I love the idea behind this series, and it might have been really good if only there were at least one character I could stand to watch, or laugh at, or maybe even like. There isn't.
Tambor and Hoffman are excellent in roles that fit their talents so perfectly that it's hard now to imagine either of them ever playing any other characters. I do care about those two actors - especially, now, for the first time, Hoffman. I just don't care at all about either character. I wish I wished Maura well, but I just don't. I can't. She's too dishonest and shallow and selfish.
The other actors - with one notable exception - are all right but don't bring any personal depth to their tiresome, narcissistic characters, as Tambor and Hoffman do. The exception is Judith Light, whose restrained and sensitive performance in Save Me was a revelation. Here she shows no subtlety or intelligence at all, playing a Southern California Jewish matron so shrill and strident that the human being is completely lost in the stereotype.
Most of the writing is clever, the production is excellent, and the series might have been a real treat if I could only have cared about even ONE of the profoundly revolting characters.
I love the idea behind this series, and it might have been really good if only there were at least one character I could stand to watch, or laugh at, or maybe even like. There isn't.
Tambor and Hoffman are excellent in roles that fit their talents so perfectly that it's hard now to imagine either of them ever playing any other characters. I do care about those two actors - especially, now, for the first time, Hoffman. I just don't care at all about either character. I wish I wished Maura well, but I just don't. I can't. She's too dishonest and shallow and selfish.
The other actors - with one notable exception - are all right but don't bring any personal depth to their tiresome, narcissistic characters, as Tambor and Hoffman do. The exception is Judith Light, whose restrained and sensitive performance in Save Me was a revelation. Here she shows no subtlety or intelligence at all, playing a Southern California Jewish matron so shrill and strident that the human being is completely lost in the stereotype.
Most of the writing is clever, the production is excellent, and the series might have been a real treat if I could only have cared about even ONE of the profoundly revolting characters.
Hit a bit too close to home at times
egoode23 December 2014
I had lots of friends keep letting me know they had watched Transparent and thought I should watch it. I had been holding off though as my Dad came out as transgender about 2.5 years ago and was worried how I would react to it.
Overall I really enjoyed the series but there were conversations that were almost word for word the same as one's I had when I first found out about my Dad and I did end up in tears at points remembering how hard it all seemed at the time.
I think the series perfectly shows how you start questioning your life when you discover something major about your parents that you never could have guessed but may have felt things weren't quite as they seemed. I know I definitely felt my Dad had been hiding something for years before I found out but never suspected it was wanting to be a woman.
The acting is fantastic in this series and the story is definitely an aspect of life that most people haven't had much contact with or know much about but does seem to be something more people are willing to share and make people more aware of.
Overall I really enjoyed the series but there were conversations that were almost word for word the same as one's I had when I first found out about my Dad and I did end up in tears at points remembering how hard it all seemed at the time.
I think the series perfectly shows how you start questioning your life when you discover something major about your parents that you never could have guessed but may have felt things weren't quite as they seemed. I know I definitely felt my Dad had been hiding something for years before I found out but never suspected it was wanting to be a woman.
The acting is fantastic in this series and the story is definitely an aspect of life that most people haven't had much contact with or know much about but does seem to be something more people are willing to share and make people more aware of.
Bittersweet, Funny, and Immensely Moving. Must not be missed.
Wheresmandela8 February 2014
This is the story of a family, relationships, the lies we tell ourselves and each other. Dark yet warming, the pilot takes its time introducing its characters, revealing their deeply held flaws. Though the writing is naturalistic and a joy, the acting is what reveals the full possibilities of this wonderful series. Jeffery Tambor is a revelation, and his acting here merits Emmy consideration. Add to that the acting of Gabby Hoffman and Jay Duplass as the conflicted son and you have a sparkling main cast. I cannot recommend this pilot enough, and I urge you to watch it, enjoy it, and if you love it, tell Amazon as much. I eagerly await a continuation of this Families story.
Authentic
janet-42-1674728 October 2014
I repeat. Authentic.
There are only a few really good shows on television, and this is one of those few. It is not filmed with the bright lights of a movie set. There are shadows and misplaced items just like in any real home or office. The clothing looks worn, the actors bodies are imperfect.
It's perfect.
All the actors are first rate. The dialog fits in their mouths and comes easily from the gut.
Most important, this is not a one-note song. It is a symphony of harmony and, more often, dissonance. There are so many stories within this one story.
Best of all, I like being surprised. As in real life, you can not predict the characters behavior just on your own past experience. You are the unseen observer to a very real family.
I... Just... Love... This... show!
There are only a few really good shows on television, and this is one of those few. It is not filmed with the bright lights of a movie set. There are shadows and misplaced items just like in any real home or office. The clothing looks worn, the actors bodies are imperfect.
It's perfect.
All the actors are first rate. The dialog fits in their mouths and comes easily from the gut.
Most important, this is not a one-note song. It is a symphony of harmony and, more often, dissonance. There are so many stories within this one story.
Best of all, I like being surprised. As in real life, you can not predict the characters behavior just on your own past experience. You are the unseen observer to a very real family.
I... Just... Love... This... show!
Brilliant Show
johnw-925-8822216 February 2014
Stumbled upon this pilot because I heard that Jill Soloway, of Six Feet Under fame, was connected to the production. I have never watched anything that was an original Amazon product. Hearing something was an Amazon product would not have made me run to watch!
However, this pilot is beautifully written, expertly acted, and very moving.
The plot revolves around a complicated family of grown children. Each more complicated and self-involved than the other. And at the center is the father, played achingly by Jeffrey Tambor. Divorced, alone, trying to recreate himself, Tambor emits the humor and humanity he always has, but with greater depth and gravity than I have seen in his work previously. It is a great part, and Tambor is magnificent.
I eagerly await more.
However, this pilot is beautifully written, expertly acted, and very moving.
The plot revolves around a complicated family of grown children. Each more complicated and self-involved than the other. And at the center is the father, played achingly by Jeffrey Tambor. Divorced, alone, trying to recreate himself, Tambor emits the humor and humanity he always has, but with greater depth and gravity than I have seen in his work previously. It is a great part, and Tambor is magnificent.
I eagerly await more.
Mesmerizing
ian8027 September 2014
A truly fantastic show. It is raw, painful, heartbreaking...and yet it manages to warm the heart. This show is currently at 7.1 on this site, but I am certain that rating will rise as more people see it.
All the of the performers shine. I won't go down the list - the cast is truly top-notch. The obvious mention, though: Jeffrey Tambor. He is a revelation (can an acclaimed actor be a revelation?). While he could have resorted to overplaying moments, he instead keeps the character grounded and real throughout. His monologue in the pilot is a masterclass in acting. Judith Light really gets to shine in the later part of the season - balancing humor and pathos perfectly.
If I have one complaint, the season seems to lag near the end. Not in quality, just in tone. While the series starts with a healthy dose of humor and warmth, we're offered less in the last few episodes. The action drifts away from Morty/Maura and, as a result, the the show loses some of its heartfelt center. Personally, I would have preferred wrapping up the season with the focus on Maura.
I feel confident (knock on wood) that we will get more of the Pfeffermans. I certainly hope so -- this series has been a rare treat. I think Amazon has a home run with Transparent - and they really hit this one out of the park.
All the of the performers shine. I won't go down the list - the cast is truly top-notch. The obvious mention, though: Jeffrey Tambor. He is a revelation (can an acclaimed actor be a revelation?). While he could have resorted to overplaying moments, he instead keeps the character grounded and real throughout. His monologue in the pilot is a masterclass in acting. Judith Light really gets to shine in the later part of the season - balancing humor and pathos perfectly.
If I have one complaint, the season seems to lag near the end. Not in quality, just in tone. While the series starts with a healthy dose of humor and warmth, we're offered less in the last few episodes. The action drifts away from Morty/Maura and, as a result, the the show loses some of its heartfelt center. Personally, I would have preferred wrapping up the season with the focus on Maura.
I feel confident (knock on wood) that we will get more of the Pfeffermans. I certainly hope so -- this series has been a rare treat. I think Amazon has a home run with Transparent - and they really hit this one out of the park.
Losing its way
gprusakowski13 November 2017
What started out as a unique idea and was well written and acted has quickly gone the way of most TV and lost it's way. This last season is simply an annoying repetition of the various characters dysfunctional relationships and in ability to cope. In many ways a lot like my own family which drives me totally nuts. It did better when it was examining the issues and angst of becoming a trans late in life but now has decided to abandon that theme and go on to frustrating portraits of Jewish angst. We cannot follow this show any longer and have abandoned it for more intelligent viewing. This is now nothing more than a copy of all of Woody Allen's earlier movie themes.
Annoying family members are the storyline here
HouTraveler3 May 2016
Boy I really wanted to like this series. I watched all of Season 1, took a break, and then started watching season 2. I've decided to stop watching because I am so disappointed with the storyline and the characters. This show presents a unique opportunity to include story lines that are unique and important to the transgender community. However, they've chosen to focus on the family and extended family members instead of Jeffrey Tambor's transgender character. This probably would have been acceptable except the family members are so unlikeable! As portrayed they are all selfish, self-absorbed and whiny. It is uncomfortable and for me, unwatchable. I love Judith Light but her character as Jeffrey Tambor's wife is the stereotypical overbearing wisecracking Jewish mom. Jeffrey Tambor is outstanding and is well-deserving of the awards he is receiving. That's really the only redeeming quality of the show. Even the dreadful "I am Cait" deals with trans issues better than this series.
Too much ugliness in the wings
Rob-O-Cop11 August 2018
In what could have been an insight into the different lives of a culture we rarely get to contemplate we instead get to focus on a collection of ugly characters believably reflecting the current state of the self centered American psyche.
The dialog is witty, the acting is convincing, and the action is believable for the country it comes from, and it's a thoroughly engrossingly unpleasant experience that eventually has you wondering "why am I watching these horrible people?".
It's like a lot of American TV of recent years, deriving entertainment from pain & ugliness, and feeding back into the normalisation of that thinking.
I got tricked into watching this by the interesting premise and revolted by the self centered side characters to the point of having to abandon the exercise. I don't want these people in my life.
I really like this show!
gingerly_kimberly28 September 2014
I think the reason this show does not have higher than 7.2 as I write this has got to be mostly because of bigots leaving 1 star ratings because Transparent is about something not completely within their delusional "morals". I rate this show currently a 10. This is my first review here, that is how strongly I felt against the under 8 rating. I have watched the first two episodes and I really enjoyed them (edit: 4 now, still great!). I have a feeling I will finish the show in just a couple days! It reminds me of Showtime shows, almost like Nurse Jackie, Weeds, United States of Tara etc. Not in a way I can explain, just a feeling I get.
Like I said this is my first review so forgive me for not being able to really get across my feelings. It is modern and has a bite to it. Transparent is tackling some really emotional issues in a way that both seem real and serious without making you feel uncomfortable. I adore this one already and really hope for more seasons! It has adult language, minor drug use, full frontal and deals with controversial issues so I wouldn't watch with the kids but after bedtime this one is a winner!
Like I said this is my first review so forgive me for not being able to really get across my feelings. It is modern and has a bite to it. Transparent is tackling some really emotional issues in a way that both seem real and serious without making you feel uncomfortable. I adore this one already and really hope for more seasons! It has adult language, minor drug use, full frontal and deals with controversial issues so I wouldn't watch with the kids but after bedtime this one is a winner!
Bland and boring? Um... NO!
AaronMendozaJr26 November 2015
If you find this series "boring" or "bland", then you clearly cannot judge a TV series correctly. Transparent: Season 1 introduces us to an elderly man transitioning and how it affects those around him. It's a heartfelt and emotional journey for all characters. Love is put to the test and it has GREAT character development. It's a smart and beautiful show that truly deserves ever praise and award it got. There's so much to appreciate along this show. It's not so much as plot heavy, it's more focused on the characters and how, just like their father, is trying to find their identity. If you like smart and daring shows, then you should definitely check this out. Maybe along the way, you'll discover more about yourself as well.
I was captured
Alexandra_Rotaru8 October 2014
I have been a TV shows junkie for a long time now and I can't remember the last time I got excited about a new show like I did after seeing the first episode. This isn't an action show this has a personality based synopsis. I find the characters to be very genuine and believable with just enough of a shock factor to make it interesting without bordering the gross. It's not a comedy, but some scenes have a tragic humor to it that make you relate. The relationship between family members is very real. It talks about divorce, lgbt, the struggle to function in a modern society where classic values are still considered the norm but where you can no longer go by them. It shows an era in which confusion is a major problem and a part of day to day life.
You are either going to love it or hate it...
dara-fink17 September 2017
Let me say at the outset that there have been a lot of disappointed reviewers, and most of them just don't get it - the comedy and the drama come from a series of contrasts.
The rest of the cast are so delightfully screwed up that it helps us to be sympathetic to Jeffrey Tambor's character. This isn't a one-trick pony, as the continuing adventures of the entire cast sets up some beautiful compare and contrast moments.
Not that this is for everybody. If your are looking for high discourse, the don't choose a comedy, and don't try to map an excellent slow comedy into a disappointing drama. It is simply a well-written light comedy about society and the opening up of transgender issues within that context.
The rest of the cast are so delightfully screwed up that it helps us to be sympathetic to Jeffrey Tambor's character. This isn't a one-trick pony, as the continuing adventures of the entire cast sets up some beautiful compare and contrast moments.
Not that this is for everybody. If your are looking for high discourse, the don't choose a comedy, and don't try to map an excellent slow comedy into a disappointing drama. It is simply a well-written light comedy about society and the opening up of transgender issues within that context.
Television Drama at its very best
IOBdennis16 December 2015
This may be the very best writing of any television series yet. This particular episode is filled with multiple layers and complexities, nuances, and subtleties that positively create, for me, the best viewing experience on TV today. The acting is perfect: perfect individual performances and ensemble playing. What a gem of a cast! And the show deserves additional kudos. For example, look at the costumes in the opening 4-minute long single shot (that's an accomplishment in itself) in the first episode of season two. There are wonderful mismatches and mis-fittings, and the scene itself is one of the best examples of madness and family dis-functionality. I wanted to scream by the end of it. Talk about capturing the essence of something! Bravo. And you have to watch the episode more than once to catch some of the one- liners that pepper this episode. They are hilarious: as when people are told to smile for the camera and the reaction of "You can't smile when you say that" punches you in the gut. The flashback sequence is mesmerizing and horrific, knowing history as things turned out. And the closing shot of the 4 rooms across the hotel balcony is breath-taking, ending with another gut-puncher.
Captivating!
belindasloat13 February 2014
I love, love, love this new show! It has the perfect balance of emotions; love, fear of rejection, family, complex issues, lust, disappointment, and just everyday life.
The characters were substantial and create a sense of relate-ability because they are so multi faceted out of the gate.
Shares the originality of Six Feet Under and United States of Tara in that the realness of familial relations can clearly seen from the dad playing favorites and the siblings giving each other a hard time, to reminiscing about childhood, to accepting or not accepting each other at face value.
We as humans vacillate everyday between conformance in wanting to fit in to our perception of the norm to breaking down to our internal barriers and behaving like true deviants of that same conformity.
If you love quirky, fun, real, style and substance then this show is for you!
The characters were substantial and create a sense of relate-ability because they are so multi faceted out of the gate.
Shares the originality of Six Feet Under and United States of Tara in that the realness of familial relations can clearly seen from the dad playing favorites and the siblings giving each other a hard time, to reminiscing about childhood, to accepting or not accepting each other at face value.
We as humans vacillate everyday between conformance in wanting to fit in to our perception of the norm to breaking down to our internal barriers and behaving like true deviants of that same conformity.
If you love quirky, fun, real, style and substance then this show is for you!
Raw and Refreshing
caspian197815 February 2014
Stories like this only come every so often. Its subject matter is just as strong and as unique as it's cast of characters. I decided to take a chance on watching the pilot after hearing that Jeffrey Tambor plays an interesting role in this story. Beyond original, it is one of his toughest and brilliant performances in his long artistic career. The pace of the show along with it's abundance use of nudity reflects the mundane as well as the rawness Transparent showcases. It's audience is guaranteed to grow as the subject matter starts to become universal to each of the show's characters. Each of them are going through a transformation. This fantastic cast includes Gaby Hoffmann, Judith Light, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker and Rob Huebel. Each bring a subtle interest to the show's subject matter.
At times there are moments of comedy, sadness and deep thought. Very few shows are able to capture this. Second to only House of Cards, Transparent will and should be the most watched "online" series today.
At times there are moments of comedy, sadness and deep thought. Very few shows are able to capture this. Second to only House of Cards, Transparent will and should be the most watched "online" series today.
Solid
Red_Identity11 October 2014
I've gotta say, it's usually that shows gain steam as they go on. With this, it was the opposite. I thought it started off truly fantastic, but somewhere after the first few episodes it lost me a bit. I'm totally up for unlikable protagonists, but Ihave to find them interesting. Two of the three siblings here were not only at times completely insufferable and got more unlikable as the season went on, but their story lines were only mildly interesting at times, and the other times not at all. The one sibling that I did like and found interesting despite also being pretty unlikable was Amy Landecker's character, and I think in her case it really only was because I'm a fan of her as an actress in general. The season should've really concentrated more on Tambor. As it is, it's a pretty good first season despite me liking it less and less as it went on, even if totally unoriginal.
Lean, poignant, evocative.
paulschaps9 October 2014
I just finished season one. This is incredible television.
The characters are round. The situations are real. The story is lean, poignant, and evocative.
Nothing feels wasted or out of place. Every scene feels crucial.
The acting talent is here. Tambor and Hoffmann shine in complex and demanding roles.
The characters' struggles burn in my mind long after the final credits roll.
10/10, well done.
Do not sleep on this one.
The characters are round. The situations are real. The story is lean, poignant, and evocative.
Nothing feels wasted or out of place. Every scene feels crucial.
The acting talent is here. Tambor and Hoffmann shine in complex and demanding roles.
The characters' struggles burn in my mind long after the final credits roll.
10/10, well done.
Do not sleep on this one.
Wonderful!
photomom-114 December 2015
I started watching season one yesterday. I just finished watching season two! I wasn't so sure about it during the first couple of episodes, but I have fallen in love with the characters. There is a lot of nudity involved with characters that would almost never be seen on any other show... older, less physically appealing, people to today's television standards. It is sort of refreshing. It's real. I smiled, I laughed out loud, I teared up (especially in the second season. I think it's fantastic. The "kids" can be a bit exhausting in an annoying way, but it all sort of falls into place. This is an incredibly touching and open show about life outside the socially acceptable norms. I cannot wait to see more.
Bring on season 3 please.
Bring on season 3 please.
There were no Valley Girls in the Fifties, Sixties, Seventies and Eighties
mary-4611630 September 2016
The writing and acting in Transparent is stunning - with one glaring exception. Too many of the younger women in scenes set before the early 1980's talk with Valley Girl intonations, the rising tones at the end of sentences and the set jaw mannerisms of contemporary teens and young women. I've noticed the same phenomenon in other series. Perhaps it's time for younger actresses to learn standard speech patterns for when they play other than contemporary characters. Valspeak breaks the spell of this excellent series. It is much like trying to read a book in which the sentence structure is off. I wonder how directors can deal with this. If Brit actors and actresses can play convincing American characters and vice versa, why isn't this being addressed? I love "entering" a scene when I watch good movies. It angers me that this contemporary sloppiness keeps me from doing that.
It came to an abrupt end to be honest
chaqueromariano15 January 2019
Transparent continues to explore the transgression of borders, but Season 4 feels a bit pedantic. Too often this season the writing wants to tell us what we should know rather than allowing story lines to develop to show us the significance of crossing borders. The acting remains strong, but with weaker dialogue, it's harder for the actors to shine as they might with better writing.
A Review for the Neutral and Unbiased
MrMcMurphy21 December 2014
(A review for people who just want a good show, and don't have a bias one way or the other).
I disagree with those that say the half-hour format is the cause for the lack of depth and character development. Each episode picks up where it left off, and since you can watch them back-to-back, it's more like a five-hour movie split into 30 min. sections.
The show has a great premise, great acting, and great directing, but the cause for the lack of depth and character development is the extreme dependence that the drama has on sexuality "surprises" (the premise is original, but the drama that unfolds is easy and shallow, as opposed to clever, new, and engrossing).
In this same vein, the degree to which an inordinate proportion of the cast and extras that are gender/preference ambiguous is distractingly unrealistic (it makes sense when it is justified by the location, setting, or circumstances, but the show would have to be based on Castro Street to justify the sexual orientations and happenstance that the creator, Soloway, provides at almost every turn).
How it could be better: It would be much more interesting to see the "Transparent" premise in the real world with deeper, more complex, story lines.
I disagree with those that say the half-hour format is the cause for the lack of depth and character development. Each episode picks up where it left off, and since you can watch them back-to-back, it's more like a five-hour movie split into 30 min. sections.
The show has a great premise, great acting, and great directing, but the cause for the lack of depth and character development is the extreme dependence that the drama has on sexuality "surprises" (the premise is original, but the drama that unfolds is easy and shallow, as opposed to clever, new, and engrossing).
In this same vein, the degree to which an inordinate proportion of the cast and extras that are gender/preference ambiguous is distractingly unrealistic (it makes sense when it is justified by the location, setting, or circumstances, but the show would have to be based on Castro Street to justify the sexual orientations and happenstance that the creator, Soloway, provides at almost every turn).
How it could be better: It would be much more interesting to see the "Transparent" premise in the real world with deeper, more complex, story lines.
See also
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