A bunch of privileged, dysfunctional, sex-obsessed, narcissists…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Transparent
angeles_st_ides — 10 years ago(January 03, 2016 12:18 PM)
ALL of whom question or have fluidity in their gender/sexuality (what is the likelihood of that?). Except, of course, for the main male character, the son. He's a hot-blooded, sex-addicted, and definitely straight, American male! No questioning of gender or sexual identity for this profoundly hetero-male!! I am sorry, but it's trite and cliched. Talk about bowing to the patriarchy (one of the themes of the show, is it not?). It's cool for all the women in the show to question their sexual identity and get with other women, but we gotta think of our straight male viewers, and none of them want to see two men together, or confront that men might have fluidity to their sexuality too.
Although the idea that every member of one single family - with the exception of said son - has completely fluid sexuality is also ludicrous. Dad, mom, both sisters! All move easily back and forth on the sexual and gender spectrum. I know this show wants to look at these issues, and that's valid. But, really? Almost every member of one family? Feels forced to me. It's just not realistic, and the show isn't well done enough to convince me to suspend my disbelief at this point. (and please don't point out that one family you know personally who is like this! There may be a few, it's still not plausible for a tv series)
At first I thought none of the children were likable, but now, I realize it's really all the main characters. Not a likable or sympathetic one among the bunch. Do any of the kids have jobs or even have to work? I mean REALLY work, not the son's dream job as a record company executive, a job he only seems to have to do when he feels like it.
Do any of these people think about anything other than sex? Or do anything other than have sex? Are their really people THIS dysfunctional, and all in the same family? I suppose if you are well-off enough not to have to work for a living or wonder what it is to want or need or go without necessities and basics, then maybe you have enough time for this much self-centered navel gazing and self-indulgence. But, in that case, you might be better served volunteering for those less fortunate than you are or trying to do something that otherwise contributes to society. -
WestFinal — 10 years ago(February 07, 2016 12:27 PM)
You bring up very valid points. It is also pointing out the obvious here. They are a wealthy family and an academic family which CAN (not always) breed a sense of rarified entitlement. Not to mention that Josh is in the entertainment industry which can be concurrently creative and shallow. Add on top of all of that and they live in L.A. Land of navel gazing, instant gratification spirituality and too cool for school. People on the boards keep focussing on the children and how selfish, narcissistic and sexually jumbled they are. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Where do you think they learned this behaviour? Maura and Shelly. It's another RWP (Rich White People) show in a field littered with them. However, it has heart, wit, frankness and is respectful and fruitful material for LGBT communities. Jeffrey Tambor and Amy Landecker are a pleasure to watch.
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BigSouthernCrow — 9 years ago(May 13, 2016 03:06 AM)
Completely agree with the criticism regarding Josh (the only male in this show).
However, I am married to a bisexual whose three siblings are either gay or bisexuals too (one gay guy, two bi - woman and man), so that is not very far fetched for a single family to have that kind of fluidity.
I'm sorry but if there are families like that in real life (as I mentioned) why would it be implausible for them to be portrayed on a TV show? That makes absolutely no sense at all. -
maxi13 — 9 years ago(October 09, 2016 03:39 AM)
i also know such a similar family.
so its obvious that it is not that far fetched.
that you dont see people at work is a phenomenon which you can see and find in nearly every movie/film series,
just as you never see someone sitting on the WC.
though you don't feel and realize it during watching,
but its always just a segment of their lives we can see -
catcherbloq — 9 years ago(October 13, 2016 06:02 PM)
Agree. My ex came from a family of five kids, and only one of the five children was completely hetero (as far as we knew). So, these families do exist in real life. And, they tend to be the more interesting to watch.
Please don't feed the trolls.
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lilanalannie — 9 years ago(June 10, 2016 08:47 AM)
Not sure if you're comment comes the left or the right but I still agree.
Every character is narcissistic and sex obsessed. The only thing that drives them are these issues on sex and gender making them caricatures before the first season even ends.
What I'm truly taking from the show is that a feminine man got married/divorced, was a disgrace as a father, and then became a tranny and then we wonder why his kids are screwed up. -
mrjbaptist — 9 years ago(August 21, 2016 09:08 PM)
Except, of course, for the main male character, the son. He's a hot-blooded, sex-addicted, and definitely straight, American male! No questioning of gender or sexual identity for this profoundly hetero-male!!
Watching the show, Josh is written/acted much more "gay" than any of the other characters. I wonder how long it will take for him to come out?
Maura has a transgender identity, but her sexual identity matches the gender she was born with.
Her ex wife is a character that seems to go through extreme changes every couple of episodes, but doesn't seem like she'd ever even consider sex with another woman (which makes her tenderness and intimacy with Maura really nice, since it shows that she loves her enough to accept her as she is/wants to be).
The younger daughter is a mess, and will loudly be a lesbian - or do anything else - to get attention.
The older daughter's decision to throw away ger life and family for an annoying, pushy, dick of an ex girfriend and then reject that girlfriend and suddenly become obsessed with S&M just doesn't feel "real". Just a way to get that hot "spanking" girl into the show. -
gbeck86 — 9 years ago(September 10, 2016 11:13 PM)
This perfectly explains my issue with the show.
In its insistence to be seen as liberal and open it has forgone even the traditional morality of society. It makes divorce, abortion, sexual promiscuity and child rape look like frivolous and normal things that happen to everyone and that no judgements should be made. This is not about the idea of traditional family but just of the rules that we have set up by the human contract.
Guilt is not always a bad thing. -
ArtAesthetics — 9 years ago(September 18, 2016 11:35 PM)
I agree with you. I really enjoyed the show for a while, still like the main character and his wife, but his children are despicable! Not everyone is Los Angeles is such a loser. I hate the term "first world problems" but that's exactly what these characters represent. An utter discontentment with everything and thinking the solution lies in sex & more sex. I stopped watching.
Also Jeffrey Tambhor is starting to act is he's some sort of a spokesperson for the transgender community! Really? Dude, you just are pretending to be one in a tv show, calm down!
"If you want a happy ending, it depends on where you stop the story" -
gbeck86 — 9 years ago(September 19, 2016 10:22 AM)
Tambor disgusts me. If he thought the part and the show was so important he along with Soloway and the cast would do the show for no pay. If you are a true "artist" you would do a show like this for free.
Soloway also refuses the idea that society can have traditional (or whatever the correct term) family structures.
This show pushes an agenda that anything that is seen as traditional needs to be destroyed.
I've said it on here before but this show really if anything does a disservice for Jews as well. Joseph Goebbels would see it as great Anti-Semitic propaganda. -
fede_4488 — 9 years ago(September 23, 2016 07:03 AM)
If he thought the part and the show was so important he along with Soloway and the cast would do the show for no pay.
That's a really dumb argument. It's art, not charity.
traditional (or whatever the correct term) family structures.
The "traditional family" is an outdated, discriminating concept. You only hear Christians and Catholics preaching about it.
If I don't reply, you're probably on my ignore list for something I forgot already -
shoutingagain — 9 years ago(November 14, 2016 01:11 AM)
VERY big yes to Art above & original poster.
I never even considered that masculine, fem thing (only how distasteful, entitled & worseoblivious to others & world at large these characters are, each & every one! So much so, they are
HUGELY
repugnant to me)
but how insightful to notice writer deliberately has this MALE driven vehicle, making lesbians
everywhere
, but, take note, NO male homosexuality to be seen on screen here.
Sexist as all hell!!
And honestly we're at this point, conditioned to just expect & accept it. All we've seen for nearly 20 years.
Here's the reality though!
The world DOES have as many gay (performing, as in
ACTION
) men as it does women.
Probably more I think. And there too, look around, the male GUYS have more rights, more media attention & power! Some surprise, right?
Don't think so? Well check it OUT sometime! Off on tangent again I suppose because it's NOT that I care, I'm no lesbian but would care if I were!
Still back to THEIR point.
But nope, with (for most part WHITE STRAIGHT)
MEN in charge
(of what we see written in this depressing show)not what will ever be depicted.
I won't even get into all the GENDER issues (cuz to me it's what your body parts DOif you have a penis & USE it, you are engaging heterosexually with females & HOMOsexually with men. All this "what
I identify as
" to me is absolutely hilarious. I like the joke, I identify as Jennifer Aniston, it's a good one).
At any rate, this show thus far, having ALL female gay-action (mirroring any mainstream movie that dares to incorporate homosexuality), is also TOTALLY as is the entire porn industry (not that I watch, nor does it do anything for me BUT no secret mainstream porn features only
female homosexuality
probably even more so than straight sexso as to not creep out their viewers).
OH.let me correct thatto keep mainstream MALES happy & running everything as they always do.
F@#* that
!! . -
T-eschberger — 9 years ago(September 23, 2016 06:58 AM)
I agree completely. I stuck it out for the first season because I thought there was room for growth and I felt the acting was compelling. But I gave up three episodes into season 2. I just couldn't handle these jerks a second longer.
For a show dealing with such issues, it feels distant, cold and aloof as well. It's frankly boring.