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Transparent (TV series)

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Transparent
GenreComedy drama
Created byJoey Soloway
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes41 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerVictor Hsu
Production locationLos Angeles
Editors
  • Catherine Haight
  • Annette Davey
  • David Bertman
  • Hilda Rasula
Camera setupJim Frohna
Running time27–31 minutes (102 minute finale)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkAmazon Prime Video
ReleaseFebruary 6, 2014 (2014-02-06) –
September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27)

Transparent is an American comedy-drama television series created by Joey Soloway for Amazon Studios that debuted on February 6, 2014.[1] The story revolves around a Los Angeles family, the Pfeffermans, and their lives after learning that their parent (Jeffrey Tambor) is a trans woman now going by the name Maura.[2] Transparent tells the story of Maura's coming out, as well as her family's personal journeys in discovering their own identities and coming to terms with Maura's identity. Transparent moves away from a solely transition-centred narrative and represents Maura's story in her role as a trans parent, grandparent, professor, partner, ex-spouse, sibling, and as an older person transitioning.[3] Transparent also includes other queer representation in the Pfefferman family. Sarah (Amy Landecker) explores her sexuality and works through relationship dilemmas throughout season one while Ali (Gaby Hoffmann) explores their gender and sexuality.[4] Transparent's first season premiered in full on September 26, 2014,[5] and its second season on December 11, 2015,[6][7] third season on September 23, 2016, and fourth season on September 21, 2017.[8][9]

Amazon picked up the series for a fourth season ahead of the premiere of the third.[10] The fourth season premiered on September 22, 2017.[11] Shortly before the premiere, Amazon renewed the series for a fifth and final season, which ultimately took the form of a feature-length finale with the subtitle Musicale Finale, which was released on September 27, 2019.[12][13][14][15]

At the 72nd Golden Globe Awards, the show won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, while Tambor won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. This is the first show produced by Amazon Studios to win a major award and the first show produced by a streaming media service to win a Golden Globe for Best Series.[16]

The series began airing on Sundance TV starting August 9, 2017.[17]

In November 2017, Tambor was accused of sexual harassment on the set.[18] On November 19, 2017, Tambor stated, "I don't see how I can return to Transparent" after a second sexual harassment allegation was made against him.[19] He was officially fired from Transparent a few months later, on February 15, 2018.[20]

The series had faced earlier criticism regarding the initial casting of Tambor, a cisgender man, in the role of a trans woman.[21]

The Transparent: Musicale Finale addressed the death of Tambor's character, Maura, and examined the lives of the Pfefferman family life through the lens of Maura's former spouse, Shelly (Judith Light), and through music. The Finale, featuring music and lyrics by Faith Soloway, was developed through a series of concerts at Joe's Pub and, in addition to the regular and recurring cast, featured performers Shakina Nayfack, Lesli Margherita, Erik Liberman, and Jo Lampert.[22][23]

In 2023, the show was adapted into a stage musical, A Transparent Musical, for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. The book was written by showrunner Joey Soloway and transgender playwright MJ Kaufman, with music and lyrics by Faith Soloway, Joey's sister.[24] The production received mixed reviews.[25]

Cast

[edit]
The cast of Transparent. Clockwise from top left: Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass and Gaby Hoffmann

Overview

[edit]
Character Played by Seasons Film
1 2 3 4 Musicale Finale
Main characters
Maura (née Morton "Mort") Pfefferman Jeffrey Tambor Main Stand-in
Sarah Pfefferman Amy Landecker Main
Josh Pfefferman Jay Duplass Main
Ari (né Ali) Pfefferman Gaby Hoffmann Main
Shelly Pfefferman Judith Light Main
Rabbi Raquel Fein Kathryn Hahn Recurring Main Does not appear Main
Davina Rejennae Alexandra Billings Recurring Main
Len Novak Rob Huebel Recurring Main
Ava Shakina Nayfack Does not appear Main
Recurring characters
Ella Novak Abby Ryder Fortson Recurring Does not appear
Julia Butters Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Ashley Silverman Does not appear Recurring Supporting
Marcy Bradley Whitford Recurring Does not appear
Magnus Hirschfeld Does not appear Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Tammy Cashman Melora Hardin Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Shea Trace Lysette Recurring Guest Supporting
Syd Feldman Carrie Brownstein Recurring Does not appear
Bianca Kiersey Clemons Recurring Does not appear
Zack Novak Zackary Arthur Recurring Supporting
Ed Paskowitz Lawrence Pressman Recurring Does not appear
Francis Noah Harpster Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Rita Holt Brett Paesel Recurring Does not appear
Young Ali Emily Robinson Recurring Does not appear Guest Does not appear
Young Rose Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear Supporting
Barb Tig Notaro Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Connie Michaela Watkins Guest Does not appear
Yetta Does not appear Recurring Guest Does not appear Supporting
Colton Alex MacNicoll Guest Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Dr. Steve Jason Mantzoukas Guest Recurring Does not appear Guest Does not appear
Bryna Jenny O'Hara Does not appear Recurring Supporting
Leslie Mackinaw Cherry Jones Does not appear Recurring Does not appear Supporting
Vicki Anjelica Huston Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Gittel (née Gershom) Hari Nef Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Sal Ray Abruzzo Does not appear Recurring Guest Recurring Does not appear
Buzzy Rackless Richard Masur Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Duvid Ovadia Kobi Libii Does not appear Recurring Does not appear
Elizah Parks Alexandra Grey Does not appear Guest Does not appear Supporting
Lila Alia Shawkat Does not appear Recurring Supporting
Moshe Pfefferman Jerry Adler Does not appear Recurring Supporting
Nitzan Mark Ivanir Does not appear Recurring Does not appear

Main cast

[edit]
  • Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman (Seasons 1–4), a retired college professor of political science at UCLA who finally opens up to her family about always identifying as a woman.
  • Amy Landecker as Sarah Pfefferman, the oldest sibling. She is married and has two children. She leaves her husband for Tammy, a woman she fell in love with in college. She is initially the most accepting of Maura's transition. Kelsey Reinhardt portrays Sarah as a teenager.
  • Jay Duplass as Josh Pfefferman, the middle sibling. A successful music producer who has troubled relationships with women. He seems to have a hard time accepting Maura's transition at first. Dalton Rich portrays Josh as a teenager.
  • Gaby Hoffmann as Ali Pfefferman, the youngest sibling. She is perpetually unemployed and has a tendency to be immature for her age. Hoffmann also plays Maura's mother Rose in flashbacks. Emily Robinson portrays the younger version of both characters. In the series finale, Ali has come out as non-binary and changed their name to Ari.
  • Judith Light as Shelly Pfefferman, Maura's ex-wife and the mother of Sarah, Josh, and Ali. She has been aware of Maura's desire to express her inner femininity for years.
  • Kathryn Hahn as Rabbi Raquel Fein (recurring Seasons 1–2, main cast Season 3, Film), Josh's ex-fiancée and rabbi at the Pfeffermans' synagogue.

Recurring cast

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]
Main article: List of Transparent episodes
Series Episodes Originally released
1 10 February 6, 2014 (2014-02-06) (premiere)
September 26, 2014 (2014-09-26)
2 10 November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30) (premiere)
December 11, 2015 (2015-12-11)
3 10 September 23, 2016 (2016-09-23)
4 10 September 21, 2017 (2017-09-21)
Film September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27)


Background

[edit]

Soloway felt inspired to create Transparent after their parent came out as trans.[26] They created the pilot for Amazon.com, which became available for free streaming and download on February 6, 2014 as part of Amazon's second pilot season.[27][28] Amazon Studios picked up the pilot for Transparent in March, 2014, ordering a ten-episode season.[29][30][31]

Tambor had previously portrayed transvestite judge Alan Wachtel on the police procedural television show Hill Street Blues in the 1980s.[32] Soloway wrote Hoffmann's role after seeing her performance on Season 3 of Louis C.K.'s show Louie.[33]

Transparent premiered all ten episodes simultaneously in late September 2014.[34] In Canada, where Amazon's video streaming service was not available, the series premiered on the Shomi platform on January 23, 2015.[35]

Religious themes

[edit]

The series depicts several Jewish characters and deals with spiritually and culturally Jewish themes. Joey Soloway, the series' primary creator, is Jewish and consulted Rabbi Susan Goldberg of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. They also sought advice from Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of New York, describing him as "a God-optional patriarchy-toppling Jewish modern mind. There's a mandate among religious and spiritual thinkers to be thinking about the binary, the gendered, the feminist, the goddess, and Amichai reminds me of that every day."[36]

Production

[edit]

Soloway said that they hoped to use the series to explore ideas of gender identity through a "wounded parent being replaced by a blossoming femininity" and that they pictured Tambor as Maura when writing the character.[5]

Soloway, the writers, and the cast developed, workshopped, and rehearsed both seasons with consulting producer Joan Scheckel at Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs.[37]

As part of the making of the show, Soloway enacted a "transfirmative action program", whereby trans applicants were hired in preference to non-trans ones.[30] Over eighty trans people worked on the show, including Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst, trans consultants and co-producers.[30][38] Despite this, the main character Maura was played by Tambor, a man. In 2014, when the show debuted, Soloway defended their casting choice, citing Tambor’s “ability to embody a sort of very dignified feminine way of being.”[39] However, in 2016, Soloway recanted this perspective, saying that casting a man as a trans woman is unacceptable and that no one should make the same casting decision again, citing such a decision as an "insult" to trans women.[40]

In 2014, Our Lady J was chosen as the first openly trans person to be a writer for the show.[41] All the bathrooms on set were gender-neutral.[42]

The original pilot made available in February 2014 (with Gillian Vigman in the role of Tammy) was partly reshot after the series was approved.[43]

On November 19, 2017, Tambor quit the show amidst sexual harassment allegations made against him.[44]

Reception

[edit]
Critical response of Transparent
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
198% (59 reviews)[45]92 (29 reviews)[46]
298% (42 reviews)[47]94 (28 reviews)[48]
3100% (38 reviews)[49]90 (15 reviews)[50]
491% (22 reviews)[51]74 (10 reviews)[52]
568% (25 reviews)[53]55 (13 reviews)[54]

On Rotten Tomatoes it received an overall score of 91%, and an overall score of 85 on Metacritic.[55][56]

Season 1

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season held an approval rating of 98% based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The site's consensus read: "As much about a change in television as it is about personal change, Transparent raises the bar for programming with sophistication and sincere dedication to the human journey, warts and all."[45] On Metacritic, the first season received an average rating of 92 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[46]

Alan Sepinwall from HitFix named Transparent the best new show of the Fall 2014 season and Amazon's "most impressive volley yet".[57] He added:

"... [The] show looks gorgeous and displays an instant command of both tone and this particular pocket of life in Los Angeles; Soloway is incredibly confident in introducing us to the parts of the show that are more universally relatable (a marriage gone sour, a disappointing child), knowing that we'll then follow her into more unfamiliar territory—not just with Maura, but the many disreputable behaviors her kids get tangled up in."[57]

Season 2

[edit]

The second season held a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 9.2/10. The site's critical consensus read: "Transparent's second season ups its dramatic stakes while retaining the poignancy and humor that have made the series such a consistently entertaining example of the best that modern serial drama has to offer."[47] On Metacritic, the second season received an average rating of 94 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[48]

Season 3

[edit]

The third season held a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus read, "Uniquely its own, and compelling and poignant as ever, Transparent continues to transcend the parameters of comedic and dramatic television with sustained excellence in its empathetic portrayal of the Pfefferman family."[49] while Metacritic granted the season an average rating of 90 of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[50]

Season 4

[edit]

The fourth season held a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The site's critical consensus read, "Transparent's fourth season forsakes tight narrative discipline for an absorbingly unwieldy continued exploration of the show's uniquely ambitious themes."[51] while Metacritic granted the season an average rating of 74 of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[52]

Film

[edit]

Transparent: Musicale Finale held a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The site's critical consensus read, "Though it won't be for everyone, Transparent's singular musical finale grants its audience closure while giving its groundbreaking characters something they never expected: something resembling a happy ending"[53] while Metacritic granted the finale an average rating of 55 of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[54]

International broadcast

[edit]

In Australia, the first two episodes of the series premiered on the Nine Network on January 27, 2015, and all subsequent episodes premiered on streaming service Stan upon its launch.[58]

As Prime Video was not available in Canada at the time, the series launched on the Shomi platform.[59]

Awards

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Transparent

On December 11, 2014, the series was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the category Best TV Comedy.[60] On January 11, 2015, Transparent won two Golden Globe awards for the first season of the series. Tambor dedicated his win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series to the trans community,[61] while Soloway dedicated their award to the memory of Leelah Alcorn.[62]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Amazon's new pilots: Which should you watch?". Entertainment Weekly. February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Amazon Has Finally Made Its House of Cards". Slate. February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. ^ Hess, Linda M. (January 24, 2017). ""My whole life I've been dressing up like a man": Negotiations of Queer Aging and Queer Temporality in the TV Series Transparent". European Journal of American Studies (in French). 11 (3). doi:10.4000/ejas.11702. ISSN 1991-9336.
  4. ^ Gregory, Drew Burnett (September 23, 2019). ""Transparent" Changed Me (And TV) Forever". Autostraddle. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Prudom, Laura (July 12, 2014). "Amazon's 'Transparent' Season 1 to Debut Late September, 'Bosch' Premiering Early 2015". Variety. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  6. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (October 9, 2014). "Amazon Renews 'Transparent' For Season 2". HitFix. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  7. ^ Travers, Ben (August 3, 2015). "'Transparent' Season 2 (Finally) Lands Release Date; Jeffrey Tambor, Jill Soloway Preview a 'Year of Revolution'". Indiewire. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  8. ^ Haithman, Diane; de Moraes, Lisa (August 7, 2016). "Woody Allen Series Gets Title, Premiere Date As Part Of Amazon Fall Comedy Push". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Loofbourow, Lili (September 23, 2016). "In Transparent Season 3, A Fragile Family Gropes for a New Identity". The Week. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (May 31, 2016). "'Transparent' Renewed For Season 4 By Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  11. ^ "Transparent: Season 4 Premiere Date Set, Show Slams Trump's Military Ban". TVLine. July 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "'Transparent' Renewed for Season 5". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  13. ^ Lawrence, Derek (May 7, 2018). "Transparent to End with Fifth Season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (June 5, 2019). "Transparent Musicale Finale: First Trailer Teases Maura's Death, Epic Performance by Judith Light — Watch". TVLine. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  15. ^ "Video: The Trailer Is Finally Here - Mark Your Calendars for the "Transparent" Musicale Series Finale Arriving September 27 on Prime Video". The Futon Critic. July 27, 2019.
  16. ^ "Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Sales Up 15% to $29.33 Billion" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. January 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "Amazon.com original series Transparent coming to Sundance TV" (XBRL). Sundance. April 7, 2017.
  18. ^ "Jeffrey Tambor accused of sexual misconduct on Transparent set". TheGuardian.com. November 17, 2017.
  19. ^ "Jeffrey Tambor Exits 'Transparent' After Sexual Harassment Allegations". Deadline Hollywood. November 19, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  20. ^ "Jeffrey Tambor Officially Dropped From 'Transparent' in Wake of Harassment Claims". The Hollywood Reporter. February 15, 2018.
  21. ^ Merriman, Lucy. ""Transparent" Producers Say They "Welcome the Debate" on Casting Jeffrey Tambor". Bitch Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  22. ^ Ito, Robert (September 13, 2019). "After Times of Turmoil, 'Transparent' Goes Out Singing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  23. ^ Poniewozik, James (September 27, 2019). "Review: 'Transparent' and Its Unsettling Technicolor Dream Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "A Transparent Musical".
  25. ^ "What Do Critics Think of A Transparent Musical at Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group?".
  26. ^ Wilson, Stacey (December 17, 2014). "'Transparent' Boss Reveals the Moment She Decided to Make a Show About a Trans Parent". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  27. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (February 15, 2014). "Interview: 'Transparent' creator Jill Soloway discusses her Amazon pilot". HitFix. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  28. ^ Lyons, Margaret (February 13, 2014). "Talking to Jill Soloway About Her Wonderful Amazon Pilot, Transparent". Vulture. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2014). "Four Amazon Pilots Go To Series, 1 On Hold". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  30. ^ a b c Brodesser-Akner, Taffy (August 29, 2014). "Can Jill Soloway Do Justice to the Trans Movement?". The New York Times. NY Times Magazine. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  31. ^ Willmore, Alison (February 7, 2014). "Why 'Transparent' Creator Jill Soloway Feels the Amazon Pilot Process is 'Revolutionary'". Indiewire. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  32. ^ Burlingame, Jon (April 11, 1990). "'Wiseguy' uncorks a rousing season finale". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  33. ^ Katz, Jessie (March 11, 2014). "Pret-a Reporter: Dynamic Duos: Jill Soloway and Gaby Hoffmann are Ready to Inhabit Your Brain". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  34. ^ Prudom, Laura (July 12, 2014). "Amazon's 'Transparent' Season 1 to Debut Late September, 'Bosch' Premiering Early 2015". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  35. ^ "TV series Transparent coming to Shomi". Toronto Star, January 12, 2015.
  36. ^ Klein, Amy (September 2016). "Jill Soloway on Jews and 'Transparent'". Hadassah Magazine. Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  37. ^ Valentini, Valentina I. (October 7, 2014). "Shooting 'Transparent': From Rehearsal to Lenses to Intimate Family Drama". Indiewire. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  38. ^ ROCHLIN, MARGY (November 27, 2015). "In 'Transparent', a Heroine Evolves Further Still". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  39. ^ "Q&A: Transparent Creator Jill Soloway on Transgender Stories and Indie TV". Time. September 25, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  40. ^ Russell, John (September 23, 2016). "Why 'Transparent' Creator Jill Soloway Will Never Cast a Cisgender Person in a Transgender Role Again". TV Insider. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  41. ^ Dawn Ennis (December 4, 2014). "'Transparent' Creator on Show's First Trans Writer". Advocate.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  42. ^ Martin, Denise (September 2, 2014). "Gaby Hoffmann on Girls, Growing Up in '80s New York, and Her Amazon Show Transparent". Vulture. New York Magazine. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  43. ^ ""Transparent" Original pilot". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  44. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (November 19, 2017). "Jeffrey Tambor Exits Transparent, Slams 'Politicized Atmosphere' on Set". TVLine. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  45. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  47. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  49. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  50. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  51. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  52. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  53. ^ a b "Transparent: Musicale Finale". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  54. ^ a b "Transparent: Season 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  55. ^ "Transparent". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  56. ^ "Transparent". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  57. ^ a b Sepinwall, Alan (September 24, 2014). "Review: Amazon's 'Transparent' clearly the best new show of the fall". HitFix. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  58. ^ Knox, David (January 20, 2014). "Airdate: Transparent". TV Tonight. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  59. ^ "'Transparent' debuts in Canada as top series on shomi". Global News. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  60. ^ "Golden Globe Nominations: Birdman, Boyhood and Imitation Game Lead Film - Variety". Variety. December 11, 2014.
  61. ^ "Jeffrey Tambor Dedicates Best Actor Win For 'Transparent' To The Transgender Community". The Huffington Post. January 12, 2015.
  62. ^ "'Transparent' Creator Jill Soloway Dedicates Best Comedy Series Win To Leelah Alcorn". The Huffington Post. January 12, 2015.
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