Jeffrey Tambor
Gaby Hoffmann
Jay Duplass
Amy Landecker
Judith Light

Created by:
Jill Soloway

2014-
Comedy, Drama
Amazon Prime
TV-MA

“Transparent” has a title that thoroughly describes what it’s about: You have to think of that title as a complete word and as a compound word to get it. The opening credits are in the style of home videos, but (if you look closely) some of those videos may not be of what you would expect.

This show walks a fine line between drama and comedy, but it also maintains an air of sadness either just beneath or directly on the surface. At the beginning of the first episode, we’re thrust into the main characters’ everyday lives. These characters are family members who are about to experience a complete shift in the way that they view their father and themselves. This episode manages to effectively set up those general family dynamics, though not much more. The transparency theme comes to the forefront starting in the second episode, and it remains there throughout the rest of the season.

So, “Transparent” has just enough going on without being convoluted. By the way, its theme(s) will not appeal to everyone; you need to be willing to have an open mind and be able to handle explicit material. This ain’t “Modern Family,” and it ain’t “Parenthood.” It’s closer to “Six Feet Under,” which this show’s creator wrote for and executive-produced. (I like “Six Feet Under” better, though. I actually love “Six Feet Under,” so that’s not a dig.)

This is about the fear that people experience before they reveal the truth about themselves and the exposure that those revelations bring. What happens when someone you’ve known your whole life finally reveals who they really are? These revelations may or may not surprise, though; the father’s revelation, in particular, is telegraphed ahead of time. Also, he’s not the only one who decides to be transparent. Everyone joins in on it at some point. He just gets the ball rolling.

All of the actors are golden. They relate well and seem like a real family. They just know what they’re doing, especially Jeffrey Tambor (who nails a role that many actors wouldn’t be able to pull off) and Judith Light (who’s just having a ball).

Overall, “Transparent” is well-made and is very “Los Angeles.” However, I wish that it were funnier more frequently. It works best when Mort/Maura (played by Tambor) has to confront mainstream society. Her collision with society during her first forays into the public after coming out to her older and then younger daughters (the son finds out differently) is dynamite stuff. The humor, horror, and sadness of those outings allow “Transparent” to present something new for television thematically. For instance, when Maura meets an old acquaintance as a woman for the first time, the acquaintance says, “What’s all of this?” It’s a nuanced, hilarious, and perfect moment.

While I think that “Transparent” is good (very good at times), it doesn’t blow me away. It balances comedy and drama well, but I want a bit more potency in its presentation. I’m nit-picking, though. If they keep things as they are, everything will be fine.

Verdict: Good to Very Good

About: (Source: transparent)

An LA family with serious boundary issues have their past and future unravel when a dramatic admission causes everyone’s secrets to spill out. Starring Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass, and Gaby Hoffmann.