Transparent

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'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.

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.

I began watching this series by accident one night. I am not someone aware of the issues that face trans-gender people but do know a couple of people that have recently began the transition and i thought this series may help the masses to be more accepting of difference. However unfortunately all i have found in both the first and second series are a group of self obsessed selfish individuals and i couldn't dislike the characters more if i tried, there lives are so bizarre, twisted and meaningless and all the seem to do is hurt everyone around them, not one of the characters actually seems to care about any of the others. I am not a prude but I think it is over sexed and untrue to life. Its not funny, its not enlightening, its not even interesting. What it is, is mundane, at times offensive on a number of levels and unbelievable, i do not feel it offers a true insight into any families life but just serves to try and shock, which it also does not achieve.

I will watch to the end of series 2 in the hope that something good will come from this complete waste of my time.

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.