Are we over our romance with trans- people?
I got to know my first trans- person in 1990, so you’ll pardon me if I yawn through the gossip sites that cover every outfit Caitlyn Jenner wears or every breathless review of the Amazon-produced TV show, Transparent.
That’s not to say that I don’t love the show, because I do. My husband and I were riveted to both seasons, binge-watching as much of them as possible before we absolutely had to go to sleep. And M. is not a binge-watching kind of guy.
Our fascination with the show had nothing to do with the trans-topic.
Nor did it involve the excellent acting.
It had to do with the utter selfishness of every single character on the show.
Every single one of them.
It’s like watching a car-wreck. You know you shouldn’t be so fascinated with the accident scene, but you can’t take your eyes off it.
What we loved about this show was that the trans-topic was pretty trans-parent.
These could be any people in LA. Anyone.
Because selfishness and self-centered behavior cross all lines. Especially in LA.
As it turns out, trans-people are as trans-selfish as any other kind of people.
Fancy that!
Transparent has been renewed for a third season. The shows should drop some time this year.
We can’t wait.
Because there’s no substitute for good TV writing. Just ask Shonda Rhimes.
Roz Warren says
March 11, 2016 at 9:35 amInteresting take. The selfishness of ALL of the characters is why I never took to Seinfeld, although I LOVE his stand-up.
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 9:50 amWould you believe I never saw a single episode of Seinfeld? None?
Gary Mathews says
March 11, 2016 at 11:21 amThat’s blasphemy about Seinfeld. Good portrayal of the show I might actually have to sit down and watch this now.
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 11:22 amYou must watch it. Yeah, I know, even my husband has watched it. And my nephews.
Doreen McGettigan says
March 11, 2016 at 11:42 amI love watching a well written and well acted character. I haven’t seen this show, it does sound binge worthy.
Embarrassed to say I have never watched an episode of Seinfeld. There must have been something else on at the same time back then:)
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 12:53 pmWell thank goodness there is one other person ignorant of the various story lines on Seinfeld!
Nancy Hill says
March 11, 2016 at 12:44 pmI grew up on a chicken farm. LA isn’t for me. Me, I live in Tucson, where every other person is a writer, some for TV. Selfish is the new black.
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 12:53 pmYes, it really is the new black. Unbelievably true.
Kim Tackett says
March 11, 2016 at 1:42 pmI loved Transparent too, but will have a hard time watching a third season of people behaving so badly (though I seem to have made it through four seasons of House of Cards). I used to make the same complaint (selfishness) when my daughters watched Friends!
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 1:58 pmNow that is pretty funny, Kim! At least we’ll have had a break.
Lois Alter Mark says
March 11, 2016 at 1:51 pmI’m going to have to finally start watching this. I need a month of doing nothing to catch up with TV!
Carol Cassara says
March 11, 2016 at 1:59 pmI was really shocked that Michael took to it as he did, it’s usually not the kind of thing he watches.
Tam Warner Minton says
March 11, 2016 at 4:48 pmYou know, I don’t follow any of that celebrity stuff, so I have no idea what Caitlyn is up to. Haven’t seen transparent, but I always say I’m going to watch it. So now I will!
andrea says
March 11, 2016 at 5:56 pmi didn’t have a trans-romance to get over in the first place – i’ve been keepin it straight my whole life 🙂
Leanne@crestingthehill says
March 12, 2016 at 12:54 amNow I have another reason why living in Australia is great – I’ve never heard of Transparent and I think that might be a good thing! Self-centredness is worldwide though so not missing anything there!
Jonathan Key says
March 12, 2016 at 9:55 pmI’d not heard of Transparent before. May have to at least give it a try. Although between The Arrow, The Walking Dead, The Flash, and watching re-runs of The Office we have plenty to choose from.
Jonathan Key recently posted…Challenge: Have Some Compassion!
Corinne Rodrigues says
March 12, 2016 at 11:08 pmHaven’t heard of it, Carol. But wondering if I will have the patience with people acting out. We have an Indian version of Big Brother here, called Big Boss and it’s absolutely idiotic. I watched a couple of episodes back when we had television and perhaps that’s one reason why I realized I could do without television!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…Unequal At Birth #PledgeForParity
brianna george says
March 13, 2016 at 11:48 pmSee I couldn’t watch a show like that. Not because of the topic, but the selfishness of the people would make me so unbelievably angry. Like Roz commented above I couldn’t do Seinfeld for this exact reason.
RaNesha says
March 14, 2016 at 9:24 amWow I love Seinfeld, but never seen it from this point of view. You have great insight.
Tara says
March 14, 2016 at 11:45 amI have never seen or even heard of this show! I am a big fan of binge watching on Hulu and Netflix. Sometimes I am drawn to things that have a train-wreck effect like you were saying, but eventually I am ready to be done with the drama!