Catch up with the fabulous Pfeffermans
Everything you need to know before Transparent returns
The second season of Transparent, the dark comedy about a California dad (Jeffrey Tambor in an Emmywinning performance) who at 70 transitions from being Mort to Maura, premieres Saturday on Shomi. Consider this your Coles Notes to Season 1: a binge-watching meal replacement that breaks down its highlights and lowlights to give you maximum premiere pleasure. And beware, there are spoilers ahead.
Where We Left Off
Season 1 ended with the funeral of poor sick Ed Paskowitz, second husband to Mort/Maura’s ex Shelly (played with chutzpah by Judith Light). Even in death, the Pfeffermans are completely oblivious and self-obsessed. While others mourn, son Josh and Rabbi Raquel reheat their secret romance. Daughter Sarah shows she’s not over ex-husband Len as they flirt at the shiva and sneak off for sex, then she proposes to Tammy.
Ali, who has her own stuff to work out with Syd, warns Raquel her brother is a “love addict.” Josh finds out he has a son: Colton, who looks like a farm boy from the Midwest. The Jewish service leaves Ali angry her parents let her ditch her own bat mitzvah. She blames Maura for her lack of faith. “Moppa” hits the roof and unleashes years of pent-up anger. All just another happy Pfefferman family occasion.
Best Episode
No. 8, “Best New Girl”: This episode flashed back 20 years to the time Mort and Shelly allowed Ali to ditch her bat mitzvah mainly so Mort could travel out of town to a drag camp. He went there with crossdressing buddy Mark, a.k.a. Marcie, played by Bradley Whitford. The scene where Whitford, in full drag, is standing in a phone booth telling his son to “man up” to his football coach was enough alone to earn that Guest Actor Emmy. Besides being one of the funnier episodes, it also provided much insight into the screwed-up Pfefferman clan of today.
Most Shocking Moment
In Episode 3 (“Rollin’ ”), Ali’s adventurous sex life lurches to a kinky new level. She plans to have sex with her trainer and his roommate at the same time, telling her pal Syd (Carrie Brownstein) she’s up for a little “spit roasting,” which she demonstrates with salt-and-pepper shakers. Later the sex plan plays out in fairly explicit detail, except Ali gets so high on moon rocks she starts insisting the two dudes have sex together first, killing the mood. Ali gets booted into a cab.
Main Characters
Maura (Jeffery Tambor): Can an older parent find happiness as a woman? Maura is in the next phase of her journey as she tries to be one with the trans community, faces rejection within her own extended family and struggles to find romance.
Ali (Gaby Hoffmann): Ali seems more grown up and focused in Season 2 as she dives into grad school. Her studies, however, cause her to dig into family secrets long hidden. Her romantic life continues to lurch from one distraction to another. Sarah (Amy Landecker): Her marriage having gone down in flames, Sarah continues to blow up relationships, leaving friends and family to pick up the pieces.
What’s Next?
Season 2 opens with a wedding. The wedding episode is delicious and surreal, like watching a Robert Altman film after five drinks. As one might expect, the wedding cake lasts longer than the marriage. This new season, according to creator/director Jill Soloway, is all about consequences — and not just for Maura.
Extra Credit
If you love Transparent ...
Try Mozart in the Jungle: another audacious Amazon series offered on Shomi, this time about love, sex and the New York Philharmonic.
Try Louie: The Pfeffermans look like the most normal family in America compared to single dad Louie as he tries to juggle his comedy club career with part-time parenthood.
Try Orange Is the New Black: This Netflix prison series walks the same tightrope between comedy and drama and also offers characters with evolving sexual identities.