TheCrazyofthePfeffermans

ThePfeffermansareoutoftheirminds.Theyliterallyshedthemselves,heapsofsoulsonthefloor,andoutsteppedthecarefree,fun-seeking,trans-formedPfeffermans.Wecannowbinge-watchhowtheylivetheircrazytothefullestinAmazonoriginalseries,Transparent,thankstothewonderfulJillSoloway.First,itwascrazyofanatural,familiardose,likebickeringoverdinnerwhilechewingCanter’sDelibarbecueribs,butastheshowspirals,itkeepsbringingthegametonewjaw-droppinglevels.Former“poppa”ofthefamily,Mortoncameoutasatransgender,andhasbeenrebornas“moppa”Maura;Sarah,theeldestsibling,divorcedherhusbandforadalliancewithhercollegegirlfriend;Josh,heryoungerbrother,keptonimpregnatingwomenandlosinghisjobsthankstonumerouspanicattacks;andAli,theyoungestandthecraziest,dabbledanddivedindrugsandlesbianism.Theoff-the-chartscrazydetailedinsometimestoosexuallygraphicwayscanbestartling,buttheircrazyneverranghollow.Itusuallyprecedesirredeemablescrew-upsinparenting,break-ups,sobbingintherestroomstall,oroutburstsofroadrage,andlivesonadangerousamountofegocentrismuntilthereisn’tany.Irecognizesomeoftheircrazy.Ilivesomeversionsoftheircrazy.IshiveredwhenMauraacquiescedthatsheblackballedfemaleapplicantsingradschool,anddespitehergenderidentity,stillrefusedtoletgooftheentitled,sexistMortyshewasbornas,orwhenAlitriedtotalkhergirlfriendintopolyamoryjusttoactonherinfatuationtowardsherteacher(“Whatisbeingqueerifnotquestioningeverything?”shesaid,andby“everything”shemeant,andIquote,“knee-jerkhetero-normative”),forIreactjustasbadlytowardsuglyrevelations,andbearthesamelingeringinconsistency.EvenmorefrequentlydoIstumbletodiscoverthatIoftenfeellonely,fromeithergettingmyheartbrokenmorethanitshould,oralackofcompaniontohelpmestrideforward,asdothecharacters,chuggingtumblersofvodka,exchangingstaticeyecontactwithChinesetakeoutinthemicrowave.Jillpaintsthelifeofadaringfamilywheretheaudiencecouldculloutandcontemplateovertheirworstnightmares,butfeelsafegettingvulnerablealongwiththePfeffermans.I,apartfromallthat,findherworksratherintimatefromwhereIstand.She’stryingtoexplorelife’sinfinitemutabilitythroughherfemininegaze.SoamI.