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“Transparent” recap (2.6): Bulnerable

It’s that sweet midway mark through the second season of Transparent, and so far Colton’s hit the dusty trail, Maura’s left Shelly’s condominium trap for good, and Ali’s still working on that dreaded graduate school admissions essay. Syd offers that Ali simply replaces her essay prompt with the word “cunt,” which elicits a clever back-and-forth between the pair. As platonic friends, their dynamic was a little freer-and the tension between them-it was filled with mystery and hotness.

All of that feels flat, even now with Ali’s nipple peeking out and the two constantly lounging in their adorable cut-up T-shirts and boxer briefs. Ali seems open, ready and restless. “Should I be asking Leslie?” Syd would rather take that seat, maybe knowing in the back of her head what kind of slippery slope it would be to get on the Leslie boat. “I’m sure she has a lot of feelings about your cunt,” Syd slips in. Oh, sure, a seemingly intellectual friendship with the Leslie Mackinaw, goddess dyke holding court at a full moon ritual like it’s no one’s business. There’s no way that could have any affect on Syd and Ali’s relationship, right?

Josh and Raquel get a dose of bad news-Raquel miscarried. Josh’s reaction is like, “We need to take a pause.” He’s allowed to feel that way and ask for what makes him feel happy and healthy-in this case, more time before they try to have a baby again. Maybe he’s feeling mixed up over not knowing his parents knew about baby Colton, knowing now that he’s perhaps lost his second chance at being Dad to Colton, and now, a third chance has been lost-with Raquel and baby.

But, for Raquel, time is of the essence and she worries her time as a potential mother is running out. Josh draws Raquel a bath, fixes her some food, and heads out to a music scene party to talk to important people about not-as-important deals. The real “dealio” here is that Josh tends to minimize moments and use his language (i.e. “dealio”) to gloss over real talk. Josh leaves Raquel at home to have the most depressing, lonely Netflix and chill ever recorded.

Someone else who wants to Netflix and definitely chill is Sarah. She visits Josh’s drug-dealing friend Dr. Steve, who says he’s still sweaty from pilates, but she doesn’t mind. She’s here for that sweet, sweet fantasy, baby. In an attempt to get Dr. Steve to play disciplinary bad man Mr. Irons, he yodels a “Yoo hoo” like he’s Mrs. Doubtfire. Sarah’s not feeling it-even though Dr. Steve isn’t completely terrible. Yes, he has a giant, blown-out print of a glossed up pair of lips on his wall, but he’s a bored stoner who doesn’t just go along with Sarah’s prodding to call her a slut.

Meanwhile at the young Hollywood music party, Josh runs into King Tuff (an artist on Sub Pop and Burger Records), which lends itself to the party clientele and Josh’s presence here. He finds his boy and produces a record label offer like he’s in the movie Blow and forgot he has Penelope Cruz at home without a baby. You’re only blowing your relationship.

Ali makes arrangements to visit with Leslie, who lives in a cool house tucked away in the woods. She finds Leslie upstairs working on some “background clips” for the Idyllwild Wimmin’s Music Festival (clearly echoing Michfest.) “This might even be its last year,” also echoes. It’s loud fetish porn. Ali appears bothered-as in turned on, overwhelmed, embarrassed and intrigued bothered. Enough teasing the poor girl, Leslie spins around in her chair and offers Ali go downstairs and pour some wine. “It’s next to the cat crack,” like it should be. Isn’t that where you keep it, too?

Ali idles around the house, looking at Leslie’s art, artifacts, worldly treasures. Leslie meets her downstairs finally and asks if she wants to get her barrel. Ali could be thinking, “Is that code for her cunt?” It’s Leslie’s hot tub. Her back is killing her. Ali is super conscious of her body language, her hair-position, her reactions-even appearing a bit agreeable over what Leslie has to say each time. In the hot tub, they smoke from a bong and talk about men wanting to acknowledge female superiority, wanting to give women permission-they share a good laugh and Ali watches as Leslie’s body floats and bobs in the glassy water of the barrel.

Leslie finally asks Ali about her admissions essay. Ali mentions the idea of connecting her Jewish heritage to the vagina. Leslie advises her to veer away from too much theory and rather suggests a personal story. Ali continues to watch Leslie, who continues to watch her, their lower bodies totally submerged under water. As Ali begins to muse over writing about her family, Leslie floats closer and closer and Ali’s words become unstuck and soft. “….Maybe there’s something there,” Ali says, but about her family’s chasm of grief being a theme in her admissions essay or the noticeable tension billowing to the surface between Ali and Leslie?

Ah ha. Leslie wants to know about Ali’s coming out story but doesn’t realize she’s part of it-that Ali’s coming out continues to happen now, as it’s only been a month. Leslie twists her back toward Ali and chirps at her cats, diverting all her attention. The obvious question is: Does Leslie really wanna fuck with a baby dyke? Answer clearly still pending, she retires upstairs for the night, maybe pausing for a moment to take in the sight of Ali lying on her couch in her robe, the cats roaming about her. Ali’s eyes are filled with disappointment-the anticlimax fills the room. To me, though, a nice book, some tea, and being under the blankets with Leslie’s cats sounds ideal right now.

Maura’s living arrangements aren’t the best of circumstances. Maybe they were, but now Davina’s man, Sal is out of the slammer and back for good. Even though Maura and Shay went above and beyond to make him a welcome home lasagne, he seems keener on catching up for lost time with his girl. He calls the ladies “broads” and grabs the wine bottle. Davina warns Maura not to talk to Sal about politics. Maura says she has no politics, but the moment foreshadows a possible future conflict between Maura and Sal. Maura won’t get any sleep tonight. Ali certainly won’t-especially if Leslie needs to pull any more clips for Idyllwild.

Sarah abandons her fantasy date with Dr. Steve for Shelly, who is pissed at Sarah’s kids and had a shitty time babysitting. Sarah lets her mom fall to her lap, their glasses of white wine intact in their hands. Sarah nods to herself after her mom says she’s alone again. Sarah and Shelly, two kvetshing peas in a pod.

Josh finds the family ring he made Raquel wear in the middle of his bed when he stumbles in from his party. Yep, it’s a sleepless night in Los Angeles for the Pfeffermans-and Syd, who’s probably incessantly checking her Instagram and Facebook on a loop, wondering if Ali made it back from Leslie Mackinaw land. Did she?

Check in next Friday for a new recap up Transparent, and follow me on Twitter to discuss all things Pfefferman.

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