Ep 7. The Symbolic Exemplar

When a person in the Pfefferman family undergoes an individual crisis, it ripples throughout the entire household. In season 1 episode 7 of Transparent, titled "The Symbolic Exemplar," it's Sarah who's struggling with her personal life and the deep sense of disappointment she feels about the direction it's taken. She's feeling particularly unhinged after a heated discussion with her girlfriend Tammy about the possibility of having kids someday.

Meanwhile, Maura is experiencing some revelations of her own. After giving her first public talk on transgender issues, she's approached by a trans woman named Davina whom she knew years ago when she was still living as Mort. Davina inspires Maura to question her own comfort level with being out and proud, and encourages her to explore the idea of gender as a fluid and multifaceted construct.

The rest of the family is dealing with their own issues as well. Josh finds himself getting more and more emotionally tangled up with his much younger girlfriend, while his siblings Ali and Sarah struggle to make sense of their own romantic lives. And Shelly, the family matriarch, grapples with her own sense of self-worth as she tries to find a way to be involved in her children's lives without suffocating them.

As always, the writing and directing in Transparent is top-notch, and this episode is no exception. Each character is given their own space to develop and grow, and the underlying themes of love, acceptance, and identity are explored with aplomb. While the subject matter can be intense and emotionally fraught, there are moments of genuine levity and humor that keep the show from feeling too heavy-handed.

All in all, "The Symbolic Exemplar" is a powerful and poignant episode of Transparent that will leave viewers ruminating on its themes long after the credits roll. With stunning performances, beautiful cinematography, and expertly crafted storytelling, it's no wonder that this show has been hailed as one of the best dramas of the past decade.