Transparent: Musicale Finale (Spoiler-Free) Review

How do you solve a problem like Jeffrey Tambor, the Emmy-winning star of Transparent, getting fired from the show after accusations of sexual harassment? Well, if you’re Jill Soloway, you decide to scrap plans for a fifth and final season of the show and simply (well, not simply, this was clearly a lot of work to put together) wrap up the series via a two hour musical episode. Transparent: Musicale Finale doesn’t always work, but it absolutely captures the spirit of the groundbreaking series and allows several members of the show’s excellent cast chances to really shine.

Transparent: Musicale Finale opens with the death of Maura (Tambor’s character). No, she’s never seen on screen, but her presence is certainly felt throughout the rest of the film. The Pfefferman family comes together, along with Maura’s found trans family, to celebrate her life and come to terms with their own place within both their family and the world at large.

As a musical, the show is a bit of a mixed bag (the songs were written and composed by Faith Soloway, sister to Jill). Some of the numbers are less successful than others (I adore Judith Light, but Shelley’s big number – “Your Boundary is My Trigger,” about how her children have enriched and messed up her life – is one of the least successful beats in the episode). The two highlights of the episode revolve around the show’s two most interesting characters: Gaby Hoffman’s Ali (who, after significant time in Israel reconnecting with their roots and sense of self, has opted to use the name Ari) and Alexandra Billings’ Davina (the best singer in the bunch by a long margin).

Davina, who discovered Maura’s dead body, is tasked with arranging the music for her funeral (and wrapping up several facets of Maura’s life, due to receiving the Pfefferman house in Maura’s will – a really lovely touch that sets up a great, happy ending for the character), offers a stunning (and incredibly moving) rendition of “Let Her Be Okay” during the internment. Watching each of these characters, with whom we’ve spent a great deal of time over the years, react to this difficult moment is worth watching some of the less successful parts of the episode.

In term of character highlights, no one is served better in the episode than Ari. It’s been clear for a few seasons that Soloway finds Ari to be the show’s most interesting character (Ari’s discovery of their non-binary gender identity mirrored Soloway’s own coming out as non-binary during the course of the series). So, it’s fitting that this new, centered, religious Ari is at the heart of the episode. They have certainly come a long way from the scattered, spoiled girl from the start of the series. While “Let Her Be Okay” may be the emotional peak of the episode, the best character moment comes when Ari attempts to get her siblings (Amy Landecker’s Sarah and Jay Duplass’ Josh, both still living messy lives, but far more aware of how their actions impact those around them at this phase) recite the Kaddish. This leads to Ari’s moment in the musical sun: “Run From Your Father’s House.”

Where “Let Her Be Okay” drives home that grief also includes worry about the soul of the one lost (If there is an afterlife, are they there? Are we, those who remain, honoring them as they would like?), “Run From Your Father’s House” encompasses everything Ari has dealt with over the course of the series. From their gender identity, sexual orientation, place within a changing familial structure, and struggling with what their faith means, we get our clearest look at who Ari has become. And, for once in the series, I feel incredibly confident that at least one of the Pfefferman children will be ok.

If you’ve enjoyed Transparent throughout it’s run, this is a fitting end. It’s a chance to really delve into the neurosis of the characters in a manner you just can’t do without the aid of a song. Every recurring character of note appears at some point within the episode, some getting more screen time than others (thankfully Kathryn Hahn’s Raquel is back for an extended portion of the episode, as she was one of the major supporting MVPs of the show). So, spend the two hours saying goodbye to this dysfunctional but loving family. It’s worth your time.

Transparent: Musicale Finale is available on Amazon Prime beginning on September 27.