Entertainment

'Transparent' Will Get More Political In Season 4

by Jordana Lipsitz

Many entertainers, whether they be actors, directors, writers, what have you, feel like they have a responsibility to address issues that impact their viewers. According to Variety, the Transparent cast and crew said they felt that Transparent Season 4 should get more political in light of recent events, including the effects of President Donald Trump's election on LGBTQ people. Series actors including Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker, Kathryn Hahn, Alexandra Billings and Trace Lysette joined showrunner Jill Soloway to express this sentiment of activism via television at an Emmy For Your Consideration event on Saturday evening.

At the panel, according to Variety, Soloway didn't share too much detail about her plans for the upcoming season, but did say that, "...things will get more political than they’ve ever been," and will address the increase in LGBTQ discrimination since the 2016 presidential election. Variety reported that almost every member of Transparent's cast and crew agreed at the panel that it was "unavoidable" not to address it and it's good news that this important show will be confronting important issues in this political landscape. Transparent is about a Jewish family in Los Angeles navigating their lives after the family patriarch comes out as transgender.

Jeffrey Tambor, who plays Maura Pfefferman in the series, shared that he is grateful for the experience in the role.

“I think it’s made me a more responsible actor and person, and also made a better husband, citizen and dad," he said, according to Variety. It seems that he and the rest of the team are hoping that others will watch the show and begin to feel the same sort of presence of being a better, more open citizen of this world.

Tambor went on to describe how Transparent has been teaching lessons to its viewers, saying,

"You go to work with a mission statement, as we do, to reflect on people’s lives and anxieties, and trying to connect with them. I think one of the things I like most about what we do is that people trust us. We’re not messing around — this is a real family, and these are the lessons we’re telling.”

If it follows the premiere dates of previous seasons, Season 4 of Transparent will probably be out around fall or winter of 2017. Let's hope this politically-minded season continues to help viewers about stay engaged and thoughtful about society's important issues.