'Transparent' Musicale finale [spoiler-free] review: Despite the shoddy dance numbers, fans will get promised closure with feature-length Season 5
Fans of Amazon Prime's 'Transparent' have been waiting for closure for a while now, and they are finally going to get it, come Friday, September 27. This will be the first season in the series without the protagonist Moira Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) physically present, but the show still manages to keep her alive in every second of the 'Musicale finale.'
The half-hour dramedy has transgressed into a feature-length musical for its final bow, and that may just have been the best option the showrunners could have chosen. After Tambor was accused of sexual misconduct by two women, 'Transparent' creator Jill Soloway made it clear that the actor, who breathed life into the role of Moira for four seasons will not be back for the last one.
The 'Musicale Finale' has, devoid of Maura, managed to hold on to the essence of 'Transparent' through the stories of Pfefferman Shelley (Judith Light ), Ali Pfefferman (Gaby Hoffmann), Josh Pfefferman (Jay Duplass), and Sarah Pfefferman (Amy Landecker). In fact, you are likely to fall more in love with Maura's "stand-in" in the musicale, than you ever did Maura. There is also newfound respect that is bestowed upon Shelley, who finally sees things differently than she ever did and Shae (Trace Lystte), who is the beacon of light and positivity as always, that we are grateful for.
She is an idea and a promise, and that sentiment is kept alive by everyone on the show. Meanwhile, the songs aren't necessarily great nor do they serve a purpose in moving the story forward, but they allow for Season 5 to be called a "musical finale." Unfortunately, they do not justify the 100-minute episode, especially since we spend most of it cringing at the mediocrity of the songs and dances.
Another lackluster element about season 3 is the haphazard way of tying up certain storylines, specifically involving Josh and Rabbi Raquel Fein (Kathryn Hahn), which seemed unnecessary and rushed. However, what this musical season does offer, is a chance to say goodbye — to the characters we have come to fall in love with, even as they say goodbye to Moira.
While this is great for the characters' catharsis, as the audience we definitely did not need to reminded of Moira every second. A story about the characters who moved on from the death would have been a good start for Season 5.
That being said, every 'Transparent' fan will find the closure they yearn for with this finale, so don't forget to watch it, when it premieres on Amazon Prime on Friday, September 27.