Ok, listen, I usually wouldn't dare make a fandom tumblr post before even finishing the first season of a show but I NEED to talk about the trans episode of Quantum Leap (S1 E12 -Let Them Play) because I am LOSING MY MIND.
I'm usually scared of trans rep in shows. In fact, as a trans person, I actively avoid it because it's usually done cringy or poorly, or makes me feel like shit to watch. The Sandman especially was the disappointment of the year, but this episode showed me that it can be well written. I almost cried multiple fucking times and I am a TOUGH MAN (sobs)
Ok so my favorite part:
Show don't tell
This is difficult when it comes to issues that we care about. We wanna *say* things. But too much telling in a trans episode is what makes it unwatchable to me, especially if it feels obviosu or like something that the writer clearly read on twitter. And they did some telling, but it felt NATURAL. And THE SHOWING, was *something else*.
Firstly, they nailed the *spiky feeling*. The spiky feeling that comes with being trans. I'm gonna explain it very autistically, (because that's how I process it duh) but basically, when you're trans, it feels like wherever you exist, there's a spike. Sometimes when people see you, you can feel the room grow colder. Sometimes it's somethings said *spike* or something done *spike*. But it can be a look, not even a stare *spike* , just a quick glance your brain picked up on, and *spike*. And it's everywhere. And you can *feel it* in the show.
When Ben puts Gia on the team, you can feel things slow down, a slight tension in the room *spike*, the booing *spike*, the hesitation in Addison's voice when she says Gia is trans *spike*, then the running through the school with all the people trying to tell Ben why he shouldn't have done it *spike* *spike* *spike*, and then the girl's locker room she isn't allowed into *spike*, then the girls talking in the locker room and the subtle transphobia that goes on *spike*, then Ben talking to Gia's mother *spike*. You really get the sense that it's punch after punch, coming from all sides, and there doesn't seem to be any stopping to it, any moment of relief. The fact that they managed to capture that feeling?? Without telling? It's ART.
Another moment where show don't tell goes a long way is when Gia is washing the car with the other girls, and "call me maybe" starts playing. You don't have to *tell* the audience that she is a girl like any other. *LOOK* at her. She is a girl.
There is also the simple moment, when the trans kids are chatting about twilight and the hunger games. Oh, there was "telling" on that scene, but I couldn't hear it over the sound of my tears threatening to flow. These BABIES just being kids and they're sooo adorable. Again, you don't have to say anything. *look* at them, they are literal children.
Another oscar-winning moment: When Gia suggests her father pulls her out of the team and says "I'm not even that good". The way that Ben reacts SO STRONGLY to that. The show doesn't have to say what it means, but we feel it. Don't let yourself think you are less than, just because the world is taking your chances away. Don't make yourself small. That is where self loathing starts, which escalates into you feeling worthless, and Ben catches that sooo smoothly, is this what good TV is supposed to feel like???
Really, it takes sensitivity and care to show moments like these. This is not token representation, this is *art* made with *care*.
Privacy
Smaller comment but I love how Ian clarifies they're only opening up about their suicide attempt to save another trans kid. Sooo many shows have trans characters just trauma dump about sensitive topics, even to strangers, for the sake of exposition and it's just not realistic and feels shitty to watch. *This* was nice. Trans people have the right to privacy.
Gia's feelings
The feelings are also well shown, without need of being told (Although some are told. For example, the obvious fact that their overprotection of Gia against transphobia was taking her away from her lifeline, stopping her from hanging out with her friends and play and be a kid)
The feeling that your transness is a burden was also told to the audience. And the way the pressure stops her from playing. But more subtle is the way that she haven't thought about college yet because how could she, when getting through highschool is already being so difficult? And when she finds out she was lied to and runs away, wanting a new life, you *get her*. But at the same time you also get the adult trans woman who stops her. No one is wrong, Gia is a kid who is upset and dealing with ungodly pressure coming from all sides, and she is allowed to lash out and be angry. The adult trans woman has been through it, and knows what it's like but is also mature enough to know there are better ways of handling things.
Honorable mentions
The ally vs accomplice metaphor was a treat, Ian, I love you.
Also, the fact that if she ran away, the cops would have misgendered her body so no one would find her later was a bleak note. Not dwelled upon but thrown just in time to up the stakes.
The trans girl making bad poetry. I loved her too.
So... uh... yeah, I liked the episode. A lot. This is *good* trans rep. Thanks for listening to my ted talk. I'll go... be autistic somewhere else now.
