Sort Of: Season 1 (Canadian Series)

One thing that is clear these days at least in first world countries, is that everyone deserves to live a life true to their authentic self, be it gender, sexuality, non binary or whatever. But doing that is not enough. This 8 part show shows us that even if you may accept who you are, its the support, love and care of your near and dear ones that you crave the most.

Sabi, the gender fluid protagonist of the show is first generation Pakistan immigration in Canada. Sabi uses they/them as pronoun, has long choppy curls and bangs and has a penchant for shiny clothes. Sabi works as a bartender and also as a nanny to half Asian kids, whose mother was the first person who actually saw through Sabi and who they really is. The husband Paul just decided to let Sabi go. Timing seems fine since Sab's best friend 7ven is moving to Berlin, so Sabi could move to. But when the mother of the kids Bessy gets into an accident leading to coma, Paul asks Sabi to stay on. Sabi is great with kids but this incident makes Paul realize how little he knows about his own family. Meanwhile we also have Sabi's lover who constantly keeps confusing between who he wants to be with. The show goes on showing Sabis's struggle being a brown non-binary nanny to half asian kids whose father doesn't really want them around but has to. Sabi is also struggling with the mother's approval, who one day shows up unannounced and sees Sabi in feminine clothes and makeup. 

This eight-episode season is wonderfully confident; the writing is lean and sharply drawn, and scenes aren’t wasted with too much explanation. The crisp 20-ish minute episodes are held together by Baig, a queer trans-feminine playwright and performer with a gentle charisma. The show has a dry humor, almost British like and thats not everyone's cup of tea. So you may take sometime getting into it, just like I did. I have to admit that it took me a few exposed to really get the character and their actions and surroundings. I was way too distracted judging the character on their looks and style but I soon realized that who am I to judge anyone or anything. Slowly as the layers are peeled about Sabi and their friends, things make sense. Despite walking around Toronto wearing the clothes they want, and looking the way they want, Sabi’s still stuck, and they know it. The show doesn't just focus on Sabi, but its gentle with all its other characters. Paul has his own crisis of faith as he creeps through Bessy’s phone; 7ven and Violet form a charming duo. Sabi’s decision to stay with the kids reveals itself as an act of care for Bessy for reasons that aren’t completely apparent until the end of the season. Sort Of suggests that what we owe ourselves may be bound up with what we owe one another. None of the character is one-dimensional. They all have shades of grey. We never walk away feeling completely bad for Paul, but we also don’t hate him. He’s just a real person, going through something unbelievably traumatic that has forced him to confront his own shortcomings. Similarly, Sabi's mother's struggle to deal with her daughters decision to not marry and seeing Sabi's queerness, its hard for this Asian woman since she has no relationship with either of her kids.

The show does a very good job in its portrayal of queer trans South Asian identity is how it demonstrates the complicated interplay between race, class, immigration and gender. The teen angst and Bessy's daughter forming an interesting bond with 7ven was cool. And towards the end, the chance meeting with another trans member who is living a complete life makes Sabi realize she really needs to be string and accepting. Overall, this show covers so many issues and develops so many characters, it’s hard to say the show is about one specific thing. But one clear message is there for sure that nothing should stop you from being true to yourself. It is the kind of representation everyone deserves, and Sort Of makes it look easy. (7/10)