Yes! Sympathetic portrayals were thin on the ground, and it really made a difference having that modeled. They definitely get props for at least trying to work it into the national conversation as something that exists and is normal, even if it's outside many of their watchers' frame of reference.
Which doesn't make them great portrayals in modern terms. *wry grin*
Oh, huh - I had vaguely remembered this KRP episode after you mentioned it, but not any details, and just looked it up to see that Herb is the one who ran into his old friend without realizing she was trans.
Which, really - both shows specifically put the "reacts really poorly, has to learn better" onus on the least likable characters - which on the one hand, stereotyping and easy way out. But on the other hand, no one watching the show wanted to be like Herb. No one. So having his (and Dan's) default reaction be the bad one -- nice job of hammering home that decent people don't react like that.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-01-05 03:50 am (UTC)Which doesn't make them great portrayals in modern terms. *wry grin*
Oh, huh - I had vaguely remembered this KRP episode after you mentioned it, but not any details, and just looked it up to see that Herb is the one who ran into his old friend without realizing she was trans.
Which, really - both shows specifically put the "reacts really poorly, has to learn better" onus on the least likable characters - which on the one hand, stereotyping and easy way out. But on the other hand, no one watching the show wanted to be like Herb. No one. So having his (and Dan's) default reaction be the bad one -- nice job of hammering home that decent people don't react like that.
They really were trying, man.