I AM CAIT, episode 1 reviewed: it’s far better than KUWTK

We’ve all been reading about Caitlyn Jenner’s transition for months now. And we’ve seen the Vanity Fair cover, the ESPYs awards speech, the trails for her own reality show etc etc. But what we didn’t know until now is how extraordinary this show I AM CAIT is.

Bottom line: it’s just great television. Better than Keeping Up With The Kardashians for a start. It helps, of course, that Jenner’s story is so remarkable. There are millions of trans people out there, but none who happen to be Olympic Gold medal winning athletes who have been part of one of the most famous families in the world for the best part of a decade now.

I AM CAIT

But this could have been a cheap and cheesy, routinely made, shaky-cam reality show. Instead it’s clear from the first few minutes that great care has been taken with every aspect of it. The production values are lush. The storytelling is both more subtle, less in-your-face than KUWTK, but also somehow more compelling. And it’s emotional – consistently pitched at just the right tone, so it never seems like it’s milking the situation gratuitously, and as a result is deeply moving.

Credit for much of this must go to Jenner herself. After her transition she seems to have become much more self-aware about everything in her life, not just the gender issue. Jenner acknowledges how privileged she is, as a rich, white celeb with a massive support group at her beck and call (although Jenner has always been keen on reminding the Kardashians of the advantages they’ve enjoyed in life).

From the off, she’s showing immense empathy for those less privileged than her, like the poor trans teens who end up killing themselves rather than deal with the ignorance and often hatred of those who don’t understand what they’re going through. A good third of this opening episode is all about Caitlyn reaching out to the mother and family of a young trans teenager called Kyler who has recently committed suicide, visiting them to find out more about this tragic story, and to understand what life is like for many trans people who don’t happen to be immensely wealthy and famous. It’s the most moving part of the show.

But also hugely poignant to see are the reactions of Caitlyn’s immediate family to seeing her for the first time, especially her 88-year-old mum Esther, who has plenty of trouble dealing with the “loss” of her beloved son. Caitlyn invites a trans expert over to talk to her mother and sisters and discuss any issues they’re confused about, and for a while it seems like Esther might never quite fully accept Caitlyn for who she is, which is why the ending of this episode is so devastatingly touching. Good old Esther.

Don’t go thinking the whole thing is one big sob-fest though. Far from being an earnest documentary, it’s also heaps of fun to watch Caitlyn getting so excited about joining Twitter, seeing her Vanity Fair cover, going through her wardrobe with Kim and joking about wearing the same dress as her ex, Kris. Oh, and the scene in which Kim shows up with a clearly thrilled Kanye, who seems to see the whole story as one big pop culture event (which of course it also is) is pure joy. In the end I AM CAIT serves its dual function perfectly: it’s both a highly effective and sensitive insight into life for a trans person, and a hugely entertaining piece of TV.

CAITLYN JENNER'S BEST OUTFITS