Just Shoot Me! : That transgender named Burt/Brandi

That transgender named Burt/Brandi

I have a question. Remember that episode "There's Something About Allison" in Season 7, where Brandi went to the prom with Finch and then they met Allison who revealed that she used to have a crush on Burt? I am confused as to what happened next. I just recall that Brandi dressed up like a man again to see Allison. What was that about? So Brandi had second thoughts about her sex change? Did Brandi want to be a man again or else why would she dress up like one again? I can't find anywhere where I can rewatch that episode. Hopefully someone remembers.

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

It was ridiculously insensitive by modern standards, but the joke was that Bert became Brandi - a gay woman. But since Alison was straight, Brandi decided to do a very Finch-like thing and pretend to be a man to seduce her. It's not that she wanted to be a man again, but that she wanted to sleep with the straight Alison.

That's how I remember it anyway.

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

Thanks for your reply! Wait wait, so even though Burt changed to a woman, Burt was still into woman? Am I understanding you right? So after becoming Brandi, he/she was still attracted to women and wanted to seduce Alison?

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

Wait, wait though: in the very first episode that we saw Brandi, she ended up going on a date with JACK, remember?

I think the succeeding episode where she pursues a woman, Finch made a comment like: "You're into dudes now", and Brandi goes something like: "Yeah, but it's (SO AND SO)!!"

I think Brandi was making an exception for this particular woman.

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

Oh, you are correct! Thanks for reminding me,jnames967. When we first met Brandi in an earlier season, Brandi did go on a date with Jack. Hence it was implied that after becoming a woman, Brandi was into men.

But with Allison, it's so weird. So Brandi decided to dress up like a dude (Burt) again, hoping to seduce Allison... but don't you think that Allison would KNOW that Burt became a woman because Burt didn't have a "male part" anymore? I mean, Brandi did tell Finch in an earlier season that she was a 100% woman now, meaning she got her "male part" cut.

I remember when Pretty Little Liars had a transgendered woman disguised herself as a man (her former self), even if there was a reason for that (to commit a crime, not because she wanted to be a man again), many fans were offended, saying that the show misrepresented transgenders. Were there a lot of controversies when this Just Shoot Me episode came out?

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

I don't recall any controversy, and I am LGBT myself. I don't think "Just Shoot Me" was high profile enough at that point to warrant any notice. Also, the trans community wasn't as prominent as it has been in recent years, then.

But I see your point: the episode we are talking about here might be a mine field today.

Re: That transgender named Burt/Brandi

I figure it just means that gender identity and sexual orientation are not one and the same. Also, sexuality is pretty fluid. Even if Brandi has no interest in women, she was still probably viewing it as a chance to do something she'd wanted to back then.
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