So recently I watched all episodes (the first and only season) of the australian-made comedy cartoon
SheZow, about a boy (named "Guy") who finds a magical ring that transforms him into a female superhero. I really liked the premise, and I think the show handles the whole crosdressing thing fairly well. After some initial shock and slight embarrasment in the first episode, Guy seems to be entirely comfortable with transforming back and forth, as are his sister and best friend when they find out about it. He's never portrayed as being trans, just as a boy who has no problems with crossdressing if it means that he gets to be a cool superhero. And later episodes indicates that him finding the ring and using it wasn't a silly accident, he was always destined to become SheZow.
As for the superhero SheZow, I'm not quite sure what to make of her being extremely stereotypically "she's a superhero, but also a girl!" Dressed in all pink, equiped with weapons based on makeup products and fashion (such as her "laser lipstick" "fishnet bombs", etc.), losing her powers if her hair gets messed up, and using an overabundance of puns based on the word "she" (including driving around in her "Shehicle"). Though I always like a superhero with the "sonic scream" ability.
But although I like the premise, I also feel that the show is often somewhat poorly written. Most of the jokes feel dull or groanworthy, many of the villains are forgetable or cringeworthy, and while the actors do their best with what they're given, the whole thing rarely goes above "okay". Then again, I suspect that I'm not really the target audience, and that little kids would probably find it quite enjoyable. And now and then there are episodes I liked, or at least that had premises I found interesting even if the execution ended up lacklustre. So I though I'd share what I think are the best, or at least most interesting, episodes (the whole show seems to be up for free on YouTube):
"
SheZow Happens": The first episode, establishes the premise.
"
SheZap": One of the most interesting villains is introduced. I think it's funny that she's indirectly created as a result of Guy refusing to do something he finds "girly", being spectacularily punished for clinging to gender norms.
"
SheZow Meets DudePow": Alternate realities are always fun, and I really do love SheZow's male counterpart (who is, of course,
a girl crossdressing as a guy).
"
Guy and Doll": A fairly decent trippy dream episode, including the first hint of Guy being destined to be SheZow. And also the excellent exchange
"Dude, are you wearing a dress?" "Yeah! Wanna make something of it?"
"
Family Tree": I love superheroes with legacies, and here we get some fun previous incarnations of SheZow.
"
Momnesia": Alright, this one goes full queer allegory, and a fairly optimistic one at that.
"
Transformation Overload": Not really that great of an episode, but it is satisfying that
after having complained about her lack of flying powers in several episodes, SheZow finally learns to fly.
"
Supernatural History": A pretty good finale to the series, with the hints about Guy's destiny being made explicit.