User Reviews

As a transwoman myself, I love this episode. Some of the best trans representation by cis people I've seen from the time. Instead of casting a man in drag, they got a woman for the part; she has the same interests she's always had, and it emphasizes the fact that she *IS* a woman. In fact, the only thing I found even slightly unbelievable about April is that she's just as strong as ever - but it sure is funny!

The joke (as I see it) isn't the fact that she's trans - it's really how pigheaded Douglas is. He doesn't ever listen to women, so of course he doesn't hear April right when she's telling him she's trans! Because of that, he experiences her as he would any cis woman, and he only brings misery on himself by being unable to look past it after all of their wonderful time together. He breaks his own heart by being so bigoted. It's hilarious, and not in the least transphobic (in my opinion).

Of course, this was all years before Graham Linehan showed himself to be transphobic in like, the worst way. But I watch this episode and I don't feel any of that venom here, and that's how I choose to remember it.

This episode is very tough to rate after rewatching in 2022. The trans storyline hasn't aged well at all but the internet box is gold. I read it was taken down off streaming on CH4 in the UK, however I am glad it's still available on Netflix in Australia. Overall this episode aged the worst but it's still must watch entirely for the speech & box of internet!

Yes this episode is transphobic, everything else was funny except for this concept. If you can't understand why, speak to a trans person who has seen it. Don't just deny it being the case, learn something.

Jen gets inspiration from Oprah Winfrey after winning the Employee of the Month Award! Her speech about the "internet" goes down was hilarious, with unintended consequences. Shades of The Crying Game in this episode along with the Bourne movies (except the one with Jeremy Renner). The LGBTI theme is very prominent in this episode written by creator Graham Linehan.

Loved the IT Crowd. Even the side theme of poor Jen and the internet box.' is hysterical. But yeah, that whole trans story really stinks. Making a transgender woman the butt of a tired phobic trope is just not nice, no matter what one's sensitivities are. Even Matt Berry has said on mature reflection it was pretty nasty and he regrets doing it. But Linehan, who now hides behind women and children's rights to justify his transphobic opinions , could not and will not own up to being a bit of a bigot. Nobody cancelled Graham Linehan but his own insufferable ego. This episode, just like numerous misogynistic, homophobic and racist 1970s comedies, should be consigned to a dustbin. But that's just another opinion.