Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Win or Lose.Pixar’s first-ever episodic streaming series Win or Lose is now wrapped up, with the show’s final two episodes recently released on Disney+. The way that one of these final episodes played out, it’s clear that Disney’s decision to cut a trans storyline from the show has spectacularly backfired. Episode 7 of the series, entitled “I Got It”, focuses on the story of transgender character Kai (Chanel Stewart), except with all the gender references removed from the narrative.
In February, a controversy exploded around Disney cutting Win or Lose‘s transgender character storyline, as former Pixar employees who’d worked on the Kai episode spoke out against the entertainment conglomerate’s decision. In theory, the changes that Disney forced on Win or Lose should have made it impossible to tell that a trans character is being portrayed. But, in practice, precisely because of the storm they created by cutting Kai’s gender references, “I Got It” now comes across as an empowering story of acceptance to any viewer who’s heard about the controversy.
Win Or Lose’s Kai Episode Is Clearly An Empowering Trans Story
Kai’s Story Arc In The Episode Demonstrates That She’s A Trans Character
In Episode 7 of Win or Lose, we first see Kai one year before the championship game of her little league softball team, the Pickles. She’s a sullen, hooded young teenager with her gender identity unclear, although she is depicted hiding pictures of herself looking like a boy in her grandmother’s house. Once Kai joins the Pickles and feels unconditionally accepted by her new softball team, she removes her hood. Close-cut dreadlocks are revealed, which then grow out into a more feminine haircut during a brief montage sequence.
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In addition to the change in Kai’s appearance, following her acceptance into what she describes as a “co-ed” team, the dynamic of her relationship with her macho, sports-obsessed father illustrates the journey of gender discovery that she’s on. Kai’s father, James (Lil Rel Howery), wants her to play baseball, traditionally a boy’s sport, instead of softball, traditionally a girl’s sport. However, when Kai breaks the news to him, despite his initial disappointment, he emphatically tells her he loves her just the same. Along with Kai growing out her hair, Win or Lose‘s baseball-to-softball storyline is clearly a metaphor for transgender empowerment and self-expression.
Thanks To Publicity Around Disney Cutting Kai’s Gender References, The Episode’s Message Comes Across
Knowledge About The Win Or Lose Controversy Only Makes The Episode’s Message More Explicit
If these metaphors weren’t already clear without Kai’s gender references being kept in Win or Lose, they certainly are for anyone who’s heard about the controversy surrounding Disney removing dialogue from the story about the character’s transgender identity. Even for younger viewers who perhaps aren’t aware of the controversy, the meaning of Kai being unconditionally accepted, both by her teammates and her father, whatever she looks like, however she dresses, and whatever sport she plays, is obvious enough. Still, those who know the backstory of the production get an even fuller picture.
“Removing a storyline about a transgender character speaks to the utter disrespect for kids’ ability to understand and insults their intelligence.” – Ferdosa Abdi – Screen Rant’s review of Win or Lose
Kai’s storyline has been emphasized by what Disney has done, and the backlash their actions have received, ensuring that the message of “I Got It” couldn’t be anything but the acceptance of trans identity. Win or Lose tells her story beautifully, and the episode was never going to overstate its point even in its original form. However, the background reaction to Disney’s cuts to the episodes serves to fill in any gaps left by the lack of direct references to Kai’s gender.
Win Or Lose’s Kai Episode Just Further Shows Disney Never Should’ve Cut Its Trans Story
The Story’s Message About Acceptance & Tolerance Is A Great One
Even certain decision-makers at Disney would probably now admit that their move to cut this dialogue from Win or Lose was a mistake that has only hurt them. In light of what’s happened, Kai’s story loses little from there being no explicit references to her gender included in its telling, but could have gained a lot from having them there. Other characters in Win or Lose addressing Kai according to her trans identity would have made the link between her gender and her acceptance by those around her clearer.
The show’s creators shouldn’t have been made to compromise their product unless it was doing something intolerable or unacceptable.
What’s more, those who’ve seen and enjoyed the episode will wonder what might have been, if the artists who made it had been allowed to keep their work in its original form. Win or Lose is a wonderfully innovative piece of TV that could only have come from the ingenious hive mind that is Pixar. The show’s creators shouldn’t have been made to compromise their product unless it was doing something intolerable or unacceptable. Since the message of Win or Lose‘s Kai episode is specifically about tolerance and acceptance of others, it’s hard to see how it falls into that category.
6/10
- Release Date
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February 19, 2025
- Network
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Disney+
- Writers
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Carrie Hobson, Michael Yates
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Will Forte
Coach Dan (voice)
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Milan Ray
Rochelle (voice)
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