With rising political hostility toward the queer and trans communities, it might seem like a risky time to double down on trans-led storytelling. But for Ash Perez and the team behind New Guy Tries, that’s exactly why Season 2 of their hit series exists — to reclaim space, challenge norms, and find joy in the transmasculine experience.

Season 1 of New Guy Tries, which debuted on 2nd Try — the independent streaming platform launched by The Try Guys — was a breakout success. Starring Ash Perez, a writer and former BuzzFeed personality, the show explored his gender transition through a uniquely comedic, vulnerable, and thoughtful lens. With the launch of Season 2, the series digs deeper, venturing into new emotional territory by examining the roots of masculinity through the lens of boyhood and play.

A New Kind of Coming-of-Age

“Season 1 was about the parts of manhood my dad could no longer teach me — style, fitness, friendship — after he passed from COVID in 2020,” said Perez. “But Season 2 is a reclamation of the boyhood I didn’t get to experience.”

This new chapter explores gender constructs through experiences traditionally coded as “boyish,” from forging metal to playing with toy trucks and Nerf guns. Titled “Boys and Their Toys,” the season tackles how the toys and activities we’re steered toward as children shape our adult identities.

Perez says his fascination with masculinity — especially through hyper-masculine hobbies like weapon forging — provided a perfect launchpad for deeper exploration. “I was obsessed with Forged in Fire,” he explained. “So we started thinking: what did I miss out on as a boy? What does it mean to rediscover those moments now, as a man?”

This unique framing reflects the show’s heart: trans identity as a journey not just of transformation, but of rediscovery. And according to co-creator and Try Guys member Zach Kornfeld, it’s exactly the kind of story the world needs right now.

Joy as Resistance

“When Ash told me about his transition — the awkwardness, the humor, the healing — I said, ‘I wish there was a show about this,’” said Kornfeld. “Then we both paused and realized… there should be. And we could make it.”

That conversation birthed New Guy Tries, which Zach Kornfeld and Keith Habersberger co-produces alongside Nick Rufca. Both bring personal stakes to the project. As queer men themselves, they see echoes of their own experiences in Ash’s story.

“Growing up, I was constantly worried I wasn’t manly enough,” said Rufca. “So while the trans experience is distinct, there’s something deeply relatable about questioning the rigid gender roles we’ve all been handed.”

And that relatability has resonated far beyond the LGBTQ+ community. “We were thrilled to see so many cis and straight people tuning in,” Perez added. “Some viewers told us they used the show to spark conversations with partners, parents, even kids.”

For Perez, that broad appeal is part of the mission. “Trans people are often portrayed through tragedy. While those stories matter, I wanted to focus on the joy. There’s so much humor and light in the trans experience — and that’s just as important to share.”

Freedom Through Independence

That joyful, honest storytelling wouldn’t have been possible in traditional media. Perez, who’s written for series like Good Trouble and Home Economics, said creating New Guy Tries on 2nd Try’s independent platform allowed a rare level of creative freedom.

“In network TV, a show like this would’ve never been made this way — with this much authenticity and support,” Perez explained. “2nd Try lets us bypass the algorithm, the clickbait thumbnails, and instead focus on what actually matters to the audience.”

Kornfeld echoed the sentiment: “We’re not chasing virality. We’re creating a safe space for stories that are often ignored or silenced.”

That mission has become more urgent in the current sociopolitical climate. With the 2024 election ushering in renewed hostility toward queer and trans rights, many studios have shied away from “political” content. But Rufca finds that stance “cowardly.”

“In moments like these, we don’t need less representation — we need more,” he said. “We need art that challenges suppression, that speaks directly to those being silenced.”

Building Community in a Hostile Climate

Despite rising anti-trans rhetoric and policies, New Guy Tries is proof that authentic trans stories can still flourish — especially when creators control the platform.

“Our subscribers celebrate this kind of content,” said Rufca. “It’s a direct conversation with an audience that wants more queer and trans narratives.”

And that connection is more than superficial. For Perez, the most powerful feedback comes from other trans men who see themselves reflected on screen. “One guy told me he felt confident going to the barber shop after watching me do it,” he said. “That’s everything. For one person, that’s the whole world.”

Still, the future of trans representation in media remains uncertain. While shows like New Guy Tries and Will & Harper once signaled a hopeful shift, many fear a backslide in Hollywood’s willingness to back trans-centered projects.

“But I’m inspired by creators who refuse to back down — like Ash,” said Rufca. “Their voices are louder than ever, and that gives me hope.”

Looking Ahead

As Season 2 unfolds, New Guy Tries continues to do what few shows have done before: explore gender through a lens that’s honest, inclusive, and joyfully queer.

With humor, heart, and a healthy dose of sword forging, Ash Perez invites viewers — trans, cis, queer, straight — to reconsider what it means to be a “real man.” And in doing so, he’s redefining masculinity not just for himself, but for a new generation of viewers eager to embrace nuance over normativity.

“It’s not just about transition,” Perez said. “It’s about transformation — for all of us.”