14 May 2009
The L Word Tribute Blog
After six seasons and 71 episodes, The L Word has
finally come to an end. The show after the likes of Queer As Folk and Six
Feet Under was the most prominent for it’s depiction of LGBT characters and in spite of various
hiccups, it certainly has left a lasting impression.
The final episode, entitled “Last Word” was something
alright. While I don’t think it was a particularly terrible episode (we’ve had
worse), I did feel that perhaps we should’ve gotten more – like a resolution
about who exactly killed Jenny (though I have a feeling she actually committed
suicide) and perhaps seeing Bette and Tina actually take off for New York. I
guess the birth mother really didn’t give them the baby in the end.
I liked the various cameos – Tim, Angus, Ivan, Peggy, Jodi,
Marina, Carmen, Joyce/Phyllis as well as the various video tributes from the
gang to Bette and Tina (oh and Dana got mentioned, which was nice) but some of
the relationships decimating were a little sad.
I totally believe in Shane binning Jenny especially after
the letter from Molly and hiding the negatives from Lez Girls but in a
weird way, I was actually sad to see Helena and Dylan break up. Not sure why
though. At least Tasha chose Alice over Jamie or at least that’s what it looked
like to me.
From what I’ve read we were supposed to get a spin-off
called The Farm with Alice jailed for Jenny’s murder but now that’s
looking like it won’t materialise. Maybe it will eventually, given that the
series did big for Showtime. Either way it’s unlikely that people are going to
forget this show in a hurry. Even people on TWOP are still posting furiously on
the show’s thread in the Drama Forums.
Six seasons is a lot for any show and each season has
certainly had its pros and cons as I’m about to delve into.
Final credits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42lJV_E8t0
Season 1
The first season of any show can be tricky but the series
did manage to establish all of the leading ladies beautifully. Bette and Tina –
the power couple on the verge of heartache, Shane the commitment-phobe but
loyal friend, Dana choosing her sexuality over her career after the cost of her
relationship with Lara, Kit the straight recovering alcoholic, Marina the
alluring but manipulative temptress and Jenny, the once innocent, doe-eyed
small town girl who’s voyage of discovery closed some doors while opening
others. In other words as first seasons go, this was brilliant. The less said
about Tonya though, the better.
Season 2
For me, this was probably my least favourite season (is that
an unpopular choice?). Two storyline bugged me – Jenny’s self destructiveness
and the myriad of horrible writing fantasy sequences that we had to endure and
I suppose Helena and Mark as villains, which just didn’t work. The season also
didn’t do itself any favours by going overkill on the Betty exposure (even to
the extent of giving them acting parts in certain episodes). There were some
positives though – Bette/Tina celebrating becoming parents, Shane and Carmen
finally getting it together and the Alice/Dana/Lara triangle, which left me
conflicted as well.
Season 3
Something of a mixed season but definitely better than it’s
second. On one hand while I liked Dana and Lara back together as a couple, I
did feel sympathetic for Alice even if her constant stalking of Dana did drive
me nuts. Dana’s cancer plot and eventual death was harrowing, even if it lead
to an episode where all the gang showed fond memories for her. It’s also
interesting that while the writers got it right with Helena, they were wide off
the mark with Moira (now Max) wanting to raise cash for a sex change. It was
also nice that the writers gave Kit a romantic interest with Angus (though I’d
pay not to hear him sing again) but once again, Bette and Tina broke up (damn
the latter’s renewed interest in men and that dullard Henry) and Shane and
Carmen didn’t quite make it to the altar either.
Season 4
I started to feel that things were getting a little better
with the fourth season of the show. They found a way to keep Bette and Tina
mostly apart but without having them at each other’s throats all the time but
this was also the season that introduced us to Papi, Phyllis, Tasha and Jodi.
Papi (was she the girl that Carmen lost her virginity to?) was sort of annoying
and at times, I could really take or leave Phyllis (though hooking her up with
Joyce was a good idea) and Jodi (wasn’t overly keen on her and Bette as a
couple). Tasha for me worked a lot and I loved her and Alice as a couple. They
might not have a lot in common but something about them does seem to fit.
Jenny’s ongoing crazy antics (trying to get revenge on someone who dissed her
book) were nonsense though and it was obvious that Shane’s relationship with
Paige around the time she was parenting her little brother wasn’t going to last
that long. And poor Helena was destitute, took to gambling scams with rich
bitch Catherine, only for that to blow up in her face.
Season 5
The penultimate season of the series was dominated by the Lez
Girls plots and you have to give the show credit for being able to poke fun
at itself and also for reminding viewers of past storylines. Unfortunately it
was also at this point that Jenny was pissing off all of her friends in one
easy swoop. Her relationship with Nikki (the girl playing Jessie/Jenny in Lez
Girls) brought out a much needed side but ultimately, Jenny got screwed
over Nikki copping off with Shane and mousey assistant Adelle usurping her and
taking control of the movie. It wasn’t all bad though. Helena might have had
less to do but when she showed up, we saw Dawn Denbo tossed out with the
garbage, Bette and Tina got back together, Shane opened up to Molly and Alice
and Tasha also progressed as a couple. However a recurring trend over the last
few seasons was Kit being savagely underused and even though she got robbed in
this season, there was still very little she had to do.
Season 6
Most cable shows when they hit a final season (Sex And
The City, The Sopranos) usually try to do more episodes whereas this show
decided to opt for less. It was probably a smart move given that in the space
of eight episodes, Jenny’s death couldn’t be resolved (still think it’s
suicide). As a final season goes, this isn’t awful – there were some enjoyable
moments, especially the dance off but perhaps we should’ve gotten a bit more
for the last episode. All we know is that Alice might be heading to the slammer
(if the spin-off actually does materialise), Bette and Tina are off to New York
and everyone else is still doing the same old thing. Maybe on re-runs, things
might better fall into place.
With so many couples on this show, here are my five best and
worst of the bunch.
Five Best
1: Bette/Tina: No matter how much they fought, they were the
ultimate couple on this show.
2: Alice/Tasha: Opposites attract and they are as unalike as
you can get but adorable no less.
3: Shane/Carmen: Probably the only woman who got the
farthest with Shane ever. Also kinda hot.
4: Dana/Lara: Probably my favourite relationship in the
first season after my number one choice of course.
5: Jenny/Robin: The only non-destructive relationship that
the former was in as far as I can remember.
Five Worst
1: Jenny/Shane: There’s a reason why you don’t date friends
and these two prove it. Plus Jenny’s kind of nuts.
2: Tina/Helena: Penchant for pregnant women and Helena was a
lame villain in the second season. All factors for me.
3: Bette/Jodi: I think ‘Yawn’ nicely covers this all round.
4: Jenny/Moira (Max): Another lifeless and unengaging
pairing. Plus Max was a pain in the ass when we first met him/her.
5: Helena/Catherine: The one thing I probably would erase
from the fourth season if I could.
Agree or disagree? Definitely let me know what you think on
this topic.