The L Word is one of the most original and fascinating shows on television. It takes a serious look at the lesbian lifestyle and successfully portrays characters as honest, intelligent people. If you are thinking lesbians are nothing more than the stereotypes society has created, one episode of this show will change your thinking for the better. Whether characters are gay or straight does not determine the strength of a show. It always comes down to good writing, honest acting, and captivating the audience. The second season of The L Word (available October 25th, Showtime Entertainment) achieves the honest acting, and does captivate at times, but the writing seems to be hit or miss depending upon the episode.
The show is benefited by having a fine cast. Jennifer Beals, Pan Grier, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Katherine Moennig, and Mia Kirshner truly make their characters come alive. Each has their own individual personality traits and when thrown together, they balance off each other very well. The second season opens with a recap of the major events that took place in the last season. The first episode, Life, Loss, Leaving; picks up with Tina (Holloman), again pregnant, only this time without Bette (Beals). Tina, still hurt by Bette’s cheating from the first season, is not ready to get back together with her true love, although Bette does what she can to convince her otherwise. The relationship between Bette and Tina is a driving force throughout the entire second season. We see both characters go through an emotional spectrum.
Another of the more interesting storylines involves the fine Ossie Davis, playing Bette and Kit’s (Grier) father. As he is reaching the end of his life, his daughters need to deal with his loss and he needs to accept them for who they are. His final scenes are touching, and along with Davis, Grier and Beals truly shine. One of the disappointing storylines of the season involves Jenny (Kirshner). While she is still questioning her sexual identity, the character that started the questioning, Marina; is no longer on the show. The mixed feelings for Jenny continue, as the am I gay or am I straight debate changes with each episode. You can find it annoying or you can find it truthful, as such a decision is not as clear as day. Having Marina around would have given the storyline more emotional depth and have only raised the stakes regarding Jenny’s decision.
The L Word is a show that has plenty of sexual content. At times, the intimate moments shared by the characters are rooted deep in the storylines and play out nicely. Other times, it feels forced. No matter how good a show might be, sex for the sake of having sex just feels cheap.
The bonus features on this set are a mixed bag. It seems like a great deal is included, but when you sit down to watch them, you can’t help but left to feel disappointed. Most of the features are light and fluffy. The only serious feature is L Word Fan Mail, which is a collection of letters from actual viewers on how the show has changed their lives. These letters are touching and powerful. They show the impact a television show can have. One of the more entertaining of the batch is L Word Balderdash, in which cast members are asked for definitions of various words that begin with the letter L. Another fun segment is Playing with the Girls: L Word Shorts. One word answers are provided by the cast regarding their first kiss, what type of fancy drink they would be, and what they wanted to be growing up. L Word Girls on the Record is a painfully short feature, which could have been something special if the topics discussed were given the proper amount of time. The stock Cast Biographies section is also included for the major cast members.
There are commercials as well. The set includes a commercial for the Ms. Foundation of Women, as well as an Olivia Cruise commercial. The Cruise is presented as a sweepstakes, giving a lucky viewer the chance to win a cruise, which is one of many sweepstakes this boxed set offers. You can also win a walk on role, win fashion from the show, and download music from the show. I have no problem with advertising; I simply wish it wasn’t listed as a bonus feature. When watching a television show, one usually doesn’t consider the commercial breaks a bonus. It’s usually time to get a drink or go to the bathroom.
Overall, the second season of The L Word has moments. Die hard fans on the series will enjoy the continuing saga of their favorite characters, but a new viewer might wonder what all the fuss is about.
