The best and worst of "The L Word"
Poslato: 19 Jan 2009, 14:13
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the women kissing, it was the Betty theme song. It was the organic friendships, it was the disappearing characters. It was the first five seasons of The L Word, and this wouldn't be a lesbian blog if we didn't process it just one more time before the final season starts on Sunday night. Below, our bloggers weigh in on the best and worst of The L so far.
Best
Bette and Tina's sex scene: Not only was the scene hot — and it was definitely hot — but it established a lot about Bette and Tina. We watched them discover their passion for each other and recommit to each other. It was a great way to begin the series.
Singing "Closer to Fine" on the road trip to Palm Springs: Yes, it was a little cliché but it was a real, fun lesbian moment. Who among us — at least who among us of over 30 or so — has not sung "Closer to Fine" on a road trip? And sometimes it's nice to identify with the characters on the only lesbian show on TV.
Bette, Alice and Shane stealing the sign for Jodi: Although a little slapstick for my taste, the scene was a glimpse of the old gang having fun doing something stupid and goofy. Bette, Alice and Shane were acting like buddies, and I had really missed that.
Dana's post-mortem cameo: Dana was back, if only for a moment, and that was enough.
The final scene: Jenny shared a peaceful, human moment with Lisa and Gene; Bette and Tina’s convincingly real — albeit disturbingly violent — breakup sex; Alice made herself vulnerable on Dana's doorstep. It was a montage that was honest and respectful of who all the characters were. And it was set beautifully to Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun."
Worst:
Dana's death: The death scene, itself, was not bad. In fact, I thought the episode was as well done as an episode in which a show unnecessarily kills the most beloved character could be. Yes, I know breast cancer kills beloved people in real life, but there are other ways to make that point. And, frankly, if that's really the point Ilene Chaiken was making, then some of Dana's friends might have given some indication that they remembered her the following season
Jenny's flashbacks: Given every insufferable, aggravating and occasionally horrifying (she adopted a dog just to euthanize it and manipulate a woman to get at her girlfriend!) thing Jenny did over the course of the show, her flashbacks shouldn't even rate as an annoyance. But I found every second of the artsy, film-school nonsense excruciating.
Tina's sex chat with "Daddyof2": Not only was the chat gross and unrealistic — she and some random guy discuss how she wants him inside her? Really? — but it was representative of the bizarre character transformation Tina underwent in Season 3. It's not just that she left Bette for a man. It's also that she became power-mad, and controlling about money. None of it rang true.
Jodi's art revenge: How many illogical details can we cram into one scene? Jodi would throw away a major art opportunity to transparently exact revenge on Bette? And if she would, where would she get all that footage? (Real people don't have access to dailies, Ilene Chaiken!) And the piece would be dependent on tightly edited audio files that she never heard? Lazy, dumb-ass writing.
Shane and Niki: And speaking of lazy writing — the absolute rule of Shane is that she does not betray her friends. Period. She might break a few hearts and leave a fiancé at the altar, but Shane does not betray her friends.
Best
Bette and Tina's sex scene: Not only was the scene hot — and it was definitely hot — but it established a lot about Bette and Tina. We watched them discover their passion for each other and recommit to each other. It was a great way to begin the series.
Singing "Closer to Fine" on the road trip to Palm Springs: Yes, it was a little cliché but it was a real, fun lesbian moment. Who among us — at least who among us of over 30 or so — has not sung "Closer to Fine" on a road trip? And sometimes it's nice to identify with the characters on the only lesbian show on TV.
Bette, Alice and Shane stealing the sign for Jodi: Although a little slapstick for my taste, the scene was a glimpse of the old gang having fun doing something stupid and goofy. Bette, Alice and Shane were acting like buddies, and I had really missed that.
Dana's post-mortem cameo: Dana was back, if only for a moment, and that was enough.
The final scene: Jenny shared a peaceful, human moment with Lisa and Gene; Bette and Tina’s convincingly real — albeit disturbingly violent — breakup sex; Alice made herself vulnerable on Dana's doorstep. It was a montage that was honest and respectful of who all the characters were. And it was set beautifully to Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun."
Worst:
Dana's death: The death scene, itself, was not bad. In fact, I thought the episode was as well done as an episode in which a show unnecessarily kills the most beloved character could be. Yes, I know breast cancer kills beloved people in real life, but there are other ways to make that point. And, frankly, if that's really the point Ilene Chaiken was making, then some of Dana's friends might have given some indication that they remembered her the following season
Jenny's flashbacks: Given every insufferable, aggravating and occasionally horrifying (she adopted a dog just to euthanize it and manipulate a woman to get at her girlfriend!) thing Jenny did over the course of the show, her flashbacks shouldn't even rate as an annoyance. But I found every second of the artsy, film-school nonsense excruciating.
Tina's sex chat with "Daddyof2": Not only was the chat gross and unrealistic — she and some random guy discuss how she wants him inside her? Really? — but it was representative of the bizarre character transformation Tina underwent in Season 3. It's not just that she left Bette for a man. It's also that she became power-mad, and controlling about money. None of it rang true.
Jodi's art revenge: How many illogical details can we cram into one scene? Jodi would throw away a major art opportunity to transparently exact revenge on Bette? And if she would, where would she get all that footage? (Real people don't have access to dailies, Ilene Chaiken!) And the piece would be dependent on tightly edited audio files that she never heard? Lazy, dumb-ass writing.
Shane and Niki: And speaking of lazy writing — the absolute rule of Shane is that she does not betray her friends. Period. She might break a few hearts and leave a fiancé at the altar, but Shane does not betray her friends.
jenny bas gotivim zato sto je jedina pomalo zlobna, i jedina koja nije savrsena. naravno, prikazane su nesavrsenosti i kod drugih, ali deluju previse vazdusasto i providno.
e da, i dosadna.
