The L Word is one of those shows that you either watched when it incredibly popular or you knew of it when it was on the air and didn't get around to watching it until later. Honestly, I may have never actually found the to do a full watch through of the series. It is just blind luck that I was surfing around Showtime's channels the day after they started the Gay Pride reruns this June. I missed the first three episodes, but I caught on to the various plot lines quick enough.
As I have only seen the good seasons, although I unfortunately already know how the series ends, I haven't been exposed to the horrible latter half but I have to say that even at this point this show is kind of amazingly horrible. It is entertaining even when the character motivations don't add up, like how this particular episode ends, and the characters are obviously being molded to continuously repeat the same cycle of behaviors. I mean as much as I may have disliked Carmen, the contrived plot development that gets Shane to stand her up rang especially hollow. Still, even with moments like this littered throughout its run, including the supposedly great first season, the show manages to hold my attention.
Generally, I generally don't watch shows where the tone isn't serious and major events don't occur on a semi-regular basis. I just like the stories I engage with to be driving towards something. All too often, The L Word will pick up a story and get semi serious about it and then next episode will pick up weeks after and the issue magically becomes a non issue. Lara finds out weeks after the fact that Dana died? Check. Lara hooks up with Alice almost immediately? Check. Lara want to get serious and have a "Talk" with Alice? Well, forget that noise, we have to have Bette go all Walter White on Tina and Angelica. I was genuinely interested in how that conversation would have played out.
It's not all negative. Shane and Carmen have really chemistry, even though Carmen is a complete ass to Max and Jenny during their respective archs. Helena made a great villain, although she somehow became the most likable character in season 3 minus that sexual harassment scene. Bette and Tina's relationship was really interesting in season 1. Despite all the hate Jenny gets, some of it for things she does that I haven't seen yet, she is the most compelling character of the series and I can even kind of understand why she does the messed up things does. If nothing else, at least she is boring.
That, in the end, could sum up the entire show. At least its not boring. Not every show can be a cultural milestone or shining example of writing at its finest. The L Word is a show that did something that hadn't really been done before and to middling success and with many a problematic moments. It is amazing and horrible and really difficult not to enjoy.
As I have only seen the good seasons, although I unfortunately already know how the series ends, I haven't been exposed to the horrible latter half but I have to say that even at this point this show is kind of amazingly horrible. It is entertaining even when the character motivations don't add up, like how this particular episode ends, and the characters are obviously being molded to continuously repeat the same cycle of behaviors. I mean as much as I may have disliked Carmen, the contrived plot development that gets Shane to stand her up rang especially hollow. Still, even with moments like this littered throughout its run, including the supposedly great first season, the show manages to hold my attention.
Generally, I generally don't watch shows where the tone isn't serious and major events don't occur on a semi-regular basis. I just like the stories I engage with to be driving towards something. All too often, The L Word will pick up a story and get semi serious about it and then next episode will pick up weeks after and the issue magically becomes a non issue. Lara finds out weeks after the fact that Dana died? Check. Lara hooks up with Alice almost immediately? Check. Lara want to get serious and have a "Talk" with Alice? Well, forget that noise, we have to have Bette go all Walter White on Tina and Angelica. I was genuinely interested in how that conversation would have played out.
It's not all negative. Shane and Carmen have really chemistry, even though Carmen is a complete ass to Max and Jenny during their respective archs. Helena made a great villain, although she somehow became the most likable character in season 3 minus that sexual harassment scene. Bette and Tina's relationship was really interesting in season 1. Despite all the hate Jenny gets, some of it for things she does that I haven't seen yet, she is the most compelling character of the series and I can even kind of understand why she does the messed up things does. If nothing else, at least she is boring.
That, in the end, could sum up the entire show. At least its not boring. Not every show can be a cultural milestone or shining example of writing at its finest. The L Word is a show that did something that hadn't really been done before and to middling success and with many a problematic moments. It is amazing and horrible and really difficult not to enjoy.
