Photos
Video
RSS'L Word': Party finally gets started
The first table reading for "Lez Girls" opens the episode and suddenly The L Word becomes more of a movie within a television show. (I suspect that as we progress, we might become incredibly confused with Jesse/Jenny, Elyse/Alice, Bev/Bette references and so on.)
Spoiler alert for those who watched the Super Bowl instead of tuning in to the first showing of "Lookin' at You Kid."
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to "Lez Girls" coming to life about as much as a root canal. The character of Jenny annoys me so much now that even the ideas that come out of that character's head make me want to turn away. I guess my reaction to the film is as passionate as Bette's and she emphatically keeps telling anyone who will listen that it is a work of fiction.
However, the house party was Jenny's idea and I didn't turn away. (Sure, last week was entitled, "Let's Let's Get This Party Started," but the party was held this week.) I remember an interview that Katherine Moennig (Shane) gave before the season began. She said the episode she most enjoyed working on this season was the "pot party." In many ways, it does showcase the group dynamic. It shows the friendship between these characters and the bonds they have despite their differences. That, in many ways, is what many lesbians experience in "real life" with their groups of friends.
Despite the storm of issues brewing outside those four walls -- Shane with Cindy, Alice with basketball star Daryl, Bette with Jodi and Tina -- there's dancing, drinking and good times for all.
Yet it is stormy on many fronts. For a second, as Shane shook her head and kept double-checking with Cindy, I thought she might step away from Cindy. But then Shane really wouldn't have been sex-addicted Shane and we wouldn't have seen Cindy later, er, I mean, "I'm Dawn Denbo and this is my lover, Cindy." How wacky is that couple?
Talking about couples, it appears that Alice and Tasha are no longer a couple. When they see basketball star Daryl Brewer on the news slamming gays with a homophobic slur during an anti-gay interview about other players, Alice decides to "out" him on her Web site with the video she took at the Hollywood party last episode. Of course the story takes off like wildfire and will probably destroy his career. The end of his career is exactly what Tasha is most angry about as she will probably lose hers for being gay. So while Alice is militant, Tasha still wants to be military and "never the twain shall meet."
I thought Alice did have a great line during the fight though, "Why is my life suppose to stop because you decide to live in the closet?" Zing!
As for closets, Jenny and Nikki get together and make love in the closet. As Jenny said,"The irony hasn't escaped me." Sure, but what do we call it when Jenny is "workshopping" the scene with Nikki as the character Jesse. Jesse is, of course, a version of herself. So did she make love to herself? Is it just latent narcissism?
I can't close this out without bringing up Tina and Bette. From the beginning of the episode until the end, the spark that ignited the old flame at the end of last week seems to grow. Both may deny it to each other. Tina may roll her eyes when Bette decides to call midday and talk about work. Bette may tell Tina she is in love with Jodi. And like any good drama, this is supposed to happen. The writing and acting is supposed to work just like this so the underlying passion can burn for a while. As viewers, we know what they really feel (and maybe even what they think). Right?
Leaving Bette and Tina in limbo is just one cliffhanger this week. As the series moves forward, we'll have to wait to see if Max is really right about his intuition that Adele is more than she appears. How will Adele react to seeing Jenny and Nikki in the act? And will "Dawn Denbo and this is my lover, Cindy" ruin The Planet? Ah, the dyke drama. Can't wait 'til next week.
Post a comment
Zap2it Twitter Talk 
I was just a little disappointed with this episode as it was written and directed by Angela Robinson, and I had high hopes of it being one of the very best. Lots of plot movement in terms on Alice/Tasha and the introduction of the cast of Lez Girls. Who chose that girl to be Shane? She doesn't look like anyones idea of a ladykiller! Most of the rest looked ok-ish. The Alice actress seemed sparky, the Tina one quite S1 Tina cheery, the Helena and Marina girls also quite similar. Kind of bittersweet to have a Dana on, even if she is a soccer player.
Of course, it's the Bette/Tina stuff that intrigues the most. I liked what they did this week, building the tension between them (check out the sneak peak scene on the Showtime site for a further tease!)
I liked that after the big kiss last week, they kept things quite uncertain this week. Bette seems to be very much into Tina right now with all those long longing looks. I was trying to figure out what she was thinking in that final scene with Tina p***ed out on the sofa. Was she disgusted? (Don't think so) was she amazed to have her in the house? Stunned by Jodi's thoughtfulness? She couldn't take her eyes off the sleeping Tina. Guess it's that she just can't seem to avoid her being a part of her life or something.
BTW, I liked the little re-enactment of the S1 ep 1 bathroom seduction by Jenny and Niki. They made it very similar, down to the queue for the bathroom although obviously a slightly different ending. That scene in the pilot was so electric and sexy. Jenny is just bonkers these days, so sleeping with her alter ego - the ultimate narcissism - seems appropriate.
Those two loonies from SheBar are going to be trouble. Shane, you idiot!
Roll on next week!
hey cath: are you commenting or rewriting this blog? :)
Well no one else seems to be commenting. Would be more than happy to have a discussion!
hey, here are a few questions for ya:
where is angie when her moms and all her moms friends are out partying?
does shane work any more?
how much money could max possibly be making off alice's goofy site that it allows him to live in la. for that matter, how the heck is alice paying the bills?
where is helena?
who do you think is accidently going to get shot now that kit owns a giant gun?
But Most Important...and quoting the Alice line from the 4.01 Episode..."Where Is Papi??? " xD
And where is Phyllys anyway??, she disappeared into vortex!!!
And where does Kit live???
Well Phyllis and Joyce are back next episode from the previews, and Ilene Chaiken has said Helena will be back later in the season.
Papi - who cares??! Did anyone really like that character? However, as Tasha best friend, you'd think she might be around for her big ordeal.
When it comes to money, that's always been a mystery. Shane WAS making money with her shop Wax, and we did see her hairdressing at that wedding. The fact that they all wear such fabulous clothes with limited funds has always been one of those questions that you just have to ignore!
i just read today that paris hilton will appear in an episode soon. why? what could she possibly offer to this series? i'm so sick of paris hilton.
I enjoy the show very much,but someone should teach Rose how to salute. A previous episode showed her leaving the military attorney and saluteing the soldiers which were standing outside as she p***ed. The salute is not from the middle of the forehead! I cringed when I saw that. Someone involve in directing needs better advisement from the military or you can probably get it from a site online. Basically , the salute is rendered with fingers together and the finger tips should be at the bottom of the eyebrow,not covering the eyes or from the middle of your head. Also, the right arm is at appx a 45 degree angle. Please research this.
Someone taught Tasha to hold the salute until the higher rank drops it. That's something. And to be fair, I didn't think Snoop Dogg would add to the show any, and his brief appearance was fun - making his friend drink the peanut butter smoothie for saying something stupid.
I never really bought Jenny's sexual awakening in the first place - is there such a thing as narcissexual - being totally into whatever or whoever is totally into you? That's what I think she is.
The best part of this episode for me was the gay brownines conversation. I think they really cracked each other up.