You can always count on disaster when somebody on television throws a dinner party. Mary Richards was a famously hapless hostess, the Friends always ran into trouble when they tried it, Larry David completely ruins them by doing little more than opening his mouth. So it was obvious that Bette was in for it the minute she started to gather the troops last night. Jodi gave it to her in spades. News broke last week that we’re in for another season of The L Word — woot! — and the producers would be wise to bring Marlee Matlin (pictured) back to the fold. She’s been a vital and challenging addition to the show’s canvas; her pissy arguments with both Amy and Bette were captivating and well-acted. I used to hold out hope that Bette and Tina would end up together by series end, but I’ve since recanted that statement. I can’t get enough of Jodi. She keeps Bette on her toes in all the right ways, not with smarmy behavior and bratty comments(*coughTINA!cough*) but with an uncompromising point-of-view that’s entirely heartfelt.
On to Helena and the horse track: Oh… oh, I don’t, um, know what to — say? Did she and Catherine really have sex right up against the window of their sky box, in full view of the crowd? (Maybe Crazy Jenny got them worked up with that comment about her "compulsion to take off all my clothes" when she’s in public places? What was that, by the way?) Ah, the juxtaposition of galloping horses and two lesbians heaving their way to an orgasm. Riveting TV, readers. Just visionary! I can’t figure out Catherine’s motivation, and it’s unclear whether she even has one aside from screwing Helena — on so many levels.
Check out these reports of something that Kristanna Loken reportedly said to the press about her castmates. Ouch. This could mean Paige isn’t long for The L Word. Loved watching her and Shane come up with a new euphemism for having ravenous, buck-wild sex, but is "telling stories" really the best they can do? I dunno… wouldn’t you erupt in a fit of giggles if someone you liked asked you to "tell me a story"?
Max’s trip home was handled with far more grace and a lot lesscreepiness than I was expecting. Max has really twisted in the windthis entire season; in a grand L Word tradition, Max has agrizzled, craggy father who is both enigma and biggest influence.Unlike Shane’s ne’er-do-well excuse for a dad, though, Max’s fatheractually showed a great deal of empathy toward his daughter-turned-son.Was it right that he couldn’t ‘fess up to the guests at his wife’sfuneral that Max was, indeed, his son? No. Was it right that Max had tostand to the side of his mother’s service, all by his lonesome underthat tree? No. But ask yourself this: Were those scenes handled withgrace and a careful ear for the realities of so many youngtransgendered Americans? Absolutely. Max’s dad may not have done the"right" thing, but he at least gave his daughter the courtesy of anexplanation for his actions.
It’s just too bad Max wasn’t at Bette’s dinner party, because Ithink Jodi could have used his help. As much as I love the lovely,lissome ladies (Marina’s words, not mine!) of The L Word,they can be an awfully hard sell, and woe be to anybody who’s at one oftheir dinners for the first time. Remember when Jenny first brought Maxto dinner with the girls — and the painfully awkward conversation thatoccurred at that chi-chi restaurant? Yeah, see? Not as sensitive asthey’d like to believe they are. Jodi probably set herself up bysitting at the end of the table rather than the middle, though. Andit’s not as if Tina’s new director friend Kate Arden (eeek! it’s Gloria Trillo,paisans!) was going to help. I’m totally into this woman, who’s alreadygetting under Crazy Jenny’s skin because she’s clearly going to giveher a run for her money in the self-absorption department. And it’s notlike Jodi was going to have Bette’s ear after Kit’s drinking problemresurfaced in front of everyone. You have to wonder why not one of thewomen at the table noticed Kit downing glasses of red wine; surely Papiwas in the corner feeding her her merlot-soaked finger — or somethingsimilarly inappropriate.
What do you think? Does Bette have the right to call out Kit fordrinking again? Was Jodi unfair after the party? Is Helena going tokeep losing money — or will she see another windfall? And what aboutTasha? Now that she’s been spotted by another soldier, will she befound out?
Yes Bette has the right to call out Kit for drinking. Simply for the fact that she’s been there before and she’s been the one that had to pick up the pieces. Kit lost her son because of her drinking and was alienated from her father for years because of it and Bette was the only one there who helped her through it. So hell yeah Bette has a right to get upset about it.
Kit is obviously still upset with Bette for not telling her about Angus cheating and she was blatantly drinking to get back at her sister. She had to know how Bette would react, it is Bette after all.
And yes Jodi was unfair. Any hostess at a party would be concerned about whether all their guests are comfortable, and let’s be honest Jodi certainly didn’t look it. She looked lost and like she was trying to put on a front, which is probably why she didn’t invite her interpreter so she wouldn’t stand out. That’s not Bette’s fault, that’s Jodi’s own insecurities.
I think getting Shane involved right away after the whole Carmen thing was a mistake. As for the actress who plays Paige, I’m sure she right when she talks about cattiness, as a gay man, I work with a bunch of women and believe me, they can be ruthless.
Next point, I’m loving the whole last scene with the Bette argument. Love the whole fighting using sign language, too cool!
Jenny continues to be a b*tch! Love the fact that next week they’re going conspire to get rid of her as a screen writer – haha! She finally gets what she deserves.
What I love most of all about this season is the candid dialogue. I really felt that the Max/Moira plot was handled creatively. The writers could have gone with the whole Catholic (bashing) issue but that’s been done to death.
Loving the L Word – hating The Tutors! I’m so sick of those previews that I’m purposely not going to watch it – I’M THE KING OF ENGLAND! SHUT UP ALREADY!
What was that delicious little line of Catherine’s regarding Jenny – “bring the little dark one…” or some such. LOVED IT! Though it’s the only think I love about Helena’s story line. They haven’t managed to resurrect her to her full glory yet – unlike Max, whose arc I finally got into this week. One little nit-pick though: Max is a daughter-turned-son, not the other way around.
Jodi blew it out of the water this week, the fight between her and Amy was amazing to watch. I love Tasha more every week, but was disappointed in how oblivious Alice is to the tenuousness of her situation regarding her career and her sexuality. Bad Alice!
I’m sad that it looks like Paige won’t be back, I really love her and Shane together.
WAIT! I can’t believe this has gone without comment: JENNY’S GETTING A PET MONKEY?!?!? AMAAAAZING!
Max’s father actually showed a great deal of empathy toward his son-turned-daughter. Actually that should have read “his daughter-turned-son” not the other way around. I like Paige and it is a shame she will not be on the show next year(she’s hot & that voice..OOOH). I see Tina and yet again going to be a “lesbian” with Kate(make up your mind already talk about switching teams…geech). And yes, when I saw Kate the first thing I thought was GLORIA from Sopranos and we all know how “sane” Gloria was.
They should FIRE that chick/dude who is playing Max. Probably the worst acting I’ve ever seen on a tv show.
Ed, I totally agree! The “I’m the King of England!” scream is killing me! And I ALSO agree that whatever her name is that plays Max is one of the worst actors ever! For thinking she’s a guy all her life, she certainly can’t act like one!
This episode was the first time I was really engaged by MM’s Jodi – I loved her in this! And I’m disappointed to hear that KL’s Paige might not be around next season. It’s been nice to see Shane with such a chill, normal (and HOT) woman.
Shouldn’t this article be a TV Watch column instead?
What a terrible episode. So much time devoted to Max and her dad? I could not stand it. I also can’t stand Catherine. The less I see her naked the better. I would have much rather seen Shane “reading stories”. And I also can’t stand the petty fighting between Bette and Jodi. I’m the only one that isn’t a Jodi fan apparently.
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Well, instead of complaining about this or that actress that live the show, ask yourself why, they go !!!
I teel you, becuse it’s probably the worst cast to work with!
Sara shai, Kristianna Loken , Alexandra edison, who will be the next?
Yeah, I wonder why this show isn’t TV Watched if it’s going to show up in the Popwatch Blog every week. I’m definitely glad to see it being reviewed weekly on EW’s site. I just wish it would be made permanent, instead of hoping and crossing my fingers every week that someone decided to blog about it.
I have avoided posting to this blog for fear of being called homophobic, but I just don’t get it. Honestly, I don’t find a lesbian-based show compelling or even necessary television. I loved (I mean LOVED) Will & Grace, but I haven’t even been tempted to watch this or “Queer as Folk”. Maybe it’s because they lean more to the serious side.
I’m glad someone finally brought it up….what the hell is up with those Tudor promos?? I’m going to purposely NOT watch the show just because they have annoyed me to such an extent with those!! As far as who I imagine is impossible to work with behind the scenes, it would have to be Tina, Jenny, and Helena, right? I have always pictured them being evil behind the scenes, dont ask me why…..also, you guys know Kristanna Loken is going out with Michelle Rodriguez from Lost, right?