To honor last night’s rather downbeat fourth-year finale of The L Word, I thought I’d try something a little different for my final PopWatch entry of the season. A number of you have asked, time and again, why my recap of each week’s episode doesn’t appear in EW.com’s TV section. That’s because my editors asked me to jot down my thoughts, much like the brilliant Annie Barrett did with the late O.C., in a few succinct paragraphs. But I don’t take direction well, and when I began trying to write about a TV show that can feature anywhere from 9 to 1,206 different characters each week… well, I failed miserably.
So, last night! Rather than one of my too-long recaps, I’m going to take a cue from one of the episode’s biggest plot points — Bette, Shane, and Alice’s Three Fugitives-y theft of a gigantic old sign as a gift for Jodi Lerner (uh, wha?) — and share with y’all the 17 reasons why — even when it’s angering the bejesus out of me — I can’t stop watching The L Word:
- Season in and season out, the spectacularly talented Leisha Hailey (pictured) demonstrates that she is capable of playing scenes both deeply emotional and ridiculously silly, and that her adorably zany Alice is the true heart and soul of this very scattered show. Plus, I love the way she screams.
- This series gives some of the best, most undervalued directorial and writing talent in Hollywood (Moises Kaufman, Rose Troche, John Stockwell, Burr Steers, Guinevere Turner, A.M. Homes, Adam Rapp… ) the opportunity to share its brilliance with the average TV viewer. How cool is that?
- It has provided Pam Grier with a passable — if unchallenging — job until the next Quentin Tarantino comes along and writes a role that really lets her show the kids how it’s done. (Why is this so hard for you, people of Hollywood?!!)
- These ladies’ houses look like the spawn of every West Elm, Design Within Reach, Crate and Barrel/CB2, Pottery Barn, and Room and Board catalog I’ve ever received in the mail. I could ogle them for days.
- Clearly, Ilene Chaiken knows how much every single person whowatches this show hates that godforsaken theme song by thespectacularly unharmonic Betty — and, as such, continues to piss us alloff by refusing to change it.
- Jenny Schecter might be the most maddening character in the historyof television, as my colleague Dalton Ross points out in this week’sissue of EW. And because her fearless portrayer, Mia Kirshner, has nointerest in making her even a wee bit tolerable. She taunts people withnames like "Vagina Wig"; strips, cuts out paper dolls, and slices openher wrists to deal with her problems; dates trannies-to-be for the hellof it; throws wine bottles at people’s windows when she’s angry; andbarges into movie production meetings with small dogs that aren’tpotty-trained, for crying out loud. How can I not watch? (One morequestion: Is she a goner after last night’s Kate Chopin moment?)
- Somebody conned Karina Lombard (the late, great Marina!) intoappearing twice this season in scenes that were such watchably awfultrain wrecks (really, that fedora?) that I hope they led to herclueless agent’s dismissal.
- It made me a Marlee Matlin fan. And I honestly never thought I’d betyping those words unless a.) a terrorist was holding a gun to my headand making me do it, or b.) this disgustingly hot specimen of man told me he’d sleep with me if I did.
- After last year’s painfully drawn-out Dana-has-breast-cancer arc,it actually handled Tasha’s return to Iraq with sensitivity and grace,two adjectives that I have, at times, struggled to attach to this oftenwince-worthy show.
- You don’t have to be a straight man or a gay woman to recognizethat the girl-on-girl love scenes are among the most artful and justplain hot sexcapades you’ll see anywhere this side of [insert dirtywebsite of your choice here].
- It actually makes living in L.A. — and West Hollywood in particular — look enjoyable.
- For all of that writing talent I talked about earlier, there’sstill at least one howler of a line uttered in each episode. Lastnight’s gem? I think I’ll go with this one from Paige: "I love beingwith you in cars and at work, but I would really like to f— you inbed." Classy.
- It wears its artsy-fartsy pretensions on its puffy designersleeves, and has surely led more than a few viewers to seek out theworks of artists and authors name-dropped by Bette and the girls.
- It exists in a strange, completely imaginary utopia where women inevery income bracket — from movie studio executive to small-time localradio host — can afford what are clearly some kick-ass gym/yoga studiomemberships, along with the kind of high-end clothing and makeup thatmakes them look like they walked right off the cover of a nationalfashion magazine. Can I live there, too? I need some La Mer and a pairof Dolce briefs before the summer share season gets underway.
- The writers had the good sense to basically ignore the fact thatBette and Tina have an infant daughter since, let’s get real, whoreally wanted to see a small child running amok amid all of this heavybreathing in the first place?
- The only other lesbian drama in my life involves my best friend,her too-tiny apartment on the Lower East Side, and one very whiny cat.
- Even at its worst, it still remains a thousand times more watchable than [shudder] the American version of Queer as Folk.
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The scene where the trio stole the 17 Ways sign was hilarious. “What are the steaks for?” Only Bette would be SOOOO prepared for a heist. Had to watch that scene several times. Loved the smarmy lawyer hitting on Phyllis which was so spot on for that character.
Love, love, LOVE the show! I don’t care how sad, or far reaching the show is (Passions it is not!), I can not tear myself away from the show… and BETTE! Her and Alice are the two characters that keep the show moving. How great was Bette on the tractor, and the intensity between Bette and Tina in both of their short scenes? Think next year we’ll have a nice run of Tina pursuing Bette?
Kind of a lame season-ender, but hello, DANA! God I miss her. It made me realize that these days really only Alice is funny. Once in a while Shane gets a good eyebrow take, but they need another character who brings the laughs. I do have to say that I am finally able to love to hate Jenny. The first three seasons I just hated her.
Am I the only one that doesn’t like Paige? As for the very ending, things didn’t seem to link together well and it was all very random…Helena stealing Catherine’s money/Jenny on a boat/Shane no where to be seen…nothing tied in.
Can I just say that Nicholas Fonseca is a very cute guy?
sorry, did you say something? after clicking through to those pictures of Jon Jonsson, i stopped listening.
I Don’t care what you say,I liked QAF!!!
I adore Alice. I agree that she’s fabulous and keeps me coming back.
Jenny is a wreck and almost unbearable. I found myself wishing she drowned. (yes, I know it’s mean)
was ghost dana really drinking a pepsi?? random.
i hope jenny washes ashore on the “lost” beach and gets eaten by the polar bear!!
Oh my God! YAWN!!!
I’m a QAF fan too, lay off!
Anyway, I too thought the season ender was a sleeper. I though Jenny was going to off herself and her dog. It sounds kind of sick but knowing Jenny’s character, I wouldn’t doubt it if she took the Palmy with her.
The whole Bette thing, nah, I thought the sign was a campy idea. What head of a unversity dept has the time to do all that.
Cybill’s character getting together with the lawyer was the best part!
Helena stealing the money, not too exciting for me. I would rather see her rich again.
Dana – miss her!
AND to end the season, I love the new song. It did get on my nerves at first but I’ve almost almost memorized the coloage of words that come at the end…fight breathing f*cking laughing, blah blah blah, it’s a mix of words that describes the average Lez Girl.
I’ve never been a passionate Bette and Tina fan, particularly after all that went down between them over the past couple years. That said, in two short scenes in the season finale I suddenly crossed the line into full-on “shipper” mode. And all this while Tina is counseling Bette on how to win Jodie! Ha! The amount of heat generated in those two cursory pecks between our divorced duo was due entirely to the chemistry between the actresses who portray them, both of whom are admittedly Bette and Tina Shippers.
I’m rather ambivalent as to whether I want Tasha to return. Not because Rose Rollins’ portrayal has been anything but stellar (and she is beauutiful to watch), but there’s just something…missing in it for me. I find there’s more of a connection between Alice & Helena than between Alice & Tasha.
I’m glad Kristiana Lokken isn’t coming back next season. She did a fine job but, I just don’t feel it between Shane & Paige. I miss Carmen.
And, Jon Jonsson? Ridiculously hot.
I haven’t been able to watch it yet, but sounds intriguing. I have it on my dvr to be watched this evening. Alice and Shane are my favs, Bette is close 2nd, and Jen could vanish and wouldn’t be missed. I equate Jen w/ JR Ewing. She’s so obnoxious that it brings most people back.
What!?!?! I was fanatically devoted to Queer as Folk each season and absolutely loved it! That being said, I thought that The L Word was much better than last season.
What!?!?! I was fanatically devoted to Queer as Folk each season and absolutely loved it! That being said, I thought that The L Word was much better than last season.
What!?!?! I was fanatically devoted to Queer as Folk each season and absolutely loved it! That being said, I thought that The L Word was much better than last season.
It’s pretty much established that Kristanna Loken isn’t coming back next season, seeing as she called basically the entire cast a crew of jealous B**ches, but I’m not sure how the season finale set that up….? It sure didn’t SEEM she was leaving….regardless, that scene with her and Shane goes in the “L Word hot scene Hall of Fame”, yowza!! However, did Shane seem kind of……flat this season? Where did the sense of humor go? The fun flirtiness? She seemed so SERIOUS all season! It’s almost like the sctress playing Shane was unhappy and it shone through in the performance (shrugs). OH, and good riddance Max, you won’t be missed!!
I am so with Hutchy…the Shane/Paige scene was the best sex scene of the season! Great montage, great song…super hot! That and the sign-stealing scene pretty much made the episode. I’m definitely still on board for next season.
I think next season should be the last and with Paige obviously not coming back I think Shane needs to realize it is Carmen she wants to settle down with. Shane and Paige have no chemistry. Paige wants Shane and Shane wants a son.
Someone needs to give Leisha Hailey her own sitcom.
If these writers/directors are some undervalued, why is the show so bad I can’t seem to give up on it, although I’d say this season wasn’t as bad as last. A show has something if Marlee Matlin can’t drive me away from it. Ever wonder how much her character (and the one she played on “West Wing”) has to pay the guy to follow her around and interpret?
Why is Paige not coming back? They should of tied things up between her and Shane if theyre gonna do that. Paige is one hot MILF, and those scenes between her and Shane are to be cherished. Season 4 was alot more laid back, very little drama, but it was still good. Not like it was when Dana was around of course though.
I love Jenny and I will never stop. I hope she just gets crazier and crazier. I know all these people have been hating on her, but I cant help but love her absolute psychotic behavior.
I too love Jenny. I realized that she reminds me of Sydney on Melrose Place, but crazier (though not as nuts as Kimberly). She’s the schemer who falls on her face and just alienates everyone. Plus she’s short and hot. Words cannot express how much I love Mia Kirshner though. Every Monday, a part of me hopes she might just show up on 24 to cause more trouble. As for last night, I thought Jenny’s comeuppance was hilarious, but the boat part threw me a little.
I really did enjoy the season finale. Throwing in Dana was brilliant and very emotional. I am so over the Bette/Jodi love affair. It is time to bring bette back to tina for some super HOT make up sex!!!!
The intensity between Bette & Tina in all of their scenes together is amazing. They have chemistry like no one’s business…I think they are so connected, soulful, sexy in love. They react to each other’s actions, I don’t believe they act upon their own right now..I love love love them together. I have never seen such intense chemistry in even the smallest scene anywhere else on television….The draw me to them and I sit as an invisible piece of each of them…
normally I ignore hateful comments but this is the first I’ve seen on EW/L Word Recap. The comment that was posted on Monday, 26th @ 2:58pm, please go away. Why are you even on this site with your hateful disgusting name which I will not utter. Go away!!
Maybe now that Surreal Lifes season has ended,traci bingham can join the cast as a lesbian stripper.That would make for a great next season.
Oh Nicholas, all season long I have been agreeing with most everything you have said and now you say that #1: the writing and directing for the L word is good and #2: that Queer as Folk was horrendous? The L Word can only HOPE to be as good as QAF! It is nowhere near on par! And as you state yourself, the writers on TLW totally ignore details they don’t know what to do with! (Bette and Tina’s daughter)
I think Jenny is totally weird
and needs to be eaten by a shark-I love Alice she is HOT
to: nicholas fonseca
hey there kiddo, long time no tocky…i think its been about 20+years.. theres no ‘cliffhangar’,i just threw it in cuz i knew youd say ‘hmm’ if ya saw it…anyway, i stumble onto the EW site, see your name and wonder, how the heck yer doin…so i googled you. Imagine my surprise when the search results also say that you are a requesting a prison pen-pal, from prison! and your’ also a porn star…wow, how funny is that! you not r u ? OMG, i cant believe your gay ! u r aren’t you ? i read it somewhere…queer-eye…? my dad retired , remember how mean he was? any hoo , if ya want 2 e-mail me its kristiki@sbc global.net.
P.S. I find it fun to spell words wrong so if you read it with your ‘correction glasses’ on , and thought i was some stupid broad, you woud b mistaken…L2HRFRUMU, kristi
I agree with it all! Especially Betty, Betty, Betty. I cringe every time I hear that theme song. But…I can’t stop watching…I just plug my ears. I think the cast of lovely ladies for the fourth season was great and I can’t wait for the next season!