It’s so appropriate that The L Word’s fifth-season finale took place on Easter Sunday, because right around the 55-minute mark of theshow, I chirped up with a joyous little "She is risen!" as Jenny piped upfrom the back of the Les Girls wrap party and barged onstage. It was a night filled with game-changing, long-in-coming confrontations — Jennyand Adele, Dawn Bimbo and her lover Cindi, Helena and Peggy, Phyllis and Shane,Jodi and Bette… ooof, it was a rough night in West Hollywood, wasn’t it?
We’ll start with the returns of a few old friends: CrazyJenny appears to have returned from a stint in Boringtown, Peggy Peabody reenteredthe scene via helicopter and gurney (so fussy!), and her daughter Helena came backfrom wandering around like a fool with Dusty to basically buy back ThePlanet and bag Lover Cindi. Never mind that she’s a criminal on the lam. Randomaside No. 1: The supreme awesomeness of Peggy Peabody (and, by extension, HollandTaylor) was reconfirmed last night when she used the words "peccadilloes"and "willy-nilly" and answered a question of Helena’s with the phrase, "As isyour wont." What is not to love about this woman? Random aside No. 2: Theunbearable tedium of Kit Porter was reconfirmed last night when she greetedHelena’s return with, "Girl! Girrrrrrrl! Girl… Girl!" I’m not lying. Those werethe first four words out of her mouth. But wasn’t that a predictable plot development,having Peggy give Helena the money to buy back the Planet? I’m hoping that’snot the last we’ve seen of Dawn Bimbo and her Lover Cindi. (We all must simplyrefuse to call her by her actual name, even if she did finally reveal it duringone of last night’s more inspired moments.) Do you sense that the show’s finalseason will draw out the enmity between Dawn and "the skanks"? And how silly isit that the girls are now BFFs with Lover Cindi?
Do you ever wonder if Daniela Sea, the actress who playsMax/Moira, actually films more than the five or six lines she typically says inany given episode? I’m curious to know if she stuck around to say more than the"Hey guys!" that made it in last night. Max/Moira has achieved quite a dubioushonor on a show that’s populated entirely by divisive characters; there may beno more roundly hated member of the canvas than the little half-tranny that could. Ifanybody out there thinks that Max/Moira still has a reason for being on this show, could you please share your insightwith me? Otherwise, can we drop this character and make room for morescenes with Alice? That is, if she can have her old personality back? Because NOTHING she’s done this season hasresonated — The Look plot never felt fleshed out, the spark with Tasha is completely gone, and Aliceherself has behaved more like a judgmental shrew than the free-spirited lovershe once was. I welcomed the growth that happened after Dana’s death, but I worrythat Alice grew… bland. And Alice should never, ever be bland.
Which brings me to SHANE OH MY GOD SHANE HOW COULD SHE?! NONO NO! UNACCEPTABLE AND HYPOCRITICAL AND SELF-SABOTAGING AND ROTTEN! Whyyyyyyy,why? Why? I can’t believe Shane (Katherine Moennig, pictured) did it again. And with Niki, of all people!Oy, who’s kept count? How many times does this make? Once again, reality andauthority got up in Shane’s face, and because Shane didn’t like it, Shane madea mess. I don’t know where to start with this one. If I wanted to fight alosing battle, I’d go with the compulsive need for wanton outdoor sex (woo!Cheri Jaffe’s pool!). But all we can do is remember that Shane has been Shane since the very first episode of The L Word. We all knew exactly who she was from minute one, and no amount of personal happiness or trauma — self-inflictedor otherwise — is going to change much. That became astoundingly clear whenshe told Alice that Tasha’s military trial "never had anything to do with you."Uh, yes it did. It kind of had everything to do with Alice, and to insist otherwiseis crazy talk. (I’m not arguing that Alice owes Tasha anything, but Shane’sclaim is preposterous and not all that helpful.) Phyllis really did say it best a few weeks ago: "She’s a lotharioand a cad, and the kind of boy you used to fall for in high school before youknew better."
And then there was Jodi. The less I say about Jodi, probably the better. She’s irritated mefrom the start, and last night’s final f-you to Bette — which lost a lot of itsdramatic power with me when I started to realize that the accompanying music sounded like this (link contains NSFW language) — justgave me more reason to wish her good riddance already. We discussed her manicbehavior last week,and she was up to all the old tricks again this week. Firstshe walked away from the entire group when Bette dared to address her,and thenshe played nice, though for all I know that was just her way of gettingBette to finally stophovering and making puppy-dog eyes. Seriously, that was annoying. Isuppose I should have expected something insanely provocative from aJodi scorned, but beyond the fact that her big installation seemed tohave been throwntogether in record time, the whole thing was simply too over-the-top,unimaginative,and desperate to be taken seriously.
So here’s where we stand as The L Word heads toward its final season: Bette’s humiliated for awhile, which is fun since I alwayslike it when somebody pricks her bubble of pretension but not fun because now she’lljust be more of a Debbie Downer than usual.At least she’s back with Tina (YAY!). Alice is stuck in a holding pattern withTasha and flirting with that dippy Aussie girl who annoys me almost asviolently as Tattoo McGillicuddy over on American Idol. Helena is presumablyback, Shane just blasted a hole in her friendship with Jenny, Dawn Bimbo losther ongoing war with Kit, Les Girlsawaits its newly heterosexual, studio-ordained ending, and Max/Moira awaits theday when his so-called closest circle of friends engages him/her beyond "Hey,guys!"
What about you? What did you and your Lover Cindi thinkabout last night’s season finale?
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Loved the season finale! Shane’s facial expression when Jenny asks her why was priceless. One half deer in headlights and one half DUDE I’m Shane this is what I do?!! Kit and Max need to go the way of the Dodo and just disappear. Dimbo finally getting what she deserves was sweet revenge. Tina and Bette better make it work. Totally agree that we need Fun Alice back! And biggest surprise of the night….I actually applauded and cheered for Crazy Jenny when she busted in on Adele’s “speech”. And considering how much I loath Crazy Jenny, that is a TRUE Easter miracle. Can’t wait for the final season!
Hey do any of you think when Jenny said “You broke my heart” she was referring to Shane being the one she loves not Nikki? I have an ongoing battle with my friends over that. Also I loved Jenny last night. The entire season I really justed wanted to slap her but last night she has officially became my fav. character.
I’ve only been an on-and-off again fan of the L word since the 2nd season. In the final season, I would like to see Bette and Tina (happily) back together. Shane finally grow up, and maybe have her reunite with Carmen. Jenny could be a little bit less crazy and have things between her and Shane patched up, bc no matter what, these two always had each other. I think the writers wasted a huge plot opportunity with the character of Max. He has been reduced to background noise, but there was way more potential. I’m not sure what to do with Kit. Pam Grier is awesome, but her character has also pretty much been reduced to background noise. It would also be nice for Alice to return to her ‘free-spirited’ self, maybe another visit from Dana would do the trick?
bette and tina’s steamy dance…it was nice to see Tina leading Bette for a change. Also, those two are hot together whether they are mekkid or fully clothed. HOT! And indeed it WAS an Easter miracle – i too was endeared to jenny last night. darei say…i kinda, sorta, maybe like her now? And i gotta say, i NEVER saw that coming.
You have to bring Dawn back for next year. Without her saying “I’m Dawn Dembo and this is my lover Cindi” in every episode, how else will we know when to drink?
My guess is they don’t give Max more to do because the actress is so awful. The people on The Hills are more expressive.
i’m a jodi lover (NOT a bette/jodi fan), but can we just talk about how that piece comes together? #1. When was she filming Bette? #2. Um, how did she work in the sound bites?? and finally, #3 why was what happened NEVER discussed by any of the girls? All you see is a sad bette being held by Tina. (by the way, laurel holloman, you rocked my world this season. Also, lover cindi (i agree, we simply CANNOT use her real name) and Helena are kinda hot together…
i think a visit from dana (who they never should have killed off) would be awesome…crazy, carefree alice in S6! Shane’s face at the end of the ep so reminded me of how she seemed in season 1 and 2…yikes!
Oh man, I LOVED the season finale! I am so happy Bette and Tina are officially back together. Was it just me or did Bette look super hot when she was sitting outside with Tina? Alice needs to get back to her old self for sure. I love her with Tasha, I hope they end up together. I’ve always loved Crazy Jenny because of how entertaining she was but now I just love her. How sweet was it when she went over to hug her friends, and Bette was right there? Also, this is one of the few episodes to make me say, “WTF Shane?!” I hope she gets her act together next season. And last but not least, I am SOO happy to have Helena back. I love her! So yeah, I seriously loved the finale.
Nicholas – I seriously giggled out loud at your “What did you and your Lover Cindi think about last night’s season finale?” line. Ugh, and I hate to agree with the others – I kinda like Jenny. I think it started last ep. when Jenny realized Tina was on her side about the movie and hugged her instead of being a crazy annoying brat. I really liked Jodi but her ambush piece only made her look bad as opposed to Bette. Yay for the return of Helena! Anyone know if they had an alternate finale in case a 6th season wasn’t picked up? I would have been in sticker shock at all the loose ends had this been the series finale.
My first revelation for last night’s ep? Apparently, according to Lez Girls studio execs, I live in a “fly-over state”. WHATEV!!
Hands down, hottest scene of the season? Bette and Tina’s dance at the wrap party!! JB & LH have amaaaazing chemistry! And I thought it was cute when “Bev & Nina” were watching them dance…nodding and smiling approvingly that their RL alter egos were back together.
ICAM about Alice. LOVE her! But where has MY Alice been this season?!? I never bought her and Tasha (sorry A&T fans)…but Alice is too free-spirited to be tethered to such a no-nonsense person. And this new chick? Uh, NO!! Leisha has more chemistry with the girl in the Yoplait commercials than with her!! I’d still like to see her with Helena. But, alas, time is winding down.
I think this is the 1st season that I’ve felt, well, ANYTHING for Jenny. Loved her “No! You stole it from me” entrance at the party. And I actually felt bad that she was betrayed by her friend!
Oh…and I love Lover Cindy’s defection to the “skank” rank. Sure our girls took her into the fold pretty quickly, but I liked it! I hope we haven’t seen the last of Dawn Denbo. Elizabeth Keener is a riot!!
On a list of things I’d like to happen next season? The return of Carmen!
And, for me, the less seen of Max/Daniela Sea the better. Maybe if the girl could act, she’d get more screentime. Maybe Max will take off with Jodi and Interpreter Tom.
jb and lh = hot. did anyone else feel like they were about to get it on out there on the dance floor?
props to molly for being an adult about her relationship with shane. “is this the part where girls usually throw their drinks in your face?…i’m not gonna do that.” Hey jodi – you learn a little from ms. molly!
i cringe when max is in a scene. let’s have a season 6 with the core cast: bette, tina, alice, shane, jenny and helena. okay and Kit. only because i actually chuckle when she says speaks…her weird moan/speaking…and also because i find her to be peripherally funny – like sometimes i need to rewind to catch what she is doing. also, her and dawn denbo should continue to trade insults. love that banter!
and i know there needs to be a few extraneous regulars next year, but lets have them be essential to wrapping up character stories. and please, please, please don’t let peggy peabody die just yet. that woman is fabulous!
I agree with you, Paulina. I think Jenny meant that Shane broke her heart. I thought I’d sensed something between them this season. Also, I’m glad to see a lot of you finally warming up to Jenny. I love Mia Kirshner.
I was so thrilled to see Helena back and her fab-U-lous mother Peggy. Daniela Sea should take acting lessons from Holland Taylor. I never did like Max and I still do not understand the attraction with Tom(lesbian to trans to gay male). I said it once and I will say it again, Kit annoys me to no end. I know Pam Grier can act! I liked Tash & Alice together but I guess Tash has run her course on the show. I do feel sorry she sacrificed her career for her love of Alice and now Alice likes that boring scotter girl. Hel-lo? She went from the military to Wal-Mart. No matter how many girls Shane has screwed she has never ever screwed over one of her friends. That moment with Nikki was so out of character. I like Jodi & actually enjoyed her f-you moment of Bette(that was the best I’ve seen Marlee Matlin) Hopefully Cindi Anabelle Tucker will not be back next season. Less, Cindi, Max & Kit will be fine with me. Okay, I more month until Ugly Betty is back on. See everyone in 2009!
Watched the final @ Falcon in West Hollywood last night (Ilene & EZ Girl were also there as were hundreds of Los Angeles lebians and one seriously over-worked staff) and there was a spontaneous, HUGE, sustained round of applause when Helena made her entrance. She has been missed. Loved her back in bitchtastic form, defending her friends and taking over as co-owner of The Planet. And I completely agree that Jenny’s “You broke my heart” was aimed solely at Shane, whom I believe is the “someone” Jenny is madly in love with. It sure isn’t Nikki, who Jenny barely looked at after finding her with Shane. The question is, does/will Shane return Jenny’s feelings? Is it even possible for her to be truly in love? In a committed relationship? Season 6 should let us know…
I think Jenny’s “you broke my heart” comment was definitely meant for Shane…but I think it’s Nikki that she’s in “madly in love with”. She just feels very betrayed by the person she considered her best friend.
I agree with jes…jenny might have been in love with nikki, but shane is the one person she has always counted on to stand by her. and seeing shane trash their friendship probably did break her heart. wtf, shane?? yes, romance-wise she is screwed up. but i’ve always thought of shane as the one who is fiercely loyal to her friends – even when they mess up and are awful… but in a matter of 10 seconds i think shane broke my heart too! Girl needs to get over her issues. She has a group of friends who are nothing but supportive and loving to her…learn your lessons. you just made jenny lovable to me – WHAT IS GOING ON??
Love that Helena and Peggy are back! Please give her a decent storyline next year.
Please keep Dawn D. — love Elizabeth Keener.
Please send Max to Angus/Papi land
And Tibette is together? How long until Bette cheats again.
I really like Jenny this year but have tired of Shane. I thought they would be good together but Shane, Shane, Shane you are no good!
tibette forever…otherwise in 6 years bette has learned not a thing! let’s see them work back into the whole family thing, challenges, but happy in the end! more moments like by the pool and on the dance floor. if they have ever been a couple on tv (gay or straight!) i like to watch together…it’s these two.
Suzanne thank you!!! I totally forgot about Angus the Manny. He has ABSOUTELY no chemistry with Kit. He was very forgettable like all of the other male characters (including MAX) that have surfaced on this show. I completely forgot the name of the videographer who was staying in Jenny’s shed in the back of the house, in Season 2 (I think). The only men who I remember are: Tim (now Daniel on UB), Jennys fiancée and the late great Ossie Davis who played Bette & Kits father Melvin Porter. I would love to see Marina back for Season 6. Actually Marina & Helena would be a pretty interesting couple.
ew. no marina.
Last night’s ep was even more unbelievable than usual. Not one single guest at the art event said, “WTF?! A DEAF artist made this montage with SOUND?! How the hell?!” I just about fainted. A deaf girl knows exactly when to videotape really useful sound bites she’ll be able to use for a revenge montage. As if! Whatta heap of baloney! The show runner obviously believes we’re morons and has no respect for us.
I neglected to mention that Bette and Jodi spoke in sign language, so when, exactly, was Bette doing all this yammering that Jodi caught on tape?
Cindi and I can sum up the best part of S5 in two words: Laurel Holloman. She just rocked my world this season.
Bette and Tina having sexy time on the dance floor … wow! Worth the price of admission. I was moved yet again to ask: whyyyy were we subjected to the total flatness of Jodie/Bette for so long?!
Shane … I don’t even know what to say anymore. I was bored with her after S3. Please grow up already. I never thought I’d say this, but – poor Jenny.
As for Jodie and her crazyass “art” … Bette was a dawg, baby, I understand. But you still crazy. Bye bye now!
I absolutely agrree with Paula. Jenny meant that she was madly in love with Shane not Nikki. If you watch the scene closely, Jenny never even looks at Nikki. She NEVER mentions the name of the person she loves.
I could tell when they were getting high last show and Shane said “You know you’re my best friend..”. You could just see in Jenny’s face that her heart melted and that she suddenly saw Shane in a new light. She could see that Shane’s deep and abiding friendship was actually love in disguise.
I think in the final season that Shane and Jenny will settle down together. Shane will finally commit to someone, her best friend. Jenny will finally love someone more than herself.
I love MARINA !
Bette and Tina on the dance floor – too boring for me. Yeah, they’re back, but now they can’t even share 4 words without turning it into sex on the spot.
Jodi: O.K. the installation was done in record time – but I felt her pain. Stupid Bette committed vandalism and theft then went across the US, to beg this woman to come back, so she could dump her? And we trash talk Shane. Her, I totally get. You always know where you stand with her, she tells you from the get go, she makes no illusions about promises or eternal love, but I like the idea that maybe it is Jenny & Shane, but I find Jenny way too annoying.
Bette and Tina on the dance floor – too boring for me. Yeah, they’re back, but now they can’t even share 4 words without turning it into sex on the spot.
Jodi: O.K. the installation was done in record time – but I felt her pain. Stupid Bette committed vandalism and theft then went across the US, to beg this woman to come back, so she could dump her? And we trash talk Shane. Her, I totally get. You always know where you stand with her, she tells you from the get go, she makes no illusions about promises or eternal love, but I like the idea that maybe it is Jenny & Shane, but I find Jenny way too annoying.
Finally – the Max story takes off. To go through all this transitioning to turn around and find love with a man. I know the show is the L Word, but I like this story line, even though I fear it will not truly be developed.