The End of: The L Word

It's been a long while since this finale aired, but I've had a busy semester abroad and want to try to check in with every show as they wrap up their seasons. Thus, it's only fair to go chronologically and begin with those shows that checked out for good.

***SPOILERS below for the entire series of "The L Word"***

"The L Word" is an example of a show that was nearly unrecognizable by the time it finished its sixth and final season. In its first season, it was an intense Showtime series that really followed the lives of a group of lesbians in Los Angeles, very much focused and never off-track without a clear main character. Some could argue that the story is all about Jenny's introduction to lesbian L.A. but I'm not convinced. Terrific performances from Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, and especially my two favorite characters: Alice (Leisha Hailey) and Dana (Erin Daniels). The token male was also good and relevant, Eric Lively, currently of "Ugly Betty," as Tim, Jenny's boyfriend. Season two was almost as good, and I think that the two new characters were extremely strong, Helena (Rachel Shelley) and Carmen (Sarah Shahi). The second season was still fresh and at the same very entertaining. The third season sort of started to take a nosedive, with the complete role reversal in the relationship of Bette, who became a weepy, whiny, waste of a character, and Tina, whose sudden unexplained attraction to men was a complete misdirection which proved absolutely inconsequential by the middle of the fourth season. The death of Dana, which I knew about before I started catching up on the show from the beginning, was a decent plot point but a horrible mistake for the show. Dana was the best character on the series, and her nervousness to be out publicly in season one was followed up equally well by her terrificly entertaining romance with Alice in the second season. Her cancer changed her as a character, and not in a terribly positive way. I hated Alice in the third season, and thought she, like Bette, completely changed as a character for the worst. The departure of Carmen at the end of the season, resulting in Sarah Shahi's casting on a poor NBC procedural, was also a misstep. Since then, Shane's plotlines have been endlessly circular, despite the occasional reappearance of Rosanna Arquette as Cherie Jaffe and the positive portrayals of doomed lovers by Kristanna Loken and Clementine Ford. The onslaught of new characters, like Moira/Max, who always stuck out as a character and whose plotlines never quite fit with anything else, and the disappearing Papi and complete Alice-opposite Tasha, did nothing to revitalize the show (though Rose Rollins was probably the strongest actress in the fifth season, even though her character wasn't terrific). Even Marlee Matlin, whose role started out strongly, couldn't help to rescue the show from staleness and unoriginality.

The biggest problem, of course, was Jenny. She was an intriguing character for the first season, there's no arguing that. She was always a bit of an oddball (remember her fish-tank fantasies and the guest appearance by Julian Sands). In the second season, before the show went downhill, she got an unfortunate haircut and starting sleeping with Carmen, a relationship I never bought. At the start of the third season, which began with her painful utterance of Hebrew, she was a completely transformed character whose only mission in the world seemed to be wreaking havoc on everything she touched through her ignorance. I actually considered skipping through all of Jenny's scenes during the third and fourth seasons since they were so unbearable. Later on, her character had a chance at redemption once she realized how ridiculous she was and decided to embrace her self-absorption and love it. The show, which had previously shown "lesbian incidents" before the opening credits, switched over to clips from Jenny's short stories, which were complete re-imaginings of the show's earlier seasons. That was vastly entertaining and a good way for the show to positively use the disaster that was Jenny's character. The sixth season, unfortunately, sort of undid that by having Jenny realize how much everyone hating her and being sort of sad and upset about it, and put her too much in charge of purposely messing up everyone's lives.

The sixth season, a shockingly short eight episodes, was nothing too special. The fifth season I saw more as a recovery from the unfortunate third and fourth seasons, and the sixth season just tried to coast on that without anything to really back up. Nothing too new was introduced, and old problems in everyone's relationships (especially Alice and Tasha, as well as everything to do with Shane) were rehashed over and over again with no real developments of any kind. The casual tone of the show, specifically with its obnoxious texting montages, was thoroughly annoying and just made it feel like everyone wasn't trying. The short eight-episode season was treated like treading water rather than using this final chance before the show's time ran out to head in a new direction. This was all epitomized by the fact that nothing was actually accomplished the whole season, with the flash-forward to Jenny's death in the first episode resulting in... nothing. It's not clear who killed Jenny, or whether she actually was murdered or just slipped to her death. The last episode, in particular, felt just like filling the clock until it ran out. Jenny's tribute was a nice way to see some old faces, but as a finale, it wasn't anything to write home about. The show as a whole just took a nosedive about halfway through its ran, or actually a little earlier, and despite some valid attempts to recover (Bette and Tina getting back together, the brief but wonderful appearance of Holland Taylor's Peggy Peabody), it couldn't really get there. The spin-off in the work with Leisha Hailey will be a completely different show, and I'm not sure how interested I'll be. There's nothing much to recommend it, except a changed character who will likely be nothing like the Alice I use to know and love. If ever I want to reminisce about this show, I'll just go back and watch the first two seasons of the show on DVD. I would suggest the same for anyone who wants to recall the good old days of this otherwise so-so show.

Series finale: C
Season grade: C+
Series grade: B-
Season MVP: Laurel Holloman (though not enthusiastically)
Series MVP: Erin Daniels

Next show up: "Battlestar Galactica," and then some thoughts of new pilots

What I'm Watching: The L Word (Season Finale)

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 12 "Loyal and True" (B)

This episode serves well as a season finale because it appropriately closes and opens a fair number of doors and plotlines on the series. Jodi is very likely out of the picture for next season, which is good news because now Bette and Tina can get back to being an out-and-open couple that most fans of the show have been rooting for a long time now. Helena's return is a welcome one, and it's always a pleasure to see Holland Taylor as Peggy Peabody. The SheBar crisis is over, and Helena can now help Kit run everything. It was terrific to see Alicia Leigh Willis' "lover Cindy" finally stand up for herself to Dawn. I feel like Shane's plotlines are just too circular, and the same thing just keeps happening over and over, but now she's alienated Jenny. The movie is done, but Adele has compromised its creative integrity by agreeing to change the ending. The last actual moment of the episode ("get the car") is a bit of a weird note to end on, but overall the episode set the next season up well. It should be a season of resolving all the loose ends, and I am personally pretty excited for it.

Season grade: B/B+

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episodes 10 & 11 "Lifecycle" & "Lunar Cycle" (B+/B)

In my haste to catch up on all my reviews, I completely forgot about last week's episode of "The L Word", so I'll mention that one quickly now. Though there really should have been a whole lot more mentions of Dana (if I were Erin Daniels, I'd be pissed!), the bike ride worked out pretty well as far as furthering the plot goes. Finally, the Bette-Tina affair is revealed, and they pulled that off pretty well. This week's episode, on the other hand, is pretty crazy. I really doubt that Adele's blackmailing would work so well and quickly, but at least her motives are out on the table. And how could Ivan sell out half of The Planet to the She Bar girls? I was quite worried about some near-death shoot-outs with Kit, but luckily, coincidence to the rescue. I hardly realized it, but next week is the season finale. The show has just been renewed for a final season of eight episodes to air sometime in early 2009. I think this show could still have a few years in it, especially since this season has proven that it can bounce back, but I guess one more year is all we're going to get.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 9 “Liquid Heat” (B)

This is the show’s token “blackout episode” that many shows have once throughout their lifetimes. It does still progress the story, which is good. The negotiation between SheBar and the Planet feels very much like a Western showdown, and Bette’s bizarrely formal interjection feels a bit out of place. Why was Bette wearing multiple layers while it was impossibly hot out? It was so obvious that she and Tina would get trapped in the elevator from the moment they walked into it. Their talk is good, but these two really need to work their stuff out and get on with their lives. Alice has lost all sense of being a strong human being and has become a complete pushover in the same way that Bette did when Tina starting liking men. Her character needs some serious rescuing, stat. Do you think people would believe that Dana never actually died and she could just come back on the show? I wonder how she and Tasha would get along. Speaking of dead people, I guess Papi is also gone for good since she has not once been mentioned since the finale last season. Jenny is too blatantly hypocritical when yelling at her two fornicating costars – would no one call her out on sleeping with her star? Adele kissing Nikki in the dark is creepy – what could her motivation and endgame possibly be now? That storyline really needs to be tied up quickly and neatly. Does she want to be Jenny or does she just have some bizarre desire to help her? The music here is especially appropriate, with the lyrics “everything is perfect now”. There is a LOT of sex in this episode, but everyone really is finally happy, save for all the supporting, recurring characters like Jodi who will soon get hurt.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 8 "Lay Down the Law" (B+)

Must every public interaction between Bette and Tina be so awkward? At least Tina is standing up for herself a bit. I am glad that Tasha's trial is finally over because that was beginning to drag on, but at least it has a somewhat surprising and ultimately happy ending. Hopefully Alice will spend more time with Tasha and stop compromising herself on television so that people will like her. It is good to see Shane's straight girl finally starting to come around to the idea of them getting together. Adele is becoming sketchier by the second - I can imagine her kidnapping Jenny and pretending to be her in the next few weeks. Though I wonder what the reaction would be. Who is the greater evil, the mysterious Adele or the detestable Jenny?

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 7 “Lesbians Gone Wild” (B+)

Wow, Niki and Jenny really do not know how to keep a lid on their relationship. That is definitely going to south, and as an avid Jenny-hater, I am super-excited for that moment, though right now it would seem that Jenny will be on top for a good long while. I am rather upset with Alice’s self-betrayal, outing people on TV just because she wants people to like/hire her. If Dana was around, she would never stand for this crap. Tasha needs to decide where her priorities lie, with the army or with her lifestyle. This trial is going to drag on and on, and it has not even started yet. Bette and Tina have truly become a great cheating couple who are growing more sympathetic by the moment. I do think they are being really obvious and should watch their backs a bit. Score for Kit – though the She-Bar (spelling?) does provide a good setting for this very in-depth partying which includes some Turkish oil wrestling, of course. I do think this show has its best moments when the ladies are partying and having a good time. I am excited to see what happens with Phyllis’ daughter.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 6 "Lights! Camera! Action!" (B+)

This show has really reformatted itself into an almost completely new show, what with the focus on the movie and all. Shane's plotlines are being recycled but not growing old, and the rest is all fresh. I actually saw this episode at a special L Word brunch in Brooklyn, and it was quite interesting to see the reactions of the crowd. While some suspicious older men were quite creepy, the lesbian population that attended the screening was really rooting for Bette and Tina, going ecstatic every time they flirted, sympathetic towards Alice, and generally hateful towards Jenny. One attendee cited Jenny as her favorite character, which drew boos from the crowd, but she redeemed herself with a spot-on impression of Jenny, and took how Season 4 on DVD as a prize. I really hope that the Bette-Jodi affair does not end too badly, and I am glad that Phyllis is back and her daughter seems like she will make a fun character. And by the way, Adele is a psycho.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 5 "Lookin' At You, Kid" (B+)

I love how all the actresses rsemble the characters Jenny likes and completely do not resemble the ones she does not. She is really quite horrible to everyone in her life save for her newfound muse. That could be one way of getting her off the movie - having sex with your star is sure to cause some problems and create a conflict of interest. I cannot believe that not one but two actresses from the abysmal MyTV series "American Heiress" are now recurring players on this series, one as a major pain in Shane's ass and the other as one of the actresses cast in Jenny's film (Alicia Leigh Willis and Angela Gots, respectively). I am officially on the Bette-Tina reunion team at this point, finding Jodi a bit lame and Bette way too tense for her own good.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 4 "Let's Get This Party Started" (B+)

Tina and Bette - finally a chance at them getting back together! Too back Tina could not handle her crazy date. Jodi is going to be so upset when she finds out what happened between Bette and Tina. I am glad to see that everyone still hates Jenny with a passion, and that they are really all plotting to undermine her and go over her head to make their creative decisions. By my count, only four people still genuinely like her: the actress who really wants to play her, her assistant, Shane, and Max. That is fine by me. In other news, not a big surprise that Shane could not resist the temptation to break her two-episode-long vow of celibacy. And I am of course happy that Tasha's lawyer finally came around and is now actually sympathetic to her cause.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 3 "Lady of the Lake" (B-)

I am liking these Jenny's book-inspired openings more and more every time. As far as the format of the show goes, things seem a bit too casual and on the up-and-up. Kit's seemingly traumatic yet extremely brief robbed-at-gunpoint fiasco gets drummed up to be this huge deal then completely sidelined in favor of Helena's return. Helena acts like she is all that in jail and then gets released to go off on her bold adventure, which should be interesting - but is she leaving the show? I hope not. After both Dana and Carmen had to leave, I cannot stand it if the best remaining character on the show had to leave. Bette's run-in with Jodi's friends at the cabin is entirely painful and awkward. Please make that stop. I could also go for Tasha's whole trial being done. Alice needs to give Max the time of day otherwise he is going to snap and that will not be good for anyone. Although he will soon get with Tom which should be amusing if nothing else. On the bright side, I like Shane's new attitude of solitude which is sure not to last, and it is good to finally see Tina get some action.

What I'm Watching: The L Word

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 2 "Look Out, Here They Come!" (B+)

Alright, I am officially down with this show. Everything has really come back into focus and the quality of this show seems to be back, at least for the moment. Rose Rollins is quickly shaping up to be this season's MVP for her portrayal of Tasha, a character who when first introduced bore a striking resemblance to Helena's formerly silent and butch cellmate. Fortunately, both each have a story now which is compelling and interesting. I particularly loved Dusty's reaction to Helena thinking she was a murderer - "Tax fraud!" Shane is back to her old ways, getting with three different women from the same family at a wedding (though wisely spurning the bride). Tina really does need to get a date sometime soon. Otherwise, things seem pretty good here. And I did enjoy that opening scene with Tom liking Max.

What I'm Watching: The L Word (Season Premiere)

The L Word: Season 5, Episode 1 "LGB Tease" (B)

The fifth season premiere of this show is certainly enjoyable, but I feel like it is mostly wrapping up storylines from the last season rather than delving into this season's own issues. Papi has vanished into thin air, which is sort of unfortunate especially because her legendary entrance last season should have demanded even a minor acknowledgement of the fact that she does not appear to be on the show anymore (she does not appear on the show's website at SHO.com). Dallas Roberts as Angus has also vanished, leaving the obligatory lone male slot (Tim, Mark, then Angus) unfilled for the first time since the show's debut. Helena is in jail and does not seem to be coping well. That could be interesting but I worry that keeping characters completely sealed off from the rest of the show is a dangerous thing that could weaken the cohesion of the season. Tasha is back from Iraq, which is good along those lines, though her presence is completely unexplained. I like that Phyllis seems to be sticking around and is eager to explore the vast lesbian world. Shane cheating on Paige seems repetitive, but the arson incident at the end could prove interesting (though I assume that Kristanna Loken had planned to leave the show because she got her own now-cancelled series, "Painkiller Jane"). Bette being a control freak was tried and beaten to death last season, so hopefully the love triangle with Tina will get front-and-center treatment ASAP. The most gratifying thing for me is the complete villainizing of Jenny. I have hated her so much for the past three seasons and now it is clear that everyone (except Shane) really despises her. Her complete rewriting and fictionalizing of her "Lez Girls" is crazy and a sure sign of her impending downfall. I will definitely be there to see that.

TV on DVD: The L Word (Season Four)

MAJOR spoilers below about events throughout the show’s fourth season.

Apologies for the rant. I watched the first five episodes all in a row, then the next six all in a row, before watching the finale on the third day. Throughout these marathons, many thoughts went through my head. Without further ado, here they are.

This season was off to an unfortunate start merely because of where the show left itself by the end of its third season. Some of the characters have trouble recover from their plotlines, though I am happy to say that after all that is said and done by this season’s finale, most of the characters should have no trouble bouncing back for the fifth season, which premieres next week.

First, the bad. The show generally creates unnecessarily forced scenes and encounters which are awkward and often almost painful to watch. Any scene which involves Alice or the combination of Bette and Tina is certain to be followed by a minute or two of silence during most of this season. Additionally, the show goes for a new sort of style which really does not work and gets annoying quick. In one early episode, split-screen cell-phone conversations dominate the hour. It all gets to be a bit much. And how Bruce Davison’s Leonard Kroll ever ended up on Alice’s bed is beyond me. The girls talk so much about how they are lesbians, but more often than not, there is little reason to be saying anything at all and the plot should be allowed to speak for itself.

Watching Helena get cut off in the third season finale was one of the best and most exciting moments of the third season. Her fending for herself is a bit much, but she falls far too quickly back into old habits. Her friends, particularly Alice and Papi, constantly berate her about the abusive, servant-like relationship she is willingly in. Yet she does absolutely nothing but deny it and hide behind her British accent. Only in the fourth season ender is there a glimmer of hope that she might actually be ripping off the self-centered Katherine. I truly hope something comes of that.

As I write and think about it more and more, the story is not as bad as I initially thought. Maybe it is the fact that I finished the season with a very good taste in my mouth. The barrage of new characters – Papi, Phyllis, Jodi, and Tasha – is actually quite well handled. Papi bursts onto the scene as a living legend, and she out-performs the expectations of her character in my mind. Her affection for Kit is surprising but gives her an added dimension. Phyllis is absolutely hilarious, and her quick attachment to Alice and subsequent head-over-heels falling in love somewhat predictable yet still amusing to watch. Jodi is exactly how Tina describes her to Bette – her match, someone just as opinionated and outspoken as Bette. Cybill Shepherd and Marlee Matlin portray Phyllis and Jodi very well, and they do fit in with the rest of the cast smoothly. Tasha, on the other hand, began as a sore thumb who hardly smiled and whose romance with Alice was somewhat inexplicable. Her military affiliation did not suit the show, but her going-away party was actually quite affecting. At the time of her introduction, I was not so impressed, but again, I finished off the season feeling quite good about it all.

My major problem before the finale was the complete corruptibility of every single character. The idea that even the angelic Angus would cheat on Kit was unfathomable to me, and that twist made me angry to the point of despising the show. Hazel’s immediate flirtation is representative of the show’s constant need to be provocative and sexual for no reason. The show succeeds with some memorable passionate scenes (Shane and Paige’s fantasy home life montage in the finale), but it really overdoes it sometimes. This season threatened to cross the line with its non-stop flirtation between every single character who appeared on screen. That, for me, was this season’s biggest problem. Also, each of the negative traits of each of the characters is so emphasized and underlined that it becomes too much to bear. Bette in particular could go for a few minutes without being overly controlling or looking like she is about to cry.

I am beyond thrilled that Jenny finally got “bitched out” by someone. After season three, she became even more despicable this year with her attempts to mess up the life of Heather Matarazzo’s reporter and her veterinarian girlfriend. Finally, after completely screwing herself over and alienating all her friends with her less-than-fiction book, she gets fired from her own film. The scene where Tina finally works up the nerve to curse her out was one of my favorites from this year.

Last year’s weak element Max finally gets a chance to shine this season, with a slightly predictable but otherwise productive storyline involving a doomed relationship, quitting his job, going home for his mother’s funeral, and a girlfriend who appreciates him for what he is. I frequently forgot that Max had actually been Moira, and I applaud the writers for making Max into a completely new character devoid of the old and rather boring Moira.

I watched this season over the course of three days, pausing after the 11th episode only because I did not have the disc with the season finale on it. Had I written this before watching the 12th installment, my sentiments would have been very different. There is still something to be said for a show that is addictive enough to watch almost straight through like that. I was enjoying myself, even if I was constantly annoyed with the way the story was moving. After the finale, I am happy that Tina is in fact “back” and no longer straight, and I think that her helping Bette get Jodi back while actually being in love with her again is the most interesting thing they have done with her in a while.

All in all, the show is a fun ride but it does not always succeed in playing its cards right. For a few hours, it made me forget that there are straight people in the world and that not everyone wants to jump each others’ bones all the time. For all its idiosyncrasies (Dana’s appearance in the finale is completely unexplained, but a welcome chance to see Erin Daniels), I do enjoy this show and I am happy that the fifth season premieres in a mere twelve days. The finale left off with most of the characters happy (!) and with a possibility of returning to its former greatness.

“The L Word” Season Five: C+
The finale: B

TV on DVD: The L Word (Season Three)

MAJOR spoilers below regarding events throughout the third season of the show.

There is nothing more disappointing than a great show which falters in its run. From the first moment of the season premiere, something was off. The new direction the show takes is really quite unfortunate. The line-connections that are drawn before the opening credits are dumb. It was somewhat inevitable that Dana and Lara would get back together, but not like this. Alice in this season is creepy and clingy to a truly obnoxious point. The break-up could have served as a fascinating plotline, but it is skipped over in favor of a few brief flashbacks. Dana becomes uncharacteristically harsh, and killing off one of the show's best characters seems like a poor decision.

I am of the firm conviction that Jenny should have been written out of the show. Her character was headed down a despicable road during season two, and headed back home to work out her issues. Why she was brought back is a mystery. She is easily the most detestable character on television, and new addition Moira/Max is just uninteresting. Though s/he should be a fascinating character, every scene with both Jenny and Max are cringe-worthy and awkward. I seriously considered fast-forwarding every time either of them came on screen. Tim correctly diagnoses Jenny's insanely messed up tendencies in his brief guest-starring role.

The inclusions of both Max and Helena in all the gatherings of the group seem more than forced. It is hard to believe that both of them would be so readily invited to personal events like Dana's memorial ash-scattering. The other characters also suffer from poor plotlines and personality changes. Shane and Carmen become a generally unexciting couple, and they no longer spark as they should. I also find it bizarre that Shane would so quickly dump Carmen at the altar based on something the father she hardly knew did. Bette is a pathetic wimp, and Tina is a controlling, selfish bitch. Their baby custody war only gets decent at the end of the season.

It is not all bad, though. Angus is a fun new character, and his relationship with Kit is entertaining. Dallas Roberts, who had an excellent breakthrough role in the little-seen "A Home at the End of the World" a few years ago, serves as a nice Token Male Character replacement for Tim and Mark. Alan Cumming is just fantastic as Kit's new employee, and enhances every scene he is in. The episode following Dana's death reaches close to the quality the show used to have. The finale is so-so, the best part being Helena getting cut off, which should make her character all the more entertaining. And Holland Taylor is just awesome as Peggy Peabody.

I am really hoping that the fourth season of the show is much better, and I think it does stand a decent chance. I believe that at least four new cast members are added, and I do hope they are intriguing. The characters will hopefully bounce back and continue to become enraveled in thoughtful and enjoyable storylines. The fourth season is coming to DVD in October, and I plan to watch it in December. The fifth season premieres on Showtime in January. For now, I have a ton of "Battlestar Galactica" to get through.

"The L Word" Season Three: C-

TV on DVD: The L Word (Season Two)

Minor spoilers about events in the second season included. Avoid reading if you have not seen the season and plan to watch the show.

The second season of "The L Word" continues the greatness of the first season despite a few unfortunate tweaks. The opening credits now include a bizarre montage and obnoxious theme, unlike the bouncy and quick tune from the first year. Weird whispering also pervades a number of the scenes each episode. Jenny's storyline takes a turn for the slightly creepy and altogether disturbing. I do praise the second season for several things, however. The aftermath of Tina and Bette's breakup is very well played out, and all characters contribute well to the dramatic and often comedic situations. Dana and Alice finally get together is great, and all their scenes together, especially sneaking around, are lots of fun. Having roommate Mark not be the typical, lesbian-porn-loving male is fantastic, and he proves to be a fascinating character, especially his relationship with Shane.

Guest star Ossie Davis is very good as Bette's dying father, and has some powerful scenes with both Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier (Kit). My pick for best guest star of the season is Charles S. Dutton as Benjamin Bradshaw, the author of the "Theory of Everything" book and a love for interest for Kit. He brings an uncommon male energy to the show, and is truly excellent (the man learned to act in jail! He is awesome). The best performances of the season come from newcomers Sarah Shahi and Rachel Shelley, who really add a lot to the show. As Carmen, Shahi is energetic and very open about her feelings, and causes Shane to consider her lifestyle. Shelley is unapolegetic and manipulative yet still likeable as Helena Peabody, who ends up influencing Bette and Tina's lives more than anyone could imagine. Overall, a great second season not quite as amazing as the first, but still lots of fun.

"The L Word" Season Two: B+

TV on DVD: The L Word (Season One)

I had seen a few episodes of season one back when they aired in 2004, and liked the show but did not have the chance to get into it. I rented the first season, and I am already well into the second. The characters are so rich and well-written, and most importantly, they all have verifiable jobs which they go to every single day (unlike, say, "Hidden Palms"). The cast is terrific, and the real standouts are supporting players Leisha Hailey and Erin Daniels, as bisexual journalist Alice and shy tennis pro Dana, respectively. The show goes so deeply into the lesbian culture while still providing an extremely accessible environment for viewers. The main title theme music is great, and the "lesbian incident" clips that are shown beforehand in each episode are a lot of fun. Highly recommended viewing, but beware of graphic sexuality, lots of nudity, and pretty unlimited language.

"The L Word" Season One: A-