The L Word - The Complete First Season Reviews

• So... what is it about?

  
  By A2DZK7Q8ZEJCOJ on 2004-08-17
  Museum director Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) and executive Tina Kennard (Laurel Holloman), a committed couple for 7 years, are planning to start a family.
  Their next-door neighbor is swimming coach Tim (Eric Mabius), who is preparing for his girlfriend, Jenny ( Mia Kirshner),a talented young writer, to move in. Soon after mixing with Bette and Tina's circle of lesbian friends, Jenny learns that her Midwest background may not have prepared her for what she will soon learn about life, lust and love in Los Angeles.
  
  Bette's sister, Kit (Pam Grier) is battling with her alcoholism and trying to keep her music career going. Dana (Erin Daniels) struggles with her identity as a closeted lesbian while advancing in the world of professional tennis.
  Shane (Kate Moennig), an assistant hair stylist by day and resident player by night, always keeps the women satisfied. Writing for a local magazine, Alice (Leisha Hailey) makes sure she's in the know about everyone and everything. Their lives and loves are discussed and played out at the local coffee shop/club, The Planet, run by Marina (Karina Lombard).
  
  The L word is most definitely one of my favorite shows. I can't wait to own it on DVD. The story is well written, the characters engaging. This first season also has excellent guest stars including Ossie Davis, Holland Taylor, Lolita Davidovich, Rosanna Arquette and many more. This series gets my highest recommendation.
  
  As for the DVD itself:
  The episode list:
  1.1 Pilot
  1.2 Let's do it
  1.3 Longing
  1.4 Lies, lies, lies
  1.5 Lawfully
  1.6 Losing it
  1.7 L'ennui
  1.8 Listen up
  1.9 Luck, next time
  1.10 Liberally
  1.11 Looking back
  1.12 Locked up
  1.13 Limb from limb
  
  Extra DVD features include:
  - An Original Puppet Show Performed by the Cast
  - Photo Gallery
  - Audio commentary by Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals on the pilot episode
  
  
  

• The L Word is great, but DVD box set is lacking

  
  By A3NJDTIEZY1I06 on 2004-11-08
  At long last, the entire first season of the L word is out on DVD! And while fans of the show are undoubtedly thrilled, as a DVD buff, I was less than thrilled with the lack of extras on the set. Any fan of Star Trek or Xena knows box sets covering those TV classics are chock full of extras such as bloopers, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes interviews with the stars, commentaries, and more. Early reports said this box set would have some such content, but it evidently didn't make it into this season's offering.
  While the box set does have an extra disc dedicated to special features, most of these features have either been seen on Showtime or available in print-form on the Web. For example, "the L Word Defined" is a special that Showtime aired several months ago while promoting TLW, and while it's always nice to watch reruns, once is normally enough. There are some behind-the-scenes featurettes about the fashion designers, and we get to see a little bit of what goes into dressing the character of Dana Fairbanks (Erin Daniels), and the process dressing each of the characters. We get cast bios, some selected fan mail, and a Season 2 preview (which is also currently running on Showtime).
  The most original, and probably the funniest, piece on the set is a puppet show created by the cast. A spoof based on Marina and Jenny's first meeting, it will crack you up laughing. Evidently, these ladies have entirely too much time on their hands or have a damn good time hanging out together. Either way, it's pretty darn funny. Kudos to the creators!
  Even though it's not as packed full of goodies as we'd like, it's still nice to have all the episodes of the L word on DVD without worrying about someone erasing the TIVO! Enjoy!
  
  

• What The L Word Really Stands For

  
  By A2AOAD98YC98XB on 2004-11-09
  In one simple word: lame. The only reason this show was a hit and re-newed for a second season is the fact that gay women are so desperate for a t.v. show where they can identify with the characters. This is Showtime's sorry lesbian fill-in for Sex and the City and falls short of its well-written, superbly acted "brother" Queer as Folk.
  
  Bette and Tina "ground" their friends with their seemingly perfect lifestyle and when things run amok they assume that the answer to their lack of "marital bliss" would be to bring a child into the world.
  
  The foil to Tina and Bette finds us with Shane, the only one in the group I actually like, who is lucky enough to have women, both attractive and rich, panting like puppies to jump in her bed.
  
  Dana and Alice, a feminine version of Martina Navritolova and a bisexual six degrees of separation guru, respectively, have a somewhat playful yet overly typical lesbian friendship and by the end of the episodes all you wish was that Shane would cut the dangling bangs covering Alice's eyes.
  
  What would a drama be without a character made to suffer the trials and tribulations of alcohol abuse nowadays? That is where Kit, Bette's half sister comes in. By the end of the season, Kit seems to have "drunk too much punch" as she questions whether or not she can love a cross-dressing mullet sporting woman who goes by the name of Ivan.
  
  Karina Lombard, who was not asked back for the second season stars as Marina, a sultry seductive medusa who also manages the coffee clutch the gals frequent. I'm not quite sure how she turns a dime as her friends seem to have a never-ending unpaid latte tab.
  
  When Marina isn't whipping up frothy beverages she is seducing Jenny, a soon-to-be-married-waify-whiny-crying all the time-kind of just want to punch her-fiancee of the adorable Tim, played by Eric Mabius. Too bad the hottest scenes take place between the only straight couple on the show, huh?
  
  In a nutshell the writing in this show falters with a seemingly talented and attractive cast. The storylines seem drawn out and the characters don't really resonate, the way I had hoped they would with my own life. While I applaud Showtime for going "beyond limits", take your money elsewhere and invest in a solid, fluid, stellarly casted and thought provoking series: Queer As Folk. You'll be drawn in and craving more instantly
  
  

• It's about time!

  
  By AIQ8GKV5BDX7K on 2004-11-01
  I watched every episode of The L Word when it came on T.V.. While it's refreshing that lesbians are finally being represented seriously with their own weekly drama, I found the season to be a bit of a let down. With all of the hype leading up to it, most of us waited with baited breath to see what was in store. But once you got past the first two passion filled episodes the rest were a bit slow and a tad lacking in realism. I actually find Queer as Folk to be a more compelling weekly drama for gays and lesbians than The L Word. Most of the trials and tribulations of the characters were superficial and shallow and have been done already in one form or another. The casting and acting were definitely superb, but other than asking a straight actress to play a lesbian they weren't truly challenged in their craft. A majority of the lesbians I know do not identify with the skirt wearing, purse carrying characters who have little worry about money and making ends meet that are portrayed here(it is L.A.). However, since it is the only show of it's kind on television right now it is definitely worth seeing. Besides, the first season is always about getting to know the characters. Based on where they left us at the end of the season, the writers seem to have gotten all of the cliches out of their system and may actually be ready for some storylines and character arcs with depth and growth for the characters. I would recommend the DVD set just so that you have the background before the second season begins.
  
  

• Fantastic - Can't Wait Until It's Out! (Pardon the Pun)

  
  By A3EKSPNHYY9LKA on 2004-07-18
  I saw the series on showtime and I was hooked since the first episode. The characters and their lives are detailed, complex, and very entertaining. They all have their quirks and it's great to see a collection portraying lesbians as normal people. The relationships between all eight woman (20s to early 30s)are complex yet you still "get" the feelings they encounter with eachother.

  There is plenty of sexual scenes however you don't feel like your watching porn because it's filled with various emotions: passion, lust, desire, pain, and much more. It varies from casual sex to commitment so you're covered any way you go.

  Anyone who's looking for something more than just girl on girl porn and movies that lack any plot please watch/buy this. You're gauranteed to love the characters and wish some of them were your own friends. Enjoy!
  
  

• Loving these Lovely Ladies
  By AL5OEDM8TPTKV on 2005-01-23
  Perhaps the L Word originally intended to cast a net to catch a small niche audience; women wanting to see their lives represented on television. The end result of the L Word, however, casts a large net by telling compelling, interesting stories of compelling, interesting women.
  
  Set in in the great sin city, Los Angeles, the L Word tells the story of several women who are friends. Bette and Tina, the show's "power couple", start the series trying to concieve a child and suffer the problems of finding an adequate sperm donor. Tennis player Dana is just starting to come to terms with her orientation and the demands of a burgeoning successful career. Writer Alice, the group's bisexual, plays sweet while dealing with a kooky mother and a male "self-professed lesbian". Shane, who starts out as the show's loose cannon, grows into her character as the episodes progress to a complex woman actually dealing with strong feelings. And then there's Tim and Jenny, who test the bounds of their relationship when Jenny starts an affair with coffee shop owner, sultry Marina. Each of these women are self-realized and very real.
  
  Kudos goes to the women who play these characters honestly, and realistically. You can see each of them grow into their performances as they get comfortable in their characters skins, especially with Jennifer Beals portrayal of Type-A Bette. Also, kudos to Mia Kirshner, who gives Jenny's struggle through the first season real heart and intrigue. She is everyone who has ever struggled with their sexual identity, and Mia nails the struggle on the head.
  
  However, it's one Pam Grier, who plays Bette's straight sister Kit, who will run away with your heart as she wrestles with the demons of her alcoholic past. Pam is absolutely luminous in her role; somehow managing to play each scene with dignity and sorrow. If one should be turned off by the content of the show, one should watch it if only for Grier's beautiful performance.
  
  And the content of the show is definitely not for everyone. Easily offensive to those people who prefer one closed-minded version of the world, the L Word may not be for them. However, for the rest of us who love a good story, and who love to see strong women characters dealiing with life's issues, the L Word should be on our must-see list.
  
  
• L is for..
  By AB5G9319DS5LY on 2004-11-14
  Longing--which is pretty much how the DVD set leaves you due to the poorly done extras. That said, however, the Pilot Episode commentary by Ilene Chaiken (exec. producer) and Jennifer Beals (Better Porter) does more than make up for the poorly put-together extra's DVD on Disc 5.
  
  The series itself is groundbreaking, but it is lacking a bit of direction as with most First Season shows. Despite some flat episodes (Losing It, Locked Up, etc.), the series overall does a good job at bring about the main theme of the show--love.
  
  There is a bit of controversy at all the main characters being too "lipstick" to represent the lesbian scene, but I think it is important to note that the series only serves to portray the lives of a specific group of lesbians living in L.A. Having lived in Los Angeles, I have to agree with Chaiken's portrayal of its core cast--besides, it is impossible to explain every single spectrum of the [...] community.
  
  All in all, a very good show--I would've given the set 5 stars if the set had a bloopers/deleted scenes reel, but it didn't. I've grown attached to all the characters, and this DVD box set will hopefully last long enough before Season 2 premiers on Showtime on Feb. 20, 2005.
  
  
• Glued to my seat
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2005-11-21
  What a series! What a show!
  The L Word is a treat
  I started watching Season One
  And was glued to my seat
  
  Hot new $ex in hot new city
  With girls so hot they sizzle
  They even got Snoop Doggy Dogg
  Fo' shizzling his nizzle
  
  It's Jenny trying something new
  With Tim way out the loop
  And when she's caught Marina-ing
  She lands deep in the soup
  
  Bette and Tina want a child
  Shane likes breaking hearts
  Dana's racquet's closeted
  While Alice plays both parts
  
  Foxy Brown is back in town
  As Bette's straighter sister
  Bette's art show is so hot
  it almost starts to blister
  
  Girls in prison - quite a scene
  There's cheatin' going on
  Someone takes Shane's hardened heart
  And it gets trampled on
  
  With all the girls so very close
  It should be tense, but dammit!
  Every day, like Central Perk
  The Earthlings hit The Planet
  
  The acting's great, the stories real
  So when you need a break
  Plop right down and play this one
  It'll keep you wide awake
  
  
  Amanda Richards, November 21, 2005
  
  
  
• MUST SEE TV
  By A2RUJAHQLGIOGP on 2004-08-07
  I was patiently awaiting the airing of the show because the trailers for the series looked really refreshing and real. The first episode was wonderful and I became an instant fan of the show. I use to watch Queer as Folk when it first came on but it began to lose me because it seemed to be more about sex than about relationships which "The L Word" seems to concentrate more on in its series. Its hard for me to even watch Queer as Folk now after seeing how great the acting, producing and directing are on "The L Word". I am eagerly anticipating the second seaon and will own the first season on DVD when it is released in November.
  
  
• well I can't wait
  By A1EBIFCZ943EYB on 2004-09-29
  I'm in the UK and don't have Sky, so I can't wait until it is realised on dvd so I can see it.
  I've seen a number of clips and visit a messageboard thread that talks about it, and I'm hooked already!
  Shane seems to be my favorite...well ok she doesn't just seem it, she is lol. but everyone seems cool in their own ways.
  
  From what I've seen, the issue of lesbianism isn't sensationalised at all; it's just real normal life for most of the woman. Wait, it is sensationalised alittle...all of the women in the show are gorgeous, especially Kate Moennig, so yeah, it is sensationalised *smiles*. But not materially, only asthetically...if that makes sense, but in a good way.
  
  I recommend seeing this if you're a woman, primarily. It doesn't matter what your sexual oriantation is (unless you are totally narrow minded and/or grossed out by lesbianism of course); you'll find something to like about it. The characters are loving, funny, and for the most part, hugely endearing. It's amazing to think after watching clips that the shows subject matter is so contraversial. Hopefully not for much longer ay?
  
  It doesn't matter if you've seen it or not. If you like girly chats, coffee, relationship drama and a lot of funny moments, you'll love this!!
  
  
  
• "L" is for Lack of Imagination
  By ALLJT7S5QOFFZ on 2005-05-21
  I heard so many good things about this show that I went ahead and checked out the whole season from the library to see what all the hype was about.
  
  Now that I've watched every episode, I think the hype has mainly to do with the fact that these women are honest to goodness lesbians. It's not just some women coyly making kissy-face for the benefit of heterosexual men's arousal, it's about the actual relationships these women go through, and all the ups and downs. I like that, and I was very hopeful about the show not only being true to that but also giving me an inside look into a community I don't know very much about. I was looking forward to being not only entertained, but informed.
  
  Unfortunately, all I found when I got to this show was stiff acting, mediocre writing, and a closet full of material knocked off of other shows. Basically, this show is "Sex and the City" except it takes place in Los Angeles and everyone is gay. That's it! There's not much new here.
  
  Some of the things characters say are either grating in their unrealistic cheesiness, or downright unbelievable. In the very first episode, the token straight female character (who likely won't remain straight for long in this world of shifting sexual identity) makes a speech about how the characters need to stick together and really love one another and be a family or something like that. It's the kind of speech you find tucked into movies when people need motivating. The problem is that after one episode, I am not invested in these people enough to really believe what she's saying, and it sounds fake. This character is played by Pam Grier, a wonderful actress who has put on a lot of weight recently. I found myself actually worrying more about her health than about her character!
  
  The two main people seem to be Bette and Tina. Bette is a biracial art gallery director played by Jennifer Beals (yes, the girl from "Flashdance") and she is the one getting top billing for this show, so much of the story revolves around her. She and her partner of seven years, Tina (Laurel Holloman -- yes, the girl from "Angel") are trying to have a baby and the first episode tracks them as they try to get some sperm. At one point, Bette is asked by the doctor to go down on Tina to "relax" her while they're in the office. This is the most exploitative, unrealistic thing I've ever seen. What's the point? We KNOW it's a show about lesbians, thanks Showtime. The episode is full of lines like, "[This cup of sperm looks so] disgusting! I can't believe I used to swallow that stuff." Is the show trying to make a statement about sexuality? The only person on the show who seems to have been actually "born" a lesbian is the tennis player character, Dana. But not a single episode explores the causes of sexuality, it just makes side comments about them, and the comment seems to be that evey gay woman has a straight girl inside her somewhere. This is the myth that straight men like to perpetuate -- as if every gay woman just needs a good man to "snap her out of it." I call it the Ben Affleck syndrome, and I am so disappointed that it's being perpetuated on this show.
  
  The show isn't really that funny, and the characters are too broadly drawn to really hit home. Beals has a few good moments when she's fighting for artisic freedom at her gallery against a group of cardboard-cut-out conservatives, but her character is done an extreme diservice in the worst episode by far, which is "Locked Up." In this episode, Bette is thrown into jail for fighting with protestors, along with the lesbian who's doing her gallery construction for the controversial exhibit. Her attraction to this woman and her decision to cheat on Tina don't seem true to her character, and this episode features the two of them in a jail cell. The scene is laughable, not only for its unrealistic depiction of what ACTUALLY happens when you're arrested (and yes, I know something about that) but because it looks like something straight out of a porn movie designed to arouse straight men. What a cop-out! It's sweaty and cheesy and such a diservice to these actors and these characters.
  
  Another irksome thing is the show's tendancy to open every episode with some kind of flashback. Most of these are totally pointless, only tangential to the story in that episode, and very poorly done. It reminds me of the first few seasons of "Sex and the City" when they used to have "real" New Yorkers commenting on the topic Carrie was writing about. The difference is that those were funny, and fun to watch. The openings of this show are emphatically not. Also annoying as hell is the "music" that plays over the opening credits. It sounds like the kind of computerized schlock that people come up with when they first figure out how to use their MIDI player. Are there any professionals in the house? Come ON, guys. Get with it.
  
  The best character/actress on this show is Shane, played by Katherine Moennig. Wow! I've never heard of her before, but she's amazing. She's gorgeous, and her character has the most interesting arc, and the most interesting history. Either she's practically the only actress capable of carrying off the bad writing, or she just gets all the best lines. Either way, she's a joy to watch and definitely on the list of women who are the answer to that question, "If you had to switch teams for anyone, who would it be?" Well now Shane/Katherine's up there with Angelina Jolie!
  
  The worst character is Jenny (Mia Kirshner). Aside from the actress being so skinny and pale that she's often painful to look at, her character is touted as being this fantastic writer -- yet the samples we are given of her work sound like a 7th grader's diary. Her character starts off as a straight girl living with her boyfriend cum fiancee Tim (the delicious, delicious Eric Mabius, who was often the only reason I stopped myself from skipping the crappier episodes). We are supposed to believe that she'd stray from this cushy set-up (rent free in LA!) and this gorgeous man so that she can go be a lesbian for awhile. Her character is grating, annoying, lying, conniving and so stupid that I kept hoping she'd be hit by a bus or otherwise removed from the proceedings. One can only hope her role will be cut down severely in the next season.
  
  But I won't know, because I won't be watching. This show is just not that great. I guess it's nice that gay women finally have a show of their own like gay men do (Actually gay men have a bunch -- all of them better done than this one!) but I think the lesbian community deserves better and can do better than this program. I don't think it represents them very well. After all, there's no way they're ALL fashion-model-thin thirty-somethings with plenty of money and free time! And to be quite frank, the world presented here is quite dull, and I don't believe the real lesbian community (in LA or ANY city) is this devoid of spark.
  
  So I'm sorry ladies, but I can't support you with this one -- I'll be busy watching something else.
  
  
• Watch this show and see if you dont get hooked
  By AQI2XG5308DIQ on 2004-10-02
  When i first watched this show i really wasnt expecting to get hooked. After watching the pilot i was completely and utterly hooked and eagerly awaiting the next episode. The show is interesting, funny, sexy and emotional. The show is headed by a group of L.A Lesbians, Bette and Tina, a commited couple trying to have a child, Dana, a tennis pro still closeted, Alice, a bisexual journalist who is 'searching for the same qualities in a man as a woman', Marina, owner of 'The Planet' a cafe where the gang frequently hang out, Jenny, a young woman who has just moved to the city to be with her boyfriend Tim and after a racy encounter with Marina is questioning herself and her sexuality and last but not least Shane, the heart throb of the group who always gets all the girls . Then theres Kit, Bette's straight half sister and also cant forget the one guy in the show Tim, Jennys's boyfriend and also Bette and Tina's neighbour. The first season of this show went through many interesting storylines and really introduced us to the characters, every week was as interesting as the last and kept you wanting more. I am eagerly awaiting the next season.
  
  
• Good Show, Fun Cast, Easy To Watch, Good Guest Stars
  By A2A1HDK1NXG1S2 on 2004-11-12
  .
  If you're considering this boxed set, then likely you've already seen the show. There's a lot written about the plot, characters and cast, so I thought I'd take some time to review the Bonus Disk in this set.
  
  Disk 5 - in the same case as Disk 4 - contains Bonus Features. All of which are explained below :
  
  Fashion Extras - This is a behind the scenes feature with the fashion consultants for the show. It shows them shopping for each characters wardrobe and includes a fitting session with Erin Daniels (Dana).
  
  Puppet Movie - This is actually worth the price of the set. It's a terrifically funny "mouth puppet" presentation by some of the cast. It includes a recap of several scenes and show an appreciation of a cast that does not take itself too seriously. My particular favorite part is towards the end, where we see their trailers. I laughed out loud. This is a keeper.
  
  The L Word Defined - Basically the extended promo that appeared on Showtime. There's a lot here about how the L Word is NOT the Lesbian Queer As Folk. To quote Guin Turner, the L Word has "a lot less drugs and a lot less dancing". You have to love her for that. We'll excuse the fact that QAF does feature two pretty fabulous lesbians.
  
  Wardrobe Closet - This is just a still photo gallery with information on each character that also directs you to a website for more information. Do we need more information on their clothes? Um, anyone? Painfully, there is no background soundtrack on this feature.
  
  Season 2 Sneak Peak - Just that, a montage of snippets from upcoming Season 2 episodes. Lots of teasers and glimpses of guest stars.
  
  Power-Up Panel - This is a moderator lead panel discussion featuring some of the cast, producers and Showtime execs talking about the show. Power-Up is a professional organization for lesbians and women in the Entertainment, Arts and Media fields. You can check out their website. This is an interesting feature, though the camera work is shakey.
  
  Fan Mail - Well, its basically... fan mail. Yes, you read that right, this is still pictures of women who wrote in praising the show, and typed out versions of their letters. Again, painfully, there is no background sound track. I guess it's cool for the women featured, but otherwise, I was sort of bored.
  
  Biographies - Again with the still picture (would putting in clips have been so difficult) and a type written bio on each featured actress/actor. Again no background music or soundtrack. You can get this information anywhere, and incase you didn't know... Jennifer Beals was in a quiet little film called "Flashdance" before starring in The L Word.
  
  Photo Gallery - Finally, some music! This is stills from the show, cast and crew, edited to music. Some you've probably seen already, from the Showtime website.
  
  Previews - No, not of the L-Word but of other Showtime programs: "Fat Actress" and "Queer As Folk" (dvds).
  
  Promotions - Well, at least they tell you what you're getting. Basically, commercials.
  
  Though I've read several descriptions indicating a gag/blooper reel. I was not able to find out. It's possible that it's hidden, read "as an Easter Egg", but I haven't been able to locate it yet.
  
  Hope this was helpful. Enjoy your set.
  
  
• The L Word Is...
  By A6YK7TEYVSSA3 on 2005-01-15
  Lame! Very, very lame. Now, I know most will be disgruntled with this review; I can't help but to find the show tedious and boring. Is this supposed to be controversial television? Pretty much change the lesbian tension to heterosexual tension and you would have any nighttime soap on television.
  
  I am a big fan of Queer as Folk and the comparisons are pointless. Queer as Folk is a better show, with better writing, better acting and characters that make you feel something and even, if you watch long enough, make you feel as if you know them. While watching the L Word; I was just begging for these women to shut up. I mean, it was pretty much bed-hopping, complaining and then sitting around drinking lattes and complaining some more. Deadly boring in my point-of-view but would it have hurt to insert some humor, some light-heartedness?
  
  Also, I keep reading in these reviews that finally a show that represents lesbians? I do congratulate them for moving beyond the butch stereotype but they traded it for another stereotype, the femme one. I'd love to see a show where the lesbians were more than just lipstick lesbians and have it where all types were involved. At least QAF does that much.
  
  But overall, bad acting, bad plots, bad characters. This is television at it's worst.
  
  
• Mediocrity rules
  By A3KBG7E1XSNTYC on 2005-04-20
  I can't believe people are giving this good reviews. It is definitely mediocre at best. While I think Queer As Folk is one of the best series ever made, this pales drastically in comparison. I'm a gay guy with a lot of lesbian friends and none of them are like the characters on this show. Whereas QAF is somewhat realistic and depicts a wide range of gay male types, every single character on the L word is a "lipstick lesbian" and totally feminine. This is not real life. They should have cast a few really butch women, a few soft butch women and a couple of really femme girls, THAT would have been realistic. None of these characters ever seem to be at work, they are always at restaurants and coffeehouses. The stories are dull and ineffective, and the acting is terrible. Most of the actresses seem to not want to kiss each other and to not be very comfortable with it. They don't seem like people who have been in long relationships. And why isn't there even one gay male character on the show? A buddy? Something? On QAF, they at least have a lesbian couple. And a few older people. On the L Word, everyone is a slick, hot twentysomething. Again, not very true to life. Well, except for the awesome Pam Grier, who is wasted in a nothing role in this. And don't get me started on Mia Kirschner. She looks like she has an eating disorder, because she's so sickly thin. I just wanted to sit her down and make her eat some pancakes. The one interesting character is Shane, who isn't given enough storyline. This is a boring, unrealistic, attempt at a lesbian soap that doesn't ring true. Be warned.
  
  
• LoveLy!!
  By A3S1G5T9NBTPTM on 2004-10-27
  Ok, if you want to see some girl on girl action on your TV screen, and also show your sensitivie side to your girlfriend, then this is the series for you. You get to see the hottest girls on TV make out ( and more ) as well as see some good plots and acting ( FYI it's rare that these two ideologies meet - which is probably why people keep buying porn - to see if the acting has gotten any better - NOT! ). But seriously, after the initial exciting nude scenes, I was actually interested in the characters and their development! ( Wow, I sound so like a lesbian right now - and i'm a guy! ). This series reminds me of the old thirtysomething series,except with lesbian love scenes, less boring and hotter women).
  
  
• What Has . . .
  By A3D1O13V1QMTVC on 2005-02-26
  . . . 18 legs and laments incessantly . . . 'The L Word'. These self inflicted dejected, disappointed, grieving, heart-sick, melancholy, miserable, bellyachers are the poster children for those groups of trendy home owning-high end European car driving-never satisfied with being successful-comfortable-financially stable-so all they do is whine about everything that nobody cares about. Could you tell I cannot stand this show even one inch. These characters put the 'Thirty-Something' cast to shame. My advice to the L chicks: get a life or maybe take all that time you spend in despair and do some volunteer work for the underprivileged. Just a suggestion.
  
  
• A definite must-see!
  By A27XLRTG0ZIDNO on 2005-04-03
  When I first heard the premise for The L Word, I was pretty skeptical. A show centering around a group of lesbians seemed very gimmicky. Still, I decided to take a chance on it and give it a try because it seemed like something different from what is usually offered on television.
  
  It's a good thing I did. The L Word is probably the smartest, most thought-provoking, sexiest, and, most importantly, incredibly entertaining show to premiere on TV in years. By the end of the first episode, I was already caught up in the lives of these great characters. What struck me most was that I found myself forgetting these were lesbians. I came to think of them simply as people trying to live their lives the best way they could, which is what the writers were trying to go for.
  
  The acting is just terrific. Jennifer Beals is so good, she makes you forget she is the girl from Flashdance very quickly. Her best scene is when she is facing off against Faye Buckley on a TV show and is hit with an incredibly hateful critique. In my opinion, Mia Kirshner had the trickiest part as Jenny, the wide-eyed straight girl who almost instantly begins a same sex relationship with the very beautiful Marina. Many times I was rolling my eyes at what this girl was doing because she just seemed so aggravating, but she always seemed like a regular person caught up in an emotional whirlwind, which is a testament to Kirshner's skills. Really, though, the entire cast is great. By the end of the season, I couldn't find a weak link at all. Everyone cared about their character and it shows on screen.
  
  The writers also need to be commended. There were plenty of times when I didn't know why a character was doing what they did, but a few episodes later their reasoning would subtly be revealed, making it seem reasonable. Every character went through an emotional turning point by the end of the season, giving us an entire cast of well-developed characters, another rarity in television.
  
  I highly recommend this show. It is incredible and when the sad final scene is finished on the season finale, you will be left wanting more. Pick this up and find out for yourself what you've been missing.
  
  
• STUPENDOUSLY SENSUAL REALISTIC VIEWING
  By A1K05LI4NM7NJ on 2004-09-02
  It almost felt like a case of "beam me up scotty"...was living the moment, their/there every move.
  C'mon how often is it that a lesbian can truly relate to anything visual in the mainstream media? Far and few between, but The L Word, is a lesbians dream. Each and every characters idiosyncrasies fell like a shadow on the mojority of my lesbainian friends, highlighting their quirkyness, pitfalls, downfalls and hangups. A must see for any wanna-be, gonna-be, has-to-be womyn!
  
  
• Sweet, Loving & Surreal
  By A2LN20FJH5S58L on 2004-11-09
  This is one of the absolute best series I have seen in a long time! It focuses on the life, love and trials of being in a same sex relationship... it shows you the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. This series is not only targeted at GLBT commmunity, but also at heterosexuals as well. It was wonderfully created and has great characters! Way To Go!!! :)
  
  
• The L Word is ... HOT
  By A1NXIXA90TK9L on 2004-12-22
  My god ... where can I start? OK ,from the beginning. I am a 21 year old heterosexual female from England and I have no idea how I got into The L Word.
  
  I brought the box set from Amazon.com (obviously). When it arrived I sat down and in one night I watched 6 episodes ... yes 6 episodes. I couldn't stop. Never have I been so captivated by each episode since being introduced to the world of ALIAS.
  
  The L Word centres around Bette and Tina a Lesbian couple living in LA. After 7 years together they believe they are ready to start a family. Bette is the career minded (stressed) one and Tina recently quit her job as an Executive to have their baby. They have a relationship in which all their friends envy.
  
  Shane is the heartbreaker of the group, sleeps with all the girls then leaves them. She does have a good heart, but is longing for the togetherness that Bette and Tina have.
  
  Alice is the funky blonde writer for LA Magazine. She created "the chart" in which Shane is the hub (think of it as Shane is the centre of the universe). She can link any person (including herself) back to Shane within 6 moves (sometimes less!)
  
  Dana is the closeted pro-tennis player. Very smart, witty and very sexy but has no gay-dar. She develops a crush on Lara (an assistant chef at her Country Club) but will not act on her feelings. When she does she pushes Lara away. In my opinion, "Showtime" needs to use Dana more - give her something to get her teeth into like ... Alice!. Use her, she's a really talented actress.
  
  Tim and Jenny live next door to Bette and Tina. Jenny just moved to LA to be with Tim. She saw Shane and "her latest conquest" in Bette and Tina's pool and was intrigued. She later encounters Marina.
  
  Marina owns "The Planet" a hip, up and coming gay bar in Santa Monica - where everybody hangs out. She later starts a little somethin' somethin' with Jenny ... the seemingly straight Jenny.
  
  
  Believe me - it's compulsive viewing for anyone - gay, straight, bi or whatever ... its good.
  
  "Get out ... and stay out"
  
  
• Not Bad, But Not Worth the Hype
  By A3QC4SG7NA4ULG on 2005-09-14
  I often find myself bucking the tide, and here I go again. I avoided The L Word for a long time because I feared it would be unrealistic in its depiction of lesbians. Although I know there are lesbians in the real world who look totally straight, are extremely feminine, have tons of money and very mainstream values, I'd have to say that yes, my fears were realized. I've been out for 35 years and I know zero lesbians who match the profile of any of the women on this show. So then I had to decide if I could simply sit back and enjoy the show for what it is: cheesy entertainment. First I had to overcome my almost immediate hatred for the leading couple on the show, Bette and Tina, who spend the pilot episode trying to locate the appropriate sperm to make a baby via artifical insemination. Have these highbrow, professional ladies never heard of the sperm bank? Rather than doing it the scientific way, carefully choosing an anonymous donor from a reputable sperm bank, they interview their male friends and acquaintances, none of whom is just right. And then at the last minute, these two very choosy lesbians decide to have unprotected sex with a strange guy they pick up at a lecture! The stupidity and cluelessness of these two characters made my jaw drop. And over time, my interest in this couple never grew. Tina is vapid, dull and depressed; Bette is more dynamic, but humorless and dry. These women never seem to be having a good time! Making them the central characters is a serious weakness of this series.
  
  Other reviewers have mentioned the problems with the character of Jenny, so I won't bore the reader with repetitious criticisms, except to say that anytime Jenny is on the screen is a good time to take a bathroom break or get a beer from the fridge.
  
  But after watching the entire first season, I figured out what the strong suit of The L Word is: satire. When it's funny, it's really funny. Viewed as a satiric take on our up-to-the-moment political and cultural trends and fads, The L Word really shines. From Alice's "male lesbian" boy/girlfriend, Lisa, to the group therapy sessions for expectant parents, to Rosanna Arquette's kinky sexual predator, to Snoop Dogg's sleaze-ball hiphop impresario -- well, let's just say that I laughed out loud more than I expected to, and those moments were a real pleasure.
  
  In addition, the casting of Helen Shaver in the role of Bette's right-wing Christian fanatic nemesis was a stroke of genius. Shaver is loved by millions of middle-aged lesbians for her ultra-romantic turn as an uptight English professor brought to her lesbian senses in "Desert Hearts," and here she is cast as an activist, homophobic bigot with considerable skeletons in her own closet. Brilliant!
  
  Bottom line, The L Word turns out to be fairly entertaining if you don't look too deep or expect too much realism from these plastic, shiny, sleazy and flaky players.
  
  Oh, and one last thing - there seems to be more hot and loving sex depicted between heterosexuals than between the lesbians. What gives?
  
  
• One of the best shows ever!!!
  By A39DKISPBO6QG2 on 2004-11-28
  I just bought the complete first season, since unfortunately in Germany the L word is not shown...but i read about it in different magazines. I have to say, it is the best series I have ever seen. The actors are truly divine. They play their role so well, that I find myself thinking these characters really do exist out there. Jennifer Beals is amazing and deserves much of the credit, however, the other actresses shine in their own light as well. I can only highly recommend this DVD to everyone. I very much hope that season 2 will be available soon. Congratulations Ilene Chaikin, you really know your stuff.
  
  
• Great for all
  By A3NZDMRW185I7K on 2004-12-24
  Im 18 and from Cali. Well let me just say i first started watching "The L Word" because my perv best guy bud thought it would be interesting to rent on a friday night. I gave in and sat down to watch with him and i loved it. It was totally different and even though im straight it totally made me love lesbians. They rock. I would recommend "The L Word" to everyone.
  
  
• Great Show, Fantastic Title
  By A2IH1WAMD75W69 on 2005-03-05
  This show and its collection of the first season's episodes should be watched by all. It will open you mind to the realities that face lesbians; the invisible gay sect. The L Word is such an appropriate title because so many people are uncomfortable using the word "L"esbian. Watch the show and you will certainly see why "L" can stand for so many things that anyone can encounter each day; thus bringing the world a little closer together.
  What I liked the most about the show is its spontaneity. Each relationship "goes with the flow" as Shane would put it. And life deals each one of us a set of cards exactly the same, regardless of sexual preference. Don't be surprised if you find yourself identifying with one of the issues presented by the show and, bang, you are hooked.
  ENJOY!
  
  
• This is no reality show...
  By A2MGJ2LB5ZJ7E on 2005-06-15
  Just once I'd like to see a gay themed show where it's all kept real. Unless L stands for lackluster, pass this series up. All the stereotypes are represented and there's not a heterosexual neighbor to be found for miles. And who are these "power lesbians?" Most of the gay women I know are scattered about in typical careers and they are not making six figure incomes and most of them mix and mingle with a garden variety of people, gay, straight and whoever might be wedged in between. True power lesbians like Ellen and Rosie are more down to earth than the nonsensical drama dykes who are portrayed here. Sure, some lesbians live in exclusive gay communities, but this is not the norm. Some lesbians have mullets, play acoustic folk guitar, drive pickups, don't shave their legs, hate men and own a couple cats. And then again, many don't. Gay tv needs some sort of middle ground where the men are not all interior decorators and the women are not all working in construction and look like they could be the centerfold for the LL Bean catalog. Call me when that happens. And all the lipstick lesbians are not living in LA. As for Jennifer Beal? She looked hotter before all the lifts back in her Flashdance days. The L word is the PU word.
  
  
• Absorbing Show, Terrible DVDs
  By A31SJA6RUV406I on 2005-07-07
  I have a weakness for soap operas that rarely gets indulged; by soaps, I mean melodramatic interpersonal stories with surprise twists, a reliable stream of storylines about conflict-sex-conflict, and most of all: storytelling that makes me unbearably curious about what happens next. Yet I don't watch daytime soaps because mostly the acting is terrible (the actors have no prep time to learn their lines), the plotlines too convoluted and unrealistic (they have to fill five hours a week, which is a grind on creativity) and the writing is really bad (see re: creativity). Most primetime TV shows are episodic in nature, except for a few nice examples like this show, THE L WORD, and THE OC. I recommend this DVD set only if you think you'd like soapy melodrama about a pack of glossy lesbians (more beautiful and thin than your even porno "lesbians") living and loving in Los Angeles. Though the show gets into serious issues (which is a soap staple!) and has some great interpersonal drama, this is NOT the gritty and realistic series to finally show the reality of being gay and female in America.
  
  I'd rate the show a solid FOUR STARS, but the DVD set deserves TWO STARS, which averages out to THREE STARS.
  
  The show is fun and enjoyable melodrama (my sister and I refer to it as "our lesbian psychodrama"). The acting is uniformly good -- Jennifer Beals is particularly good as the brisk career-woman Bette, a woman who is no-nonsense about always getting her own way, though she is softened by compassion and humor. Mia Kirshner plays Jenny, engaged to her college sweetheart, who finds herself foundering as she falls in lust (or is it love?) with the beautiful Marina. Kirshner is great in acting out Jenny's increasing emotional instability, making you feel for her even as she cheats on the man who loves her. And Katherine Moennig plays the rock-star hot Shane, who seduces everyone in her path, yet genuinely seems like a sweet human being. I'm a straight chick, and yet I could feel the sexual magnetism of Moennig -- the girl is HOT. The storylines are satifyingly complicated, which I won't spoil much, but people hop in and out of bed with regular frequency(...) The sex scenes are shot tastefully enough to qualify as "arty" rather than "porny", but still, the actresses are beautiful enough to make it sexy. It's the kind of show that works really well on DVD too, with having all the eps at your fingertips, because I don't know if I have the presence of mind to catch this weekly.
  
  The DVD set itself is meh though. There are precious few extras or commentaries, which I'm cool with: I don't need bells and whistles for my guilty pleasure. I really recommend renting these DVDs, because I don't know if the show stands up to repeat viewings; rent them first, and if you get hooked on the glossy lesbian MELO-drama, then buy.
  
  Final review: cool & fun soapy show, not precisely a classic for the ages.
  
  
• Can't Get enough of the Girls
  By ACB87KGI7F84S on 2004-10-29
  I absolutly can't wait for THE L WORD dvd set to some out on Nov 9th. This Show is history in the making. The cast and the characters storylines are remarkable. I recommmend the everyone watch the show on Showtime and to buy the dvd set. Bette and Tina forever
  
  
• Great series - can't wait for season 2
  By A1NNFE77EPRSJ3 on 2004-11-19
  I first heard about this show from a friend in Vancouver who raved about how good it is. So I watched the first episode and I must admit that I was disappointed with the image of the show. I found that the women were too trendy, stylish, attractive and well, too feminine. They don't look nor dress like any lesbians I know.
  Two things that bother me about the first season: the character Jenny is tiresome, annoying, immature, and just too messed up. The second thing is that they seem to put so much focus on her and not enough on the storyline of some of the other characters. But other than that,the dialogue and situations are very real. The show deals with a lot of issues that not only gay people face (having children, coming out, etc.), but also straight people who are in the dating scene. It is witty, very funny, intelligent, and exciting. The writing is such that you can relate to the characters. They face normal, everyday issues and deal with them in a way that makes me think, yeah that is how someone would react in that situation.
  Unlike Queer as Folk with its over-abundance of and focus on sex, the sex scenes in The L Word complement the storyline. The sex is erotic rather than in-your-face in graphic detail.
  And the music! To hear songs from groups like Portishead and Bet. e & Stef is such a treat. The show's producers have this uncanny ability to choose the perfect music that fits so well with the scenes.
  I highly recommend it. This is a show for people who are looking for something fresh, different, exciting, and well... sexy.
  
  
• Enough with the whining!
  By A1CTIKA3VATWRV on 2004-12-21
  I have been waiting for a long time, like most lesbians, to have a series to relate to on TV. When Queer as Folk came along, I fell in love with it, even though it is mostly about gay men. Then The L Word FINALLY entered the picture! While I'll agree that the character of Jenny is annoying (to say the least), and that the first/second episode was a little boring and hard to get through, I will not agree with most other points people have made about the show. I'm so tired of reading reviews where people say the women on the show don't look like anyone they know. I look like them, and I am proud to! It's great to see that Showtime doesn't play into stereotypes and make them all butch and brawny. There are all types of lesbians out there, and these gals may not look like all of us, but the point is that they DO look like some of us! So stop the whining, and just be thankful that you can watch lesbians on TV at all! And one more thing - Shane is so hot! It is worth watching the whole season just for her! But please, watch this season-it's well worth the money and you will fall in love with this show!
  
  

• The L Word - The Complete Second Season
• The L Word - The Complete Third Season
• The L Word - The Complete Fourth Season
• The L Word - The Complete Fifth Season
• Better Than Chocolate