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| TIME FOR SOME ENLIGHTMENT |
Written by elzzz
While browsing around this web site for the past 2 days, it has come to mind that there is a lot of anger & negativity around here about the last 2 seasons of the L word.
When I ask myself why? I can relate to some of it, but in the end I think we lose track...
With the L word coming out as a TV series, a lot of lesbians were happy that there finally was a full lesbian TV show, that would go in depth into their lives.
There were all sorts of characters and personally I was very happy with the non-stereotyped cast :-)
A bit of everything, for everyone... perfect!
And it was this start where we grew to love each and everyone of the characters by itself...
So the conclusion would be:
We were all happy that there finally was a full lesbian TV series.
Now being it the first full lesbian series, it is it very difficult to make every single lesbian out there happy to build the characters in that way we can all relate to it.
I would say it's impossible.
If we were straight, we would care less about the characters in the L word if we didn't like them.. or the way the storyline evolves.
Just because of the simple fact that there would be many other choices in what we watch.. if it's either a movie or a tv series. There would be a lot more out there where we could relate to.
And that is were the problem lies I think. We demand too much from one show.
We all were so happy that the L word came out, that we put all our hope in that particular series. And with a tunnel focus like that, people just get a bit wound up over something that they should understand to enlighten a bit.
For me I was and still am happy with the first reason why I watched the L word :
It has beautiful women, sex, drama, interesting characters, humor and unexpected plotlines.
Of course there was a tear for dana in season 3, but I sure did have laugh, especially the dana-alice stalker situation was brilliant.
And I think, overall we shouldn't take all the characters and some of the storylines as seriously as some people do now, just go with the flow and see what every season brings us... If the show gets a few more years, i'm sure there will be more than enough in it for all of us.
Stay open minded,
Els
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2006-04-04, 11:42:27 AM
From: Ragazzi
Comments: The L word jumped sharked when Ilene started shoving Betty band as actors and made EzGal a writer and producer. Soemone who does not have what it takes to be a serious producer. Everything went doen hill from then.PLEASE ILENE, FIX IT.
2006-04-04, 15:38:01 PM
From: yorkchic
Comments: I totally agree! I watched each episode in amazement. There is simply too much going on in each episode, things moving too quickly therefore not giving enough time to develop reactions of the characters. A case in point, in the last episode we learn that Kit is pregnant. There is one quick scene each with Bette and Mingus and this is a major thing esp for a women in so-called menopause. WHY do the writers make such assinine (?) choices?????????? I loved the L-Word first season because I could relate to it, I applauded the efforts after hating films like Bound that were so unrealistic to me. Now the L-Word is classed in that category- far-fetched and loopy. what a drag!
2006-04-04, 16:35:56 PM
From: notshane
Comments: Reading your depressingly accurate summary of LWord Season 3, and following the postings on other sites, I have come to an obvious conclusion: unfortunately, the bulk of the demographics (lesbians) who should be enjoying this show are way too smart to tolerate the piss poor storytelling or character development shown by the writers. The blame for this debacle can be laid squarely on the shoulders of Ilene Chaiken and her sidekick exgirl.
2006-04-04, 18:11:49 PM
From: hotnote
Comments: Ragazzi has hit the L Word nail on the head! It started in season 2 when we had to put up with that horrible, insulting new intro and theme song courtesy of Betty! Then we had to watch them try to act and continue to put up with various versions of the theme littered throughout season 2. It then got worse season 3 with EZ now writing and producing and the theme was still there!!! Do they really think we will swallow that crap!!
2006-04-04, 19:12:11 PM
From: lillyyellow
Comments: Sorry Els ... can't agree. When a TV show comes on the air, gay or straight, and we begin to care about the characters, it feels like a betrayal when the writers bail and disregard the truths. That is why people are upset. There is sooo much BS on this show - exploitation (remember Mark?), teenage boy sex put into 20-30 something smart women who are sensual and sexy - something very different than shallow humping maniacs ... characters with real emotional crisis are given 10 more seconds to finish their crisis ... so much untruth and so much playing down below our intelligence. This show would be embarrassing if it were straight. Why should we have to settle? Why give up our sense of good taste and integrity simply because it's a lesbian show. It's 2006, the world has evolved - we deserve to expect better.
2006-04-04, 19:35:41 PM
From: bleumoon
Comments: I agree that in many ways TLW has "jumped the shark." However, here is the thing: this show is based in LA, specifically West Hollywood and as a newcomer to the area, I see a lot of what LA is seemingly about in this show and these characters. In this geographic region I have never met more flakes and drama queens and people in serious need of psychotherapy in my life! (and I grew up in Southern California, so this isn't like total culture shock, as if I had moved here from the MidWest or Canada or something.) I think he show in many ways reflects its geographic reality. Sad to say, but in many ways, it's true. As far as story arc and plot development is concerned, I am disappointed in I. Chaiken and ezgirl, to be sure, but I am most disappointed in A.M. Homes, the other major writer this season. I had expected so much more in authentic, realistic plot and character development after the let-down of Season 2. I.C. let someone who had no business writing do so (ezgirl: umm, published when and where?) and prevented someone who could have completely saved the show from doing just that (A.M. Homes: "The Safety of Objects", Vanity Fair and New Yorker magazines, Guggenheim Fellowhip). I'll watch next season because at this point it is like rubber necking at a traffic accident on the 405: you can't not look.
2006-04-04, 19:40:40 PM
From: klab1972
Comments: I agree with Els, we do expect a lot from this show because it is all we have. Sometimes we expect too much. But I also think that another part of the problem is that the seasons are too short and the writers try to cram too much into the few episodes that they have. We need a full regular season so that storylines can evolve and come to conclusions like other shows have the opportunity to do.
2006-04-05, 08:30:38 AM
From: reeter
Comments: I completely agree with you Els. I mean, I was very disappointed with certain aspects of this season but at the end of the day, I DID expect too much from this show. After all, it is the only lesbian show (if we can still call it that) out there. What does this all mean? We need more shows about us so we won't have to put all our eggs in one basket. Realistically, it prolly won't happen but we can always hope. Just like I will for a better season next year.
2006-04-05, 10:31:43 AM
From: Angel
Comments: I agree with you els and klab and reeter. Specially the bit about the season being too short. I know they are challaging our intellect when they write storylines like that and that it would have been a failure if it was a straight show. However this show and plotline could never work as a straight show because they are showing certain aspects of Lesbian / Gay life and problems lesbians occur that straight people never have to endure. At the end of the day i think we have to try and make the best of it and hope they will write a better script for next season and if you hate it that much and is causing you that much stress and agro that simply don't watch it. We have been doing without lesbian shows for so long and been managing fine.
2006-04-05, 17:43:16 PM
From: lijah
Comments: I agree with everyone who says this season was lacking, to say the least. But I also think that the blame does not solely land on I.C. They do have other writers. Also, I have never been bothered by Betty. I'm not particularly a fan, but some of you guys are being silly. Who would threaten to quit watching a show because they don't like the theme song, or because EZgirl is a writer now. They have quite a few writers and we don't know that it's her writing the crap. I'm sure alot of people will disagree. It's just my opinion.
2006-04-07, 11:11:29 AM
From: Nipple
Comments: I know this is the ONLY show we have. But I would rather see it get shut down than have it paint the image that lesbians are a dysfunctional group. hotnote is right. The demographics who watch this show are too smart for the incumbent writers. Stop the insult now! Try hiring the writers for QAF.
2006-04-10, 10:24:17 AM
From: folkgirrl
Comments: Of course we should stay openminded. But when you get the change to show the world something about lesbian life, I wouldn't let a transgender suddenly have sex with a guy cause it makes him feel more like a man. I dunno.. it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. But maybe i am totally off on this. I would have chosen to find a more emotional deeper travel for Max. Show the world it's about identity, not sex. Then the Betty thing is getting old, there was nothing wrong with the opening tune in season one, I thought it was great, subtile, and also point out the chart. Which in the end, is the thing that connects us all. There's open mindedness, and there is the urge to shock so people will watch. Like one of the comments says, when there's an accident you cannot not look. Me being a writer myself i am sometimes just horrified by the flatness of the storylines. Like where are the double layers we enjoyed SO MUCh in season one and two. The drama was all in the undertone. This season was all just too obvious, like we don't know the ins and outs, of life, and love. Finally at the last episode, the final, the end, I finally got that old feeling back, that exitement. But then, it was the cliffhanger of the season.. but I do remember a time where I felt that way every episode.. couldn't wait for the next one. Some writer out there please bring that up again.. the cliffhangers are so important!
2006-04-21, 08:39:57 AM
From: elzzz
Comments: I want to thank you for all your comments. I forgot about the post, because I didn't have any reactions in the beginning of my post, so I just read them!Everyone has their own vision about how the want to see the show evolve. Like I said before, you can't make all the lesbians in the world happy with just one particular lesbian show. It's too much to expect. And that was the whole essence of my post. The show is like politics, there's always a group of people out there who feels injured. And this quote : "The problems of today can't be solved at the same mindlevel that created them." says it all.You miss the whole essence of my post if you think you are the chosen one that makes the whole world happy with your storyline. What can you expect?
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