‘L Word’ final season recaps

Photo courtesy Showtime

With the final season of the L Word well underway (episode 2 aired last night), part of me wants to hold on and recap every episode until the show’s dying breath. And yet, my allegiance to the show is negligible and I skipped out last night entirely in order to catch the Kick/Ball/Change performance (review to follow shortly!).

Luckily, there are plenty of reactions in blogs all over the Web. AfterEllen often has some interesting things to say but I personally recommend the NY Magazine recaps being written by my friend and colleague Caryn Brooks.

There’s no doubt that, as campy and horrible as the L Word has been at times, it truly was a breakthrough television show. In a TV lineup fairly devoid of lesbian depictions, the L Word has managed a diverse understanding of a lesbian, trans and queer community. And while it may be melodramatic and prettied-up for the screen much of the ideas ring true, as trite as they may seem to us old hats.

Now that we have a first show under our collective lezzie belts I hope we can move on to more interesting and envelope-pushing shows. We know already that Leisha Hailey, who plays Alice Pieszecki will be continuing with a spin-off. And while I’m somewhat uncomfortable with the fact that she’ll be the one in jail, both because she’s my L Word alter-ego, and because now it seems that the whole final season mystery is already ruined, I am ready to move on and see lesbian characters incorporated across shows and themes.