The L Word: Season Two

While so many television shows have declined into mindless pap the advent of premium cable stations getting into weekly series the writing and acting has taken a welcomed trend upward. One of the better such shows is Showtime’s The L Word. With the release of the second season on DVD viewers can once again observe the lives of a group of young women as they strive for love, acceptance and careers. One thing that would preclude this series from regular broadcast television is the main characters are lesbians living in Los Angles. Although the sexual orientation of the characters are vital to the emotional development and most of the story lines in some ways it is almost secondary. The real focus is on interpersonal relationships between human beings that just happen to be gay. These are not the one dimensional lesbians usually found on those Cinemax at Night adult shows; they are fully developed people with problems and goals everyone can identify with. While many series have a difficult time with their sophomore season the L Word displays every sign of maturing into a show with some of the best production values on cable. Showtime has been targeting many of their shows to specific demographics but with the L Word adults from all backgrounds can appreciate excellent writing driven by some of the most talented actresses on the scene today.

The second season picks up shortly after the end of the first. Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) is still estranged from her partner Tina Kennard (Laurel Holloman) ostensibly because Bette cheated on Tina with a carpenter, actually the reason for the split run much deeper. Bette fell into the trap so many successful people do, their careers begin to overshadow their relationship. Tina felt that her career was being pushed aside. To complicate matters Tina has become pregnant and initially hides the fact from Bette. Tina seeks a legal remedy for formal support from Bette and hires a famous, cut throat attorney Joyce Wischnia (Jane Lynch). As it turns out Wischnia is little more than a sexual predator after the increasingly pregnant Tina. This only results in more emotional turmoil for her. This is just one case of how the writers of the series delve deeper into the emotional plights of the characters. Many shows would have found it sufficient to just explore the pregnancy and the aftermath of the betrayal but here they dig deeper to bare more of the emotional conflict the characters face. Bette is also concerned with problems at work and the growing infatuation her sister Kit (Pam Grier) has for a self improvement guru, Benjamin Bradshaw (Charles S. Dutton).

Although tennis star Diana Fairbanks (Erin Daniels) is engaged to another woman she becomes sexually and emotionally involved with her long time friend, writer Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey). Until Dana can break things off with her fiancée the couple has to keep their changing relationship a secret, something exceedingly difficult in their circle of nosy friends. Some of the more humorous moments of the season involve their experimentation with various sex toys and role playing. In a little spoof of the increased security at airports there is a moment when an electronic device is discovered in a routine bag check, much to the general embarrassment of the couple. This story arc also had some of the best emotional grow as the friends redefine their relationship, slowly, organically, never push for puerile motives. Dana found in Alice something that all of us want, a lover that is also a best friend. Her fiancée tended to be overly controlling, apparently more concerned with Dana’s tennis career than their relationship.

One of the broadest, one might say strangest story arcs concerns budding writer Jenny Schecter (Mia Kirshner). As the season starts she is dissolving her short marriage to Tim (Eric Mabius) and has to face the (off camera) suicide of the woman that introduced Jenny to bi sexuality, Marina (Karina Lombard). Jenny is able to move out of the guest house but only if she can keep up the rent. To this end she invites one of her friends, hairdresser Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) to move in. They still need help with the rent so they bring in a straight man that sets up surveillance cameras all over the house without the knowledge or permission of Jenny and Shane. His goal is to do a documentary on the secret lives of lesbians. In order to forward her writing career Jenny does everything possible to enroll in a class given but famous author Charlotte Birch (Sandra Bernhard). Birch challenges Jenny to look deeper within to improve her writer which results in Jenny coming to grips with several emotional issues finally resulting in her stripping as a means to cope or rather avoid what she has been through. Meanwhile, Shane has become the hairdresser to the stars ultimately working as a production assistant to Hollywood power player Veronica Bloom (Camryn Manheim). Shane is also going through a rough patch emotionally, feeling that she is getting to close to actually loving someone goes off on a binge of one night stands. While this second season tried it was just a little behind the bar set by the first. This is to be expect as many series in their sophomore season try to branch out and have to find the right rhythm again.

The casting of this series is just one reason why it has such appeal. Each actress is at the top of her game. Jennifer Beals has come a long way from pretending to dance. It appears that the years have not touched her at all. She is classy, commanding the screen in every shot. Her emotional range is incredible and finds the best possible venue in this series. Whether she is in control of a business meeting or baring her sole to her lover Beals draws the audience in time and time again. Mia Kirshner has been in many films and even the hit television series 24 but none have offered her such a showcase for her talents. As the confused Jenny she is able to show everything from the confidence of a young woman to the vulnerability of a little girl lost. Pam Grier many be best know for her Foxy Brown role but here she displays great depth s Bette’s older sister. She is trying to rebuild her life after coming to grips with her alcoholism and finds comfort in the steadfast love of her sister. The guest stars this season add just the right spice to the mix. Sandra Bernhard and Camryn Manheim are given roles where they can play over the top without ruining the realism of the series.

Series creator Ilene Chaiken is to be applauded for the exceptional quality of this show. She balances drama with humor as few shows are able to do. While she manages to get across the series is about lesbians the impact resonates with straight audiences just as well. The season had a major growth phase this season, the cast is now used to each other, the chemistry has increased and the writers are given the opportunity to follow through the numerous story arcs better than the first season. No matter what your orientation is you will find yourself drawn into the lives of these women.

Showtime has given the same devotion to quality to the presentation of the DVD box set as they did for the series. The Dolby 5.1 audio is richer than many weekly dramas, the rear speakers used for a realistic ambience, also providing a full audio spectrum. The video is presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 and is free of any defect. The color balance is excellent; the colors true to life with no discernable edge enhancements. If you are looking for a series that will captivate you look no further. After a few episodes you will almost forget this is about lesbians and come to appreciate the human drama the series contains.

Posted 10/18/05