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Oh it's a thankless task but somebody's got to do it…
When Shout!'s editor sent me the entire season four of the L Word to review, I could hardly believe my luck. As a fan of any TV programme, DVD or film at the cinema that even has a whiff of sapphism, any L Word series is an excuse to immerse myself in Planet Lesbo for a luxurious weekend.
When the first series was born, we were introduced to Bette n Tina, Jenny, Marina, Alice, and the incredible Shane. We were perfectly aware thank you very much that this was about as ‘real-life' as walking into Todmorden women's disco and bumping into Angelina Jolie, but hey a woman can dream.
Critics of the show have noted fiercely the lack of authenticity, lamenting the shortage of lesbian actresses to portray true depictions of real-life lesbians who tend to opt for more comfy clothes than make up and high heels. I can understand this argument. As a lesbian feminist, it does at times grate that so many of the women on the show seem to be so perfect, earning high incomes, wearing extremely feminine clothing, hair and make-up. It would be refreshing to have a lesbian couple, perhaps struggling on lower incomes or a particularly overweight character with a cat obsession - something a little closer to home. However, this doesn’t distract for me from the storylines, the excellent acting and of course those sex scenes that keep my finger poised on the pause button for most episodes… ahem!
Season four picks up our characters in a lighter mood than previously. There's a new hottie in town - Papi, whose skills as a lady-lothario even exceed Shane's. Alice is fully recovered from grief and back on the pull as is Bette, Max, Jenny, Helena and Shane. So with that as the common denominator, you would be correct in thinking there's a lot of sex. There's a tonne of the stuff! In one episode, it's literally every five minutes and left me wanting a cigarette. The art of Sapphic love-making is explored in its minutiae, with every variety examined and caught on camera. I literally spat my coffee out in shock as the words ‘anal lingus' were emitted from the perfectly lip-sticked mouth of guest star Cybil Shepherd. Thankfully we weren't invited to watch…
There is another common thread throughout this series, and that is loyalty. Friendships are tested, relationships are put through the mill, and many of the characters face challenges and decisions that ultimately fall back on their loyalty to someone close to them or even themselves. I particularly enjoyed watching Jenny’s character self-destruct as she enters the narcissistic world of media. Enjoying agents clamouring for the rights to her book and turning her back on her friends, she becomes more and more self-obsessed and exacts terrible revenge on one particular book reviewer who she herself views as disloyal. Bizarrely, this book reviewer, Stacie Murkin - renamed ‘Vagina Wig’ by Jenny - is the only character in the series whose appearance is less than that of a top model. I in fact thought she bore a remarkable resemblance to Andrew Lloyd-Webber, though as my friends would add ‘you’re no oil-painting yourself mate!’
I thoroughly enjoyed this series of the L Word and recommend it to anyone who fancies a rainy weekend of escapism. It kept me and her ladyship entertained from dusk till dawn (in many ways…)
Plus imagine, in the next series, perhaps we'll see Shane plonked in the middle of Tod disco dancing with a big butch lady. Then it could be called The Rough as L Word.
Belinda O'Hooley
The L Word: season four - out now on DVD
Stories from the magazine this month:
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