Well, friends, here we are again. Here I am recapping my 72nd episode of The L Word franchise. I have recapped The L Word in three parts of Florida, in New York City and in Oakland and in Michigan and in Los Angeles and in Austin and in middle seats on airplanes, at hotel desks and in the chilly back office of my Mom’s house in suburban Detroit. I have recapped while crying, while drunk and high, while having a violent allergic reaction to my friend’s new cat in her otherwise impressive Nyack lakehouse; in my underwear with my laptop on a pile of pillows and my back against another pile of pillows, my face lit up by computer-screen glow next to a naked sleeping girl who’d wake up for work at 7am and ask “is it done yet” not because she was worried about my physical health (these burdens are our own to bear, I’d made that much clear) but because she wanted to read it on her subway ride downtown. I was recapping The L Word when I started dating my first-ever girlfriend, when I started this very business with my next girlfriend and was recapping The Real L Word when I moved in with the girlfriend after that. Now I host a podcast that recaps The L Word out loud with a friend I used to watch The L Word with when it actually aired. This is the way, it’s the way that we live. These burdens are our own to bear.
Today’s “To L and Back” podcast episode is a live recording of our interview with the Gen Q cast that we did last week at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and on Thursday, the first Generation Q episode of “To L and Back” will debut with its new hosts! In subsequent weeks, the Gen Q podcast will come out on Mondays, like the TLAB podcast did and will again after the Gen Q Season One finale.
TV recaps have changed since I used to do this, though: they’re not popular in the same way they once were. So I’m curious to know what you’d like out of these recaps! Do you want the same formula I did before — the blow-by-blow? Or would you prefer a shorter review or some other clever and brief format? Let me know in the comments!
Until then, I’ll be recapping in the same manner in which I performed my original L Word recaps, which’s to say I will be counting Sexy Moments and Squabbles and picking a quote of the week. Unfortunately, I cannot do a Jenny Moment because… Jenny is dead.
So, here we go: welcome to the first recap of the first season of The L Word: Generation Q, brought to you by the same network that brought you The L Word, a show about a super-hip skateboard shop called “Wax” and its singular salon chair! Let’s begin, shall we?
We open on a picturesque Los Angeles morning. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the grass is growing, the climate is changing and the lesbians are carpet-munching. Let’s not waste any time!
Just trying to keep it all safe for work
Lesbian Sexy Moment #1: Bloody Heaven
The Players: Dani and Sophie
The Pick-Up: Happened before our arrival but Sophie reveals, post-orgasm, that she ‘woke up so horny’ so I think we can imagine there was some spooning transitioning into sleepy ass-to-groin grinding transitioning into full cunnilngius.
Hot or Not? Yes! What a way to start the show, you know?
Now Dani’s hand is bloody, like Macbeth’s, because everything is normal and our bodies are beautiful. She reminds Sophie that “this happens every month.” You know what else happens every month? Ovulation. As Tina pointed out to Bette in the first scene of the original series! It’s the circle of life, it’s the wheel of fortune, it’s the leap of faith, it’s the elastic waistband of hope.
I got all my teeth removed and my tongue replaced with a tiny spatula, what do you think?
Thus we now know biblically and otherwise that this is the beautiful golden couple: Dani Nuñez (Arienne Mandi) and Sophie Suarez (Rosanny Zayas). I promise I won’t do this for the entire recap, but Rosanny and Ari had a lot of cool interesting things to say about this scene on this week’s episode of “To L and Back!” Seriously it’s not-to-be-missed.
Elsewhere, Finley (Jacqueline Toboni) is creeping out of somebody’s very nice bedroom in her boxer-briefs, clutching a pile of clothes to her bosom, likely in hopes of making $2 at Crossroads.
Ooof that was a LOT of carbon monoxide
Her car won’t start, so she very kindly steals her date’s bike and leaves her dead car in the driveway, probably blocking the live car in that garage, which means the girl she left behind is gonna have to Demolition Derby her way to work this morning, which’s very butch, if you think about it.
Should I spend $8 on a Whole Foods smoothie or $12 on a Moon Juice??
Finley’s flash of armpit hair feels as deliberate as opening the show with a period sex scene between two women of color — we’re still in fantasyland to some degree, but rooted in something undeniably authentic.
We’re then treated to a montage of Silver Lake / Echo Park street life, including Finley biking past a man who tells her to smile. She reminds him that “time’s up, jackass!” Just a note that the original script said “motherfucker” and the preview said “bitch” so that was probably quite the journey for everybody involved.
Hello, Los Angeles, so glad to see you
Finley rolls up to Sophie/Micah/Dani’s little palace and spots a shirtless man with a significant pectoral region carting some boxes and jets inside to interrupt Micah’s phone call with a student to ask him if he HAS SEEN WHAT’S OUTSIDE. (Micah is Dani’s best friend and ex, and is played by Leo Sheng!) You know what? There’s a better view from upstairs, so let’s just run right upstairs and bolt right into Sophie and Dani’s room…
EXCUSE ME somebody’s trying to shove a Diva Cup inside somebody else over here???!!!
I feel like I know a lot of Finleys, you know? Like that friend who just really wants the best for you and gets more excited about your life than you’ll ever be while maintaining only the most chaotic grip on their own. They’ve been through it — but you’d never know, looking at that smile. Finleys can be a nightmare to date but a dream to befriend.
It’s a game called Kitty Paws come on just play Kitty Paws with me!
Sophie cracks that Micah and Shirtless Man will probs get married before Dani proposes to her. So Dani’s definitely proposing to Sophie this episode.
With Finley and Sophie safely off-set, Micah’s like “what are you waiting for, propose!” and Dani’s like, listen, I will, I just have to tell my Dad! [Trivia: this scene was re-shot — the original, which provided us with a very popular episode still of everybody in the window, felt too hokey to showrunner Marja Lewis-Ryan when she saw it, so they redid it. This and more interesting tidbits coming your way when I publish the interview I did with Marja later this week!] [Let the record show that Ilene Chaiken has STILL not invited me over for dinner to look at her birds.]
Cut to Bette’s Enormous Home, where our Lady of Porter looks fantastic on the phone giving design feedback on her campaign materials (her first line is “Hello Again”, as per promotional materials) while her daughter, a now fully grown up Angelica Gaymo, is texting in the bathroom.
Angie I need you to close Co-Star and come downstairs for your grain bowl
How the fuck do I have trouble with self, work, spirituality, social life and thinking & creativity ALL ON THE SAME DAY!?!
Angie’s texting with her friend Jordi who wants Angie to “not bail” on their plan today, and Angie says she won’t, and starts to text “I’m sooooo excited” but then deletes it, which means Angelica is gay and has a crush on Jordi. It must be the gay gene. I bet Marcus Allenwood is bi. Angie tries to leave without saying I love you but then is like, JK I love you!
Three generations of queers: I love to see it.
Cut to Nat’s house! Nat (Stephanie Allyne) is Alice’s girlfriend who has two (2) children. Her son Eli is intently reading the back of a cereal box and Alice can’t find the fucking spatula! Alice, like Bette, also looks fantastic!
You’ve been a VERY bad girl and Daddy wants to punish you!
Alice: “You know, when i was a kid, my Mom made me split a Slim-Fast Shake with her for breakfast.”
Olive: “You’re not our mom.”
Alice: “Oh yeah sure I do know that!”
It says here for just $3.25 I can plant my very own Mystery Garden?
Who’s at the door??? IT’S GIGI (Sepideh Moafi)! Yup, Nat’s ex-wife and the Other Mother of these two fine young specimens appears out of the clear blue, pulling off a camel-colored blazer/trouser combo and looking, if I may say so, obscenely attractive.
Alice it’s okay, you don’t have to be the little teapot anymore
It’s time for our first throwdown!
Lesbian Squabble #1: A Marriage Story
In the Ring: Gigi vs. Nat
Content: Gigi acts like she didn’t know it was Alice’s day to drop off the kids at school, which Nat finds VERY upsetting as it’s thwarting her plans to get Alice to feel like part of the family as per their deliberately non-partisan shared calendar. The kids, clearly scarred by that time Alice was scream-crying post-yoga in a hoodie and barrettes while car-chasing Dana through multiple-lane roads in Malibu, wanna ride with Gigi.
Who wins?: Gigi. She’s the fun Mom.
Gigi saunters up to Alice and informs her that her manicurist loves Alice’s show and finds it very “cute.” Also, Gigi is emotionally undressing Alice, this woman could probably seduce an oak tree or a box of paper towels. She and the kids exchange some dialogue in Persian ’cause guess what, Gigi is a Persian character played by a Persian actress! HOW FAR WE’VE COME!
Nat wants to process but Alice isn’t in the mood for therapy talk, but… it looks like everybody woke up horny today.
Lesbian Sexy Moment #2
The Players: Alice and Nat
The Pick-Up: “When do you have to leave?” “In seven minutes” “Wanna see if we could do it in six?”
Hot or Not: Feels like they got off to a solid start besides the bleating plush toy wedged behind the throw pillow? I wish them all the best.
Uhh, then we arrive at the um, tarmac? You know, the thing where PRIVATE JET OWNERS de-plane onto a slim red carpet, wearing sunglasses and holding a single duffle. It’s Shane. Shane pauses at the top of the stairs, scoping the air for errant owls and reflecting, it seems, on her return to Los Angeles for the L Word reboot.
If In-n-Out is 15 minutes away and the flight attendant wants to fuck in 90 minutes at my new palace which is 60 minutes from here, do I have enough time to stop at In-n-Out, let it digest, expel it from my system, crack my knuckles and go to town on this frequent flier?
“I look forward to seeing much more of you in the future,” says the flight attendant with the perfect ponytail. In other words: they’re gonna bang. And my friends: they do. Shane’s gotta Shane!
Shout out to that French Press holding it down for the kitchen
Lesbian Sex Moment #3
The Players: Shane and the Air Hostess
The Pick-Up: I’m gonna guess “hey.”
Hot or Not? Of course.
Jsyk this is our third set of boobs and we are ten minutes in. Shane remains in full dress for the duration of the scene. Shane does her scoop-in-lean-kiss, she removes her shirt, she unhooks her bra, she lifts her ass onto the kitchen counter, slips the thong onto the kitchen floor and my friends, WE HAVE LIFT-OFF.
Cut to a golf cart outside of The Aloce Show, where Finley’s telling Sophie about her last-night romp, which involved a bartender who just broke up with her boyfriend, texted “u up?” and because Finley WAS up, she hopped right on over. In Finley’s words they “fudged” and it was “awesome,” but then she woke up and her car wouldn’t start ’cause she only had enough gas for a one-way trip, so she had to steal the girl’s bike.
Finley: “Look at us, still on time for work and shit though!”
Firstly, that is b a n a n a s, now this entire town is gonna know Finley as the girl who stole that girls bike. Secondly, I love the ease and the gentle ribbing of this friendship. Thirdly, there is no greater gift than that of how much time TV characters have to hang out before work / school.
Are those…. nuns??
On set at The Aloce Show, Finley’s gotta get Alice’s take on if she wants the one or two lips coffee mug (“vagina lips or mouth lips, impossible to tell at this point”) when an ominous figure jaunts into the arena, clapping her cum-soaked hands for no discernible reason.
C’mon, it’s time! Just throw a junior mint into my mouth!
IT’S SHANE!!! AND THE CROWD* GOES WILD!
*alice
Alice: “I can’t believe you’re really here! Do you really live in LA again?”
Someone smells like pussy juice and creamed corn….
Shane’s like, holy shit, look at what you’ve done for yourself, it’s outstanding!
IT’S TIME FOR AN EXPOSITION BRUNCH WITH SHANE, ALICE AND BETTE! One topic not covered in this brunch is how exactly everybody’s skin is so firm, supple and radiant?
Huh, fried squirrel turns out to be pretty tasty
Exposition time:
1. Shane sold her salon in Paris and her salon in New York
2. Shane has not “spoken to her” (her wife, we suppose) since leaving, and “does not plan to”
3. Something spilled in Alice’s backpack
4. Alice got Shane a house, which is big and empty
5. Alice is gonna send Shane a bed and also a Finley to put the bed together
6. Shane doesn’t need Alice to send her a bed
7. Too late, it’s already done
8. Alice keeps stepping on legos
9. Bette and Alice are both parents now wow how we’ve grown
10. Bette missed Shane more
11. In all honesty, Shane believes she missed Bette more
12. NO Bette missed Shane more!
13. No Shane missed Bette more and it’s not a contest
14. Yes it is, and Bette’s gonna win
15. Nat and the kids didn’t move into Alice’s house because it would’ve been a “whole thing”
16. Alice’s Mom is living in her house
Which brings us to…
Do not underestimate oat milk!!!
Shane: …and how is Lenore?
Bette: Oh stop.
Shane: What?
Bette: No, really, stop!
Alice: Are you going to fuck my Mom?
Shane: I’m just asking you how she is!
Alice: I can’t believe you still wanna fuck my Mom!
Shane: She’s an attractive woman, Alice.
In all, the reboot is a lot less wacky than the original, which I have both good and bad feelings about. But regardless I relish this opportunity to bring some wack back. Then, Bette gets a phone call.
As we say in the hit podcast “To L and Back,” IT’S TINNAAAAA.
Angie’s at school, doodling through a Don Quijote lesson in her GAY ASS SHOES.
Another day, another white man telling me what to think
But who needs school when you’ve got a badass best friend willing to call the school, pretend to be your Mom, get you out of school on account of your “Grandma being sick” (which is impossible b/c Tina never mentioned having parents and Bette’s are dead) and then pull up in a lil car pumping hip-hop!
Time’s ticking to the beat of your heart / Time’s kicking you to make a new start
It’s Jordi, played by Sophie Giannamore! They’re gonna vape, just like the teenagers in the drug PSAs! I love this trope, all my teenage novels had Jordis in them.
At Bette 2020 HQ (Bette is running for mayor of Los Angeles), Bette, standing of course in front of a giant picture of Bette, is trying to convince imaginary phone Tina that Angie can handle her AP courses and the school play. NOT IDF SHE KEEPS VAPING.
“And you know who’s responsible for this? Your buddy Helena Peabody. That woman’s a fucking dragon, and she’s making my life a living hell.”
Bette’s super important, which’s established by the number of humans who attempt to join her walk-and-talk, including Kacey (Lex Ryan), thus far our butchest character, who took another stab at Bette’s piece; and Bette’s assistant, Pierce Williams (Brian Michael Smith), who has set up a series of meetings with very important political donors who are friends of the party as well as Rodolfo Núñez, head of a minority-owned investment firm with “deep roots in the Persian and Latinx communities.” “Jesus, that’s half the city,” Bette says.
Can you believe that the original series, also set in this city, never managed to have any Latinx or Persian characters played by Latinx or Persian actors? And no Persian characters at all ever?
It blows my mind every day
Cut to an airy office building where Dani walks around in power-suits like someone who can put on a strap-on in less than 45 seconds. Dani’s gonna take Daddy’s Two PM ’cause he got called away for something important and probably terrible. Lucky for her, her Two P.M. is Bette Fucking Porter, who, if elected, would be L.A.’s first openly gay mayor. Dani is Rodolfo Núñez’s daughter.
I am here today because I am gay.
Same
Pages: 1 2 3See entire article on one page
I started this autostraddle account to talk about my feelings after breaking up with my ex who had distinctly Alice hair. I am now dating a Bette. So for them to name the woman Bette slept with after my autostraddle name was weird af but I am very thrilled!!
The recap is everything, and the format is perfection. Thanks for doing this.
LOVE THIS
I loved it???? I loved it.
I just got back from watching a screening of the episode. We had some technical difficulties with synching the audio to the picture in the first scene so I completely missed the bit about period oral sex.
I really hope that Sophie had a menstrual cup in. Well, she had to have right because Dani didn’t have blood all over her face?
I was wondering why I didn’t see the scene with everyone at the window! I really liked that bit in the trailer. I thought it was cute. I’m not surprised that they changed “Time’s up bitch” to “jackass” because Finley said that she “fudged” a girl. She prefers fake cuss words over real ones.
I wonder if that bartender that she fudged was Tess.
I loved seeing Alice’s quirky personality again. The show seems more serious than the original was (or maybe I forgot about the drama lol) but overall it was really good!
I LOVED reading your recap and commentary. It gave me a happy hit of nostalgia.
i agree i think it is a little more serious — finley is super funny but alice is more subdued than she was in her youth
I like this format for the recaps :)
(Also does anyone want to go in on a Showtime subscription together? Please message me)
Saw this on a dif article, if anyone hasn’t had Showtime before (I’ve already used my free trial)
use code AUTOSTRADDLE at showtime.com/try30 for a 30 day free trial of SHOWTIME®!
FYI there are 8 episodes so if you can only afford one month then this is a great option.
Hello again! Please, don’t change the format of the recaps, they’re perfect as they are.
I was just at a screening and they changed the last song!!!!
Quick question- why do you type it as The Aloce Show not The Alice Show?
Also, I wish the show would remind viewers that Alice is bisexual not a lesbian.
As a gay who did not come out until long after the original L Word stopped airing can I just say how exciting it is to get to live through recaps from Riese in real time!!!! Look around look around at how luck we are to be alive right now
Same!!
I concur! This recap was so great
Living for your recaps and I’m feeling like a Finlay with my enthusiasm. I’m enjoying the format, love it as it is. Thanks again Riese OG of recappers.
Ps- Completely unrelated but I am so excited about my early xmas gift to myself, The Dykes hat, Hell YEAH !
THIS WAS SO GREAT I LOVED THE FORMAT 10/10
A few random and unorganized thoughts in no particular order:
The period sex scene was awesome.
I love Dani in a suit.
I will riot if Dani and Sophie’s storyline is marred by any cheating nonsense, can we get a storyline about a relationship without cheating please?
Either Jenny or Kit died because of drugs.
I loved what I saw of Micah and Sophie, but it felt just a bit too little, we are in the first episode though, so that’s okay..
I found Finley’s character a bit too goofy, might just be because we havent seen enough of her.
What is Americans problems with putting together Ikea(/-like) furniture? It comes with clear instructions!
I wanna see more of Angie and Jordi.
Thank god I wasn’t the only way that thought those Lips look nothing like an “I”.
I am feeling kinda ambivalent about Shane and Alice’s storylines as of yet.
I am not liking Bette so far and since it has been a few years since I really watched the orignal L Word, I dont remember If I felt the same way then.
I do remember always not liking the constant cheating and somewhow connected have always kept with me that “being a Shane” means being a reckless player whose pursuit of pleasure doesn’t really care about the emotional fallout.
I didn’t like Bette’s take on why the (?Ex-)Husband confronted her. It kinda undermined the idea that idea that participating in cheating is wrong even if you are not the one in a relationship. He is allowed to feel bad about his marriage ending and his wife cheating on him and publicly shaming the person partially responsible may not be the best way to handle it, but it isn’t problematic either.
Not to mention the whole power imbalance thing was swept under the table awfully quickly. Yes, Bette brings it up herself, but the denial from Alice comes a bit to quick for my liking. Her behaviour was seemingly not that bad from what we were told so far, but to even deny it’s implications may protect us from men, but it also leaves us open for women to become the same predators society already enables men to be.
It shouldn’t get so bad that we have to read about a female Harvey Weinstein or Matt Lauer before we act. But maybe I read too much into or becoming paranoid, I don’t know.
Overall I really loved the first episode, even If I could have done without pretty much everything relating to the OGs.
(Not to mention the whole power imbalance thing was swept under the table awfully quickly. Yes, Bette brings it up herself, but the denial from Alice comes a bit to quick for my liking. Her behaviour was seemingly not that bad from what we were told so far, but to even deny it’s implications may protect us from men, but it also leaves us open for women to become the same predators society already enables men to be.
It shouldn’t get so bad that we have to read about a female Harvey Weinstein or Matt Lauer before we act. But maybe I read too much into or becoming paranoid, I don’t know.)
It certainly gives one plenty to pause about. Since even if Bette isn’t like those male predators, she has been occasionally pushy at least when comes to relationship and does seem somewhat aware of it. While can see why women in general and gay women in particular can easy see these feeling as just that sort of internalizing societies shame as Shane puts it, the possibility for abuse of power still exists and should be ignored complexity.
Still I’m inclined to agree with Riese that it’s hard to judge now when we don’t now what’s really been going on with Felicity’s marriage. If she felt taken advantage of then I think it should be HER place to willingly come forward without her husband putting her name out in public scandal. If it was fully consensual then as Riese said they need to work that out on there, just like with Jenny and Time.
Really enjoyed the first episode BTW. Don’t if I’ll be watching regularly, but it’s cool to see the reflection of a decades transition.
Loved the recap, Riese. Totally on board with this long form recap, but if you do shake up the format at all, please don’t let it be at the expense of the captions!
I also fear for the fate of Kit Porter, and can only hope it’s a misdirect. Overall though, a solid first episode, considering the baseline need for exposition. All of the callbacks were cute, if a little cheesy.
oh i would never get rid of the captions b/c i feel like those are (if i do say so myself) the funniest part at this point!
Riese…the captions are indeed the funniest.
Agreed ! I reread the whole recap but just the captions second time ’round.
They make up a fantastic show on their own !
I love the recap, and I loved the episode. I was so giddy watching it this morning that I had to pause the show every 2 minutes to talk about their amazing clothing, possibilities of what happened to Kit, talking about how no one on TV maybe has ever shown two women having sex and then actually exclaiming, “I love you so much!” after an orgasm with the amazing shot of bloody fingers, and anything and everything else that went through my head, much to my girlfriend’s chagrin, who wished we could just keep watching quietly and take it all in!
We both really enjoyed it and were so happy to see so much much-needed diversity. The sex scenes were super hot. I’m super intrigued about the rest of the storyline, and can’t wait ’til next week. I’m constantly reminded of how gay I really am when I watch the L-Word. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
However, I was a bit miffed to hear how Alice introduced her show, “Welcome back ladies and gentlemen and everyone in-between” with a little wink to the audience as if she’s with the cool kids and knows about gender now. I know they were trying to give a nod to non-binary folx, agender, and gender non-conforming peeps, but the words, ‘in-between’ just feels really wrong; as if there are just two genders and that there is some sort of spectrum in between male and female. Saying something like, “and everyone else!” or something along the likes of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, “Amen. Awomen, Aalltherestofus!” would have made it feel much more in sync with the times and show that they actually have grown in their mindset around gender.
I liked it! I was way too young to watch it when it first came out. I’m mostly excited that I get to watch this live this time around, without “downloading” it, putting viruses on the family computer in the process, and looking behind me hoping no one catches me watching anything gay. Me and my gf had the same giddy reaction to being able to watch something so queer, comfortably, in our living room.
Oops I didn’t mean for that to be a reply.
Riese your recaps are pure gold! Please don’t change them.
Your recaps are the content I’m looking for while I figure out a way to watch the episodes online without killing my computer.
If anyone has a nice link to hook a little Colombian queer with, she’ll be thankful forever.
Send you a message with details how to watch it. Anyone else looking for a link, just send me a message and I’ll get back to you.
Disclaimer: I don’t really illegal streaming, but international audiences also shouldn’t have to deny themselves the sparse queer content out there just because US companies and entities can’t get their shit together or care enough to make it available outside of the US or NA.
Thanks for offering an L-Word link, Pootah! Will you please send me one? Many thanks!!!
Oops, I meant to thank Ava Sommer. Thank you!
Thank you so much Ava!
You are a lifesaver!
have messaged you too
Your message for some reason didn’t yet arrive on my end, I send you the link nonetheless.
PS.: If anyone else send me a message and hasn’t heard back yet, the message isn’t getting through for some reason, just write a comment here and I’ll send you a message with the link. Should more than one person report not getting my message I’ll consider just posting the link here as long as the TV teams don’t say anything against it.
@avasommer I could use a link!
which three parts of florida tho
Loved the recap and the format! Thank you for doing this. :-) I watched the episode and really enjoyed it. I haven’t done a lot of reading on the reboot — do we know why Bette apparently has primary custody? Or what Tina’s story is? I can’t remember where the original show left off, but I would have anticipated shared custody at least but that didn’t really seem to be the case. 🤷
Crap, this wasn’t supposed to be a reply ugg
miami, orlando and key biscayne (yes i realize key biscayne is right next to miami but listen it sounded better than “two parts”)
I’m sure the Key Biscaynians (Key Biscuits?) appreciate being their own town and not lumped in with Miami.
Let me add to chorus that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this recap. I don’t really remember reading L Word recaps back in the day, so I was delighted with each scroll and screen cap caption. Can’t wait to read more!
This is so fun, thanks Riese. I’ve been looking forward to your recaps since I heard about the reboot!
Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that there was no mention of trans stuff in the first episode? We have 3 trans actors on screen and no mention of trans identity/culture/etc at all. I’m not sure if all the characters are trans, but still–we heard the words “lesbian” and “gay” a lot, why not trans? I’m sure this will change, but I was wondering about this decision, like if they might be overcorrecting for how bad the show portrayed trans characters last time.
I counted two, but who is the third beside Leo & Sophie? I think it’s a little refreshing to see it’s not about them being trans. I am sure it will come up with both since Leo is probably going to get with his neighbor & Sophie is a teen.
Brian Michael Smith plays Bette’s campaign manager!
I think I saw it mentioned in a quote from an article with the showrunner that some of the trans actors would be playing cis characters?
To me at least, it felt like with Micah the show was presenting us with a person first (unclear if Brian or Sophie’s characters are trans). I think sexuality is a lot more widely accepted, while gender identity and expression is a lot more of a hot button topic.
Introducing Micah’s story in this way, it felt like they wanted us to connect with Micah the full character, rather than Micah whose only defining character attribute is their transness.
The intention feels right, one episode in. It will absolutely be interesting to see how their portrayal of trans identity and issues play out over the season.
I hope they dive more into this, in a way that is human rather than preachy, or that plays into damaging tropes.
I am literally watching this show just to read your recaps.
Loved the recap and the format! Thank you for doing this. 🙂 I watched the episode and really enjoyed it. I haven’t done a lot of reading on the reboot — do we know why Bette apparently has primary custody? Or what Tina’s story is? I can’t remember where the original show left off, but I would have anticipated shared custody at least but that didn’t really seem to be the case. 🤷
So excited about the autostraddle tshirt turned pillow!! Best part of the Aloce show by far. I also wasn’t around/queer during the first run of the L Word so I’m delighted to be here for the Gen Q recaps. Love the format! Love the captions.
But the real question is where can I buy that Bette Porter(Channeling Obama) for mayor poster for my living room?????
My theory was Jenny OD’d in Bette’s pool – not to start applying logic and consistency to The L Word, but Kit is famous. If she had died from an overdose, everyone would know already. But then I remembered that Jenny was sort of famous at the end there too? No idea, excited for this journey!
they reveal how jenny died in episode 2 or 3, i can’t remember which one (i’ve already seen both.) so it’s not her!
also she died in 2009 which was before the opioids crisis really began? so i’m pretty sure it’s kit who died of the OD.
this seems like where they’re going (after one episode) and i don’t love it
Ah! I should really know that outsmarting the L Word is impossible … welp, RIP Kit.
I hate that. It seems so strange still because Kit’s substance of choice seemed to be alcohol, not opiates (yes I realize there are some similarities with the opioid receptors). Kit seemed like she was doing just fine except the minor relapse courtesy of Angus’ infidelity.
If anyone was doing opiates on the reg it was Shane.
Stray observation: doesn’t look like Bettina took the “don’t call each other Mama B and Mama T” advice to heart….
Seriously, how did those names end up sticking?
Yeah, I didn’t get the feeling it was Jenny & it was Kit as others have said. I too don’t like how they are doing it. It’s like Dana all over again in some ways. Boooo
yeah i’m like… how is bette still standing??? losing two friends, both her parents, and her sister??
That’s Hollywood, because IRL, oof !
Bette’s going to sleep with Dani, isn’t she?
Also, who do we think walks through the door and shocks the OGs in the promo for next week: carmen or jenny? (Its probs Shane’s wife)
Please God no!
I mean we already learned this episode Bette seemingly didn’t learn anything when it comes to cheating in the last 10 years, but at least have Dani’s relationship trouble be free of cheating if there has to be trouble!
Well, Bette wouldn’t exactly be the one who’s cheating on anybody nor was she with Felicity apparently. It always frustrates me that people tend to blame the person who’s single (especially heterosexual women) for breaking the other’s relationship instead of an actual cheater. It was not Bette who vowed to that guy. I’m not saying it’s fully ethically appropriate, but I also quite enjoyed the answer she gave to Alice (and that comes from a person who’s been cheated on).
Of course the one cheating is responsible for breaking their relationship, but the person they sleep with enables the cheater.
And I don’t think the line between taking charge and being proud of your sexuality and not knowingly hurting someone is that fine. Yes, Felicity may have been confused when it came to her sexuality and her acting on those feelings is understandable, but we can say that and at the same time admit that the way she and Bette handled that situation was wrong. It’s harder to end your marriage and come out as gay and it’s easier to cheat, but that doesn’t means it’s right.
If she doesn’t, I will eat my hat*
*cookie shaped like a Santa hat
Got any more of those to share ? There might be a few of us…
My guess is Shane’s wife! (and i honestly don’t know for sure, that clip is not from an episode I’ve seen.) She was cast AND her description said she was “coming back to LA” so she’s coming around eventually AND Jenny is definitely dead AND Carmen is definitely not coming back (which ou can read more about in the interview with Marja I’m gonna publish later this week!)
Yeah that’s the most logical scenario. Or as logical as it can get when we’re talking about Shane having a wife 😆
I can’t wait to read that interview!
(Also, I love the recaps in this format)
I just finished watching the episode about an hour ago via Crave (Canada, eh?). Was a pretty good start, but was hard not to try and compare it to the original series. Will take time getting used to the new cast/kids? Was great to see Bette, Alice and Shane again. I almost lost my mind a couple times when Shane drove up in a Jeep! and Shane is boxing now! I texted my best friend two things during that couple of minutes… “FML, Shane drives a Jeep in the new series (insert groany face?, heart eyes, and eyes crossed out emojis)” and “Shit, she also boxes, I’m gonna die (insert the xD equivalent in emoji form)”.
Shane has been my favourite character on The L Word from the start (as in when a friend of mine in high school (circa 2003ish?) let me borrow her Season One – Three? DVDs. I watched the last seasons on television through Showcase), and was one of the surest ways I realized I had a thing for women. She has stayed one of the most gorgeous human beings I’ve ever laid my eyes on, and I’m so glad she’s still beautiful. I remember the very first time I saw her on television, was a random episode of the series (before I was watching) and at first glance, I thought she was male. Don’t ask me why, but I was curious from then on.
I’m sorry if this is getting a bit wordy (I tend to be like that sometimes), so I’ll finish with good episode, can’t wait to see how it goes, can’t wait to see more Shane! and also…great recap! ♥
Haha same, had to watch this before work this morning, O Canada
i’m sure alice alluding to some personal skeletons bette has on national television won’t in any way result in anything terrible happening!!!! also it was very sad when a bottle of pills pushed jenny into the pool :(
i for one would like to know what became of sounder 2.
in my professional opinion i think you should keep this recap format riese!!!! i LIKE that it’s old-school recapping i MISS this photo-heavy format
I just want to take a moment to say I’m so happy we get to do this again. There’s no one else I’d rather do this with
<3 <3 <3
Riese I cannot even watch this show without subscribing to some tv channel that I don’t want to support to begin with, but your recaps remain great. I
I am an older 47 year lesbian who mainly loved The L Word first time around, mainly for the stories and representation, but also for your recaps. You could recap The Bible and make it sound complex, satirical, poignant and funny. Please remain true to who your voice is, I love your voice and your funny observations, even in a terrible L Word original episode, you managed to tell the truth about where it failed or succeeded, please continue to be a sharp and enthusiastic critic.
I am also very interested in where the writers take the characters of Alice, Shane and Bette. I do intend to watch this show and make up my own mind about it, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have reservations about the writers’ abilities to entertain/inform/tell a compelling and truthful story. But in the same breath, I am thrilled that this show has returned with the original actresses and some new actresses/actors and new writers, who have a great love for the characters and good storytelling. I am cheering, I want to like this show, but even if it isn’t up there with Lauren Morelli or Natasha Lyonne storytelling ability, I am still keen to watch it because Lesbians taking up space on TV and representation.
Riese I am very interested also in your perspective on this show as an older lesbian who is less Fresh off the boat in terms of being a baby dyke, and is more of an older been around the blocks a few times lesbian, like myself. I hope that you are not offended by my description, any life experiences that have comprised you and made you more human and compassionate and knowledgable and mature can only be a constructive thing, it is just that fucked up parts of our culture give preference to immaturity, competitiveness rather than contribution and participation. Anyway, please keep true to your voice and your truths Riese, you are a wonderful storyteller.
no I am not offended at all and know exactly what you mean! it’s a very interesting experience to have recapped the first and now the reboot while around the same age as shane and alice and jenny (RIP)
and thank you for all the kind words in general!!
To be fair to the original, Sarah Shahi was an Iranian (the country that was formerly persia) actress playing a Latina.
she was, yes! what i was saying is that there were not any latinx actors playing latinx characters or persian actors playing persian characters.
Of all the possible reactions I thought I might have to this hour of television, getting emotional and teary-eyed at not one but two scenes (the awkward proposal that was so much more realistic than typical TV proposal scenes, and the overdose storyline that was hard to watch for personal reasons) was not one of them. The writing seems much better this time around and I will continue to be cautiously optimistic.
I’m so antsy about how they’re going to include (or not) non-binary people! I liked that the new neighbor’s ex used they/them pronouns because it was such a small and subtle but simple way to include they/them pronouns in the very first episode. BUT I hope that’s not all we get!! I’m nervous about doing ham-handed intergenerational nonsense with pronouns or nonbinary identities. TBD I guess, everything else I really enjoyed.
Also am I totally naive to say it seems like they’re trying to avoid cross-generational relationships like Bette/Dani?? It feels like the set up is that the older folks will mentor the younger folks and good boundaries but I know the old L Word would DEFINITELY have gone there. SOS I’m already invested in Dani/Sophie! Heartbreak’s a comin
I also feel like they are trying to avoid cross-generational relationships like Bette/Dani? Maybe I’m naive too….
I really like this format too
I’m here for the junior mints
I got really excited when I heard someone speaking Persian(Farsi is the dialect Persian is the language) & subsequent googling that a Persian is playing Persian. They at least learned from one mistake. Also, I felt like this line, “deep roots in the Persian and Latinx communities” was alluding to Carmen for some reason.
Things I didn’t like: to mention of Jenny, which I wonder would ever be talked about or alluded to. Same with her movie. Also, where is Kit? I really wanted to see Pam Grier. I really hope they bring her back & not just talked to over the phone.
Jenny’s death is addressed in the next episode or the one after that, i forget which one but yeah, it’s coming!
Kit’s not returning to the show and nobody talked to her on the phone
I noticed that & had hopes she would, but as you said & it seems like it was alluded to in the episode she may be gone. Fuck!
I am loving the new season. It feels very updated and socially aware. It’s a bit glossy but that’s to be expected with new shows. The people are beautiful and the romance is fun. I’m enjoying all the various plotlines. I am curious about what direction some of the secrets will go. I really enjoy these long-form recaps. I first watched the original show when I was 18, and it was way after the show first aired. My lesbian friend shared her crave password with me so I was lucky to watch it the night it aired.
i would just like to note with gratitude that i asked a question of everybody in the introduction and like almost every single comment has answered that question which means everybody actually read the intro which means this is the best day of my life
Hello, I would like to clarify that I also read the intro and want homework credits for it, but probably like everyone else thought the format was sufficiently perfect to not warrant further comment
THAT BEING SAID
if you ever wanted to slip in a pic of Marisa from the real l word episode 203 saying this is crazy, I can guarantee that will go down a storm in at least one household globally
between Marriage Story and this reboot, i’m feeling like a closeted 13 yr old child of divorce again!
oops I just spoiled what riese wrote above but… I’m fine with like… whatever, as far as recaps go (and intros are my favorite part of recaps anyway lmao)
I love the blow-by-blow format, please keep it! I also… loved this episode? It felt like the right combination of throwbacks, new character development, and ridiculousness.
Also 10/10 use of “So put that on your clipboard!” in this review.
This format is great, give us lots of reading material! I was literally guffawing while reading this. One suggestion: it would be rad to keep track of the OG series callbacks somehow (i.e. vaginal rejuvenation in ’04, Shane wanting to fuck Lenore, stealing the billboard)
I think it’s interesting how they’ve set up each of the new female characters as a successor/mentee of one of the OG characters (Bette-Dani, Alice-Sophie, Shane-Finley) but at the same time they’re not carbon copies by any means. But with those parallels, I was like omg New!Bette and New!Alice are a couple??? Wild.
tracking the callbacks is a good idea!! i love it
I love this tracking the callbacks idea
lol I cried when I saw Bette whatever it’s cool I’m fine
i LOVE this recap format!!!!!!
I’m so excited about this show! I can’t afford a showtime subscription at the moment, so if you have a link to share @avasommer or someone, please let me know :)
But even if I can’t watch it now, I love reading your recaps Reise! Please continue with the blow-by-blow format with funny captions & screenshots. It’s good to see that The L Word is updating things, becoming more inclusive & keeping up with the times. But I also like that you’re critical and you make note of where they could improve with language/diversity/incluvisity/etc.
I wasn’t really interested in the show back when it came out, but I was in high school (so a little young & prudish) and I also didn’t know that I was bi. I didn’t even know that bisexuality was a thing back then haha. When I came out in my early twenties, I tried watching it but didn’t really like the show. I don’t really watch a lot of dramas…But I did skim through certain parts because it is *such* a big part of gay woman culture. I’m really enjoying listening to the To L and Back podcasts too because they’re much better than the show itself and I’m still hearing about the references!
The format is great! I particularly like the captions! I laughed out loud with Angie’s reference to when Bette ran away with her and with the one with Mangus’ song. I loved the episode but I hate that I have to believe Tibette got divorced. Why aren’t Alice and Shane still friends with Tina though? I had already prepared myself emotionally for Tina being dead, so now I have to adjust the story in my head.
When Bette was talking to Tina I pictured Laurel Holloman’s terrible phone acting and thought of y’all. Great recap, the screencaps really tie it together as always and I hope Ilene invites you birdwatching.
Aren’t the sleepless nepotist and Sophie the overpromiser a bit young to get married? What’s the rush? Get a puppy and move into your own apartment first!
I get that they had to make an excuse for Pam Grier not coming back, but I will be really bummed if they killed her off with opioids; it echoes the way they randomly sacrificed Dana because they wanted to tell a story about breast cancer.
I’m somehow very behind on To L and Back and so tonight listened to the Season 2 mail bag episode, and Riese mentions how she’s going to recap Generation Q, and she really hopes people comment on the recaps. So here I am.
Also I refused to get out bed and get ready for work today until I had finished reading this recap, and I’m so so glad to be on this journey in real time reading the recaps after I actually watch the show in real TV time.
Also also the captions on all these screenshots speak to my sense of humor in a very deep, personal, wonderful way.
That’s all.
THANK YOU FOR DOING AS I WISHED
They had a Latinx character played by a Persian actor though, surely that’s something (else)
Riese, thank you for this glorious recap.
Really love this old school recap format. It just feels right to have the recaps in this fashion.
L I V I N G for the captions, honestly the best part of the recap (the rest is very good too). Also love the sex scene and top off round ups.
So happy to be able to watch, then keep the episode living on through your recaps and To L and Back – what a gift.
I laughed out loud at the ‘Aloce’ show every time – thanks Reise :) Also, Alice’s jumpsuits are amazing. Just really loving the I’m only going to wear a version of pajamas things she’s got going on this time around.
living in in europe we cant offically stream the show,so we have to do some tricks ,use vpn etc…Im too much of a chicken to do it,sadly(its not being shown on tv here yet) so an left wing PUB in a squatted house did show the pilot yesterday here in berlin. it was an delight to watch it with a couple of exited lesbians who giggle at the sex scenes ,or squirm and turn red like me ;-)and “woo…hoo” and clap, WHEN ALICE, Shane or bette appears the first time on screen and later together, also clapping& woohoo at every bette speach which no one fucking delivers better than our “girl”. and she is is still so ..uber-hot…..that was fun there but isnt probably a regular place to show all episodes as many of you guys in queer places over there in the US have the opportunity without the feeling of “breaking the law”. very good sound-boxes there, the bass of that hip hop song angie listens to in the car was solid,angie `s very sweet and well casted btw …whats the name of the song ? maybe in lATE SPRING/early summer l word will be ON SKY tv over here but that monhly fee is too pricey for me and also probally dubbed with german over the engliash and i refuse to listen to anything other than the orginal language,so many wordplays gets lost in the sychronsation in another language…a delight and sometimes it feels a bit forced with the namedropping of current queer namesor current stuff to show that “we’re hip and aware thats its 2019” but overall i enjoyed it and already have a crush on sarah ( miss toboni) who i predict to become the new shane of her generation, (yes there can only be one , but she sure will break some hearts ) will hope for a bigger friendcircle,beside the 4 new ones we met, and some women with more full figured or even “fat” being cast,these body types are still criminally underepresented .. . aidy bryant,danielle brooks(who played an lesbian in “girls”,jemina kirke goes down on her )would come to mind , Some cool indie bANDS OR QUEER ARTISTS playing a showcase there….
sorry of course her name is finley not sarah.. also,im glad i understand 80% of it , if youre not a native speaker sometimescause of mumbling or fast pace of the speech of the actorsyou miss out on things so i sadly didnt catch why bette was so upset, and only learned through the recap that it was opiates that dani`s company was selling. looking forward to an hopeful dvd release in the future with english or german subtitles to catch 100%,
NO MENTION OF THE ALOCE BILLBOARD WHERE THE LIPS ARE RIGHT OVER HER PEEPER? Sorry to bring up peepers.
I’m thinking the show will get better and better (I hope?). Right now it feels a bit trying-too-hard and exposition-y, but I can forgive a pilot for that. LOVE your recaps as always Riese, can’t wait to follow them.
Looking forward to seeing more of Jacqueline Toboni who I LOVED in EASY.
Also cute: extremely last minute, we hosted 8 queers at our apartment to watch <3
”breakfast of champions”
I think I’m more comforted/thrilled by the return of the Junior Mints meme than anything else in this whole reboot situation. xoxoxo
p.s. the format is perfect, please keep it, thank you for your service
i hope one day to have all my recaps sponsored by junior mints, you know??? junior mints for everybody
I want this for you! They must have some queers working for them…
Hey Riese- this recap was a thing of beauty and I will be listening to the podcast as well. FYI- there are a couple of typos you should fix.
we had to turn off our spell-checker cuz we thought it was slowing down wordpress but now we have figured out THE REAL CULPRIT so yeah i’ve been through a few rounds of hand-fixing typos but if there’s any that you think i missed, feel free to point me in that direction
oh and thank you!
LOVE this format and soooo missed Riese’s recaps, so glad to see them back.
Immediately thought they were referring to Kit re: the opioid situation, but really hope we’re all wrong.
same as many i think that bette is so passionate about the opiod situation as there is no mention of kit in the pilot that kit might be have died of using opiodes, but also hoping we are wrong.as i mentioned in an comment earlier, what i want to see; next to full figured, fat women,ONE THING I FORGOT: I MISS REAL BUTCHES ON L WORD. I understand the limitations of an network , but whats the problem? why not add add some butches in the mix. the further they show is finley/shane in the androgynous sprectrum…..please marja, please add some butches in the mix!to refuse to do it you refuse to show such an important and big part of the queer community.
I really wish there were differently sized women too.
Adored this recap. Also, am I the only one that found no chemistry between Alice and Nat? I love Stephanie Allyne, but I just am not buying this relationship. I sense Alice is kind of over it already. Interested to see how it unfolds!
I felt much the same way, though I know pilot episodes are notoriously difficult to use as a gauge for how things will ultimately play out, and I think that sometimes applies to chemistry. We’ll see!
Oh man.
As a gen Q myself i feel like my interactions with the L word were purely watching and reading recaps like YEARS after it all first aired. To read them in real time makes me feel like I’m 12 and waiting for effing dykes to load on my family computer again! Excitement mixed with fear!
also the format’s great
Yes please do continue your style of recaps, and especially the captions. Love your sense of humor!
~a fan from day one
i love this format! please keep doing it exactly like this!
Does anyone have a sippy cup!?! Hahahahaha easily one my favourite scenes of the entire series. Loved the recap, can’t wait to read the next one! I SUPPOSE I’ll listen to the podcast recap seen as though you’re gonna be in some of them! Sending love from the UK, Alex xx