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The L Word; Season 4, not bad
Topic Started: Jan 22 2007, 06:16 PM (4,851 Views)
abzug
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In love with a prisoner
Last night's ep felt very schizophrenic, quality-wise. I thought all the Bette-Jodi scenes were exquisitely well done. Very compelling, multiple levels going on at once (rare for this show) and of course full of great acting. In particular, the whole sequence when Jodi and Bette go to Phyllis's house was absolutely fantastic, possibly my favorite sequence this whole season. Three great actresses, passionate emotions, and just generally good humor. I also loved the whole bit on the phone at Bette's place when Phyllis calls, in particular Bette's response to Jodi after telling Phyllis about their relationship (it was something like "Are you happy now?"). And then their first sex scene, although not on fire exactly, seemed incredibly realistic, both physically and emotionally. All of these scenes, it seems to me, dramatize the ways Jodi really challenges Bette, emotionally-speaking, and Bette (almost against her better judgment) rises to the occasion. And brilliant with the instant message at the end of the ep.

I also really enjoyed the whole Tasha-Alice relationship building. Tasha is the character's name, right? Anyway, she's a great actress, quite butch in her demeanor in a way that feels real and (on this show) refreshing. The whole helicopter bit (This is the ask/tell helicopter) was hilarious I thought.

But I thought pretty much everything else in the episode kinda sucked. Which was strange, given how good the two good storylines were. I mean, this whole business with Helena was a total snooze. I mean, I couldn't have been less interested in two gorgeous women going at it, and that surprised me. Similarly, this whole business with Jenny's book (or is it her short story? I couldn't figure it out) also didn't interest me, particularly Tina's whole resistance to it, and then her need to get the deal. Plus, Tina, could you be more retarded?!?! Why oh why did she spill the beans about Angus?!?! What an idiot!

As for Max, kudos to him for outing himself at work. I definitely liked the fantasy sequence when he walked down the hall and everyone said mean things to him and then instead it winds up being a non-issue. Of course, only time will tell with that one, and given that Max has offered to improve Alice's website, I bet he's going to be losing that job sooner rather than later. I do think that this was a good move though, storyline-wise, to get Max back involved with the larger group. But I cringe whenever Max talks about work. Couldn't the writers have hired a consultant to explain to them the words used by people who work in Internet technology?
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Texex
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"...the ways Jodi really challenges Bette, emotionally-speaking, and Bette (almost against her better judgment) rises to the occasion. And brilliant with the instant message at the end of the ep."

Love the observation about what Jodi is doing to Bette - forcing Bette to do things against her better judgement. So true, did you see the preview for next weeks show with Tina? Very interesting.

Also thought the Jodi/Bette chemistry was much, much better this week. Perhaps because they had verbal/signage interaction that provided insight.

Actually, I was intrigued by the Helena/Katherine storyline. I felt Katherine totally let Helena win. She knew Helena was very uncomfortable with the pending outcome. She is an accomplished gambler, how could she lose? What does she do, Katherine makes it easy for Helena to be the aggressor. Are we going to see more A Type Helena?

Of course this relationship will go nowhere so it doesn't really matter.
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abzug
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Texex
Feb 19 2007, 01:01 PM
So true, did you see the preview for next weeks show with Tina? Very interesting.

Yeah, I saw it. Please god, let Bette choose Jodi! But did you notice Tina's little castration of the carrot? This is in the scene where the studio head or whoever he was demanded she get the rights to Jenny's book. The scene ends with her shoving the carrot into the juicer. Symbolic ya think? She's not going to be a hasbian for much longer....

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Actually, I was intrigued by the Helena/Katherine storyline. I felt Katherine totally let Helena win. She knew Helena was very uncomfortable with the pending outcome. She is an accomplished gambler, how could she lose? What does she do, Katherine makes it easy for Helena to be the aggressor. Are we going to see more A Type Helena?

Very interesting point. I hadn't noticed this myself, but now that you point it out, I think you're right, and that does make it a more interesting scene. But for me personally, I can't overcome the fact that I find both the actresses (and therefore their scenes together) boring, and the one who plays Katherine is too darn thin!
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poedgie
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abzug
Feb 19 2007, 06:30 AM
I thought all the Bette-Jodi scenes were exquisitely well done.  Very compelling, multiple levels going on at once (rare for this show) and of course full of great acting. 

I wholeheartedly agree; I tingled all over.

abzug
Feb 19 2007, 06:30 AM
Plus, Tina, could you be more retarded?!?! Why oh why did she spill the beans about Angus?!?! What an idiot!

So true! What an imbecile Tina! Where did she get the idea that Bette had told Kit anyway. How silly was that whole scene?

I think Phylis is going for the Marlo Thomas "That Girl" look.

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Texex
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abzug
Feb 20 2007, 01:24 AM

But for me personally, I can't overcome the fact that I find both the actresses (and therefore their scenes together) boring, and the one who plays Katherine is too darn thin!

Well, I think the character Helena could be more interesting. She has been boring since they made her nice. As far as the actress...Hmm, I think she hasn't been given good meat to work with. (FYI, I have a weakness for tall, dark haired women with an english accent. I am weak.)

Katherine is too DAMN skinny. I hear ya on that one. But if they are under age 35 on TLW, they are all skinny.

Okay, can we talk about Tina. Is it just me or is it really the worst written character ever? I love LH, but jeez her character is totally schizo.
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Texex
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poedgie
Feb 20 2007, 02:10 AM
I think Phylis is going for the Marlo Thomas "That Girl" look.

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heheheh. Yeah, I was wondering what was up with that do. :eek
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kurdy2005
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kurdy2005
hey everyone, im from northern ireland and i have just finished watchin the l word series 1 to 3 and i am totally addicted to it! however, i likely wont be able to watch the 4th series until its on normal tv! :cry2 how sad!!! neways if neone wants to pm me go ahead!

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kurdy2005
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i havent been on the website for a while! shame on me! i will have to improve on my usage!
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abzug
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So, no one has written about Sunday night's ep yet. I didn't get a chance to watch it until last night, and I must admit I was apprehensive during the "previously on" part because they were covering all the plotlines I hadn't liked last week. However, I wound up enjoying the episode. The scenes between Bette and Tina were much more natural and organic than I had anticipated. It wasn't Tina throwing herself at Bette as I had feared. It was the kind of conversation which might occur between two exes who had been in a long and loving relationship and were finally over the anger at the breakup. I'm still loving Tasha and Alice. Great great great pairing there--very good chemistry and a different dynamic than anything else we've got on the show.

Bette, could I love thee more? She was so wonderful in this episode. In the private scene with Tina, in her discussion about jealousy with Jodi, and in her standing up for Tina in the whole business with Jenny. I've realized this woman could have chemistry with a brick wall, no kidding. I mean, I like Marlee Matlin and her character, but the chemistry between them is generated 90% by Jennifer Beals.

Kit kit kit--the drinking! Oh god, this is not a storyline I want to follow. Why does Kit have to be so dysfunctional just when she's getting her life together again? I guess that's more real life, but it's not all that pleasant to watch. I also have a bit of a hard time finding Papi's interest in her (or hers in Papi) believable at all. But we'll see where they go with that.

Interesting to watch Helena having power games played on her when she's been so accustomed to playing power games on others. But this Catherine woman is BAD NEWS--anyone who doesn't give a shit about two cute kids has to be Evil.

Speaking of which, Jodi says she hates kids and then we see her goofing around with Anjelica to whom she has already taught sign language? Was there a missing scene here? My other complaint about the episode was the fact that it opened with Jenny having what could only be described as a guilt dream. Her arm is practically torn off by the dead dog. She expresses regret about the whole business, lays flowers on the dog's grave etc. And yet none of that translated to her attitude in the episode, which was unbearably obnoxious. I'm not sure what we were supposed to think about the curly hair in the dream sequence--was that an indication that her guilt dream was itself a fantasy, not really happening to her? And if so, then what's the point in showing it to us? We can already see she's acting like a total bitch--we don't need any symbolism to drive that point home.
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poedgie
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abzug
Feb 28 2007, 03:59 AM
  My other complaint about the episode was the fact that it opened with Jenny having what could only be described as a guilt dream.  Her arm is practically torn off by the dead dog.  She expresses regret about the whole business, lays flowers on the dog's grave etc.  And yet none of that translated to her attitude in the episode, which was unbearably obnoxious. 

When I was watching this I had the feeling of being placated, ie the writers knowing how icky the Sounder storyline was thought "let's have Jenny feel guilty!" It didn't work though because as you point out Jenny was unbearble in this episode.

I loved the Tina/Bette interactions. It's nice to see them civil with one another.

Tasha and Alice have a real chemistry. Loved Alice's "because we want to fuck each other" line.

Helena and Catherine. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.

Papi and Kit. Yeah, not so much. No I really don't see this. I hate to see Kit drinking, but if Kits past (non)storylines are any indication nothing will come of this.
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Canadabadgirl
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How much do I dislike Tina? Let me count the ways.

I could see the scene with Bette as you saw it, abzug, but only with my head. My gut saw Tina, disenchanted with her straight relationship and missing the "lifestyle" she enjoyed as a lesbian: from the means to buy fine art and the sense of style and feeling for art to decorate her home beautifully, to conversations about entertainment that don't involve mainstream pop culture or professional athletes. A secret club indeed. One that exposes the women in it to prejudice and discrimination.

Jennifer Beals was brilliant, as usual. The conflict between pulling away from the ickiness of the I-want-you-back vibe from Tina, with the desire to make peace with someone she still cares about and with whom she had a happy life for several years.

I found the Kit-Papi vibe a bit odd - getting busy with someone old enough to be your grandmother is definitely a courageous storyline to tackle, but I wasn't feeling it Mainly because Kit is so straight and has only been drawn to a woman who's so butch that she only dresses in drag, versus Papi's makeup-wearing swagger that's totally about "I can be what you need" androgyny. Papi can be boyish, but Kit lines MEN so it felt wrong.

The anti-war/pro-military conversation following the bar jokes was cringeworthy. Alice was still spouting stereotypes even after meeting several great military women and hearing in the first person that agreeing to defend your country has nothing to do with being a fan of George W. Bush. Ok, Alice has never been accused of being a deep thinker, but she lost someone she cared about when that person was young and fit, so I expected some empathy when she was talking to a woman who shared that experience many times over. Hey, at least the other side of the conversation stayed away from the stereotypes.

I have to admit that the latest Shane development was predictable, but I really expected the mother to be the one to walk back into their lives.

This season is SO much better than season 3 that it's almost as though it's not the same show - well, except for Jenny, whose storyline is much better suited to last season.

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abzug
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Canadabadgirl
Feb 28 2007, 09:27 PM
I could see the scene with Bette as you saw it, abzug, but only with my head. My gut saw Tina, disenchanted with her straight relationship and missing the "lifestyle" she enjoyed as a lesbian: from the means to buy fine art and the sense of style and feeling for art to decorate her home beautifully, to conversations about entertainment that don't involve mainstream pop culture or professional athletes. A secret club indeed. One that exposes the women in it to prejudice and discrimination.

Wow. I really didn't see it as sinister as that. I think it's natural to have nostalgia for a past relationship, particularly when that relationship also included a community and lifestyle and your new relationship doesn't. From your post, it almost seems like you see Tina as enjoying her heterosexual privilege, unless I am misreading your comment about a secret club "that exposes the women in it to prejudice and discrimination." Isn't it a positive thing to see Tina saying she yearns to be back part of that community, even if it means suffering prejudice and discrimination? Not because she isn't attracted to her boyfriend (we have no way to truly tell if she is or not) but because she doesn't feel at home in the straight world. I don't see it as her taking lesbian identity or lifestyle lightly. In fact, the opposite.
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HuskiesFan
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abzug
Mar 5 2007, 11:30 AM
Isn't it a positive thing to see Tina saying she yearns to be back part of that community, even if it means suffering prejudice and discrimination?  Not because she isn't attracted to her boyfriend (we have no way to truly tell if she is or not) but because she doesn't feel at home in the straight world. 

I took it the same way that you did, abzug. She doesn't seem comfortable in the heterosexual world now. I think that she also clearly misses her friendships with all of the girls. Just my .02 worth.
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
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abzug
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Two things to love about last night's ep:

1. Phyllis's husband in bed with a bunch of lesbians. What a fantastic scene! And so random, and yet it felt to me like the kind of thing which could happen. Tasha's advice was particularly kind, and I liked that she was the one to offer it, given that so far she appears to be the most grounded of that bunch.

2. Bette and Jodi! Yay! Love these two. Bette having so much rage at seeing Jodi with another woman, and yet trying to keep it cool, and being completely incapable. It's a tiny bit of a stretch to imagine that polyamorous Jodi has suddenly found the monogamous light now that she's found the right woman. But if there's any woman who could inspire monogamy, it's Bette, right? It was quite an interesting scene when Jodi tells Bette she broke up with Amy. Not only because Bette didn't see it coming. But because her reaction is to call Jodi a "heartbreaker"--Bette identifying with Amy in that particular moment, so clearly feeling how painful it would be to lose Jodi, because that's how she had been feeling all day. And because the last moment of the scene at first appears to be a sappy romantic one (Bette's "You're so beautiful") but quickly turns into a totally goofy joke, with Bette covering Jodi's face with soot. This seems so important to me, because the lovely thing about Jodi and Bette is how much Jodi has shaken Bette free (or loose) from her type-A control-everything tendencies.

OK, now, I like musicals about as much as any lesbian could, but Les Girls the Musical?!?! Horrifying. In concept and execution. Now, tell me, since when do authors get to pick their director? Particularly young, powerless authors like Jenny? I mean, we're not talking JK Rowling here....
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solitasolano
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abzug
Feb 28 2007, 03:59 AM

Bette, could I love thee more? .... I've realized this woman could have chemistry with a brick wall

That pretty much sums up anything I can find to say about TLW. :devil
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