Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors. The series takes a smart, sexy and fun look at the hopes, dreams and lives of these people as they deal with things like career struggles, relationships and the pressures of tying to start a family. The second season of The L Word takes off with 13 hotter-than-ever, sexy episodes filled with sizzling new characters. A must-have DVD set for the legions of fans that have purchased Season 1.Once a series has broken new ground, where does it go from there? Showtime’s The L Word, concerning the relationships of a community of lesbian Los Angelenos, turned heads with its smart, funny writing and fully realized characters. Season Two offers more of the same, with some notable guest stars and experiments in narrative and music. This season, Jenny (Mia Kirshner) fully embraces her sexuality as her ex-husband/roomie (Eric Mabius) departs and voyeuristic documentary filmmaker Mark (Eric Lively) and womanchaser Shane (Katherine Moennig) move in. Shane and Jenny struggle good-heartedly over the affections of new character Carmen (Sarah Shahi), who isn’t given much to do plot-wise apart from occasionally spinning records and serving as one corner of the love triangle. Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) start the season on the rocks due to Bette’s infidelity; the introduction of the one-dimensionally nasty Helena Peabody (Rachel Shelley) causes further friction between Bette and Tina while playing havoc with Bette’s curatorial career. Meanwhile, Dana (Erin Daniels) and Alice (Leisha Hailey) go from being best friends to being a whole lot more, providing some of the most touching scenes of the season. Kit (Pam Grier) takes on The Planet, the seeming center of LA’s lesbian universe, converting it into a nightclub where, conveniently, guest-starring bands can play.
Strong points of the season include Bette and Kit confronting the death of their father (the superb Ossie Davis) and Shane’s new job as a gopher for a high-powered Hollywood producer (the equally superb Camryn Manheim). Less strong are the distracting, neo-expressionistic passages meant to be glimpses into Jenny’s creative mind and the interminable use of the series’ theme song–re-interpreted in a number of genres–to the point of distraction. Mark’s voyeurism, which crosses all sorts of boundaries as he installs hidden cameras around the house, is a brilliant way to challenge male viewers who may tune in just to TiVo their way to the sex scenes. That said, the arc of that particular story grows increasingly far-fetched as Mark somehow avoids criminal prosecution and instead endures the horrible fate of having Jenny refuse his offer of coffee and a muffin. Despite its flaws, The L Word is a show that deserves to be cheered on, not for its politics, but for the skillful way it conveys complex human entanglements with sensitivity. –Ryan Boudinot
Buy “The L Word – The Complete Second Season” For Only $13.75
February 12, 2006
#1
The beauty of this show is that it is so in line with the modern world. As humans get closer to cloning we get further from the need to put up with men. No more bald heads snoring beside us. No more Bushes dreaming of emasculating the Middle East. Apart from our plumbing and custodial needs, men are more or less superfluous. This is something that Michel Houellebecq understands (see “The Elementary Particles”). And so does Russell David Harper. His novel/memoir “Bald” is narrated by a man who meditates wisely on his predicament. At one point he even fantasizes about becoming a woman–clearly the only way to live in the modern world. But in the end he cannot: he is stuck being “bald” (from Middle English, “balled”).
February 12, 2006
#2
Can’t jump in with a review of this ground-breaking series without first pointing out that Amazon Editorial Reviewer Ryan Boudinot needs to get fired. Tina and Bette don’t share a father, or else they wouldn’t be lovers, you careless moron. Also, “to Tivo” is not a verb (I Tivo, he Tivoes), and your remark about men who want to fast forward to the lesbian sex scenes is offensive to just about everyone. Don’t you have a boss who is paying attention?
The show is terrific. When is season 3 available?
February 12, 2006
#3
I love the L Word and would recommend this to anyone but the bonus material may not be worth the purchase. The best part of the DVD is to listen to the commentary on the 3rd disc. Kate (Shane) Liesha (Alice) and Erin (Dana)are freakin funny. If you have a DVD recorder save your money because like I say the extra’s are not worth the $45 that it’s going for now. I only am giving it 4 stars because the girls are hot.
February 12, 2006
#4
I’ve played 2 DVDs of second season.
The sound and picture have fallen out of sync so many times I have to wonder if the dvd is a pirate version.
If it weren’t for the quality of the dvd the item would have 5 stars.
February 12, 2006
#5
The quality of the DVD is very bad. I isn’t the original DVD !!!!
I think it’s a bad copy. The sound isn’t syncronised with the picture. The quality of the picture is very bad too.
I can’t rate this product correctly. I don’t send it back too cause it would cost me more than to keep it !