The L Word - The Complete Second Season

At last, a show that is about lesbians for lesbians. The show is well written, well acted, and the best production values. I can not reccomend this show enough. Absolutely love it.

Appeals to every imaginable demographic: gay women, gay men, staight women, straight men--and probably everyone else in between!

I purcahsed Season 1 of The L Word on a whim after passing it in a store one day, and recalling both the controversy and glowing reviews surrounding it when it was first screened on television. As a straight young woman of 19 who has had very little contact with homosexual people throughout her life, I found it to be a lovely surprise - a refreshing combination of great acting from a well-rounded cast, characters that were sufficiently fleshed out in order for the viewer to grow to care about them, and clever writing. I found that I was able to relate to these characters and their trials and tribulations despite our differences in sexual orientation. Perhaps most importantly, Season 1 of The L Word contained the perfect amount of both humour and poignance - a quality that I love in all of my favourite TV shows.

Having said that, it's sad to say that I can't say the same about Season 2. While I will most likely support and watch this show for however long it continues to be on air, Season 2 takes a strange turn. Many of the characters that I originally supported and in whom I invested my interest suddenly appear to be caricatures, resorted to being used simply for laughs (note: Dana and Alice). Furthermore, the new additions to the cast are either given very little screen time (as in the case of Carmen, played by the gorgeous Sarah Shahi) or portrayed as simply one-dimensional (as in the case of Helena, played by the beautiful Rachel Shelley). As a result, several storylines seem either under-developed (Carmen and Shane) or simply bizarre (Helena and Tina) - too under-developed and bizarre respectively to get the audience to actually care. My girl-crush from Season 1, Kate Moennig, is reduced to a big sullen pile of sulk this season, and while I can't say I'm too keen on the change of hair, I still think she's hot, adore her voice and wish she she'd been given more with which to work as I believe Moennig has the acting chops.

On the upside, Mia Kirshner continues to do a great job with a difficult character. Whilst Jenny grated on my nerves during Season 1, I've grown to really appreciate her throughout Season 2 as Kirshner continues to reveal her character's complexity (although I could definitely do without the pretentious flashbacks and horrendously misplaced carnival scenes). Jennifer Beals is as wonderful as ever, making the audience empathise with a woman who, essentially, embodies many unlikeable qualities. And physically, Beals is as stunning as ever. Pam Grier offers solid support in the storyline with Bette and Kit's father, providing some of the most heartbreaking scenes of the season.

Another negative about Season 2 is the change in its use of music. I do not care for the new opening credits at all (they don't fit the tone of the show in the slightest), nor do I care for the overuse of the group BETTY, who - incidentally - provides us with the 'music' that accompanies the opening credits. Whilst Season 1 offered up gems by Damien Rice, Leonard Cohen and Joseph Arthur, Season 2 gives us a lot of BETTY. And that is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, the substantial change in music only works to make the marked absence of the poignancy and melancholy that I so loved in Season 1 all that more noticable.

On the whole, Season 2 does not live up to Season 1's promise, although it still provides - for the most part - interesting and riveting viewing. I look forward to the release of the Season 3 DVD set to see if it is able to redeem itself. If not, The L Word will always have my support on the strength and promise of its premiere season, if not my absolute adoration.

I wish televison whether the mainstream or basic cable wasn't so bland and boring. The (major) tv/cable networks need to liven things up a bit. I find shows like "The L Word" much more interesting than what that aging dinosaur called "ER". Unfortunately I don't have the money to afford the premium cable shows so I have to wait for "The L Word" to come out on dvd. I loved the first season. It was so refreshing from the bland and boring garbage on regular tv/cable.

I just finished watching season two of "The L Word". Despite that misfire of a theme song which I think is absolutely hideous, I enjoyed season two as much as the first season. However season two isn't without its flaws. I did not enjoy the plot with Shane and Jenny's new roommate Mark. Another flaw...too much Toxic Tonya. Hideously annoying character. I did though love the tumultuous storyline between Tina and Bette. I wish though Tina was a bit more assertive. Carmen and Shane were absolutely hot. Tons of chemistry there. I also dug the character development in Jenny who actually did not annoy the heck out of me through out season two.

I am so looking forward to seeing season three on dvd. I hope there will be some decent bonus footage unlike on the first two seasons.

Though season 2 is darker than the 1st season, I really liked it. Bette's struggle to deal with the fact that she is no longer the "big dog" in her relationship, in fact realizing that she could have effectivitly ruined her relationship with Tina for good, made this season riveting.
After being rejected by Cheri, Shane meets Carmen, a woman who refuses to put up with Shane's heartbreaker additude. Shane and Carmen have fantastic chemistry and I never tire of seeing them on my TV screen!
Alice and Dana struggles to deal with their feelings for each other gives the show some laughs and made me smile when they finally "came out" to each other and their friends as a couple.
After Marina leaves (So so sad. Come back Karina!), Jenny starts to look at her life and her relationships with a more somber eye. Though I found Jenny's "dreamscapes" tedious, I thought Jenny's gradual breakdown was very well written and realistic.
The second season of The L Word leaves you wanting more. I can't wait till the 3rd season comes out in October!