Like most self-respecting (albeit then-closeted) queer woman, I happened to be alert to “the actual L keyword,” Ilene Chaiken’s 2010-12 spin-off of demonstrate that defined a generation folks within one method or another. At the time the tv series aired, I wasn’t interested. It had nothing at all to do with my personal denial of my bisexual identification and everything to do with the fact I happened to be nonetheless pissed at Chaiken for undertaking
my personal lady Jenny Schecter
therefore very, extremely wrong in period finale of initial “The L keyword.”
Quickly onward ten years if the homosexual stars aimed personally and that I found me bingeing all three times in a single week. Lots of aspects provided for this unconscious decision. One: I was in the home stretching of edits for my personal second queer YA unique in 2021 and I anxiously required head candy. Two: Showtime struck up my personal inbox with a 30-day free trial offer, basically when it comes down to new season of “massive amounts,” a show I have never seen. Three: Really, I Happened To Be interesting.
In older times, I became a devoted enthusiast of “The Hills,” MTV’s thoroughly absurd, entirely addicting reality crisis about pretty, hetero 20-somethings surviving in LA. “the true L phrase” held the same sun-drenched, sugary feeling of escapism â best possible way, way,
means
gayer â plus with canines and, beginning in season two, a rather lovable kitty. Positive, absolutely mess: phony crisis which is clearly staged by manufacturers, a lot of real shouting in very congested clubs, and really, Romi. Having said that, “the true L term” had plenty of nutrients that held me personally watching till the end of Whitney and Sara’s large homosexual wedding, immediately Googling what everyone’s around today, and after my faves on Insta (
hi, Kacy!
) â and additionally dorkily dancing around my personal apartment to
that snappy motif tune
. Here is what we all of a sudden adored:
Strong Coupling
Jill and Nikki tend to be adorable while they squabble over a chandelier and preparing a wedding which wasn’t legal during the time but was actually essential for all of them on your own degree. Kacy and Cori keep the thought of a baby who may or may not happen, while never wavering within their really love and support for one another. Tracy and Stamie figure out how to stabilize work, sex, in addition to care of three adorable children â among whom had special requirements. We completely adored the storylines among these three couples navigating lesbian life in a straight globe together. (and that I had been firmly group Jill in Chandelier-Gate. That thing ended up being unsafe!)
Sweet Crushing
At the beginning of period three, I happened to ben’t positive how I believed about Kiyomi, the Hunter Valentine frontwoman whose means of practicing polyamory wasn’t exactly reasonable to her lover, Allie. Whenever Kiyomi came across enviably pink-haired and pearly white-teethed Angeleno Lauren at Dinah Shore, but all bets happened to be down. Once they kissed from the grass, it actually was attractive. If they shyly gazed at one another and giggled during confessional interviews, it absolutely was cuter. So when Lauren could not keep away from Kiyomi’s house of the latest York City for example a lot more moment? Cutest.
Moments With Mothers
Appear, we are in
quarantine
and I neglect my personal
mommy
. This could describe the reason why it rained-on my face every time a warm mummy figure appeared. Whether or not it was actually Jill shouting happily when her mother made a surprise day at help their select a wedding dress, Kacy’s mother satisfying her daughter for meal and consoling the woman about child Charlie, or Whitney’s grandmother witnessing Whitney’s backyard Connecticut Wedding, I found myself in pretty bad shape, y’all. Let’s not forget Francine being released to her ultra-glam mother Yoko, exactly who immediately responded “I favor love really you,” and Sadjah’s mummy Sarita praising Sadjah’s Vote for Equality peers for residing their unique fact.
”
I simply believe it’s breathtaking for you personally all to stand upwards for the liberties and fight for just what you really, certainly trust,” she claims.
Genuine, Live Bisexuality!
Carry out i enjoy just how Chaiken deals with bisexual characters and storylines? Never. But as a bi my self, Im eager regarding and all of representation of my personal people in the media (Spoiler: however maybe not much!). Right now, I’ll get the thing I may, and that I found it heartening to see Romi with men into the tv series’s next season, in addition to the causing talks of exactly how bi/queer/pansexual ladies often think excluded from gay community as a whole. It really is unusual I found Romi relatable, but I relished this kind of subject that still isn’t mentioned enough.
Claire. Enough mentioned.
Oh, Claire. She kept the woman absolutely gorgeous gf Vivian in nyc to “begin a lesbian internet site” in LA â and shack up with ex Francine (estimate how good that finally any moved). She blithely turned down an internship with “But i am a Cheerleader” movie director and queer icon Jamie Babbit. And she’d drunkenly scream in organizations. Claire ended up being the undeniable
king.
This coming year two major player was actually because disorganized as the woman â80s rock and roll star-esque blond shag, and that’s
precisely
what you need actually TV. Do not get me personally completely wrong, I was a fan of the quieter minutes in “The Real L keyword,” but Claire introduced the pure dramz, and that I was actually here because of it. (additionally, I spent my youth perhaps not definately not her hometown of St. Louis, so hell yeah for fellow weirdo Midwesterners!)
This Is Basically The Way That We Live
Bringing it to “The L Word” motif song we all adored: There still aren’t some programs, flicks, etc. about queer females
current
(talking, laughing, adoring, breathing, etc.). Even though I happened to be frustrated with Whitney’s pre-engagement user ways, Sajdah and Chanel acquiring as well significant too quickly and hearing the millionth difference of “just what’s up with you and so-and-so,” we relished spending some time with queer feamales in various phases regarding life, only calculating situations around. I can not state We miss out the days when unscripted shows ruled the airwaves, but “the actual L keyword” had been well worth seeing, not only your club-screaming, chandelier-squabbling and broken keyboard-pouting (bad Somer), but for the major lady-loving lesbian electricity.
Bonus: no body dies in a pool.
