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« The L Word
March 25, 2007: Season Finale
"What are the steaks for?" That had me rolling on the floor laughing. One of my favorite scenes from tonight was definitely the "sign kidnapping." Great scene for Bette, Alice and Shane, and a perfect way to show just how crazy Bette is for Jodi. Or is she?
Tina, Bette and Jodi
Tina and Bette. It's obvious that they each want each other to be happy, but then again, they also seem... to want each other. But why? Is it because they're comfortable in their history, in the way that they share a child together, or in their codependent dynamic? Then again, since they've been apart, Tina has grown to be very strong in her own way, and she really doesn't take any crap from Bette anymore, so in a sense, Tina is also growing into somebody who's on an equal plane with Bette now. I feel really torn after tonight... after seeing Bette and Tina together, but then also after seeing Bette go to such lengths to get Jodi back. I like it that I'm now torn between Jodi and Tina. It's always good when a show makes relationships and characters deep enough that it's hard to choose one person or one side. Oh, and I loved the phone conversation, and how Tom the interpreter was trying to get Jodi to "give" a little.
Shane and Page
Another favorite scene of the night was the "Lez Norman Rockwell" scenario juxtaposed with the steamy love-making session between Shane and Page. My big question mark about those two is how Shane seems to feel that Shay will be back. Do you think she's formulating a plan to get him back? Or is it that she knows her dad will flake out again? I do agree with Alice: "Is this our Shane? Or is this some pod person?" I do like seeing Shane wanting so much to commit and to have a family and to... well, to settle down. But that also makes losing Carmen so much more heartbreaking. It feels like if Carmen and Shane had met just about a year later, would the timing have been right, and would they still be together? Or is having kids in the equation what changed Shane?
Jenny
Jenny, meet karma. Karma, meet Jenny. The fact that she named her new puppy Sounder does show that she at least has a conscience after all. Did you all get the feeling that she was going to drown herself when she got into the boat at the party? I sort of did.... I still sort of wonder. My jaw was on the floor after what she did in the board meeting, but then the scene between Jenny, "Mirken" and Kate instantly one-upped that. Ouch. Jenny definitely deserved to be put in her place, and either she'll learn from it and grow, or... she'll self-destruct. Care to "make a wager"?
Helena and Catherine
Ew. Now that it's been fully disclosed that Helena is without a doubt a slave to Catherine, I'm thoroughly disgusted and disappointed in Helena. All for a "life of luxury"? Come on, Helena! And now she's stolen a buttload of Catherine's money! Or wait... is that Helena's stash that Catherine's been keeping from her? Helena is entitled to quite a bit of money, but she doesn't have a single thing on paper or any way to back herself up legally when it gets ugly. It's just like the mess she got into with the filmmaker in Season 3. She's such a mess, and I have a feeling that the wrath of Catherine is something to fear. I'm actually surprised that one of the biggest cliff-hangers of the evening was Helena's story line!
Alice, Tasha and Dana
Wonderful scene with Dana. I giggled at Alice: "You sure do swear a lot more now." So adorable. I really miss Dana. As I watched Dana challenge Alice's reasons for not going to Tasha's party, the realization at how much love and loss Alice has gone through lately really hit me. That last scene of Alice and Tasha together was so bittersweet. Sigh, I think that this story line is officially one of the biggies that we'll all be most curious about in Season 5.
Papi, Angus and Kit
Bravo, Kit, for realizing that you've got to work on yourself before you "get" with anybody. Not only that, but kudos to you for holding Papi and Angus close to you.... I loved seeing them all walking together on the beach. Papi and Angus both care for her dearly, and I'm happy to see that they truly do want to be there for her.
Joyce and Phyllis
Classic. Absolutely classic!
Max
I loved the slow zoom from the end of the alley to the close-up of his eyes. Such a simple yet effective way to show how huge a decision the surgery is for him. I'm certain that this question mark is one of the big resolutions we'll be most curious to see in Season 5.
Because there will be a Season 5! Yay!
It's been great hanging out with you all this season. I look forward to reading your thoughts on tonight's final chapter, and to meeting up here again next year, for another "L" of a great season!
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Mar 26, 2007 12:33 AM
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OH what I wouldn't do for just one more hour.
The sign napping was one of the best scenes. Bette sure did her homework on the building before she went thru with it. It just goes to show how much these girls care for each other. I couldn't help but smile as Bette drove down the road in a tractor
I really like Shane & Paige but I think it's really unfair that Shane has been able to commit in a serious relationship without facing any repercussions from leaving Carmen just last season.
I like Jenny, but I was so happy to see her get what she deserved. Kate and that critic totally put Jenny in her place, it was fun seeing Jenny rattled up and unable to get in any of her "clever" remarks.
Alice & Tasha: Simply Beautiful
Until Next Season!!
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Mar 26, 2007 4:09 AM
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You hit most of the key points I wanted to mention, especially the Shane/Carmen fiasco. I like Page, but I agree that it's a bit ironic how Shane now wants this family life -- the same thing Carmen wanted. Sigh.... I'll say it again: I miss Carmen.
...although, Papi more than makes up for it. She was gorgeous walking on the beach. And while it's great that Kit is trying to get her life together, why not embrace Bette during this recovery? And please, please, please writers, don't get Kit/Angus back together. They should be friends.
I did think that something bad was going to happen to Jenny on the raft, but not something that would remove her entirely from the show.
Next season, Helena will be arrested for theft.
Great scene with Jodi and Bette at the end, as Bette drove the tractor to the art site. Wonderful photography because it seemed as if Jodi was glowing (facial expression). Matlin is a beautiful woman and I love her spirit/passion.
Tasha/Alice. As I said in last week's post, I think the writers would do the viewers an injustice if Tasha doesn't stay in the service for an entire Season 5. As the cliffhanger for that season, they should bring her back injured so she can stay home permanently. Alice, meanwhile, has moved onto another relationship and, when Tasha is back from duty, is torn between her current love interest and Tasha.
Joyce/Phyllis. Eh... they make a good looking couple, but it seemed too convenient, if that makes any sense.
With Max, if he's gotten this far, I'm a bit surprised about his hesitancy.
Anyway, I, too, look forward to other comments and I can't wait until next season.
Oops! I almost forgot....
(NOTE TO SELF: DON'T FORGET TO CANCEL SHOWTIME TODAY UNTIL THE NEW SEASON OF THE L-WORD RETURNS). LOL
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Mar 26, 2007 8:35 AM
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There were a few scenes in the episode where I thought Page looked like she was having some kind of doubt or hesitation about the whole settling down thing. The look on her face seemed to imply that maybe she's not as ready for everything as Shane is.
Since Shane is now happy, not self-destructive, and ready to commit, I'm thinking the writers are going to rip her heart out next season. They seem to have done a great job making just about all the main characters except Shane unlikable. So it's only a matter of time before they destroy Shane's quest for happiness.
Tina and Bette have the most dysfunctional relationship I can think of. Sure they want to be together again, but if they do, it will only be a matter of days before all the reasons they were tearing each other apart come through again.
And what great friends Tina has, holding it against her that she was with a man again. Alice is bi (something that's pretty much gone from the character now), why can't Tina be? And Bette had certainly done her share of wrongs when she was with Tina, and everyone forgave her.
I think Dana was my favorite part of the show. I do miss her too. Beautiful actress, great actor, and able to be touching and funny with a perfect balance.
So, we'll see how next season goes. I felt this season had some pretty unrealistic moments (come on, does ANYONE think Jenny's book was SO good that they would let her have creative input on the movie? Hollywood doesn't work like that unless you're Tom Clancy or JK Rowlings)
I don't mind suspending disbelief, but I hate to have to keep raising the bar every other week.
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Mar 26, 2007 9:55 AM
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Great recap Jeannine.
Orpheus66, I completely agree with you about Tina and Bette but I disagree about Shane. I'm not sure what you mean when you say that everybody on the show has been made unlikeable so it's time for Shane to get her heart broken. I don't think that everybody has been made unlikeable, and remember that Shane got her heart broken last season with Roseanna Arquette's character. As for Alice's bisexuality, I think she mentioned last season that she was "past that phase" in relation to men but I think the main problem with Tina is because she actually removed herself from the group. For the most part she didn't show up for anything, and when she invited them to that sham of a dinner party, she allowed their lifestyle to get attacked without so much as a word. She sold out, simple as that. She's lucky they let her back in at all, but of course they will.
Spider-man I think Max's hesitation stems from the assistant liking him the way he is now. I think that sex scene was pivotal to how he views himself at this point and he's questioning if he has to be as drastic as to have his boobs removed just to feel like he's a man.
Jeannine I wanted to slap some sense into Helena. Talking about selling out. She'll rethink her quest to be pampered when she winds up in jail and mummy won't bail her out. No self respect whatsoever. She's nothing more than a cat toy to Catherine. She's going to be a b#tch on wheels when she sees that she took the money.
I was hoping that Phyllis and Joyce would hook up. I think they're perfect for each other. Phyllis can learn all about her new world with someone closer to her age. I loved that they went to open houses!
I LOVED when Jennie got her reality-smack. Mercken was right on time. I really thought Jenny was going to kill herself. She's so unbalanced, I wouldn't be surprised. Or sad.
It was cool seeing Dana. I'm thinking maybe the show will be a year in the future when next season starts. Then Tasha could be back from the war.
The Bette/Alice/Shane scenes were what this show is ultimately about. No matter how bone head or romantic or downright absurd something is, they're there for each other. It was very Lucy and Ethel. I absolutely loved it.
I miss this show already.
Hey Jeannine, do you review any other shows?
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Mar 26, 2007 1:46 PM
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Sorry to this season end, it has been great. I love what they are doing with Tina and Bette. Lots of cute little scenes, Tina all giggly, then helping Bette. That phone conversation with Tina on the beach was brilliant. Tina saying the words she really means, Kate thinking she is saying them to Bette about herself, and Bette? Confused whether she was really hearing Tina say them and mean them. She looked very emotional, did she realise Tina was asking for another chance?
Kristana Lokken has said she didn't enjoy her time on the show (wonder why?) and I highly doubt she'll be back, so I guess no house in the 'burbs for Shane.
SOOOO nice to see Dana. Although she wasn't very Dana like for most of it - as Alice said, she was cursing a lot more. I loved her character in S1. Such a pity she got killed off.
Joyce and Phyllis were funny. Jane Lynch is hilarious.
Great finale, great season. Looking forward to S4.
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Mar 26, 2007 7:17 PM
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Am I the only one that experienced a little bit of a "let-down" after watching the finale? I mean after some of the dramatic season ending episodes, this finale didn't measure up for me. I do like the fact that every story line has somewhere to go next season though.
Shane/Paige - I do believe that Shane has gotten off too easy after the Carmen situation. I think Paige will end up breaking Shane's heart in some way next season.
Bette/Tina - I did love the phone call on the beach. Tina was definitely speaking for herself and didn't mind that it was overheard by Kate. I also thought the scene with her typing on Bette's phone was powerful. She got a chance to say things that Bette never would have listened to before. I look for Tina to stop being so "helpful" and make her move next season.
Alice/Tasha - I know what they were going through on the beach, holding each other like they knew it could be the last time. Hopefully Tasha will not just disappear like so many other characters during the change of season. However, only in a perfect world does she come back from Iraq next season and walk right back into a relationship with Alice.
Max - I don't think he goes through with the surgery, but for some reason his situation hasn't touched me like the others. That's a character I almost wish would disappear.
Helena - I can't say much about her except, "how the mighty have fallen". I'm hoping she reached her metaphoric "rock bottom" this season and has a character recovery next season. She's a VERY attractive lady doing unattractive things these days.
Well if anyone made it to this point in my post, you're probably very bored. All in all it was a great season and can't wait for next year.
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Mar 27, 2007 11:45 AM
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The Bette/Shane/Alice theft scene was probably one of the best/funniest in the show's history. So many quotable moments!
When Jenny was getting the raft ready, I just kept thinking, "Please don't take the dog! I don't want anything bad to happen to it!" HAHA.
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Mar 27, 2007 1:33 PM
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P.S. Danaaaaaaaa!
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Mar 27, 2007 1:39 PM
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Kristanna Loken is starring in the Sci-Fi series Painkiller Jane. That, together with her not so flattering comments about working with the cast of the L Word makes me doubt that she will be back next season. So Shane fails to establish a long term nurturing relationship - so what else is new? Frankly, the idea of Shane ditching West Hollywood for the Valley didn't exactly thrill me anyway but I would like to see her find some sliver of happiness and contentment.
I have never liked Tina much (didn't like her as a vampire slayer on Angel either) but she is beginning to grow on me. I really think her character works better apart from Bette. In fact, I think both her and Bette work better when they are apart.
I loved the Alice and Dana conversation. Good advice for Alice but delivered in a light hearted manner. That scene had the possibilty of being really sappy but was nicely done. I really don't want Tasha to come back - I like the looney insecure version of Alice when she is on the prowl. Her Dana obsession at the beginning of season 2 was just hilarious.
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Mar 27, 2007 4:59 PM
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What did Kristanna Loken say??
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Mar 31, 2007 7:30 PM
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