The Real L Word

I'm not exactly thrilled by it, but it’s alright. The original The L Word was pretty much buried after the ill-conceived Interrogation Tapes, so this show, although in reality-show format, is a more worthy spin-off. The initial reports that the spin-off would be a series set in a prison called The Farm were pretty scary because we already have the show Bad Girls and the Slovak series Odsúdené. At least this way we stick to the basic scheme of a West Hollywood setting, which is nice because we all like palm trees. Season 1 still feels a lot like the real The L Word- it's polished and shiny and all the girls are extreme hotties. And none of them are ordinary because we move in high circles. There's a fashion week producer, two Jewish women planning a wedding, and a bunch of escalating lesbian dramas that lack logic. And it all culminates at Dinah Shore. This dominant cow isn’t able to take her opportunity and breaks up with her perfect submissive blonde. The more mature cast prefers to pass on this trip and their partnerships are preserved. But the one to eventually face the villain is the dread-locked Whitney. That's what the production likes best because it can develop her and her dramas in Season 2. This series also mixes the sunny babes from LA with the ones from NY who wears warm clothes. They're not all that glam rock anymore, but it's like a trip to a redneck town. Then again, there is a multiracial cocktail to choose from. But the drama is more naive, the relationships are more superficial, and the whole community is more convoluted. Claire doesn't know if she wants to go back to her ex-girlfriend Francine, so she risks a relationship with Vivian. All that's certain is that she likes Asians. In the end, she has nothing, and that includes a job and a sound mind. Kacy and Cori are married and want a baby. But they don't know how to do it yet and how much it will cost them. Romi was Whitney's sidekick last year, but now she's in a serious relationship with Kelsey. Poor Kelsey, however, pays for Romi's attempt to play at being a grown-up, and after she totally overdoes it, she starts to sober up. However, Kelsey, who is not guilty of anything, is also forced into a new life. Sajdah is the new lesbian and a total dunderhead. Yet, somehow, Chanel mysteriously likes her. Whitney has Rachel (she's drowning in it) and Sara (she's not worried about anything) around her and they all have about a billion other side issues on top of that, and I'm really surprised my brain hasn’t leaked out of my ears... In addition, the self-awareness of the actresses being on TV is really great. Season 3 arrives with killer changes. Romi has a guy, Whitney is getting married to Sara, and half the plot deals with a wacky group in NY who call themselves Hunter Valentine. Some of the new ladies are nice, but the only factor that has a bit of logic left is the story around the expecting moms... This crazy mixture culminates again at Dinah Shore, where everything gets mixed up. Who would have expected that we have a trio of weddings at the end from this material? I’m really not surprised about anything anymore. (08/10/2010) (less) (more)