Written by shawnmsmom1

Here a few things I learned this season on the L Word:

1. Dykes cheat: Let's see, Bette cheated on Tina, Dana on Tonya and Alice really (the fact that Lara drove her to break up implies cheating, even if there was no consummation), Shane on everybody, Jenny on Tim and Moira/Max, Max on Jenny, Carmen on Shane, Tina on Bette (computer sex anyone?). Is there anyone who hasn't cheated? Maybe Alice (I can't think of anyone of the top of my head that she cheated on but I could be wrong). The fact is that pretty much every dyke on the show has betrayed a lover at some point in time. Jeez, what a great way to improve our image out in the world. And really, how inaccurate. I mean, yes, obviously lesbians cheat but I'm pretty sure that we're pretty equal in percentages to heterosexual couples and cheating (or maybe even a little lower given the whole serial monogamy, u-haul epidemic).

2. Dykes don't communicate: Ok, now I will be the first to admit to having communication issues in relationships, and I have had the Dana/Alice conversation of "I'm glad we're friends" "Yeah, friends are great" while thinking about how much I wanted to be more than friends. The thing is, we also tend to be the most overly analytical group of people I know. We are always talking about issues, feelings, problems and usually pounding them into the ground with repetition.

3. Dykes turn crazy: Marina in the psych ward, Alice the stalker, Jenny the cutter, Shane the abandoner, Bette the kidnapper. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I haven't run into these girls lately. Wait a minute, I think I was these girls a few years ago, before age and maturity set in! So yes, there are ladies out there who lose control, we are emotional beings, but have you ever seen so many of them in one group of friends??

4. Cancer kills: everybody, even with early detection and doing everything right and it does it very, very quickly. What exactly is the point of early detection, L Word Writers?? Whatever your statements of noble goals are I am sorry to say that you really missed it on this story line. Put simply, your "goal" of raising breast cancer awareness was not achieved in any way. Did you think that putting Dr. Love in there and having her talk about research was enough? Did you think, "Hey, let's make sure to get a lecture in so that we look like we're trying to help out, and then we will kill Dana off because that will REALLY get people to watch"? In the end I have to seriously doubt your intentions with this simply because of how it played out. All of those speculations about what would happen were bound to raise the ratings, huh? Oh wait, I'm sorry, I mean raise awareness of breast cancer. That's right! Sure!. Let me be clear here that I am not just a Dana fan pissed about her being gone. I just think we should be honest here about what really was achieved by this story line. Little information of educational value was dispersed, and the opportunity to put a message of hope out in the world was missed.

So, bottom line, will I continue to watch the L Word after this season? Probably, as it is the only place to see lesbians on TV. But what drew me to the show in the first place is gone. I remember watching the first season and having this feeling of recognition. As I watched the girls I kept thinking, "I KNOW them". Maybe in my neck of the woods we have a lot less money and prefer Doc Martens to heels, but those girls were familiar to me. I think I actually dated a Shane (and had my heart broken), have a friend who is an Alice, and am a lot like Dana myself. Those girls felt real to me that year and it was so great to see something on TV that looked like my world, if just a little prettier. What a disappointment to see that all fade away into a soap opera world of deceit and unhappiness, heartbreak and betrayal. I'd settle for a little bit of happiness for at least one gay couple. Just one, really, that's not too much to ask is it? Kit and Angus need someone to double date with, don't they????

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