Time to get Zen about the L Word.

I was chatting with a colleague the other day about some of the questionable plot points in the L Word. Because, God knows there are still way too many of those. You know, those WTF moments that get us all bent out of shape because we're not willing to let the details slide long enough to just enjoy the visuals and the good times for what they are.

Like, how fun was that party at Shane and Jenny's? And how cute were Alice, Shane and Tina together, all wasted and dancing and eating pot brownies and carrying on? And how fierce was Bette with that "Mary F*cking Poppins'' line?  Also, how poignant was that whole Tasha-Alice  thing? You know, Alice may have an issue with understanding boundaries sometimes, but in the end, you gotta agree with her.  Screw the military for dictating that gay soldiers who risk their lives defending the country should have to live shamed, closeted lives in order to stay in the military. 

Anyway, this colleague and I were talking about the JoBette tablecloth break down, and the fact that a lot of viewers turned on Jodi that day because she lost it at the thought of Bette making minor (and easily reversible) decorating decisions when it wasn't her house, blah, blah. I mean, being your own person is one thing, but having a fit over your girlfriend surprising you with a new tablecloth, because you just have to assert your assertiveness -- is just, well, really it's just a not so smooth device to hit us over the head with the idea that Bette is getting her comeuppance from a new girlfriend who is not Pushover Tina.

There was probably another way to make that point without having Jodi look like an irrational, uptight freak-show. After all, it's not like Bette let herself into Jodi's place, rearranged the furniture, sloppily painted the walls a different, and absurd, color and placed computers and cable modems and other electronics in irrational places with no consideration to how those things might actually get HOOKED UP to relevant  wall outlets and whatnot. (Actually, I was victimized exactly this way once, and I definitely freaked out the way Jodi did. But hello, it wasn't over a stupid tablecloth.)

This colleague, always keen, said even my explanation for that tablecloth bit goes too far. It wasn't so much that the powers at the L Word were (clumsily) trying to make us see how different the dynamic between Bette and Jodi is, and how Bette has finally found a worthy opponent, she argued. It's more that the powers were trying to find a way to get to that sexy blindfold scene. Bette controlled Jodi by foisting a tablecloth! And Jodi had to freak out and teach Bette a lesson!

In the end we got to see Jodi blindfold Bette,  pin her arms behind her back and have her way with her. How are you gonna stay mad at Jodi for that?

Here's my advice about the best way to approach the L Word from episode five on (probably a good way to approach life in general):

If you overthink it, then you won't get off on it.

Actually, season five is lots of fun. But you have to be zen about it. The blindfold scene was pretty sexy, and too many of you didn't allow yourselves to vibe on it because you got all hung up on what a crazy bitch Jodi was to throw shade about that tablecloth when Bette only meant to be cute. Right?

I'll bet some of you are also hung up on the fact that after that amazing TiBette kiss last week, when Tina actually takes a huge risk this week and asks Bette if she's in love with Jodi, Bette  looks Tina in the eye and says, "Yes, I am. ''

I mean, it's  MAJOR for her to say that to Tina. And  ridiculous.

And implausible. But it's supposed to set us up, get us going, drop us from that great high we were on after episode four. Given the narrative to that point, there is no way Bette would have said "Yes I am.''

She would have hesitated. She would have equivocated. She would  have -- I don't know, something. She would not have looked Tina in the eye and said something that stupid. Talk about a WTF.  She also  wouldn't have called the cops to put an end to her friends' party next door. I mean, come on.

But, again, it's best to stay zen when it comes to the  L Word. The TiBette roller coaster is about to go into high gear. Tina tells Bette in the opening to episode five that she doesn't want to get into a whole "push me, pull me thing.'' Which of course means that's exactly where they're headed.

Some of the narrative around that will be lucid. Some, not so much. But, really, does it matter in the end when the hot love scenes are the thing?  Remember, just don't overthink it. Because episode six is right around the corner. And you just don't want to be frustrated by the finer points of the narrative when you get to episode six.

BTW, WTF is up with Dawn Denbo and her lover Cindy? I mean, who shows up at somebody's party to talk all that sh*t? These two supposed Miami girls are kinda fun and hot. But, honestly, WTF with their story? And a newsflash to Shane: Cute, that thing you said about Dawn and Cindy's new lesbian nightclub in LA looking like South Beach just threw up or whatever. Except, there is no lesbian club on South Beach. Hasn't been one for ages (though there are a few hot lesbian nights on the Beach now and again.) Barely any gay boy clubs left on South Beach these days, either. A sad truth.

But not as sad as Bette's "Yes I am.''

Comments

[HandsDown]

While the show is often heavy handed the blindfold scene was just showing a continuing pattern from S4 that Jodi has deballed the Alpha Bette some people love. Jodi doesn't take Bette's phone calls when the is mad. Jodi doesn't tell her she is leaving the state. Jodi doesn't dig kids. Jodi decides what they do whether its going to SheBar, the party in E5, or with her friends at the lake. People didn't "turn" on Jodi. Read the boards because she was almost universally hate during her entire run of the show. It was a big old flop for IC's pet fiery artist and it was hilarious to watch it not work with the audience. Try to retcon history if you would like but the fact is that Papi had more fans than Jodi.. and S5 didn't suddenly change it.

[Brandi]

handsdown, ITA, Jodi was not a well liked character from jump. One of my favorite scenes from this last episode was how Ilene is trying to make Jodi more likable now, by having her stop Tina from driving (well she wasn't going to drive, she said she was calling a cab, but you get the idea) and I know there will be other things coming in the next few episodes. But what is sad, is in those few moments Jodi was helping Tina, she showed more kindness then we have seen her show Bette in their whole relationship. Bette and Jodi's relationship has been a joke from jump, and unsexy. And yes Lydia Bette's lie to Tina was heartbreaking, Tina looked like someone just punched her in the gut, but Bette is a chickensh!t, and can't seem to tell Tina or Jodi for that matter how she really feels. This whole TiBetteJo thing doesn't seem to be much of a triangle at least not from were alot of fans are sitting, it just looks like Jodi got caught on the TiBette train, but hey YMMV.

Ohh and about being Zen with the show, well when it comes to the TiBette relationship, we really can't be Zen about it, cause most of their dialogue is unspoken (full of subtext) and has to be picked apart and analized to understand what is going on with them. To quote season 4 Tina "I miss the way we communicated subtly".

[Roberta]

Gosh! The blindfold scene was not sexy and the argument about tablecloth was blah for me.

"This whole TiBetteJo thing doesn't seem to be much of a triangle at least" by Brandi

I totally agree.

[Colorado gal]

Lydia - thanks for the warning as we move forward in S5. You just expressed the root cause of my frustration with TLW. I can flow with the merely superficial and artsy if that's all it's meant to be. Unfortunately, I wanted the show to have "heart and soul". I wanted it to make sense. I wanted my heroines to triumph. I want, I want, I want - (thanks Bette).

I'll take all the Bette and Tina moments I can get, as long as it lasts. My imagination will fill in the gaps and reconcile the WTF moments. At this point in the series, it doesn't have to makes sense. It would be nice though. And the icing on the cake.

Regarding blindfold sex. S4 sealed the deal for me when it comes to Bette and Jodi. As Laurel Holloman stated, some actors just have that magical chemistry and some just don't. JB & MM don't. Bette and Jodi don't click as romantic lovers - no matter how hard the TPTB try to make it so. Jodi would have been a great best friend for Bette. They do have that type of energy together. Best to stick with telling strategy and stop trying to show. It's hard to overcome that first impression once it sets.

Maybe that why the blindfold sex scene didn't work for me. It wouldn't have mattered what the set up was. The tablecloth fight/issue just made it all the more farcical.

[Katherine]

The funny thing is, I didn't get that bent out of shape about Bette's "Yes I am" because, honestly, it was parroted back... Tina said it, it hurt Bette, so Bette turned around and did what those two always do to each other and fought fire with fire. The way I see it, Tina doesn't so much regret the kiss itself, but rather the circumstances under which it occurred, this alleged JoBette... thing. She feels badly that Bette is taking it so hard, so she's sorry about that. Bette misinterprets, and we DO see her think about it, not long enough for my liking but she does, before answering, erroneously, that she loves Jodi.

I don't know, I think it makes sense... at least in this little Tibette head it does.

[nybc08]

I love Jodi and Bette together and think it sucks that this season, they have used Jodi as an obvious antagonist who is merely there to shove Tina and Bette back together. She could be a really different, interesting character if they'd give her a real story line! Trying to be Zen...

[Wendy]

I am a Tibette fan to the core. But, I am the 1st to admit in season 1 bettes fling with the carpenter was naughty & very hot. So, I can undoubtly give credit where it's due in regards 2 characters having chemistry. Jodi and Bette have never had it, never will. The writers on the Lword have done more harm than not with their portrayl of a challenging Jodi. She has presented in an obnoxious, over bearing, irrational and selfish partner to Bette. I'm sure it was meant to come across as fiery, passionate, and sexxy in its delivery. When I think of Jobette, the term better friends comes to mind. Maybe, the over kill in comments about how great JB & MM are as friends, and how their love scenes all ways crack them up comes thru. I just dont feel their supposed sexual tension, but I do sense their playfulness at times. It's actually been pretty amazing to see the amount of commentary just off last weeks episode on ourchart. So many ppl posted comments about the THE KISS, ppl i'd never seen do so before. What does that tell you. If the show would have tried getting all these fans invested in it's continuation of that lack luster blind fold scene. You would be just a tad bored with your Lword blog. I know you want to be fair and supportive of the entire cast, since they are kind enough to give interviews. So, we will do the dirty work and tell it, like it really is. Cant wait till 506..counting down the days.

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Handsdown,

I totally hear you. Not many people loved Bette and Jodi together. On paper, I was ready to root for them, because at least Jodi seemed like she was gonna be a grown up. And at that time, Tina was acting like an ass. But, no, Bette and Jodi didn't have the same chemistry together. And yeah, Papi had more fans than she really should have, because she was a lame caricature of a Latina. I'm just saying that there is ultimately little point in trying to read too much into the L Word. Personalities change without warning. Large chunks of plot that seem to be going somewhere end up going nowhere...Believe me, I still enjoy the show, and it's really more fun this year than it's ever been. And a lot of stuff seems to be getting addresses, maybe even tied up, but...the storytelling can also be pretty frustrating if you let it.

[Lydia Martin]

Hey Brandi,

You're right, there is a lot of subtext to the TiBette relationship. But, maybe too much of it? I mean, we're left to fill in so many blanks ourselves.

[Lydia Martin]

Colorado gal,

I love this: "My imagination will fill in the gaps and reconcile the WTF moments. At this point in the series, it doesn't have to makes sense."

So true. And that's all I was trying to say. It doesn't all have to make sense. In fact, it likely won't. But if Bette and Tina end up living happily ever after (with some great love scenes along the way), then, what more can we ask for?

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Wendy,

I wasn't trying to defend Jodi. I agree JoBette doesn't have the chemistry that TiBette has. I was just trying to make the point that the L Word sometimes just yanks our chain. And it will continue to do so in coming episodes.Sometimes, that yanking is not even all that deliberate. It's just questionable writing.

[Lydia Martin]

Katherine,

I'm glad it makes sense to you. I just think a grown woman, a serious person, would not tell the love of her life that, yeah, she is in love with somebody else (so there) when she knows that's a total lie. I mean, that's a huge, HURTFUL lie, and all in the name of getting back at Tina for saying that she's sorry they kissed?

[Lydia Martin]

nybc,

Totally. I mean, I'm definitely cheering for TiBette, but Jodi is becoming a pretty flimsy character.

[TERESA]

I must admit TLW does not bend me out of shape anymore, I let that go after Season 3: what was the point in investing in characters when they seemed to change identity between seasons.
I thought at the beginning of S4 that Marlee Matlin would be a great addition to the cast and that Cybil Shephard would be a drag but I was totally wrong. I have loved Cybil on this show, and would like to see more of her and Jane Lynch together. Marlee however has been a disappointment; as a fiery artist she has been a damp squib and as a lesbian she is unconvincing (better this season than last but still not good). I think she is just miscast; it doesn't make her a bad actress - and yes better writing would surely have helped - but that could be said for every character/actress on this show.

[lisalisa]

well, i still say that blindfold scene was hot, but ive always liked jodi and bette together. i am reconsidering tibette after the kiss.

BUT now im thinking tina would be better off without bette. that "yes i am" was ridiculous and manipulative. i think bette and tina are bad for each other. like why would tina entertain that phone call from bette asking what she should do about the jodi thing? especially after tina had just told bette "no push pull"

bette is controlling and manipulative and never as much fun as tina was at that party with alice and shane. that was freaking adorable.

bette and tina might be loves of each others lives, and they are hot together, and they have a kid together and maybe in the end they should be together. but maybe not.

im entertaining the idea, but still not convinced.

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Teresa,

Sounds like you and I have the same attitude about this show. We ain't sweating the small stuff. Makes it easier to enjoy that way.

[Lydia Martin]

lisalisa,

This is exactly what I mean: There is no point in judging Bette over the "ridiculous and manipulative" answer she gave Tina. I mean, do you think the writers were trying to get us into a serious assessment of Bette's un-evolving personality, and whether or not her spiteful and sophomoric answer suggests the bigger reasons why this couple should not get back together?

Having watched this show carefully for five seasons now, I kinda doubt they put that much into the "Yes I am."

[lisalisa]

i agree with you that the writers dont put that much thot into anything. and the yes, i am was a toss off i am sure. BUT i still stand on my reasoning that these two prolly are bad for each other. bette is being manipulative.

and tina is FUN. that party bit was grand. bette is always the stick in the mud in the crowd. that much has been consistent in her character from day one.

[Colorado gal]

Lydia - just saw Dorothy Snarkers Pre-L pics for ep6. Wow - I haven't been this excited about TLW in years - maybe ever. You experienced this moment unspoiled - lucky woman. What a treat. Just wondered what your thoughts were on that. I know it must have caught you by surprise since ep5 seemed to have Bette and Tina stepping back from that kiss.

It's been so long since we've had Bette/Tina magic played out screen, it's only fitting we get a double in one episode. I would be thrilled to see them "connecting" in every episode for the remainder of the season. In all their glory. Love, lust, raw passion, seduction, flirty, playful, there's so many ways to make it happen. I think the TiBette fan's pent up desire/lust for them is as strong as their desire/lust for each other.

I remember the single moment in S2, ep9 when it caught all of us by surprise. Then the fizzle that followed. I'm hoping we don't get a repeat and be forced to endure a similar scenario in S5. Time will tell and I will be making this journey with them. You were right - S5 is worth it.

[beluga]

lisalisa, you have a point there.

I live in mortal fear that mopey, bratty Bette - the woman is beautiful, but she is what she is - is going to rob us of Tina and turn her into a pod person again.

Tina IS fun - remember S1 Dinah Shore? But there's something about how Bette is in relationships that sucks the life out of her partners. That includes Jodi, who can be a hoot too. And we just got Tina back! I'm not ready to let her go yet.

I want to believe Bette has changed the way I see Tina has, but it's hard to believe that when I see her repeating so many of the same patterns with Jodi. That deliberately hurtful line to Tina was a step backwards.

On the other hand, I can't complain too much because it got us adorable drunk Tina, dancing on tabletops and jumping in the pool with Alice and Shane. Which, as Lydia points out, obviously was the end purpose of this whole exercise: to up the angst and end the episode with Tina passed out on Bette's couch while Jodi is right there.

That said, the chemistry is undeniable and at this point I'm determined to enjoy the hotness of T/B for as long as it lasts. IC has apparently accepted the reality that these two are her money couple, and she's going to milk that for all it's worth.