Season 5 of The L Word promises more of the great stories we have grown accustomed to from this acclaimed SHOWTIME series which follows the lives of a dozen or so lesbians in Los Angeles.
As the season begins, Tasha is still in the Army and about to be shipped out to Iraq. Just outted Phyllis (Memphis's own Cybil Shepherd), is sick and tired of being tied down to Joyce and is interested in playing the field and, possibly, "U-Hauling." This, we learn, is a lesbian term for meeting someone and within a short amount of time, piling your stuff in a U-Haul and moving in with them.
The gorgeous Jenny (Mia Kirshner) has written her book, "Lez Girls," and is off to Hollywood with Tina (Laurel Holloman) to get the book made into a movie with Jenny directing. Of course, Jenny is not wild about the choice of the starlet chosen to be in her film (and the studio is saying either she takes the actress or the movie doesn't get made) as she is definitely not one to be controlled. Having had her assistant quit because of Jenny's demanding attitude, Jenny "allows" one of her adoring fans to take over as the new assistant.
Bette (the-more-gorgeous-as-she-gets -older Jennifer Beals) and Jody (Oscar Winner Marlee Matlin) are having some bumps in their relationship. Shane (Katherine Moennig) has vowed to go celibate as she is tired of all the drama that happens with relationships (of course, this is AFTER her business is burned to the ground). Helena (Rachel Shelley) is in prison and gets released after her mother (Holland Taylor in another funnier-than-hell performance) pays bail. Dear old Mom then decides to send her to Europe before her trial.
Max (Daniela Sea) is cruised by a man (Jody's interpretor) who thinks she is a guy ever since her sex change operations have begun. Max is also told that she no longer fits in with the lesbian friends she had before because she is almost complete in her transformation. Daniela Sea, the actress in the role as Max, is nothing short of remarkable in her portrayal.
Finally, Alice (the great Leisha Hailey) is surprised when Tasha makes an appearance and lets her know that she is being investigated for homosexual behaviour and may get kicked out of the Army. When two Military personnel visit Alice unexpectedly, she almost loses control while trying to keep their prying eyes away from anything that would incriminate Tasha as being her lover. Yeah, she isn't very successful at that. Pam Grier is back as Bette's sister Kit who runs the local lesbian bar called The Planet and is not very happy that there is a new bar in town called Shebar that is trying to compete as the hottest spot for lesbians in Los Angeles.
I had never seen an episode of The L Word before I got the preview discs and I am now hooked. It is one of the best dramas that is being offered on Cable. While I am sure that it must have a fanbase comprised of lesbians, you do not have to be a gay female to enjoy the storylines or the acting. Women will love it because it shows how much power a woman can have and the men will like it because it shows a pretty decent amount of flesh throughout the episodes. Be sure to catch the new season on SHOWTIME beginning in two days and I guarantee that you, too, will fall in love with these lovely ladies of Los Angeles.
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