The L Word

The L Word succeeds precisely because it isn't exploitative, and because its sexy scenes are anything but gratuitous. [16 Jan 2004, p.121]

The L Word is a better written series than "Queer as Folk" and seems less exploitative. Sex is a predominant theme, but relationships are presented as more important. Where the "Queer" boys often couple only for pleasure, most of the L Word characters are equally, if not more, interested in love. [16 Jan 2004, p.W-37]

The series has something to offer besides sexual imagery and sophistry -- it is a well-written, entertaining show, with or without the L word.

The L Word may in its way do some sort of good, in addition to being wickedly provocative drama and undeniably seductive TV.

Nor is The L Word all sexual sturm und drang. Its light moments are laugh-out-loud funny. [18 Jan 2004, p.3M]

Imagine a lesbian "Friends," only smarter and better-looking.

A stylishly involving, amusing soap opera.

The dialogue is often sharp, well-observed and very funny. It is sexy and, occasionally, raunchy in both language and love-making. The cast members make the lead characters warm and interesting. [16 Jan 2004, p.7G]

The L Word wants to be as liberating for gay women as Sex and the City was for their straight sisters. Instead, it comes across as a repetitive soap opera that reduces life to sex, and sex to a Joey Tribiani fantasy about girl-on-girl make-out sessions.

The question that needs to be asked of The L Word is this: Absent the novelty of seeing a cast of lesbian characters on TV, would the lives of these people make for fascinating drama?...The answer, I'm afraid, is -- probably not. [18 Jan 2004, p.TV-6]

The L Word is hot, to be sure.

Slow-going in developing its web of interconnected plots, this latest demonstration of cable's series-for-every-interest-group strategy is watchable enough, but probably not likely to be the sort of buzzworthy addiction-in-waiting Showtime would like and certainly could use. [13 Jan 2004, p.06]

But is it too much to ask for these girls to have a bit more fun? This is one series that really needs to swing that way. For a bunch of glamorous, well-dressed womyn who spend a lot of time hanging out at a cool cafe, they sure do suffer from an excess of unease. [17 Jan 2004, p.E2]

Like "Queer as Folk", this drama about lesbian friends in Los Angeles too often settles for slick melodrama and racy content. Premium cable can offer wonderful freedom, but that's no excuse for resorting to sex scenes with such frequency.

The L Word will get some notice because of its frank, soft-core-tinged portrayal of lesbian sexuality. Just as gay men are neutered in the mainstream, shown only as fit, fashion-obsessed, show-tune-savvy fellas, gay women are still trying to shake the Boston marriage image.

Like "Queer as Folk," The L Word is essentially a mediocre soap opera in soft-core porno drag. There's lots of hot, sweaty, half-naked bodies, but the heads attached spend so much time droning on and on and on about their mundane lives and loves that the sex scenes just feel like an intermission in between all the tepid girl-on-girl dialogue. [16 Jan 2004, p.55]

The sex scenes -- yes, there's plenty of bare skin and rising erotic temperatures -- alternate between sensitive and slightly cheesy, a la "Red Shoe Diaries." [16 Jan 2004, p.6H]

The dialogue is stuffy, the stories are predictable and, while the idea of a show all about beautiful gay Los Angeles women is interesting, this comes off like a second-rate "Melrose Place" with pretensions of depth. [16 Jan 2004, p.53]

When The L Word is judged on its dramatic merits, the real problem is not the stereotypical plot lines or limited scope, but the fact there's nothing here to make the viewer want to tune in every week. Sure, the series throws around catchphrases such as "nipple confidence" and frank talk of "butt waxing," but strip away the attention-grabbing antics and the show is rather boring. Perhaps The L Word stands for lackluster.

L also stands for "lackluster."

Unfortunately, The L Word too often makes it seem as if having sex is all its characters are interested in doing, particularly in the 90-minute first episode. [17 Jan 2004, p.1E]