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Rating: Country: USA Release Date: October 20, 2009 Distributor: Paramount/Showtime Cast: · Jennifer Beals · Mia Kirschner · Laurel Holloman · Leisha Hailey · Katherine Moennig · Pam Grier Related Sites: · IMDb: The L Word Grade: B-

Oddly enough, the 3-disc DVD final season box set of the groundbreaking Showtime series about a group of lesbians living in LA features no supplemental materials related directly to the show, instead taking the term “supplemental” literally by offering up much in the community and the empowerment neighbourhood. Firstly, there is a featurette titled “Generations”, which covers “coming out” stories from lesbians of all shapes, sizes and ages, related awkwardly to The L Word. There is also a lengthy recording (with a handful of preliminary interviews) of the 11th Annual Women’s Event of the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (I would have paid good money to be there when the “community” was discussing whether to call their center the “Gay, Lesbian” or “Lesbian, Gay” Community Center). Lastly, there are photographs from Jennifer Beals, a chapter from Marlee Matlin’s biography and PC-accessible episodes of United States of Tara and The Tudors.

The 8-episode, sixth season, starts out with the discovery of Jenny’s (Mia Kirschner) body and the rest of the lesbian entourage sobbing. Things then jump back three months—much like Damages—as the full season run details what led up to that point. Initially, Jenny, Shane (Katherine Moennig) and Niki (Kate French) wind up in a heated battle after Shane eats out Niki at the “Lez Girls” wrap party—oh snap! Jenny is horrified that her best friend and roommate Shane would betray her but less surprised that her flighty actress girlfriend would cheat.

Meanwhile, “Lez Girls” runs into yet another snag when the producers decide to change the title to “The Girls” and make it all about a boy-girl romance. When the negatives go missing from the studio, Tina (Laurel Holloman) is blamed, and she, in turn, blames Jenny. This season also finds Tina settling into domesticity with Bette (Jennifer Beals), now that Jodi (Marlee Matlin) is out of the picture romantically. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Jodi is gone for good, as she does her best to make Bette’s life a living hell.

When Alice (Leisha Hailey) almost kisses another girl, Tasha (Rose Rollins) threatens to pack up and leave, resulting in much whining, pleading and eventually, couple’s counselling. Of course, much of this drama unfolds at Kit (Pam Grier) and Helena’s (Rachel Shelley) all girl nightclub “The Hit”.

Subplots involve the news that Max, close to his female-to-male sexual reassignment surgery, learns that he is four months pregnant (woops), while Phyllis (Cybill Shephard) and Joyce (Jane Lynch) decide to tie the knot (California hate legislation aside).

Much like the similarly themed—but completely opposite and far less watchable—Queer as Folk, The L Word is praised more so for what it represents than its actuality, as the series is little more than trite high school drama with whiny, self-involved characters that won’t shut up about each and every feeling they have. The writing is often laboured and the direction sluggish, despite the occasional moment of genius, which usually comes care of something devilish that Jenny did, such as the inspired dumping of Niki. On the upside, the strong acting in The L Word—aside from Pam Grier—elevates much of the hokum, giving some humanity to a bunch of flaky LA artistes. Perhaps if the opening title sequence weren’t so laughably bad…

Of course, this said, particularly adamant, flag-waving lesbians and horny straight men will get their fill in this final season of The L Word, leaving its limitations in the quality department to be somewhat of a moot point.