Like most self-respecting (albeit then-closeted) queer lady, I happened to be familiar with “the actual L keyword,” Ilene Chaiken’s 2010-12 spin-off of the reveal that described a generation of us in one means or another. At the time the show aired, I becamen’t curious. It had nothing to do with my denial of my personal bisexual identification and everything related to the truth that I was nonetheless pissed at Chaiken for doing
my personal woman Jenny Schecter
thus very, really completely wrong during the season finale on the original “The L Word.”
Fast ahead a decade whenever homosexual performers aligned for my situation and I also found my self bingeing all three times in a single week. A lot of facets added to the unconscious choice. One: I found myself in your home stretching of edits for my second queer YA book out in 2021 and I also seriously needed mind candy. Two: Showtime hit upwards my personal email with a 30-day free trial offer, basically the new season of “Billions,” a show You will find never seen. Three: Well, I was wondering.
In older times, I found myself a devoted fan of “The Hills,” MTV’s entirely ridiculous, utterly addicting fact crisis about very, hetero 20-somethings staying in LA. “The Real L term” had equivalent sun-drenched, sweet feeling of escapism â best way, means,
method
gayer â plus with additional canines and, starting in season two, a tremendously lovable kitty. Sure, there is mess: phony crisis that is obviously staged by manufacturers, plenty of genuine shouting in very packed clubs, and well, Romi. Nevertheless, “The Real L Word” had plenty of good stuff that held me seeing till ab muscles conclusion of Whitney and Sara’s big gay marriage, instantly Googling exactly what everyone’s doing nowadays, and after my personal faves on Insta (
hi, Kacy!
) â and dorkily dancing around my personal apartment to
that appealing theme tune
. Here is what I all of a sudden adored:
Solid Coupling
Jill and Nikki are lovable because they squabble over a chandelier and planning a wedding that has beenn’t legal at that time but ended up being essential all of them on a personal level. Kacy and Cori hold on to the notion of a baby exactly who might or might not appear, while never wavering in their really love and support for one another. Tracy and Stamie work out how to balance work, gender, as well as the proper care of three adorable children â certainly whom had unique needs. I thoroughly loved the storylines of the three couples navigating lesbian existence in a straight globe collectively. (and I also was completely group Jill in Chandelier-Gate. That thing had been unsafe!)
Pretty Smashing
At the beginning of period three, I becamen’t sure the way I felt about Kiyomi, the Hunter Valentine frontwoman whose way of exercising polyamory wasn’t precisely fair to her lover, Allie. Whenever Kiyomi came across enviably pink-haired and pearly white-teethed Angeleno Lauren at Dinah Shore, however, all bets had been down. If they kissed regarding garden, it absolutely was pretty. When they shyly gazed at one another and giggled during confessional interviews, it had been cuter. Once Lauren could not avoid Kiyomi’s home of New York City for example even more moment? Cutest.
Times With Moms
Take a look, we’re in
quarantine
and I also neglect my
mommy
. This might clarify why it rained on my personal face each and every time a warm mommy figure showed up. Whether or not it had been Jill screaming joyfully whenever the woman mommy made a shock trip to assist the girl select a marriage outfit, Kacy’s mama fulfilling her child for lunch and consoling her about infant Charlie, or Whitney’s grandmother witnessing Whitney’s yard Connecticut event, I became in pretty bad shape, y’all. Why don’t we not forget Francine coming-out to her ultra-glam mom Yoko, just who immediately responded “I love love plenty you,” and Sadjah’s mama Sarita praising Sadjah’s Vote for Equality peers for living their fact.
”
I simply think it is breathtaking for you all to face upwards for the liberties and fight for what you truly, truly trust,” she states.
Genuine, Real Time Bisexuality!
Perform I adore the way Chaiken manages bisexual characters and storylines? Not necessarily. But as a bi my self, I am starving for almost any and all sorts of representation of my people in the mass media (Spoiler: however maybe not many!). Nowadays, we’ll just take the things I could possibly get, and I think it is heartening to see Romi with boyfriends within the show’s 3rd season, also the causing discussions of how bi/queer/pansexual females usually feel omitted from the homosexual area in general. Its uncommon i came across Romi relatable, but I relished this topic that continues to ben’t mentioned adequate.
Claire. Enough mentioned.
Oh, Claire. She kept her completely gorgeous girlfriend Vivian in nyc to “begin a lesbian website” in LA â and shack with ex Francine (estimate how good that final any moved). She blithely turned down an internship with “But I’m a Cheerleader” movie director and queer icon Jamie Babbit. And she’d drunkenly scream in organizations. Claire had been the undeniable
king.
This year two primary member ended up being since messy as the woman â80s rock star-esque golden-haired shag, and is
precisely
what you would like actually TV. Don’t get me personally wrong, I became keen on the quieter times in “The Real L keyword,” but Claire introduced the pure dramz, and I also ended up being right here for it. (In addition, I spent my youth not not even close to her hometown of St. Louis, so hell yeah for fellow weirdo Midwesterners!)
Here Is The Manner In Which We Live
Bringing it back once again to “The L keyword” theme song everyone enjoyed: There nevertheless aren’t many shows, films, etc. about queer women
existing
(talking, chuckling, enjoying, breathing, etc.). Even if I found myself sick and tired of Whitney’s pre-engagement player means, Sajdah and Chanel obtaining as well really serious too quickly and reading the millionth difference of “just what exactly’s up with both you and so-and-so,” we relished spending time with queer feamales in different phases of their lives, merely figuring situations on. I can’t state I skip the days when unscripted programs ruled the airwaves, but “the actual L keyword” was well worth seeing, not just when it comes down to club-screaming, chandelier-squabbling and damaged keyboard-pouting (bad Somer), but for the top lady-loving lesbian power.
Bonus: no body dies in a pool.
