L-bituary

by Kace Evers

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The L Word (2004-2009)

The show was born in January of 2004 and after five years and six seasons of existence, died in March of 2009.  It is survived by a series of bonus scenes being shown at Showtime's official L Word website, a possible spinoff series taking place in a prison, and the FanFiction writers who will undoubtedly provide their own spin on where we go from here.

The L Word had a big impact on many people's lives and I'm no exception.  Now granted, how the show impacted my life forever may be a little different from others.  There were at least three different times in which the show impacted my life, which doesn't even include me outting myself as a fan of the color pink.  The most important is that it helped me in terms of finally coming to grips with my own sexuality and eventually coming out of the bi closet in 2007.  The other two times involved my internet stuff. 

The first being the internet radio shows that I did, specifically What The L! which I started in September 2004 and ran until January 2007.  That show, which I decided to do as an ode to The L Word and as a way to pass the time before Season 2 got the thumbs up from Jacky from the L Word Fansite.  Without her moral support, I would have never done the show and would probably just be some annoying know-it-all fan clogging up the message boards.  Doing that show led to me being part of NTGR and eventually Women Rock Radio, which in turn led to me being part of another internet radio station called BCNI-FM.  None of that happens without being noticed for my What The L! shows and that show doesn't happen without The L Word to begin with.

The other time was The L Word's association with Second Life, which I would have never noticed or had interest in otherwise.  In January 2007, Kace Box, my SL avatar was first rezzed.  Combined with my BCNI-FM stuff, everything wound up in SL and after a series of events and circumstances, I was now DJ'ing in Second Life, making enough money to supplement my income and pay some bills.  I continue to DJ in SL to this day, even with The L Word officially gone.  I've made some friends online and have even had the pleasure of visiting a couple of them, Stephanie and Urs of NTGR/WRR via plane trip.  I've been able to interview people with the show, from Elizabeth Ziff to Rachel Shelley to even Ilene Chaiken herself.  It's been a fun experience being able to enjoy this show and talk about it.  The level of geekdom can be a tad unsettling for some at times, but it's all good.

As for the show itself...

Being in the closet in 2003, I kept myself from watching Queer As Folk, afraid it would out me.  Only after that series ended did I start actually watching some of it.  When I heard about The L Word, I figured it may be worth the chance, even if it meant falling back on the excuse of, "I'm a man, men are pigs, hot girls making out, kneel before Zod," and so on.

I stuck with this program the whole way, through good and bad.  I was initially intrigued by it and became one of its biggest fans shortly thereafter.  This brings us to today, where the series has come to an end.  I remember mentioning in an email the other day that in a way it was kind of sad how it all turned out.  The L Word started as a chance for the rest of us to get a better understanding of what it means to be gay and particularly, a gay woman in a world still mostly run by old straight guys.  It was an opportunity to get a glimpse of the struggles of day-to-day life, their similarities with everyone else when it comes to life, love and just being able to get through all of the everyday mess.  The heartbreaks, the sorrow, the joy of friendships and the struggle of still having to deal with unfair discrimination from people who still just don't get it.  Yet in the end, the show with all that hope eventually appears to be headed in the direction of being filtered down to a women in prison fantasy that would normally be reserved for the thought process of horny, repressed men and their fetishes of having women under control.

That's just my take on it, though.  Other takes may vary.

Three years ago, I presented a column titled, "Whatever Happened To That Lesbian Show?"  A significant change since then has been that I came out over a year after that column, but everything in there remains the same.  Back then, I was afraid that the series may send the wrong message about lesbians and their ability to have meaningful, stable relationships.

As The L Word comes to a close, we have...

Helena and Dylan getting back together and then breaking up.

Jenny and Shane getting together under odd circumstances...and a relationship that appeared doomed from the start.  Jenny dying didn't do the relationship any favors, either.

Alice and Tasha appears to have made it through after first starting their relationship late in Season 4.  Even that appeared on the brink of disaster though in the Finale.

Kit and Sonny...the straight couple.  In fairness, it just started.  Of course, three years ago, Kit had the most stable relationship on the show up to that point with Angus.

There was Max.  Max was with Tom, but then that fell through, too.

And yes, there's Bette and Tina.  Finally together and ready to strengthen their relationship...after a series of breakups and fights and at one point, a legal struggle against one another.

The Group Of Friends and West Hollywood in general always seemed to be on the brink of Eschaton.  As the final season progressed, I couldn't help but notice that everything seemed to be spiraling out of control with most everyone on the show for one reason or another.  In the span of eight weeks, I went from not wanting the show to end to accepting its end to practically wanting it to end if for no other reason than not wanting the characters to suffer anymore than they have already.

For all its faults, though, The L Word was still tremendous.  It was still great to watch.  It became to me what Star Trek did to others in terms of geekery.  It is my Star Trek.  Despite being a television program that usually only aired in the first few months of the year, it still became a significant part of my life.  Now it's over.  Where we go from here, I have no idea.  However, if there's more entertainment to be found in the form of the L template being improved upon, chances are, I'll be there.

So I offer this congratulations and thank you to The L Word.  To Ilene and the cast and crew and everyone associated with the show.  You weren't perfect, but then you didn't have to be.  You were the first.  You provided the necessary template to get the ball rolling for the rest of us.  You opened eyes and maybe even a few hearts and minds.  And you managed to make big fans for life out of at least some of us...even with the events of Season 3.  In all seriousness, though, a big thanks for making this show happen.  I wouldn't be where I am without it and considering all the lives that have been touched and affected in a positive way, women whose lives and the way they were impacted by the show and whose stories of which I could never truly justify with my own description, you've managed to do a wonderful thing by having this show exist in the first place.  You've done well.

Rest in peace, dear L.  You've earned it.