Warning:
moderate spoilers
Those
eagerly awaiting the second season debut of Showtime's
The L Word this Sunday,
February 20th, will not be disappointed: the show is just as
sexy and engaging this time around, but with new characters,
new drama, and new romantic entanglements to complicate the
lives of our favorite group of L.A. lesbians.
There
are also a few new disappointments, starting with the new title
sequence. Perhaps responding to complaints they received last
year about the lack of one, the L Word editors have
introduced a kitschy, fun collage of the L Word cast
in various poses to open the episodes. The sequence is entertaining;
unfortunately, the theme song by Betty that goes along with
it is, well, cheesy and cringe-inducing (both the lyrics and
the music). It actually makes you long for last season's electronic
dots.
Fortunately
Betty's other songs in the series (they perform on stage in
one episode) are actually pretty good, as are most of the other
artists chosen to provide the backdrop to the drama served up
this season (you can check out many of them when Showtime releases
the Season Two soundtrack next week).
Although
some of the episodes are funnier or more dramatic than others,
there are few "stand out" ones this season--not because
they're all poor, but because they're almost all equally good.
Unlike last season, where the episode tone and quality tended
to be very uneven, this season seems to flow together well,
as if the writers have finally found their groove.
The
L Word has also lined up several interesting guest stars
this season, and unlike shows like Will and Grace,
The L Word uses its guest stars to support the primary
storylines, not hijack them. Jane
Lynch plays Tina's smarmy lawyer to perfection, Camryn Manheim
is an excellent bitchy movie studio exec, and Sandra Bernhard
does a good job as Jenny's caustic new writing teacher (Arianna
Huffington's role in the first episode, however, seems a little
forced).
Most
of this season's L Word primary storylines pick up
where they left off at the end of last season: Shane (Katherine
Moennig) is still trying to get over being dumped by married
socialite Sherry (Rosanna Arquette); Alice (Leisha Hailey) and
Dana (Erin
Daniels) are grappling with the aftermath of their kiss;
Jenny (Mia Kirshner) is still writing bad fiction and trying
to make sense of her relationships, including the dissolution
of her relationship with ex-fiance Tim (Eric Mabius); Kit (Pam
Grier) and Ivan (Kelly Lynch) are growing closer; and Bette
(Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) are trying to pick
up the pieces after Bette's affair with Candace
(Ion Overman).
The
only obvious disconnect from last season is the departure of
Marina (Karina Lombard), who was not made a part of the second
season cast. Marina's absence is addressed in the first episode
when the remaining characters learn that Marina has been taken
back to Italy by her family after trying to commit suicide.
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