Lesbians on DVD: August 2005 by Sarah Warn, August
23, 2005
An
unusually high number of TV shows and movies with lesbian content
and characters have been released on DVD this month, including
new seasons of The O.C., Six Feet Under, Once and
Again, Profit, and Nip/Tuck, and the indie films
Girlplay and Lackawanna Blues. To help you sift
through them, here's a short guide to what's out this month,
and why they're worth watching.
The
O.C., Season 2
The much-discussed and debated relationship between Marissa
(Mischa Barton) and Alex (Olivia Wilde) is finally available
to watch on DVD, now that the second season of the hit
Fox series is out on DVD. Given the rather disappointing
way the storyline was handled towards the end, is it worth
watching again? That's up to you (and we have plenty of
commentary and recaps here
to help you make up your mind).
As
for the extras on the DVD, it's most interesting to note
what's not there: the eight "Too Hot for TV"
kisses between Alex and Marissa that Fox touted in a press
release earlier this year.
Warner
Bros initially agreed to make the language describing
the segment less salacious after GLAAD complained, but
it looks like they decided to play it even safer by
removing the segment entirely from the set.
The
extras overall are somewhat minimal, limited to a few
gag rules, a fashion segment, and commentary on a few
of the episodes. There are a few scenes between Marissa
and Alex included in a second-season montage, and creator
Josh Schwartz provides commentary around their relationship
in "The Rainy Day Woman," the episode where
Alex and Marissa kiss several times on-camera, Marissa
decides to move in with Alex, and Marissa's mom and
Seth find out about their relationship.
Schwartz
says of Wilde in the commentary, "Olivia Wilde was
such a great addition to the show, and we loved having
her. Both actresses had a blast and really went for it."
About their big kissing scene in Alex's apartment, Schwartz
maintains that "Olivia and Mischa really went for
it in this scene....they had fun with it. I think it's
important, I think if we had treated this thing like it
was the most precious relationship in America, it wouldn't
have played real. These are two young, vibrant women and
they would like to express their affection for each other
(pause) vibrantly."
Later,
during the scene when Seth discovers Marissa in only her
bathrobe in Alex's apartment, Schwartz jokes "As
much as I like to say we were advancing the perception
of bisexual relationships in the 21st century...I think
the whole Alex-Marissa storyline was built just so Seth
could say 'you broke up with me for Marissa.'" Hmmm,
that joke might be funnier if it weren't so true...
Six
Feet Under, Season 4
Although both the fourth season of Six Feet Under
and the second season of The O.C. have one of
the show's female characters experimenting with her sexuality
by unexpectedly getting involved in a lesbian relationship,
the series' treatment of the topic couldn't be more different.
In
Six Feet Under's fourth season, college student
Claire (Lauren Ambrose) gets involved in a lesbian relationship
with Edie (Mena Suvari), but struggles to determine the
true nature of her feelings. The scenes between the two
women feel very authentic and honest--at times brutally
so, in keeping with Six Feet Under's approach--and
the result isn't as neat and tidy as some might like.
But
Claire and Edie's frank discussions about sexuality stand
in marked contrast to the almost total lack of conversation
about sexuality on The O.C., a reflection of
the different audience and networks to which the show's
cater.
If
you want a happy-ever-after lesbian relationship, this
season of Six Feet Under isn't it. But if you're
interested in watching one of the more realistic depictions
of sexual experimentation we've ever seen on television--along
with one of the best depictions of a gay male couple on
TV, and a dysfunctional family that will probably make
your's look healthy--you should definitely check this
out. The DVD also includes extensive extras, with deleted
scenes, cast interviews, and commentary on several episodes.
Once
and Again, Season 2 There's no lesbian content in the second season
of this drama series about a newly-blended family, since
teenager Jessie (Evan Rachel Wood) doesn't come out until
the show's third season. But Jessie really begins to come
into her own this season, as she adjusts to the new household
dynamic and develops borderline anorexia.
With
a superb cast led by Sela Ward and
Billy Campbell, and Shane West, Julia Whelan, Susanna
Thompson and Marin Hinkle in supporting roles, this series
offers arguably the best collection of well-developed
female characters on television, then or since. It's also
still one of my best overall series I've ever seen on
television, despite the occasional misguided storyline,
and this season doesn't disappoint.
This
DVD doesn't offer much by the way of extras besides commentary
from the show's creators. But if you're already a fan
of the series, this is a must-have; if you're not, you
can start with this season, but I'd recommend watching
Season 1 first to truly get a sense of where these characters
are coming from (and it just gives you that much more
of the series to savor).
