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The Planet — Jenny and Max are decorating for an "'80s Trans Prom," to raise money for Max's surgery. I'm the first to admit that I'm not an expert on the subject, but is it really just a matter of raising the money? Isn't Max supposed to live as a man for a while? Last I heard, most American surgeons adhered to those "standards of care" that consist of several steps... but go ahead, bring on the e-mail; I'm sure I'm ignorant as usual.

Anyway, an '80s prom; I'm all for that. I went to two actual '80s proms and they were kinda fun, even though I was pretending to be straight. My date was prettier than a lot of the girls and wore eyeliner, so it wasn't hard to pretend.

Kit shows up and wants to talk to Max.

Kit: "I understand some of your struggle. And I respect the choice you're making in your life."
Max: "But you have a problem with it."
Kit: "No, I don't have a problem with it. I'm just worried about you."
Max: "Can't you understand? I've never felt comfortable in a girl's body."
Kit: "So removing your breasts and changing yourself into a man is gonna solve all your problems?"
Max: "No. I know that won't happen. But people will start to see me for who I am."
Kit: "You know, it just... it just saddens me to see so many of our strong butch girls giving up their womanhood to be a man. You know, we're losing our warriors, our greatest women. And I don't wanna lose you."
Max: "I'm not following some trend."
Kit: "What if I lived my life feeling white inside? And then the next day I woke up and I could change the color of my skin, the features on my face, to become white? Would you encourage me to do that?"
Max: "I don't know. I mean, do you feel white inside?"
Kit: "What's 'white inside'? What's 'male inside'? What's 'female inside'? Why can't you be the butchest butch in the world and keep your body?"
Max: "Because I want to feel whole. I want the outside of me to match the inside of me."
Kit: "You'll be giving up the most precious thing in the world."
Max: "What, my tits?"
Kit: "No. Being a woman."

I agree with Kit, and I agree with Max. There, I've covered all my bases. Maybe. One thing I do know is that Max's facial hair is not quite right; it seems like the makeup artists have based his look on one of those Woolly Willy toys, which allowed you to "draw" a beard on a face with iron filings and a magnetic pen. Don't blame me for the name; that's what it was called!

Also, I can't quite tell: was Pam Grier really impressive in that scene, or was it just because Daniela Sea is about as talented as a clump of iron filings? Either way, Kit seemed to show up for the first time this season.

A public service announcement — Alice and Dana are talking to Dr. Susan Love. I would tell you more about it, but I can't, because it's not actually part of the episode and therefore shouldn't be recapped. Yes, it's masquerading as part of the episode, but it's really just a random PSA that can't even get its message across because everyone who sees it will think "what the hell am I watching? I thought this was The L Word?"

Prepping for the prom — Alice's contribution to the prom is six huge cupcakes that look like breasts. Only six? Maybe the rest are still out in the Mini Cooper.

Elsewhere, Shane tries to help Carmen set up the kissing both, but Carmen doesn't want help.

Shane: "What is your problem? You've been like this for days."
Carmen: "What are you talking about? I'm fine."
Shane: "Oh really."
Carmen: "Okay, fine. You wanna know what it is? How would you feel if you were making love to me, and then all of a sudden, I just check out in the middle of it? I'm gone. I'm not there."
Shane: "I haven't checked out."
Carmen: "Yeah, you're there, you're like lying next to me and stuff, but I try and touch you, I try to kiss you, I try and do all these things to make you feel good, and you're completely gone."
Shane: "No."
Carmen: "Yes."
Shane: "No, I'm there."
Carmen: "Okay, when was the last time you came?"
Shane: "Oh, come on, that has nothing to do with it."
Carmen: "Really? I think that somewhere deep down, you've realized that all of a sudden you're in this nice, little committed relationship now, and it pisses you off, and now you're punishing me."

And then Carmen just walks off, leaving Shane speechless, because Carmen's good at that.

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