A few months ago, I was visited by the ghost of Sounder and instructed to recap the original L Word. My plan was to cover one episode per week, but then I got COVID and all my carefully laid plans were DESTROYED. Rest assured, though, I take this SERIOUSLY. In addition to being a longtime L Word commentator, I’m a monogamous lesbian who loves commitment. I decided to make it up to you all by binging the remaining episodes in season one and writing a single feverish recap. This mega-recap ended up being so long, I split it into two parts. This is the first.
I prepared for my L Word marathon by eating a steak burrito and letting the dogs out. They wanted to go to the park but I said, “Not today, children. Momma M has to get back inside and watch episode 10. It’s called ‘Luck, Next Time’ and it’s about workplace sexual harassment.”
For starters, Kit is making a music video with a rapper named Slim Daddy (played by Snoop Dogg). Bette visits the set and Slim licks his lips and rubs his hands in her direction. He says a lot of gross stuff and tells her to bring her friends next time. She actually does?!! Slim also thinks that Kit is gay (and possibly sleeping with Bette, her sister) and makes her dance with a bunch of hot girls. Kit is so uncomfortable, she quits the video. Last episode, we learned that Slim is featuring her vocals and only paying her a thousand dollars. It’s true that this show is 20 years old and cultural awareness about consent and sexual harassment have changed SO MUCH, but it’s hard to imagine Bette – or any queer woman – responding well to a hornball like Slim. It’s also interesting to compare this character to Gen Q’s Eddie, a similarly yiiikes and poorly written Black character played by Lena Waithe.
Next, Shane has a new client. Her name is Cherie Jaffe and she’s the wife of a powerful Hollywood producer. Cherie is a cougar who doesn’t know how to sit still for a haircut. She jerks her head around and aggressively sips wine. She leaves a tip for $200 because she loves her hair and, we will find out, wants to possess and control Shane.