The New L Word: Generation Q
by Isabella Zollner
In 2004, The L Word launched its pilot episode and became hugely influential in the 2004–2009 political climate. It was also ripe with groundbreaking representations of lesbian and bisexual relationships. The show followed a group of women living in Los Angeles, California. Jenny is a freelance writer who split with her soon to be husband when she began to question her sexuality. Bette and Tina are life partners who go through the complex process of having and adopting a baby as a gay couple. Kit Porter is Bette’s half sister who (small spoiler) owns a restaurant called The Planet, which is a popular meet-up spot for the Los Angeles lesbian community. She also records music on the side. In an ironic contrast to many shows of our era, Kit Porter becomes somewhat of a token straight character. Shane is a hairstylist and the friend group’s constant confidant. Dana is a tennis player who battles her wishes to be a gay icon and her parent’s conservative views. Finally, Alice is a journalist trying to make it big while writing about lesbian culture.
What made this show so good was that it had complex LGBTQIA+ characters and plots. To this day, most LGBTQIA+ films or TV series are either tragedies or lack any real emotional value. The L Word was one of the first TV shows to break that stereotype. Sure, it was set up like a soap opera with drama and breakups at every corner. But it was also deeply emotional. The characters had real connections and feelings and they were more than just token LGBTQIA+ characters. Their relationships were complicated, intense, and full of love with authentic characters and story arcs.
Tina, for example, grew up in an extremely heteronormative area with strict gender roles. She starts the series as an unhappy stay at home mom who grows to become one of the most independent characters. She sheds her reliance on her partner Bette and becomes her own person who works to achieve her own goals.
There is something deeply engaging in these characters, all of whom are working doggedly to make any sort of difference in their world. In one way or another, they all wanted to make their mark. They spent six seasons yelling at the world to take notice of them only for them to be turned down time and again. All of the characters share that in common with each other and plenty of (real) people as well. It gives them a depth and a relatability that many modern characters lack.
However, The L Word wasn’t all good — not even close. The show had come under fire for how they treat POC characters as well as their depiction of Max, a trans man played by a cis woman. So despite their political forwardness and open criticism of the Bush administration, The L Word fell short in many new viewers’ eyes.
Today, The L Word has a reboot that is attempting to right some wrongs from the original. The L Word: Generation Q sees the return of three of the most popular characters — Tina, Bette, and Shane. Generation Q has more POC characters and a better portrayal of trans characters than the original version of The L Word. Along with Orange is the New Black and Love, Victor, The L Word continues to provide representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, Generation Q is the perfect addition as a modern LGBTQIA+ show targeted towards multiple generations.
Generation Q still has a long way to go in order to be as influential as The L Word was. And there are still some complications with Generation Q. It hasn’t quite provided viewers with the same level of drama as The L Word did. But if Generation Q really does correct the mistakes of The L Word, it is well on its way to becoming one of the most important LGBTQIA+ shows of our generation.
About the Author:
After being subjected to homophobic harassment in the classroom, Isabella decided to try and use her writing to encourage others to stand up for each other and themselves. Isabella is a high school student in Lafayette, IN.
