The L Word DVD Credits:

Region: 1

The L Word DVD Release Date: 22nd October 2007

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The L Word DVD Review:

The complete 4th season of The L Word continues where it left off in the lives of Alice, Dana, Helena, Bette, Tina and others in Los Angeles. Alice (Leisha Hailey) tries to move on after the death of Dana, and meets charismatic Papi (Janina Gavankar), who crashes Alice’s Charts server by sleeping with too many women. Papi introduces Alice to Tasha (Rose Rollins), a military officer who just returned from the war in Iraq, and they start to date. Alice’s life is further complicated when Phyllis (Cybill Shepherd), a 58-year-old married mother of two, comes out of the closet, thinking she has fallen in love with Alice. Helena (Rachel Shelley) tries to maintain her independence and lavish lifestyle after her mother stops supporting her, risking everything on high-stakes gambling. Bette (Jennifer Beals) returns her child to newly heterosexual Tina (Laurel Holloman) after kidnapping her to regain visitation rights. Jodi (Marlee Matlin), a deaf artist, has relations with Bette, and forces her to look at the word in a different way.

This season of The L Word carries on the shows’ reputation of being sexy and unpredictable in nature, and the production value leaves many good things to talk about. Of course, “L” stands for a lot of things, but mostly “Lesbian.” And although it is not a bad idea to gain tolerance and diversity throughout television, this show seems to go about it in a negative way, and at times it borderlines soft-core pornography. Some of the lovemaking scenes are very awkward, and with The L Word, tender moments will inevitably turn into lovemaking. Now that you’ve been warned, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.

Most of the characters portrayed in The L Word are cruel, selfish and unfaithful, constantly having affairs or cheating on their partners, and very few are people anyone should have as a friend. The newest additions are wondrous exceptions to the series; Papi, Tasha, Phyllis and Jodi are the most interesting and colorful characters. Papi is an over-the-top Latina player and loves to please the ladies. Jodi is deaf, adding an interesting barrier in communication between herself and Bette.

The series continues to be well shot and be very visually attractive, it’s fairly well written, and has a great musical score that supports the actors and script. The greatest thing is that there is no confusion following the plot and recognizing the distinct characters, even if you have just started watching The L Word with the 4th season.

The extras on this DVD are sparse, but include some behind the scenes footage, a free episode of The Tudors and of Californication. Although it is low budget and seemingly pulled together last minute, one extra is a conversation with the members of GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) on the non-profit organization’s goals and objectives. It’s great that The L Word wants to gain some publicity for GLAAD, but perhaps it was a mistake that it ended up among the extras, because The L Word could be found offensive to some gays.

The show seems to perpetuate some lesbian stereotypes, one of which is making all gay and lesbian characters are promiscuous. I know that factually neither all homosexuals nor heterosexuals take home a different individual every night. Nor do they sleep with 300 people within twenty hours, as Papi is documented as doing; all characters seem to have problems holding down a monogamous relationship as well.

Whenever a new character is brought into the plot, she is magically a lesbian, or becomes one shortly after her first episode. This is just a little strange, because not all the females you meet in a day are lesbians. But, if you want the potential for a future love interest with other characters, I suppose it is necessary for nearly everyone in the show to be a lesbian.

Overall, it’s a fun show, filled with estrogen-inflated conflicts, unreal situations and larger than life characters that promise thrilling interaction when they clash. The L Word tries to become political when it deals with the War on Terror, but quickly returns to its trivial, amusing sexiness that viewers have quickly come to know and love.

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The L Word DVD review written by: Christina Weston