Reviewed by Louise Wheeler
Stars Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Marlee Matlin, Katherine Moennig, Pam Grier,
Mia Kirshner, Leisha Hailey, Rose Rollins, Rachel Shelley | Written by Ilene Chaiken & others
UK certification 18 | UK RRP £39.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 631 minutes | Directed by Rose Troche & others
More sexy romps from LA’s lesbian ladies in season five of The L Word. Bette (Beals) and Tina (Holloman) are up to their usual tricks dancing around each other despite Bette’s current relationship with Jodi (Matlin). Shane (Moennig) decides to solve the ongoing fallout from her sexual escapades with celibacy, only to create greater problems for the entire crew when she gets in between LA’s newest lesbian power couple. Kit (Grier) faces the worst of this turf war with the The Planet shut down and then bought out by the newcomers.
Meanwhile Jenny (Kirshner) becomes diva director extraordinaire and makes life on the set of the movie based on her book very difficult. Alice (Hailey) and Tasha (Rollins) confront more socially pertinent issues with the army’s lack of tolerance for gay recruits and Helena (Shelley) decides after a trip to the pen to cut the family purse strings, taking off with her cellmate.
Despite the writing having run out of some originality, particularly in respect of the movie production story arc mirroring season one of the programme, the characters are still energetic and the continual flux and change of circumstances makes for very watchable TV. What is also a credit to the show is that after five seasons the ensemble cast is still pretty much in tact and the evolution of these characters still holds interest. The show also attracts big name stars to its ranks with Cybill Shepherd, her real-life daughter Clementine Ford and Marlee Matlin. Sure it’s no lesbian “Sex and the city” but if you’ve been following the series then season five is worth a look.
EXTRAS *** A look at the background to season five’s storylines and the journey each character takes in the season. There are also two music videos from featured band Uh Huh Her, of which cast member Leisha Hailey is a member.