When you have fans openly asking a network to cancel their favorite show, you’ve done something wrong.
With leads Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman missing for over half of the lackluster third season of The L Word: Generation Q, fans were excited to see them return for the (second) wedding of their characters Bette Porter and Tina Kennard. Showtime engaged in heavy social media promotion for the wedding, leading fans to expect an episode where Bette and Tina were the main focus. This is not what happened, as more than half the episode screentime was wasted on characters getting high, drunk, having sex with the wedding planner or attempting to kiss and being interrupted by a cow.
When Bette and Tina finally did get to say their vows (written by Beals and Holloman, respectively) after having their wedding cake and first attempt at a walk down the aisle ruined by a drunk/high Tess (who deserved SO much better than this writing) – shots cut away to minor characters instead of staying focused on the brides. Despite this, it says a lot when the best part of the episode is the part showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan didn’t write. The episode was directed by fellow Generation Q actress Leisha Hailey, who noted in her Pants podcast that her directors cut was changed by Ryan: “It’s the showrunners vision. So, whatever you do – they’re like thank you for doing that, but this is what I see.”
One highlight of this episode was the appearance of L Word OG character Tasha Williams (Rose Rollins), who was summoned in her capacity as a firefighter to free Bette and Tina from their accidental icy imprisonment in the walk-in freezer after a run-in with Alice in episode 9. I loved seeing Alice and Tasha finally talk about their issues instead of just yelling at each other. Both acknowledged Alice’s feelings for Dana and her rising fame were problems for Tasha, but both have grown from that time in their lives. Alice and Tasha giving their relationship another try is something I’ve always hoped for.
After Bette & Tina finally made it down the aisle and through their vows, we only see a few seconds of their first dance before the show cuts away to other characters once again. I’m aware this is not just the “Bette & Tina show” but they deserve to have more screentime during an episode about their own wedding. I hoped to see more of their first dance, cake cutting, speeches and wedding night. A shame this was overlooked for other things that added nothing to the plot.
One of Marja-Lewis Ryan’s comments from a recent interview stated, “I could write an episode of this show right now in 60 minutes or less.” This isn’t something to be proud of. Fans want quality. With the amount of sapphic shows canceled in the past year, it feels like zero effort is being put into writing Generation Q and that’s a shame. It could be great, in the right hands. Many fans on social media are calling for original L Word showrunner Ilene Chaiken to take the reins, should Generation Q even get renewed – which is unlikely, given its poor ratings and messy third season.
Do better, Showtime.
