I Binge Watched All Of “The Real L Term” In A Week. Listed Here Are My Feelings. | GO Mag

Like any self-respecting (albeit then-closeted) queer woman, I happened to be aware of “the actual L keyword,” Ilene Chaiken’s 2010-12 spin-off associated with show that identified a generation people in one single method or another. During the time the program aired, I wasn’t curious. It had nothing to do with my personal assertion of my personal bisexual identification and every little thing to do with that I happened to be nonetheless pissed at Chaiken for undertaking


my personal lady Jenny Schecter


so really, extremely completely wrong in the period finale of this initial “The L term.”

Fast forward ten years whenever the homosexual performers aligned in my situation and I discovered me bingeing all three seasons in a single week. A lot of factors contributed to the involuntary decision. One: I found myself in the home stretch of edits for my personal 2nd queer YA book call at 2021 and that I seriously needed brain sweets. Two: Showtime hit up my personal email with a 30-day free trial, basically for new season of “Billions,” a show I have never viewed. Three: Well, I was wondering.

In older times, I found myself a devoted follower of “The Hills,” MTV’s thoroughly absurd, utterly addictive reality crisis about rather, hetero 20-somethings living in LA. “the actual L Word” possessed equivalent sun-drenched, sweet sense of escapism — best way, method,



way



gayer — plus with additional dogs and, beginning in season two, a rather adorable kitty. Certain, there’s mess: fake drama that is plainly staged by manufacturers, a lot of real shouting in very packed organizations, and well, Romi. That said, “The Real L keyword” had many good things that held me personally seeing till the actual end of Whitney and Sara’s large homosexual wedding ceremony, right away Googling what every person’s as much as these days, and after my faves on Insta (


hi, Kacy!


) — not forgetting dorkily dancing around my personal apartment to


that appealing motif tune


. This is what I all of a sudden adored:

Good Coupling

Jill and Nikki are lovable as they squabble over a chandelier and preparing a marriage which wasn’t legal at that time but was important for them on an individual degree. Kacy and Cori retain the concept of a baby exactly who might or might not materialize, while never wavering inside their love and service for example another. Tracy and Stamie work out how to balance work, sex, plus the care of three lovable children — among who had special needs. We carefully adored the storylines among these three lovers navigating lesbian existence in a straight globe collectively. (And I was actually securely group Jill in Chandelier-Gate. That thing ended up being dangerous!)

Cute Smashing

At the start of season three, I happened to ben’t yes how I believed about Kiyomi, the Hunter Valentine frontwoman whose way of exercising polyamory was not precisely fair to her spouse, Allie. Whenever Kiyomi found enviably pink-haired and pearly white-teethed Angeleno Lauren at Dinah Shore, however, all bets were down. Once they kissed in the yard, it had been lovable. When they shyly gazed at each other and giggled during confessional interviews, it had been cuter. So when Lauren cannot avoid Kiyomi’s house of the latest York City for 1 even more minute? Cutest.

Moments With Mothers

Appear, we are in
quarantine
and I skip my personal
mommy
. This might describe precisely why it rained-on my face each time a loving mama figure showed up. Whether or not it had been Jill shouting cheerfully when her mom made a surprise visit to help her select a wedding gown, Kacy’s mom fulfilling the woman daughter for meal and consoling the woman about infant Charlie, or Whitney’s granny witnessing Whitney’s yard Connecticut Wedding, I became in pretty bad shape, y’all. Let us not forget Francine developing to her ultra-glam mommy Yoko, who straight away responded “I like love such you,” and Sadjah’s mama Sarita praising Sadjah’s Vote for Equality colleagues for residing their particular truth.


”


I recently believe that it’s beautiful for you all to face right up for your legal rights and fight for just what you truly, certainly believe in,” she says.

Actual, Real Time Bisexuality!

Do I love the way in which Chaiken deals with bisexual characters and storylines? Not necessarily. But as a bi myself, Im hungry for any and all of representation of my personal folks in the mass media (Spoiler: still maybe not plenty!). Today, we’ll get what I may, and I also found it heartening observe Romi with boyfriends from inside the show’s 3rd period, also the ensuing conversations of how bi/queer/pansexual women often believe excluded through the homosexual society in general. Its unusual i came across Romi relatable, but I relished this topic that still isn’t mentioned adequate.

Claire. Enough stated.

Oh, Claire. She remaining her absolutely gorgeous sweetheart Vivian in New York to “begin a asian lesbian website” in Los Angeles — and shack up with ex Francine (imagine how good that last any went). She blithely turned-down an internship with “But i am a Cheerleader” director and queer symbol Jamie Babbit. And she’d drunkenly scream in organizations. Claire was the undeniable



queen.



This season two major member had been since dirty as her ‘80s rock and roll star-esque golden-haired shag, and is



just



what you would like the truth is TV. Do not get me incorrect, I became a fan of the quieter minutes in “the actual L keyword,” but Claire brought the sheer dramz, and I also was actually right here for it. (additionally, I grew up perhaps not definately not the woman home town of St. Louis, so hell yeah for other weirdo Midwesterners!)

This Is Actually The Method In Which We Live

Bringing it returning to “The L Word” motif song we cherished: There however aren’t countless shows, flicks, etc. about queer ladies



existing



(chatting, chuckling, loving, inhaling, etc.). Even when I happened to be frustrated with Whitney’s pre-engagement user ways, Sajdah and Chanel obtaining as well significant too fast and reading the millionth version of “what exactly’s up with both you and so-and-so,” we relished spending some time with queer feamales in various stages of these resides, simply calculating circumstances around. I can not say I miss out the days whenever unscripted programs controlled the airwaves, but “the actual L keyword” had been worth seeing, not simply when it comes to club-screaming, chandelier-squabbling and broken keyboard-pouting (bad Somer), but for the top lady-loving lesbian electricity.

Added bonus: nobody dies in a pool.