The L Word - The Complete First Season

Starring:Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Pam Grier, Karina Lombard, Eric Mabius, Rachel Shelley, Eric Lively, Sarah Shahi
Director: Rose Troche, Tricia Brock, Burr Steers, Tony Goldwyn, Jeremy Podeswa, Ernest R. Dickerson
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Four years after Showtime made gay men the focus of its original series Queer as Folk, it was time for a little turnabout with The L Word (bad title, great show). Centering around a tight-knit group of lesbians in Los Angeles, this drama was far removed from its working-class male counterpart in both style and content. While the men of QAF enjoyed a fabulous if melodramatic life on the middle-class streets of Pittsburgh, the women of The L Word lived it up in sunny California, with gorgeous houses, glamorous careers, and sexy wardrobes. Ironically, though, The L Word adhered more to the everyday drama of ensemble shows like thirtysomething than the soap opera antics of QAF, and the results were surprisingly heartfelt and effective, appropriately stylish but never over the top. There was plenty of room for titillation, but creator Ilene Chaiken fashioned from the start a show centered on characters and not just sex, aiming for the heart rather than... well, other places.

Amazon.com

Four years after Showtime made gay men the focus of its original series Queer as Folk, it was time for a little turnabout with The L Word (bad title, great show). Centering around a tight-knit group of lesbians in Los Angeles, this drama was far removed from its working-class male counterpart in both style and content. While the men of QAF enjoyed a fabulous if melodramatic life on the middle-class streets of Pittsburgh, the women of The L Word lived it up in sunny California, with gorgeous houses, glamorous careers, and sexy wardrobes. Ironically, though, The L Word adhered more to the everyday drama of ensemble shows like thirtysomething than the soap opera antics of QAF, and the results were surprisingly heartfelt and effective, appropriately stylish but never over the top. There was plenty of room for titillation, but creator Ilene Chaiken fashioned from the start a show centered on characters and not just sex, aiming for the heart rather than... well, other places.

The L Word focused primarily on committed couple Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman), a former power-career duo who've decided to have a baby; however, artificial insemination and the changing dynamics of their relationship throw their previously happy existence off-kilter. Within their orbit are spunky journalist Alice (Leisha Hailey), sultry hairdresser Shane (Katherine Moenning), closeted pro tennis player Dana (Erin Daniels), and espresso bar owner Marina (Karina Lombard) who, in the show's most polarizing storyline, bedded the seemingly straight Jenny (Mia Kirschner) and shook up her heterosexual world. Jenny's am-I-straight-or-not? kvetching frustrated both her fiancé (Eric Mabius) and many viewers, who were alternately irritated and intrigued by her inability to decide one way or the other. But Jenny's weakness was part of The L Word's strength: in exploring many sides of many issues, both domestic and political, it never came up with an easy answer for any of them, making the show all that more fascinating--and compulsively watchable. --Mark Englehart

Description

Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told with passion, frankness and humor.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't get any better at this price!.......2007-06-01

Ah, the fond memories of the first season of the "L Word". I watched it again, this time without the commercials and enjoyed the fond memories of the first season. Of course, at this price, you cannot go wrong. This is the MAIN reason for my buying the first season. Otherwise, I was going to wait until I had enough money to buy seasons 1-3 all at once -- which wasn't going to happen any time soon. (Seasons 1-3 for the price of one is not a bad deal either!).

The L Word rocks, and hopefully the next season (5th) will be worth watching. Even though the 4th season left something to be desired, I still enjoyed seeing my girls back ...

And the reference to the war and the effects it has on people was an important part of the storyline this past season.

The L Word-Lively!.......2007-05-02

How many stars can I give a show that truly changes your life? This show is inspiring, brave, emotional, truthful, relatable, and so much more! And this is just the first season. This show has just finished its fourth season.. it's THAT popular. Yes, it is a show that lesbians can relate to but it's so much more than that. Everyone, no matter what you're sexual orientation, can relate to the characters and situations on this show. Here's a review of the characters:

Alice-My absolute favorite character. The most believable and real person on the cast, she's witty, beautiful, and doesn't care what people think. While showing her typical, sarcastic personality, you'll see her struggle with needing stability and just wanting to be loved.

Shane-The one that real lesbians can't get enough of. She's not an emotional chick (although that will change with every season) but she's deep. She doesn't like to be in a relationship and won't even spend the night with a girl.

Dana-The semi-in-the-closet dork. LOVE her! She's a pro tennis player and doesn't want the public to know. She falls for a chef (who at first doesn't know is a lesbian or not) and eventually can't hide her love for her from the public anymore.

Bette-The smart one. She's the artsy one who has been in a relationship with her partner, Tina, for YEARS. Even with their problems, they decide to get pregnant although their problems become worse and worse as time goes on.

Tine-Bette's other half. She eventually becomes the victim of her and Bette's problems and starts problems of her own.

Kit-The alcoholic. Kit is Bette's sister and has a problem with drinking. I must admit that her presence in the first season isn't all that important but she will eventually become a bigger character on the show.

Marina-The one with the accent. Marina is extremely beautiful and smart. She owns "The Planet", a little cafe that is the hangout for all of the characters on the show.

Jenny-The crazy one. Jenny starts out in a relationship with a man. And then she meets Marina..

Even if my brief descriptions of the characters don't entice you, I suggest you watch this show for yourself. I guarantee you that it'll have you laughing and crying just as much as any other non-lesbian show.

Best of the Seasons.......2007-04-01

I don't watch tv but I used to download this. It's so good I bought it. LOVE it.

Love is love is love.......2007-03-31

I have bought every season available for the L Word. The series is a must have staple in a lesbians video library (and for those who love lesbians). Only one complaint, the discs in the two seasons I've ordered from Amazon have skip areas in them or the dvd stops for whatever random reasons. I've cleaned the discs and the dvd player and still the skips. I will not be purchasing season 4 from Amazon but will spend the extra money and buy it from the L Words website directly. I hope that stops the misery of the skipping/stoppng discs.

Excellent.......2007-03-11

NO SPOILERS HERE...

I am in love with this show. I look forward to curling up on the couch with my loved one and delving into these ladies' lives and each show is never a disappointment. There are some soap opera gasp moments too!

Get this! It's a great investment in your DVD library.

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