It has been 10 years since The L Word left our screens, with the murder mystery of troublemakers Jenny Schecter’s (Mia Kirshner) death at the end of season six. Well, the series has been revived by Marja-Lewis Ryan (6 Ballons, College), with original creator Ilene Chaiken (Stumptown, Empire) as the executive producer. On December 8, on Showtime, The L Word: Generation Q will begin its eight-episode first season.
In this series, I am looking forward to seeing how they will touch on the essential topics that face the younger LGBTQ+ generation currently. In one of the trailers, they do show a few hints that I hope they develop the storylines further in-depth. With one of the main characters running for political office, the #MeToo movement, treatment towards the transgender community, cultural representation, and more, the chances are there. In the world of reboots that we are in right now, this one could be important if it goes in the right direction and not make the same miss-step that The L Word did.
If you are not familiar with the Showtime original queer drama The L Word, the series followed the lives and lovers of a small, close-knit group of LGBTQ+ women living in Los Angeles. Along with their friends and family members that either support or try to sabotage them. The show lasted six seasons from 2004-2009.
When The L Word: Generation Q begins, there will be some familiar faces in Silver Lake. Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), and Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) are all returning. But what have they been up to?
Well, unfortunately, Bette and Tina are divorced now, and Bette is raising their now teenage daughter Angie (Jordan Hull), Bette is also running to be the first lesbian mayor of Los Angeles. Alice is engaged to Nat (Stephanie Allynne) – what happened with Tasha (Rose Rollins)? Who has two kids from a previous marriage. But Nat’s ex-wife Gigi (Sepideh Moafi), is still always around. Alice is now a journalist with a talk show named “Alice.” Heartbreaker Shane has sold her successful salon company, including the ones in Paris and New York, and is debating about buying a bar, but the main thing on her mind is her estranged soon to be ex-wife.
Intertwined in the original L Word cast lives are diverse characters that are sure to bring exciting storylines and open up the series to a new generation. Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi) is a successful Public Relations executive, but her conscience tests her determination. She will also have romantic moments with Bette. Oh yeah, she is even engaged to Sophie Suarez and lives with her and their friend. Dani tries hard to get her father’s approval, who is the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Speaking of, Sophie (Rosanny Zayas) is the television producer on Alice’s show who puts everyone before herself as a way to protect her heart. (Sarah) Finley (Jacqueline Toboni) is an executive assistant working as a PA on Alice’s show, who struggles to reconcile her sexual orientation with her religious upbringing in Missouri. Micah (Leo Sheng) is a shy, soft-spoken adjunct professor forced to deal with his fear of vulnerability as a trans man.
The first episode is titled “Let’s Do It Again.” Showtime has the synopsis of the episode as:
“Ten years after we last left them, we find Bette running for mayor of Los Angeles; Shane as she returns to the city after a setback; and Alice learning to balance co-parenting with her fiancée Nat and Nat’s ex-wife Gigi and the rising success of her talk show. We meet PR exec Dani Núñez, her girlfriend and TV producer Sophie Suarez, their best friend and roommate Micah Lee, and the charming former Olympic swimmer-turned-assistant, (Sarah) Finley.”
The L Word: Generation Q premieres on December 8 on Showtime You can watch the official clip for the first episode below.
