random musings

Lynch Pin, the fourth episode of The L Word, is a good, solid episode. While Loneliest Number was outstanding in its emotional depth and superb acting by Jennifer Beals, Lynch Pin introduces a couple of new characters who will bring lots of drama to our girls lives.

Lynch Pin introduces us to Helena Peabody, the daughter of Peggy Peabody. Peggy, beautifully played by Holland Taylor (The Practice, Legally Blonde) was introduced last season as the eccentric head of The Peabody Foundation, which funds several of Bette's projects at the California Arts Center (CAC). The episode opens with Helena sitting in what is obviously her therapist's office, and listening as her therapist, played by Mimi Kuzyk, explains why an indiscretion that obviously happened between them can never happen again. Eagle-eyed viewers will remember Kuzyk from Lost and Delirious. As the therapist explains that what happened was wrong and she could lose her license, Helena boldly walks over and begins seducing her. This personality glimpse suggests that Helena is someone who goes after what she wants, regardless of the consequences to anyone, and doesn't let much stand in her way. Since we know she will eventually pursue Tina, all I have to say is "look out, Bette!"

The gang, minus Bette, is gathered at The Planet as Alice offers one of her "what if?" questions. Today's question: What would you do if you had a penis for 24 hours? Shane's answer has to be the best of them all. She said she would pee standing up on every bush she could find! Crack me up, girl! And let's face it, we all would secretly love to pee standing up, right? :)

Bette is on a mission to New York to garner more grants and funding from Helena since Peggy is retiring from the Foundation. Upon her arrival, she finds Helena not quite as eager to fund the CAC's projects and more interested in chatting with her children than giving Bette the time she needs. Desperate, Bette goes to Peggy, who is in the middle of a massage with her new boy toy, a sweet young thing who doesn't speak a bit of English! She assures Bette that if Helena hasn't said no, then have faith. Given Bette's history of late, faith isn't a commodity she's got much of.

While in New York, we see Bette continue her downward spiral. Depressed and alone, she goes to a bar where she proceeds to get very drunk, then pick up some strange woman, taking her back to the hotel for sex. They proceed to have sex (how, I'll never know since Bette was swaying so much when she walked in the room), then the scene cuts to the morning after, as Bette sits by the window, looking at the stranger while contemplating her life. Poor Bette. She definitely is being fed "poo sandwiches" by the writers!

Jenny and Shane are in the midst of trying to find a third roommate to share the rent of Tim's house. In a hilarious sequence, they go through quite a few interesting characters: Feef, a young girl who wants to be a TV star; a authoritarian-like woman who wants to make a bunch of rules; the church-going girl who freaks when she suspects they are lesbians and offers a pamphlet to help them get over being gay; and the nudist. Then there's Mark. The last guy they interview comes complete with a video camera and a whole lot more: six months of rent, first and last month's, security deposit, the whole nine yards. They agree and Mark, played by Eric Lively, becomes their third roommate. As we know from previews, Mark becomes much more than a roommate with his predilection for filming people unawares. Mark's a major scumbag in my opinion. It has been read in several spots that the only reason they added the character of Mark is because Showtime heads wanted a male character for the straight women who watch the show. Please, give me a break! Do you think straight women are going to like this guy?! Get a clue!

For as intelligent a character as Tina was in the first season, she's a bit clueless this time around. Must be all those pregnancy hormones. Her smarmy lawyer, Joyce Wishnia, replete in men's clothing once again, helps Tina take inventory of Bette's house while Bette's away in New York. As a way to express her gratitude, Tina brings her an orchid, and smarmy lawyer Joyce decides she'll say "thank you" by seducing Tina. Only she just doesn't attempt, nor does she seem to take no for an answer. She forces herself on Tina and only Tina pushing her off several times seems to get the message across. Eww! Not only is this woman smarmy, but she's a predator! Later, we see Tina leaving the house, so I'm assuming she's leaving Joyce's guest house for destinations unknown. I only hope this is the last we see of smarmy lawyer woman!

The writers once again show Jenny at her computer, writing a story for what we assume is Charlotte Birch's class. Once again they have interspersed the writing with a flashblack scene at a carnival or fair. Good grief! Please, what is the point of this? Jenny's writing is not Shakespeare or Dante. Hell, it's not even Grisham or King on one of their bad days! We don't need two or three minutes of weird background footage to know we hate Jenny's writing scenes. If they insist on showing this rubbish, could they at least give us a semi-explanation of what the hell it is? Yes, we know it deals with Jenny's feelings and her past, blah, blah, blah. Face it folks, her past is not that damn interesting. Find something else to do with Jenny, please!

The tension is growing between Dana and Alice. This time we find them at an amusement park. Tonya has so kindly fixed Alice up with Chris, who just happens to be a guy, and Dana doesn't like it! Alice has to go to the bathroom (does Alice pee a lot or what?!) and Dana follows, confronting her for flirting with Chris. Poor Alice, frustrated by her feelings and the inability to do anything about them, vehemently asks Dana, "What do you want from me?!" Dana stares at her for a moment, then backs Alice up and kisses her soundly, not a word spoken. The sparks between these two are getting hotter!

Worried about succeeding at The Planet, Kit enrolls in a seminar hosted by Benjamin Bradshaw, played by Charles S. Dutton. The interaction between Kit and Bradshaw, while minimal, hints at a possible love interest. Personally, I hope not as they need to give Kit a little bit of time after Ivan before jumping into something else. And I also hope they don't cut Pam Grier's part as much as they did this time. Kit was a very minor character in this episode, and while I realize it's tough to get such a large ensemble cast enough time for everyone, Kit is kinda like the glue that holds everyone together. She's the moral, stable center.

Shane has taken her hairdressing skills to the movies, where she impresses and pisses off the studio head, Veronica Bloom, all at the same time, calling her "a crazy bitch," not knowing Bloom can hear her. Played by Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Camryn Manheim (The Practice), Bloom insults Shane's intelligence and appearance, then offers her a job. This should be an interesting story arc and anything with Camryn Manheim in it is guaranteed to be a pleaser.

Shane has also offered to ask Carmen over for Jenny so they can get together. Strange, very strange. An impromptu party breaks out with Shane, Jenny, Carmen, and a bunch of other girls. Perusing their movies, Carmen discovers a Bridget Bardot collection, which she and Jenny bond over once Carmen finds out it's hers....just another hook to bring those two together. While Shane's totally okay having Carmen over while she gets it on with another girl, Carmen has a bit of a problem watching and leaves abruptly. The impromptu party spills over into Bette's yard and the girls go for a skinny dip in the pool, while Mark and his scummy friend, Gomey, take a peek.

As the episode draws to a close, Mark sits and talks with Jenny, asking whether she's gay or not. She doesn't quite answer him directly, asking instead why he knows those other girls are gay and she isn't. He says it has to do with something they exude, which I can take, and their haircuts, which was stereotypically expected, but still a disappointing answer. This prompts Jenny to make a decision, and after everyone leaves, she asks Shane to cut her hair. Guess Jenny's gonna make herself a lesbian after all. Just, please God, no mullet!

Don't miss next week's episode, Labyrinth, which finally brings the sexual tension between Alice and Dana to a head as they fall into each others arms just as Tonya walks in, Bette finds out exactly what kind of opponent Helena is, and just what Tina's been hiding. Remember, The L Word, Sundays on Showtime, 10/9c.

Don't forget to visit the rest of OutLook where we have a ton of new book reviews, movie reviews, and more. Read the book that Sandra Bernhard (Charlotte Birch, The L Word) says is "sexy and fun!" (sample chapters available online). Check out the new reviews by Arlene Germain, see what Sundance Channel has in store for this month, and don't forget the world premiere of D.E.B.S., the new movie about crime-fighting women who happen to love other women!

Until next time....