The L Word

Sure, a lot of the elements of "Sex and the City" bear no resemblance to my life, but I can relate to the (mostly) heterosexual relationships on the show. This approach to television made my best friend and me a bit confused when we first stumbled upon "The L Word," a drama series that follows the lives of a group of lesbians living in a community in West Hollywood.

"Wait, so there's like no hot guys? Just girls?" was my friend's reaction. I have to admit, I wasn't sure that I could see myself in these characters as I could with "Sex and the City." My foremost thought was that I simply wouldn't understand the terminology, the humor or the dynamic of a show that revolves around a group of lesbian friends living on the other side of the country. Actually, I felt just like Charlotte in an episode of "Sex and the City": I could spend time with these women but would always feel like an outsider in their world.

But "The L Word" doesn't make any assumptions about its audience. In fact, the show is actually made to transcend the lines between lifestyles. From the start, a heterosexual audience finds that they aren't the only ones entering a new world. The show begins by following Jenny, one of the main characters, as she transitions from a Midwestern upbringing and a long-term relationship with her boyfriend Tim to a new home in West Hollywood and an accompanying newfound sexual curiosity. Following Jenny, I soon realized the other, more important use of dramatic television as a representation of a world different from my own in many respects.

"The L Word," however, unlike many shows centered on friendships and relationships, isn't just a compilation of the characters' woes; it's actually a glance at the rest of the world from their point of view. Unlike some shows that are set in what appears to be a bubble, untouched by current events or important contemporary issues, "The L Word" tackles these problems head on. Seeing topics like gay parenting, gender identity, religion and sexism manifested in the lives of the main characters of "The L Word" forces you to view these issues from a very unique and important point of view.

"The L Word" relies on some traditional television standbys; still, "The L Word" finds a way to put a new spin on even the most overused television plot devices, the most apparent of which is the characters. "The L Word" is full of all the usual suspects: the player with a soft side, the spunky fun-lover who'll try anything once and, of course, the lovable weak-willed nerd. But restricting these old personas to an all-female cast places tired devices into a new context. "The L Word" mixes old and new to ease an audience used to typical drama series into the world of this distinct group of friends.

Unfortunately, the sixth season of "The L Word," airing this January, will be the final season of the show. Showtime has announced that it will be creating a spinoff series starring one of the main characters. I only hope that the new series will be just as powerful in its ability to blur the lines of sexuality on television.