The L Word: Farewell & Thanks

I've watched every season of, the L Word, every episode. From the beginning I was intrigued by these group of women who banded together and became closer then most families I know, including my own. Through the years my favorites have changed as the characters evolved. In season 1, it was Dana, the lesbian tennis player who struggled with coming out. I enjoyed her sweet romance with Alice and her genuine struggle with accepting who she was. Her death, a losing battle with breast cancer, was one of saddest moments of the series. If Dana was sweet and innocent, Shane was the opposite.

Of course everyone likes the bad boy/girl, so true to form I went through my Shane phase. Shane was the girl all the women wanted. Through 6 seasons, Shane was never tied down to one partner for long. Though she came close and was even engaged for a brief moment, to Carmen, Shane remained the consummate bachelorette .

Alice, everyone's best friend, was always loud and outspoken. She grew on me and by the end of the series, I was quite fond of her. We watched her heartbreak after Dana dumped her and we were happy when she found love again with Tasha. The loveable Alice was frequently the one being left in her relationships, yet through her pain, Alice could always be counted on for comic relief and that's why we loved her.

Helena and Kit both started as smaller parts. Helena wasn't even part of the first season. By the end of the series these women were in business together and close friends. Kit had overcome alcoholism and Helena was no longer the spoiled rich girl. These women had both grown and were now enjoying the successful lives they'd created.

Jenny, the once innocent straight girl who came to LA to be with her fiancé, Tim, soon discovered she was gay. Jenny evolved from a scared, unsure young lady, into a director and writer. She came into her own in her professional and personal life. She fell in love with Shane after the two shared a friendship for several seasons. Their relationship, like all of Shane's, was doomed from the start, as was Jenny's character.

Finally, there was Bette and Tina. The chemistry between these two women was amazing to watch. They will remain, in my opinion, one of the hottest couples in television history. The series started out with these women representing a loving example of a monogamous relationship. In time, there would be break-ups and heart break and a child, Angelica. They were a bona fide super couple and these two characters held the show together.

This was such a good positive show, not only for the gay community, but for society. In a time when some are still fighting for equality, the show created a place to escape to, a place where everyone was accepted. It's hard to say goodbye to a show that powerful.

It's been a wonderful 6 seasons and I wished it could have been 6 more. There is a chance that we'll see these amazing women again, in an L Word Movie. They deserve to be on the big screen and we deserve to see them there.

Thank you to the wonderful actors that brought the characters to life with so much passion and dedication. May you shine as brightly in the rest of your careers.