Written by Moho
I have watched every episode of The L Word. Many of them multiple times, as such I have formed opinions about each of the characters on the show. In many ways, I feel I know who these characters are supposed to be. I also realize that much like real people these characters cannot be and should not be one dimensional.
As Season 3 chugs along, I find myself asking, 'Who are these characters?' The character I am most puzzled by this year is Helena. What the hell has happened to her? It is troubling.
This season, without any warning, Helena has morphed from spoiled brat woman to Mary Poppins. What am I missing here? Although, we saw flashes of sweetness and tenderness from Helena in Season 2, more often than not we saw her acting bitchy, mean (at times), manipulative, but always self confident and self assured. She even had a stalking episode when Tina returned to Bette. There were very few likeable traits about the Helena character.
Now in Season 3 we are supposed to believe that in the last six months she has become a sensitive, caring, supportive, mature and forgiving individual. All of a sudden she has become a regular member of the Planet dish sessions, she's Alice's best friend, she's comfortable and relaxed in Bette's presence, insecure and hesitant about approaching Dylan for a date. Where was the transition? When did all of this happen? How did it happen?
My biggest irritation with the show has to be the less is more philosophy. Although, I do not want to be spoon fed every detail of each character, I would like for the creative team to bridge the gap. They leave so many things incomplete, unsaid, hanging that it has become annoying. For instance, why has there been no mention of Helena's children 5 episodes into the new season? Does she not see them occasionally? Do they still exist? Did Winnie take them to a foreign land, never to be heard from again? Tell me something.
What about Mark? Where did he go? When did he move out? Was Shane upset (as Ilene positioned them as friends after the hidden camera debacle)?
More currently, what's going on with the adoption process? Seems to me that this would be mentioned in some way or another until it is complete. Did Bette and Tina get another chance after the David outburst? Is the social worker okay with the Manny solution?
There are so many questions and so few answers (even hints at the answers) from the creative team. I will continue to support the show, because I believe in its value. I also realize that these are Ilene's stories to tell as she sees fit, but DAMN.
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