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| The
Evolution of Bette |
by clairefisher
Author Notes
I am really enjoying season 4 but I and my friends are a little
disappointed in the evolution, or rather the regression, of Bette.
I wonder has she changed from season 1 or was she always this way
- more passive and reactive than aggressive and proactive. There
have been flashes of season 1's tenacious Bette but overall, I have
been a little surprised and disappointed with her fling with Nadia
and this thing with Jody who seems to be leading her down some wicked
path. I hope some people read this because I'd welcome some insight.
Bette has always been my favorite L Word character. From the time
that I began watching her in season 1, I could relate. Bette, as
portrayed by Jennifer Beals, had a moral center. I remember one
of the writer’s, Rose Troche, describing her as righteous
to the point of being self righteous. In season 1, Bette had amazing
integrity that was matched only by her passion. Okay, at the end
of season 1 she cheated on Tina and in season 2 she pretty much
begged her way back into Tina’s arms. Bette in season 3, well,
I choose to forget all of that season. But now in season 4, I have
to ask myself – who is this new Bette?
This new Bette has sex with her teaching assistant - in a car;
she allows Jody to sabotage her meeting with one of the school’s
biggest financial donors and doesn’t retaliate; she lets Jody
and her interpreter Tom goad her into getting stoned at her boss’s
party, and the list goes on. I cringed at the sight of my tenacious
Bette shot gunning like a passive misfit. This new Bette even refuses
to get involved in Kit’s life when she finds out from Tina
that Angus is cheating on her sister. I mean – WHO is this
new Bette? I remember when she angrily left Tim and Jenny’s
party when she saw that Jenny was cheating on Tim with Marina. The
old Bette had no problem warning Kit that Ivan was in love with
her. I just feel like the new Bette has taken a major turn for the
worst.
My friends are really pissed at this season’s new Bette.
They say she is reactive and passive. But I’ve got a rationale
for her behavior. My theory is that Bette is so hurt by losing Tina,
her greatest love, that she has adopted this “do whatever”
mentality. But then I could argue – could I lose my moral
center just because I lost the love of my life? I could not. But
human emotions are complex and I have just decided that Bette is
evolving - for better or worse. It is so obvious that she wants
Tina back. I was touched by the look of hope in her eyes in the
Lez Girls episode when she met “T” for lunch. Her feelings
of disappointment were evident when Tina said she was only meeting
her to discuss Kit. And then I remember that she slept with Nadia
after going to that ridiculous party at Tina and Henry’s.
So I guess a broken heart may cause us to do things that are out
of character. I don’t know. But I am excited about seeing
where Bette’s journey ends. I hope it’s with Tina.
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Comments:
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2007-02-15, 21:23:28 PM
From: Gigi88
Comments: maybe it's just me but i have grown to just like Bette more and more. i personally could not relate as much to her in season 1. i never disliked her at all, just was not as drawn to her. but over the past four seasons she has now grown to be my favorite character. it's just my opinion but i think she was almost sort of untouchable in the beginning and had to become more human by making some mistakes. i don't really think it was a coincidence that they decided to have her cheat and have to learn from that. i agree also that losing tina has surely completeley turned her upside down no matter how together she still appears most of the time. i think she is really incredibly vulnerable and that is also what causes the tough exterior. i think that's what makes her such an interesting character. plus of course jennifer beals can just do no wrong. anyway thanks for the article, always interesting to read other points of view.
2007-02-16, 12:30:37 PM
From: Catb
Comments: I prefer a mixture of season 1 & 2 Bette. I wondered if anybody else noticed the look of disappointment when Tina said she wanted to meet with her to talk about Kit. I can't wait for the episode where Bette introduces Jody to Tina. I am a diehard Tibette fan, so I also hope she ends up with Tina.
2007-02-16, 14:08:10 PM
From: tylo
Comments: I am a Major bette fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The alhpa bette we saw in season in season 1 made me love her..Season 2 was ok Season 3 omg the damn near kill the charchter who's story most enjoyed and wanted to see more of this season i am really enjoying because the have brought some of the old bette back but also we are seeing the changes in her personality in response the dramatic changes in her life.. I really am enjoying season 4 of bette porter so far... Tina dont get me started on her lol
2007-02-16, 14:23:16 PM
From: giasony
Comments: I don't thik Bette has lost her moral centre actually. Bette in some senses will never forgive herself for cheating on Tina, and I believe she will not stop loving her. In the first season Bette started to doubt her love for Tina, but she realized too late that it was the fact that she was trying to take on all the stress herself. Sadly, Bette is still doing that, so that hasn't changed that aspect of herself. Bette smoking pot is not losing her moral centre, Bette to me has always been a rebel to the establishment and smoking pot for her is kind of rebelling in the somewhat conservative role she has found herself in. And that is the big difference, being Dean has made her part of a somewhat conservative setting. The old Bette would have never let someone tell her that she couldn't display radical art just because some rich guy wouldn't like it. I think she let Jodie off the hook for it because that is what Bette would have done herself in the past. Sleeping with Nadia wasn't too bright, but I think she showed her human side and made a mistake. With Angus and Kit, all Bette can see is how things went horribly wrong for her and Tina. She lost her whole world, so would she want the same for her sister in the name of truth? Bette said so herself that for Angus to come clean, it would destroy any trust they had together. So she is thinking of Kit's happiness with her silence, I don't think it's passive behaviour. It is just very clear to Bette that with Tina finding out about her affair that her life forever changed and she doesn't want that heartache on Kit. And she didn't go after Angus because even though he cheated she can understand that that doesn't mean he does not love Kit. And she was intially angry at Angus and he threw her affair in her face, and like it or not Bette couldn't put herself on a higher moral ground than Angus. I see that Bette has changed that she doesn't see the world in black and white anymore, that there are shades of gray, and I think that shows has she learned from her past mistakes. Now, if she could learn to let other people in when she's having a true personal crisis, I would be shocked.
2007-02-16, 17:23:46 PM
From: BAKEY15
Comments: TIBETTE FAN HERE TOO. SEASON 3 WAS A WASH!!! BETTE IS STRONG AND I HOPE SHE GETS BACK TOGETHER WITH BETTE, BUT BETTE'S PERSONALITY AND STRENGHTS SEEM TO BE GONE. TOO, MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IS BETTE BUT WHERE IS THE OLD BETTE OR BETTER YET A BETTE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND TINA. I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL TINA MEETS JODY AND WE SEE HER REACTION. I DO FEEL THOUGH TOO MUCH HAS COME BETWEEN T AND B AND SEE A SLIM CHANCE FOR THEM TO REUNITE AND BE SUCCESSFUL ON AT LEAST A LONG RELATIONSHIP ALTHOUGH THE SEX SCENES COULD BE GOOD!
2007-02-17, 03:52:08 AM
From: Lchick0328
Comments: they say its always darkest before dawn...and i think that is what is happening with bette as a person she is going through this inner turmoil because she lost the only love she has felt true ...and she's doing all of this out of character things ...only so we can see that it only gets worse before it gets better ...she will come back a better stronger bette after we see her make so many mistakes
2007-02-17, 18:58:52 PM
From: Gennie88
Comments: Interesting take on the character development of Bette, but I would have to say I disagree. I think that it's refreshing to see Bette be able to kick back and have fun. She's still crazy competitive, driven and has no problem rising to the occasion with an elegant comeback (the Tina/Henry party "honest homophobe"). It just seems to me she's adding context and understanding to her morals and values, which makes her more endearing. All in all loving Bette this season.
2007-02-28, 11:44:40 AM
From: BigO
Comments: In my opinion, I think that Bette "thought" she knew herself in Season 1 only to find out that, yes, she too, was infallable. She cheated, whcih should have been "out of character" for her, based on her strong moral standards. I think that when something like that happens, it shakes you to the core and you start really re-analyzing who you are vs. who you think you are. I think it was a rude awakening for Bette and has made her mellower and less likely to be on her high horse and pass judgement on others. I also think that what happened in the aftermath of her affair with Candace made her realize that there are reasons people act the way they do. I really like Bette this season, she is feeling her oats with Jodi, smoking pot, she's freer in her being and more open to new experiences. I think she is trying to redefine herself and not be so uptight.
2007-03-13, 20:45:03 PM
From: Paula53
Comments: I have loved all of Bette's mutations....well maybe not so much season3 but I loved the Alpha kick ass Bette in S1....she was a bit pompous and had to fall hard.The scene on the lawn after Tina lost the baby was awesome and showed the beginning of the cracks. In S2 she was remorseful and very angry! I actually loved her screaming at the guy she hit in the accident after getting her heart stomped at Joyce Wishnea's office.Seeing the laptop with Candace'e e-mail and walking into the pool....fantastic! She started to get her mojo back with the Twink in NY. There were a few moments in S3......very few but the Senator stands out and when she left the Retreat screaming.....I see a pattern here of screaming!I also loved her snide remarks about Tina during the wedding dress fitting. S4 has been a delight to me though. I have seen her laugh and actually be playful. I loved her getting stoned with Jodi and Tom. It may have been a bit childish but it was very refreshing. The quickie with Nadia was just more of her trying to lighten up....after all she had no ties at that moment....Nadia is an adult....it may be tactless and unprofessional but not illegal! I have come to like her being with Jodi....she giggles and is having fun....I don't think they are meant to stay together but she would be a good stepping stone back to a real relationship with Tina.....Please????? Tina seems to be growing up and maybe they can finally find that original common ground and raise their girl together.
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