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Top 10 Rivalries!
Duke Vs UNC. Islanders Vs Rangers. Bears Vs Packers. Kings Vs Lakers.
Red Sox Vs Yankees. Petty Vs Pearson. Ali Vs Frazier. Democrats Vs
Republicans. Pepsi Vs Coca–Cola. Rock N’ Roll Express Vs Midnight
Express. It seems that in all walks of society and entertainment, one of
the most defining aspects are those of bitter rivals. The L Word is no
different as its 3 Year History has given us plenty of angst and scorn.
Sometimes, the feelings are mutual. Other times, it’s one–sided. In any
event, this article takes a look at the 10 Best Rivalries, according to me.
Let’s begin!
#10– Alice Vs Ruth (Season 3)
The Battle for Creative Supremacy at KCRW, along with Alice’s breaking with
Dana provided viewers with one of the more comedic butting of heads in
Season 3, between Alice and Ruth, Alice’s Supervisor/Program Director. As
the Season unfolded, each rant about Dana and drugs and at one point,
President GW Bush’s um..."executive staff," further drove Ruth up the wall
with hilarious results. Does this continue into Season 4? I guess we’ll
find out when it happens.
#9– Bette Vs Yolanda (Season 1)
Perhaps among the underrated characters in L’s history would be Yolanda,
whose confrontational debates with Bette about identity during Group
Therapy became the stuff of legend. It was a battle of wits, intellect and
mindset and it was great while it lasted. It’s a real shame that Yolanda
just kinda disappeared not long after introducing Bette to Candace.
#8– Jenny Vs Mark (Season 2)
What happens when hidden cameras are discovered in the house? Bad things,
man. Really bad things. And so began the saga of Jenny Vs Mark. While
Mark appeared to backpeddle and apologize for the intrusion, Jenny vented
out and went on a nice, righteous offensive. In the end, there was a
lesson to be learned in all of this...don’t set up hidden cameras like
that!!!
#7– Carmen Vs Moira/Max (Season 3)
If The L Word ever wanted to do its own version of The Odd Couple, these
would be the two characters to use, with Carmen’s Felix Ungar to Moira’s
Oscar Madison. With all the drama going on during Season 3, this may have
been overlooked by some in the initial viewing, but it’s there especially
with Carmen’s reply to Moira’s rant about lobsters.
#6– Francesca Vs Jenny (Season 1)
Just when everything seemed to be on the verge of making sense, a monkey
wrench in the form of Francesca Wolff is thrown in. No longer with the man
she had been with since College, Tim, Jenny is finally getting to the point
of openly embracing the concept of she and Marina being a couple. Then
Francesca arrives and everything becomes complicated once again, with the
revelation that Marina and Francesca have had a relatively open
relationship for some time, but Francesca makes sure to lay down the ground
rules to Jenny, letting her know that when she’s away, Marina can see who
she wants, but when she’s home...Jenny becomes irrelevant for the time
being. Obviously after sacrificing much of life as she knew it, Jenny
wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Ultimately, the casualties of
this rivalry would be a bottle of wine and Marina’s sanity.
#5– Bette Vs Fay (Season 1)
It was never meant to get personal, according to Fay Buckley, but it
did...with a vengeance. With the California Arts Center bringing in the
controversial Provocations exhibit, Fay and her band of merry protestors
took action, confronting Bette and the CAC in every way imaginable. A
barrage of picket signs, stickers, phone calls, propaganda and great
audio/video trickery, Fay meant business. A debate would be scheduled on a
local television show, but before that happened, tragedy struck as Bette’s
girlfriend, Tina had a miscarriage. While consoling Tina, Bette once again
dealt with the protestors, this time in her front yard. As the debate
occurs, things begin to get heated and Bette brings up the fact that Fay’s
daughter, Cora works as a porn actress which flies in the face of Fay’s
stance on family values. Fay then counters with quite possibly the Mother
of all low blows as she brings up the miscarriage, claiming it was God’s
way of punishing Bette and Tina on their sexual preference. To this day,
that moment still sends shivers and floods some with anger at the very
thought of that comment.
#4– Alice Vs Lara (Seasons 2 & 3)
Depending on who you ask, this rivalry started back in Season 1 as I
quaintly named it, "The Eternal Dana Struggle." Who was better for Dana?
Alice or Lara? While the Dana/Lara fans debated with the 4 AM’mers
(Alice/Dana fans AKA "Danish"), Season 2 came and went with Dana eventually
leaving Tonya for Alice, only for Lara to show up shortly after. As Season
2 ended and Season 3 was about to begin, Alice and Dana broke up and with
Season 3 starting, Dana was now with Lara while Alice was an emotional
nutcase. Alice interrupted conversations, spied on Dana & Lara outside
Dana’s home, dropped off used sex toys to Dana’s embarrassment and even
slashed a tire at point. While the rivalry eventually subsided, with
Dana’s breast cancer and ultimate death changing the course of the history
between Alice and Lara forever, it was still fun while it lasted.
#3– Bette Vs Helena (Season 2)
"What are you doing with my girlfriend?" With those seven little words, a
feud was born and it would last for the duration of Season 2. Who was
better for Tina? Bette or Helena? There were debates among the L
faithful, but in the end, Tina would make her choice. Kinda. While still
seeing Helena, Tina began seeing Bette once again and became Bette’s
confidant once again with the eventual Angelica in the womb and Bette’s
father, Melvin dying. Helena & Tina’s once promising relationship folded
up with Tina spending more time with Bette and Helena beginning to see
Leigh more. Meanwhile, the resentment between Bette and Helena remained
until the end of Season 2. In Season 3, it’s arguable that there was still
some tension between Bette and Helena at first, but that eventually
subsided. The memories of this feud however remain fresh in our minds.
#2– Bette Vs Franklin (Seasons 1 & 2)
While Bette was Head of the CAC, there were times where she almost felt
like she was being relegated to being Figurehead, thanks to Franklin. In
Season 1, the feud ignited with Bette wanting to book the Provocations
exhibit instead of Franklin’s choice, an exhibit called Impressions Of
Winter. In Season 2, there were problems in getting a grant and with that,
Leo would be brought in by Franklin which would eventually wind up
undermining Bette’s job. Finally, at the end of Season 2, with Bette’s
father, Melvin lying dead in a casket, Franklin let Bette go from the CAC
officially replacing her with Leo. After 2 years, Franklin’s apparent
disdain for Bette’s free thinking became clear.
And now, Our #1 Rivalry!!!
#1– Alice Vs Tonya (Seasons 1 & 2)
While many of us raved and argued over Alice Or Lara being better for Dana,
The L Word itself had a great onscreen rivalry occuring between Alice and
Tonya (with Lara absent for the whole thing). It all started in Looking
Back, as the Group Of Friends met Tonya and immediately Alice got a bad
vibe from her. Alice feared the worst and then the worst became reality as
Dana and Tonya hooked up. Then came the mysterious death of Mr. Piddles,
which Alice, along with many fans still blame Tonya for (though from what I
understand, Meredith McGeachie whom portrayed Tonya proclaims innocence).
On the heels of Mr. P’s death, a grieving Dana found herself engaged to
Tonya, further infuriating Alice who’s own feelings for Dana were beginning
to come through. Perhaps the feelings were always there and she submerged
them, but she could submerge them no more when at 4 AM, Alice appeared at
Dana’s front door. The message was simple, "You can’t marry Tonya." Why?
"Because..." It was the kiss heard ’round the World as Season 1 ended and
provided plenty of speculative material for the fans as Season 2 loomed in
the future. Season 2 began with Dana still engaged to Tonya and Alice not
being all that thrilled about it. An affair would begin without Tonya
knowing as the battle to win Dana’s heart was on. In the end, Alice got
Dana as Dana and Tonya mutually broke up due to stereo cheating (Dana with
Alice and Tonya, suddenly with Melissa Rivers who was making a cameo).
During Losing The Light in Season 3, Alice and Tonya would meet once more,
putting any difference once between them behind them, with Tonya moving on
with her life in the hopes of becoming a Mother. That moment also served
as a coda to (in my opinion, of course) the Greatest Rivalry in the series.
This feud, albeit a mostly one–sided ordeal provided laughter and tears
alike and shall never be forgotten. |
