L Word Recap 410: Bette’s a Control Freak

The episode starts out with a great fight scene between Jodi and the woman she dumped to be with Bette. The girl shows up at the college and they have an amazing sign language fight. Bette is standing right there, but clearly, it’s way too fast. She can’t understand what they’re saying. It starts to sink in that the communication barrier between them might be too great to overcome. But the issues run deeper than that…

Bette is planning a dinner party so all her friends can meet Jodi. And Bette being Bette, has all the lists of people, seating charts and menu all planned so Jodi will feel comfortable. First of all, Bette, if you want to include a deaf person at a dinner party, don’t sit everyone at a long table. It’s hard enough to hear in a situation like that, let alone try to read lips. Second, Jodi is going to miss some of the conversation. She’s deaf and she’s used to it. She’s adapted. At first Jodi thinks Bette’s controlling nature is fun. She takes her seating chart, crumbles it and shoves it down her pants. But then Bette makes the mistake of trying to interpret all the conversation at the party, even after Jodi asks her to stop. A big fight ensues and Jodi storms out.

Catherine and Helena love horses. But not when they were children. Because little girls who want horses grow up to be straight and little girls who want pet monkeys grow up to be gay. That’s Alice’s theory anyway. But Helena and Catherine love the ponies because you can gamble on them. It’s starting to seem like Catherine can’t get aroused unless she’s thinking about money. And she’s very turned on now because there’s a pony who’s a sure bet. Well, we all know what that means. Any “sure bet” never really is, is it? Sorry for the spoiler, but yes, Helena loses all her winnings. Now we just need her to lose Catherine.

Max is heading home for his mom’s funeral. When he shows up at the door, his sister isn’t exactly welcoming. But Max hasn’t been that great about staying in touch either. His dad comes home and tells Max, “You shame me and you shame your mother’s memory.” Ouch. And then his other sister tries to insult him saying, “Mom said on her deathbed, you should have been born a boy.” I know she means it as an insult, but I think Max takes it as his mother understanding him and his transition.

Max’s dad, comes around, sort of. He comes to the hotel room where Max and the cute intern are staying to offer Max his Mom’s charm bracelet. He even calls Max, “Son.” It’s a moving gesture really. But he can’t bring himself to take it a step further and introduce Max as his son to the priest. Understandable for someone in his position, who really hasn’t had time to wrap his head around the whole transgender thing. But heartbreaking for Max as well. The saddest part was that Max felt so ostracized that he stood off in the background at his own mother’s funeral.

Other tidbits from this episode: It looks like Jenny has a director for her movie and thank goddess, interpretive dance is not involved. And better still, the new director seems to have a crush on Tina. Is it just me, or do they make Tina look hot when she’s interested in women and dumpy when she’s dating men?

Also, Tasha runs into one of her Army buddies while at the horse races. Will she be asked? Will she tell? Angus is still trying to win Kit back, but Kit is intent on deepening her relationship with alcohol. Bette finally catches Kit drinking at the dinner party. Kit gets all defensive and runs out of the house.

Shane misses Shay. But she also misses Paige and their “story telling.” Let’s hope there’s some bedtime stories. Only two episodes to go, girls.
_{© Photos by Paul Michaud/Showtime}