Jenny, Jenny, Jenny
So Jenny has moved back to Skokie, to her conservative Jewish parents’ house –
just the place you would want to go to recover from your cutting incident, identity crisis, and break up with a pseudo gf who was really in love with your roommate after all. Healthy healthy decisions. It’s good to see that Jenny’s hair is back and that she still has that wonderful fashion sense as well as deep and meaningful dialogue. “Fuck. You know?” We are introduced to Jenny’s mother, played by a hardly recognizable Margot Kidder a.k.a Lois Lane. Margot, where you been? We can tell they have a long and complicated relationship. (And who doesn’t! It’s called mothers and daughters.) Further complicated by the parents’ insistence on setting Jenny up with the local Jewish guy, the marrying kind, and their denial of Jenny’s place on the Kinsey scale.
Speaking of Kinsey scale, cut to scene in a Skokie lesbian bar. (I think I’ve been to that bar, but it’s actually in Wilmington, Delaware.) Jenny is at her table, writing, writing, writing. She has nearly completed her novel. We are introduced to Jenny’s latest love interest, Butch Moira, played by Daniela Sea. From their body language and artful monotone conversation, it’s clear they have been dating and/or dancing around each other for a time. Moira shares that she is a Web Master, sick of small town life and anxious to flee. They make a plan to return to Los Angeles. But first things first. Jenny has to pack. They have to have sex on Jenny’s childhood bed, get caught by the parents. Dad Warren has to demand, “Who is that man?” Thus setting up the future FTM transition storyline. Jenny pouts, defies her parents, and resonates: “There’s nothing you can do to make me the person you feel comfortable with.” Hallelujah and amen. She has a last and meaningful good-bye with her mother, which gives her peace and the personal resolution she needs to go back to her life in L.A.
The media blitz over this new character, Moira, has been extensive and I gotta tell ya, don’t believe the hype. I was excited for the new butch, but I’m still waiting for Daniela Sea to deliver the goods. We’ll give her time, see what the next few episodes bring. (This Season’s Dramatic Conflict #37)
“We’re your family, now.”
Shane has a new family and it’s Carmen’s. In order to be in this family, Shane has to wear a cute little white dress and pretend to be straight. Shane? Shane? Is that you? First, I can’t recognize Alice and now I can’t recognize Shane. Am I watching The L Word? Is this the right channel? Did I hit the remote by accident? What happened to my favorite dyke loving, in your face, way out lesbian, who has a funky haircut, seductive glasses, wears skin tight leather pants and poetically pronounces lines like “Sexuality is fluid; go with the flow.” Where’s the flow, Shane? We do get to see Shane’s tits, which are remarkable especially since we haven’t had this opportunity before. And there is a steamy make out session with Carmen while trying on the dress. In fact, it’s the only steamy moment in the episode. Rewind. Play. Rewind. Play.
Lara and Dana
Lara and Dana are back together and I, like Alice, am not happy about it. My poor heart can’t take all this angst. What am I going to do for the next twelve episodes? I hear red wine is good for you. And dark chocolate. Ok. I’ll try that, keep you posted. They are making out on the couch, which pales in comparison to the Dana and Alice couch make-out session of last season. Now that was kissing, hot whole body kissing. While fondling, Lara finds a lump on Dana’s breast. Dana shrugs it off, says she knows about it, it’s just tissue. (This Season’s Dramatic Conflict #49) They’re really hitting us over the head in this episode. Note Alice lurking in the background, peaking through the shades. Later, we see Alice enter her apartment, the shrine she has devoted to Dana and posted over the Chart, as well as the poster size version of Dana to whom she speaks. Can we say freak show? I have this sinking feeling that our little show will become the lesbian Melrose Place. Stay tuned!
Episode Finale
Ok. The group is at the Planet. Still talking about vaginas. Did you get the reference in the episode title? Turns out Kit has menopause, which leads to a discussion about its benefits—no more period or Midol—as well as sex after “the monkey goes south.” (Kit’s words, not mine.) How many ways can we say sex? Homework and points to ponder until next week.
