The L Word Season Four, Episode Two: The Parenting Perspective

(Warning: spoilers below.)

The second episode of this season’s L Word has little about parenting on the surface, but there’s more than meets the eye. The show’s lesbian moms, Tina and Bette, seem to have settled in to a custody agreement. In one scene at the Planet, Tina bemoans having to share, but agrees with her friends that it’s best for baby Angelica. She says she would never deny Bette her parental rights. It’s unclear whether we should believe her.

What gives the scene more depth is that Tina’s comments come right after Kit’s discussion (or avoidance of discussion) about her recent abortion. Tina mentions that she had two abortions earlier in life, and wonders if that’s why she had trouble conceiving. Adding to the mix, in walk nine-year-old Shay and his half-sister (and accidental parent-figure) Shane. Remember, this is Shane’s brother by the womanizing father whom she never knew during her childhood. The whole scene is an exploration of the parenting choices we make—to have kids, to not, to care for them, to share them. What makes a parent?

Shane lets Kit give Shay some fries, then catches up with the gang until Shay announces a pending stomach incident. Shane looks awkward, points Shay to the bathroom, and only follows him after her friends badger her. Bette offers the understatement of the show by commenting, “She’s so not ready for this.”

We see Shane try, though, as later she attempts to control Jenny’s potty mouth in front of Shay. If Shane isn’t ready for parenthood, we can only thank heavens that Jenny never got pregnant during her marriage to Tim. Although Shane loses Shay at one point in the show, she finds him and binds him with a definitive (or is it?) “Look, I’m your home now, OK? And we both have to get used to that.”

It looks like future episodes will raise even more parenting issues for Shane and others. The January 30 issue of the Advocate notes that Shane meets Kristanna Loken’s character, Paige Sobel, at a PTA meeting. “A single mother with a 10-year-old son herself, Paige feels an immediate attraction to Shane.” (Well, who wouldn’t? But if you think it was bad that Max’s new girlfriend’s parents flashed the porch lights when the two of them were kissing, wait till Shay and Paige’s son catch Shane and Paige snogging.)

The other parenting reference this week, in an unrelated plot thread, is the comment that “Papi,” the name of newcomer Janine Gavankar’s character, means “Daddy.” Do with that what you will.

At AfterEllen, Scribe Grrrl has the full recap.