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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4394 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-20
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, French
• Dubbed in: French, German
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 659 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Four years after the American version of Queer as Folk made gay men the focus, it was time for a little turnabout with The L Word (bad title, great show). Centering around a tight-knit group of lesbians in Los Angeles, this drama was far removed from its working-class male counterpart in both style and content. While the men of QAF enjoyed a fabulous if melodramatic life on the middle-class streets of Pittsburgh, the women of The L Word lived it up in sunny California, with gorgeous houses, glamorous careers, and sexy wardrobes. Ironically, though, The L Word adhered more to the everyday drama of ensemble shows like thirtysomething than the soap opera antics of QAF, and the results were surprisingly heartfelt and effective, appropriately stylish but never over the top. There was plenty of room for titillation, but creator Ilene Chaiken fashioned from the start a show centered on characters and not just sex, aiming for the heart rather than... well, other places.

The L Word focused primarily on committed couple Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman), a former power-career duo who've decided to have a baby; however, artificial insemination and the changing dynamics of their relationship throw their previously happy existence off-kilter. Within their orbit are spunky journalist Alice (Leisha Hailey), sultry hairdresser Shane (Katherine Moenning), closeted pro tennis player Dana (Erin Daniels), and espresso bar owner Marina (Karina Lombard) who, in the show's most polarising storyline, bedded the seemingly straight Jenny (Mia Kirschner) and shook up her heterosexual world. Jenny's "am-I-straight-or-not?" kvetching frustrated both her fiancé (Eric Mabius) and many viewers, who were alternately irritated and intrigued by her inability to decide one way or the other. But Jenny's weakness was part of The L Word's strength: in exploring many sides of many issues, both domestic and political, it never came up with an easy answer for any of them, making the show all that more fascinating--and compulsively watchable. --Mark Englehart

Synopsis
A television series which centres on the lives and loves of a group of women living and working in Los Angeles.

From the Studio
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humour-laced dramatic series explores the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbours. The series take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told with passion, frankness and humour.

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Customer Reviews

Excellent
I thought this was great, well shot, good story lines, and such a great cliff hanger at the end. Quite controversial, but that's what's so great about it, it's not trying to teach anything, it just gives you all the facts of how people live and how differently people think and feel about situations. Very good!

Great!!
I bought this on the recommendation of a friend who knew I had enjoyed 'Sex and the City' and '30 Something'. There are similarities with both series' (and probably many American TV dramas) since you follow the lives, loves and relationships of a group of people, who in this case just happen to be lesbians.

The stories of love, loss, disappointment, joy and pain are universal. The characters are appealing and you will find yourself drawn in and (gay or straight) you will be able to identify with many of their experiences.

There are quite a few 'sex' scenes in the series which are nicely shot and (as a straight woman) I thought were inoffensive (although I would suggest if you have a problem with the concept of lesbianism, then this series would probably not be for you).

The series lacks the 'edginess' of the British 'Queer as Folk', but is as good as any of the best American series' in my opinion. I cerftainly enjoyed it and will be getting the other seasons shortly as I want to find out what happens to these characters!!

I,m not a lesbian but......
Loved this series obviously its not real life(such a pity!!)but witty ,sensual ,maddening and sad in equal measures.Some episodes are duff but most are great and especialy love Alice and her episodes with the lesbi-man.It makes a real change from the glossy sci-fi/adventure man series so prevalent at the moment.24 it aint but so much better for it.Heres one man who enjoyed it not for lesbian fantasies but for depictions of real problems and real relationships with a twist(and of course the gorgeous Leisha Hayley)You could do worse than buy this and educate yourself about the world while being thoroughly entertained.