Dean Porter is hot! - TLW 4x02 ... is good!

[fembuck]

OMG, I'm in a state of shock right now. I just fully enjoyed an "L Word" episode. It was funny, I didn't hate any of the characters, the framily actually acted like friends, there was a sex scene that was actually sexy and cute, and ... and... and... it was good. Not just good for an episode of TLW, which is to say that it only made me want to jab out one eye-ball with a fork, it was just plain good.


Papi
First of all, this episode introduced the character of Papi, and I gotta tell you, I love me some Papi. I was skeptical about the character, and as a lover of the aesthetic wonder that was Sarah Shahi, didn't think Papi could replace her hotness, but she totally did.

Papi, the character and the actress, brought an amazing energy and playfulness to the show that I haven't seen in a long time, probably since the first season. She's confident, and charming, popular, playful and totally what a major pimptress should be like. I can see women flocking to Papi in a way that I could never understand them flocking to Shane.

This is a character I was totally ready to be grossed out by because of her playa status (over 1300 women, I'm gonna say it 'that's too much!'), and it is still kinda gross to me, but I like the character. Papi is going to be fun to watch, and I think she's a great addition to the show.

Bette
As someone who has always really wanted to love Bette, but just couldn't most of the time because of her extreme asshole-iosity, this was a great episode. Bette was alpha-sexy, cute, funny, supportive, and there was no feuding with Tina anywhere in the episode.

I'm loving Bette back at work, where she gets to work her mojo. Her speech to her TA candidates was awesome. Bette was totally like, "don't you wish the other Dean's were hot like me?" in that scene.

Also, really liking Jessica Capshaw as Bette's TA candidate Nadia. First of all, Nadia endeared herself to me when the first thing she did was write a note to someone else in the class that read "Dean Porter is hot", because it's true, lol. Next, her interview with Bette was totally awesome and cute, and sexy. I loved that she actually got Bette flustered with her compliments, and how Bette was kind of feeling up her own arm after Nadia left, because Nadia had complimented them. Yeah, JB you are mad hot ... if I had your body I'd feel myself up too.

Also, I was glad to see Bette supporting Kit and being there for her during her hard times. Usually we see Kit trying to help Bette deal with all her shit, so it was really nice to see Bette there for Kit.

Alice
Great as usually. Really enjoyed her hunt for the mysterious Papi, and then once she found Papi the fun really started. Loved the way, Alice was all like "I'm totally not going to be impressed with this woman", but then as Papi laid on the charm Alice was falling for it despite herself. And then the scene in the limo with the two of them was pure gold. Also, Leisha has a mad hot body, so I'm totally up for more Alice sex scenes. What I really liked about this scene however, was that it didn't take itself too seriously. It started off really hot (when Papi actually slipped her hand under Alice's underwear, I was like "whoa!"), but then it was just really cute with Papi saying something about using circles, and then Alice being all "Circles are good! Circles are great! Circles, circles! More cirlces, Papi, I love circles!" Seriously, it hilarious. And the morning after scene with Papi dropping Alice off at home and Helena witnessing the goodbye is good stuff.

Jenny
Jenny is crazy. But she was kind of fun!crazy. The interview parts with Heather Mazwhatever as an interviewer from Curve magazine, were just okay (though it was nice to hear Jenny admit that even she knows she's batshit), but after Jenny reads the review that Heather's character wrote is when Mia really gets a chance to shine. Jenny's little "I'm okay, I'm okay *freaks out*" moment was awesome, as was her insane protecting of her purse, and then the part when she was trying to explain to Shay that the reason she freaked out was because the interviewer was a "fucking cunt" while Shane tried to cover her mouth was pretty hilarious. Mia was great in that scene.

Then when Jenny goes down to Curve headquarters to confront the interviewer, the crazy comes out in full force and its just comedy gold. Especially her parting remarks. Normally Jenny's crazy just makes me uncomfortable, but its like they've fully embraced it now and its entered a realm of self-acknowledgement that makes the crazy quite entertaining.

The Framily
Loved that we got some framily scenes. Shane finally emerging out of hiding to regain the group. I liked that we finally got to see a scene with Tina and group where she wasn't acting like a crazy nut. Tina, Alice, Shane, Kit, and Helena all sat down and had a civil conversation, where the framily just said that even though it was difficult Bette should have Jeli half the time, and they all just kind of left it at that. They supported Bette, but nobody attacked Tina, or wanted her burned at the stake, and Tina accepted their opinions without turning into a yell-y, Bette hating monster.

I was also pleased to see, that when Shane called the framily for help at the end that Tina was there with the rest of them ready to help out.

Also, Alice and Bette at the end in the park were really cute, and it was nice to see a quite friendly moment.

Shane
Whatever. I'd totally hate this Shay storyline if it weren't for the fact that its through Shay that Shane meets Paige. I didn't really like Shane's storyline this episode, but it wasn't horrible. And Shane should really talk to Bette about her management skills, because she has the worst staff ever at Wax. Marta was totally hilarious in her annoyance with everything Shane though.

Max
Was aiight this episode. I don't really care about the character, and Daneila Sea can't act, but this storyline didn't bother me at all. I think Max dating the boss's daughter might actually even be kind of sweet, before the inevitable angst starts up when Max comes out/is found out as an FTM. The scene of the porch after their date was really cute.


I ... I'm actually looking forward to the next episode. *looks out window to see if pigs are flying*

Wow.

Comments

[trufflehog.livejournal.com]

dare i say it...i kind of liked this episode too.

and. i do no like shane. at all. AT. ALL. but i actually liked her storyline with shay in this episode, as cheesy as it was. i thought it was cute. ESPECIALLY the angry jenny part. oh god i loved it XD

daniella sea just. CANNOT. act. and it doesn't help that all of the lines they give to max are awful. technical jargon that is utterly pointless. BUT i agree that the storyline was cute, and i loved the flickering lights bit :)
(though, their discussion at dinner was a little stiff, as much as i agreed with it)

i didn't care for papi, but alice made it well worth it XD
and WTF. helena gets some and we can't even see it!!

also.
1. bette mentioned RISD (my school!!)
2. bette mentioned winsor mccay & little nemo
+4857684039 awesome points.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

dare i say it...i kind of liked this episode too

Yay, I'm not alone. I'm not sure whether or not to take this as a good sign though, since the lady that wrote this episode isn't the primary writer for another one all season. Looking at the writing credits I just saw Chaiken's name, and Elizabeth Ziff for the rest of the season, which makes me ... scared, very scared this was the calm before the suck.

and. i do no like shane. at all. AT. ALL. but i actually liked her storyline with shay in this episode, as cheesy as it was.

I feel you. I don't like Shane that much either, and I hated her in the season opener. I'm hoping that having Shay around will force her to grow up and stop being so mopey. Plus, I hope that Shane adjusting to having Shay around will lead to more comedy like with that scene with Jenny.

daniella sea just. CANNOT. act. ... BUT i agree that the storyline was cute, and i loved the flickering lights bit :

Yeah, I mean if they can maintain a level of cuteness with Max and this relationship this had this episode I might not cringe too much. I just wish that they had cast someone who could have acted even a little bit, but I like Max in theory so far this season, I just can't stand Sea.

i didn't care for papi, but alice made it well worth it XD

Aww, I liked the Papster. Alice pretty much makes everything better though. Shes's one of the only characters that's almost always watchable and likeable (excluding the stalker-Alice storyline at the beginning of last season however which made me cringe)

helena gets some and we can't even see it!!

I know! Rachel Shelley does good love scenes. Still, the rest of the episode was good enough that I couldn't be too bitter about it.

[kennedyismyhero.livejournal.com]

1. CrazySelf-ObsessedJenny annoys the bloody living hell out of me. I wanted to jump through my computer screen and beat her to a pulp. I'm so all for just plain, fun CrazyJenny, but she seems more like a narciscistic ass-face than "crazy". When she started blatantly swearing in front of the kid, I wanted to tell Shane to tell him, "We don't repeat what 'Aunt' Jenny says, got it?"

2. Cybil as lesbian weirds me out. It's not 'cause of her age, or that I think everyone on this show should all be out, ready and over that shit. IT'S BECAUSE SHE LOOKS LIKE MARTHA STEWART! The uppity, pearls and silk with bowl-cut hair reminds me too much of her Martha Stewart biopic, and I feel like I'm watching Martha come out, not a character. Creepy. I think if she looked more like she does now, doing the press, I would be okay with it.

3. I think that this Shay & Shane storyline is a nice contrast to the "womanizer" plot that Shane usually gets stuck with. I'm with you, I do not see the appeal in Shane.

4. Tina...totally sold Helena down the river. And since she was a first-hand witness to Peggy cutting Helena off. She knew just how bad Helena needed a job. That being said...I loved the teasing between the "bisexuals". Neither of them is bisexual, I can say that, and you know Tina is not long for man-land.

5. MISC:
-I love Helena defending Bette and being buddy-buddy with Bette. It's all so incestous.
-Nadia, while she made me giggle with her quiet desperation/flirting with Bette, irked me with those shorts. They did not strike me as professional.
-Severely random, but I like that first song. Don't suppose you know who it is, or if it's on the soundtrack.
-Papi is cheesy. And hott. Love her! You gotta admit the Indian girl does a good hispanic accent.
-JAMES! S1 shout out JAMES! (aka receptionist dude)

[gargyloveswolfy.livejournal.com]

Squee!! James is back where he belongs........right at Bette's side!! =)

[ralst.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about Papi. She's obviously got the charm, if her numbers are anything to go by, but it remains to be seen if there's anything beyond that which can maker her character interesting outside a seduction scene. I really didn't want Alice to sleep with her but then, when she did, it was a fun scene and I loved Helena's reaction to seeing her getting out of the car all dazed - I would have love more actual Helena/Alice time though.

I agree about Bette. In this episode she was the Bette I've wanted to like. I loved it when she checked out her own muscles and being supportive of Helena, even if it was an excuse to curse Tina. It's always good to see Alice and Bette being friends, because I find the fact they are friends somewhat incongruous, so seeing it on screen makes it real.

Highly inappropriate but when Jenny was telling Shay to call the reporter a whatever, I thought it was really funny. She was a bit 'I'm so deep' this episode but also crazy enough that she didn't bug me.

I'm slightly worried that I share care giving instincts with Shane, as my first course of action is always to feed people or bring them sweets. I'm undecided about the storyline but I've not been annoyed by it yet and it was good to see Tina included in the search party.

Max's porch scene was kind of cute but that's one storyline heading straight for over dramatic and annoying, I can feel it.

All in all, not a bad episode.

[gargyloveswolfy.livejournal.com]

First, off I have to admantantly disagree with your assesment of TIna in 4.01.........if, you kid was kidnapped also, you'd be a bit pissed off and yelling until said kid was back in your arms..........and if you even remotely behave calmly.........there is something wrong with YOU.

Second, If, I was Marta I'd be annoyed, also with the constant watching over a kid brother that wasn't mine when my job is to be a hair-dressers assistant. And Shane is such a hypocrit, see how she got onto Jenny twice for cussing in front of Shay, just to turn around and cuss up a storm at Wax.

[gargyloveswolfy.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah on the subject of Bette/TA........watch for trouble with that one!! ;)

[aphrodite-mine.livejournal.com]

You can blame the Shay plotline completely on Kate Moennig. She admits it was her idea.

*stares at her until she starts backing into a corner*

[(Anonymous)]

since i had to wait until last night to see i really couldn't make a comment...and it was shades of s1 when it was hot and funny...and hot...okay call me crazy but i really like asshole jenny...i still hate "max" w/ an undgoddly passion rivaled only by my hatred of angela lansberry...by god flashdance is hot...it will be interesting to see what happens w/ her and nadia especially w/ the arrival of marle matlin's character not so far away...the things that irked me besides max of course is the too quick revelation of phyllis' latent lesbianism...i think it would have been nice to see cybil kind of ease her way out of the closet over the course of at least another episode...all in all it was pretty solid...but i'm not getting my hopes up too high.

-a-