OMG! It was good!

[fembuck]

So I just finished watching Lip Service and I am shocked and awed because I actually enjoyed the hell out of it!

This show has been referred to so many times as the British The L Word so many times, that the thought of watching it nearly made me break out in hives.  I fucking hated The L Word, passionately, fervently hated it.  There are no words to describe how much I came to detest that show.  So, consequently I viewed all of the trailers and promos pics for Lip Service with the same incredible loathing and dripping contempt with which I viewed all L Word related media.  

I honestly had to talk myself into watching this.  Like I had to give myself a pep talk.  "Come on champ!  You can do it!" might have appeared sometime during my mental positive re-enforcement parade.  But I did make myself watch and ...




I AM SO GLAD THAT I DID!

First of all, I have to say that Frankie is pretty much a living, blonde embodiment of my mental image of Helena Kyle!  Like if they didn't have to water Helena down for the WB, Helena totally would have acted exactly like Frankie (including the bisexuality).  Ruta Gedmintas even looks a little like Ashley Scott. 

RUTA


ASHLEY


Seriously, the Birds of Prey shipper in me was squeeing with delight. 

But back to Frankie.  Frankie is so beautifully emo.  I thought I would hate her from the previews (I was never really a Shane fan so I expected to be equally 'meh' about Frankie), but even though she's a big ho and bad news, she makes my [Fergie]London, London bridge keep fallin' down [/Fergie].  Damn, that gurl is workin' some powerful emo but she pulls it off.

Plus, I'm already shipping Frankie/Kat like it hurts!  And you guise, I never get to ship a ship I'm intended to ship.  Never.  I don't even ... but I like it!  And already they are living in Angstville population them, but I don't care.  I want them to make it!  And by make it, I mean make sweet sweet love with Frankie still being there in the morning!  And when they do, I'mma be like ...



Cuz they are SO hitting my best friends kink like Thor's hammer, ya'll!  They are my new extra angsty Helena/Barbara. 

Tess irritated me at first, but I grew to really like her buy the end of the episode.  I think the pep talk she gave the actress in the giant soda can suit really won me over.  Also, even though I suspect that actress lady is totally using Tess as an experimentation/revenge rebound, I found their flirting really hot and Tess extremely cute.  Plus,  the actress lady was like Scorpion from Mortal Kombat all, "Get over here!" and I heartily approve!  Her literally pouncing on Tess when they went back to hers was hot like Mexico. 



I wasn't feeling Kat and Lady Cop, but I think that's because Kat is still so obviously hung up on Frankie, oh and because that date was a total disaster from the get go.  During the 'So how to do you like being a cop?'  conversational awkwardness, I reached a point where I was like ...



And I just had to skip forward because it was giving me horrible L Word flashbacks.  I skipped through like 90% of every episode of the L Word because the second hand embarrassment was unbearable, and that dinner scene was making my shell shock act up.  I did like Lady Cop's dry sense of humor however.  She has potential.

These relationship drama shows without spaceships, vampires, murder mysteries, werewolves or magic usually can only keep my attention for so long, but I am looking forward to a very pleasing season or two!

Download link:  Click for girl-on-girl action with sexy accents!

I honestly don't even know what to do with myself, all liking the characters and rooting for relationships that I'm supposed to.  I feel like I've just seen a unicorn or something.  My heart ... it is effulgent with joy!

Comments

[mayireadtoday.livejournal.com]

Ok you got me at Like if they didn't have to water Helena down for the WB, Helena totally would have acted exactly like Frankie (including the bisexuality).

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Heh! Seriously though, it's so true. It's what I was thinking the whole time, and the more I saw of the episode the stronger the feeling became. She all lanky feline grace, sexy short 'fuck you world' hair cut, rebellious tattoos, commitment issues, very successful flirting with a romantic longing for her best friend that she can't quite own up to. Frankie is the Helena Kyle of fanfic and she is kind of glorious.

[youreyesaregems.livejournal.com]

I watched the first episode of this and thought it had potential, but I'm not crazy about it (yet). Your run-down made me laugh! Tess grew on me, too, and I think her thing with the actress looks like it will be fun.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

It definitely has potential. I'm just thrilled right now that I didn't detest it. It's not the greatest thing ever, but past experience has lowered my expectations enough that seeing something that was well written, well acted, and well produced has made me a little delirious ;)

Tess grew on me, too, and I think her thing with the actress looks like it will be fun.

Her hysterical picture ripping and breaking and entering didn't make me love her at first, but she definitely won me over. And I think that she and the actress will be a lot of fun, and very, very hot together. I am definitely looking forward to that storyline (which will hopefully counteract the Kat/Frankie angst-cruise, which will no doubt be stopping at Port Angst, the Angst Coast and Angst Island on it's way Angstland, the homeland of Angst)

[ralst.livejournal.com]

All the British L Word nonsense was a big mistake, promotion wise, because they're just polls apart and I know it put me off. It took me a while to warm up to Frankie, as I'm not terribly fond of emo-girls, but during her talk in the park with Cat I really started to see the potential of the pairing. I guess what appeals to me most, besides Cat, is that they seem like relatively normal people (Frankie aside) who go out and get pissed and dress like giant drink cans because they mucked up their interview instead of being all existential or filming Hollywood blockbusters.

Hopefully it'll live up to the early promise.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

All the British L Word nonsense was a big mistake, promotion wise, because they're just polls apart and I know it put me off.

Word. I think if the promotions people realized how many people actually HATED the L Word they would have stayed away from the comparisons (unless it was to say, "This show is nothing like The L Word"), lol.

but during her talk in the park with Cat I really started to see the potential of the pairing.

Mmm. The park scene where they forgot their angst for a moment and we got a glimpse of the friendship was really really nice. When Frankie leaned in I was like, "Kiss, kiss!" That was definitely the scene that really got me shipping Frankie/Kat.

Frankie's emo-ness is quite a bit to deal with but Ruta is good, because I actually sympathized with Frankie as the episode wore on. She is definitely the most over-the-top character though.

I guess what appeals to me most, besides Cat, is that they seem like relatively normal people

Laura Fraser is what actually got me to watch this show. I figured if she was in it that it had to have some redeeming characteristics. But I like that about the show too. These characters feel like people. On the L Word I was routinely giving side eye to the screen while muttering 'are you for fucking real?' to myself because the characters actions, motivations, conversations and problems were so bizarre.

*crossing my fingers that it remains good*

[sideofzen.livejournal.com]

Oo.. Thanks for the DL link. I've heard mixed reviews, but I'll check it out.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

No problem! I hope you enjoy it :D I'm in the definite "Liked it and am tentatively hopefully that it could be a genuinely good show" category.

[spanishtvjunkie.livejournal.com]

Can't stop laughing at popcorn girl! Thank you for supplying a link so we can check this out!!!!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

The popcorn girl .gif is a favorite of mine. Her expression is just perfect.

I hope you enjoy the show!

[lostingeekdom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for doing a proper upload.

I'm still holding my judgement on this. Emo characters get way too much attention on shows. I actually liked the cop, and her very understated, almost severe look. It was a good contrast. It'll be interesting to see where they take her character.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks for providing the initial link!

I'm tentatively hopeful about this as well. Since even Emo!Frankie didn't irritate me I think Lip Service and I might become friends. But I do want to see another episode or two before a truly begin to squee.

And I didn't have a problem with the Lady Cop, I just thought the scenes of the date between Lady Cop and Cat were painful. I can't watch awkward scenes between people on tv or in movies, they literally make me squirm. But I enjoyed the Lady Cops sense of humor, and though she wasn't Butchy McFabulous like Jane Rizzoli, I thought she was pretty hot. I just hope the awkward between her and Cat is turned down so that I can watch their scenes together ;)

[gespawcho.livejournal.com]

All I care about is the blacksmithess from A Knight's Tale making out with chicks. You had me at hello.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Heh. Hiring Laura Fraser was the best thing the show did. Gay ladies love Laura Fraser! She's owned a part of me ever since I saw her in that TV "The Investigator" back when I was in High School. That movie was a revelation to my gay teenage self. So, despite my trepidation I had to check this show out because ... Laura Fraser! Laura Fraser.

[karatam.livejournal.com]

I am shipping Frankie/Cat so hard right now, it's not even funny.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Me too! The scene in the park where they were talking about growing up together got me right here *pokes heart*

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

While I haven't watched Lip Service yet (seriously, comparing it to The L Word really was the worst thing they could do) I just have to say how much I LOVE that Anna Torv .gif. *sigh* Mistresses never was the same after Alex left especially with the show having Jessica go all 'oh, it was just a phase.. I'm totally straight'.. really wasn't the best of ideas.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

seriously, comparing it to The L Word really was the worst thing they could do

Oh, I know. I don't think the entertainment industry in general has any idea how much lesbians came to loathe that goddamn show.

Don't worry though, Lip Service is nothing like the L Word. The only real comparison is that it is about gay ladies. These characters actually feel like real human beings (though Frankie is kind of melodramatic), and the dialogue doesn't make my want to poke my eardrums out.

And I wondered if I should check out Mistresses ensuing seasons, so thank you for telling me that they de-gayed Jess so now I don't have to. It doesn't surprise me that the show went that way, but it makes me hate the show a bit. Nice season 1 stunt guys, but you take away the gay and the Torv and the lesbian will scatter.

[bebopsamurai.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU. Christ, I thought I was all alone in thinking that "The L Word" was profoundly awful. For a show that was theoretically about 'opening hearts and minds' or whatever its supposed agenda was (besides gorgeous women having TV-M rated sex), I don't believe I've seen a more unlikeable cast of characters that were completely fucking miserable to an almost perverse degree all the damn time. I DID love that one teacher that called Jenny out on her truly atrocious writing in Season One, though, even if we WERE still subjected to all her pretentiousness X)

That said, this does sound like it's worth a look! Thanks! :D

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I thought I was all alone in thinking that "The L Word" was profoundly awful.

lol, profoundly awful is such a good description for it. I think there are tons of gay ladies out there who hated it, it's just that especially while it was on the air fans/apologists made you feel like a bad gay if you voiced your dislike. It's like, I'm not a bad gay, I just have standards!

I don't believe I've seen a more unlikeable cast of characters that were completely fucking miserable to an almost perverse degree all the damn time.

So fucking true! Almost all of the characters were so incredibly unlikable, and even the ones that didn't manage be to be completely hateful themselves were saddled in scenes if with awful dialogue and awful other characters. And they were so miserable, all of the time, without like any relief. I wouldn't have wanted to associate with any of them (Alice I think didn't do anything at actively bothered me, but she spent so much time with those other assholes that I wouldn't have hung out with her either).

Rest assured, Lip Service isn't at all like the L Word. I'm not saying Lip Service is the greatest show ever or anything, but the characters acted like real people, they friends seemed like friends, and the relationship issues were ones that the audience could relate to instead of things like Jenny's existential bullshit.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

You are definitely not the only person who hated the L Word. I think internet L Word fandom bullied us into silence, but now that the show is over we are finding our voices and shouting our hatred from mountaintops!

That show was awful. For the first two season I tried to convince myself that it wasn't that bad, because it was about gay ladies and I thought I had to like it. But finally, I just accepted that it was an awful program, with bad writing and an insane creator who had no idea how normal human being behave and I gave up on it.

Thank god, for Lip Service giving me canon lesbians I'm enjoying watching.

[hivesix.livejournal.com]

woooooo I never got into the L word but everyone's talking about this so I just gotta!! Also, I saw a picture of Frankie and I was SOLD.

Trust the Brits to get it right yuss

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

The L Word was awful, but this show is good so far. I don't even really like these relationship drama type shows, but I really liked the pilot.

And I kind of hated Frankie when I saw the promo stuff, and I was resolved to be unimpressed by her when I watched the show, but I actually ended up really liking her to the point where I actually had a dream about her last night! So, good casting because this gay lady can't resist Frankie either!

[slavefaith.livejournal.com]

great fun, I was over the l word by the end of season 1.

Tho it kinda made me laugh it seems that Frankie is so gay that every woman she meets is also gay.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was able to deal with the L Word in the first season, and I kept watching even though I didn't really like it for another couple seasons, but finally I was just like, "I can't do this to myself anymore" and had to stop watching.


Tho it kinda made me laugh it seems that Frankie is so gay that every woman she meets is also gay.

lol, so true. I was fine with the model at the beginning, and the random chick at the airport, but when the funeral secretary hit on her I was rolling my eyes. Hopefully now that they've established that Frankie is a stud the show will tune down EVERY WOMAN EVER falling for her.

[dustyrebellion.livejournal.com]

:D

I saw this last tuesday and I was wondering whether or not you'd have watched it.
I had pretty much the same attitude towards the L Word so at first I was kinda "Meh" with Lip Service. But oh how proud I am of my native country right now.
Here's hoping the rest of season one keeps up the good work!
x

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I saw this last tuesday and I was wondering whether or not you'd have watched it.

It was up in the air whether I would or wouldn't for a while. The L Word really traumatized me, but I'm glad I checked this out.

But oh how proud I am of my native country right now.

You should be! In fact, I should have stopped worrying as soon as I realized the show was British. Even if it wasn't as good as it was, there was no way that it would have been anywhere near as awful as the L Word.

I'm crossing my fingers that the rest of the season remains equally as good or better as well. I really want to like this show!

[kayla-01.livejournal.com]

I had the same trepidations about this show as you did, I really wanted it to be good, but when my housemates and I sat down to watch it all I could think was "Please don't let us down British lesbians!" I was so happy that it was good. I always give pilots a bit of leeway anyway, so I'm hoping it only gets better!

I liked that it was set in Glasgow too. Makes a change from the London and/or Brighton gay scene.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I sat down to watch it all I could think was "Please don't let us down British lesbians!"

I know right! I would have been especially awful for me if the British had crapped it up, because I hold British TV on a pedestal and didn't want to be disappointed by the gay and the british! So, thank god it was good :D

And it's so true that pilots are usually only 'meh' in terms of quality, so if this can get even better I'll be really happy.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

I used to watch The L-Word on French TV but the network in question stopped showing it after 3 seasons (it probably went to another one later on), but I never tried to DL the rest of it because Season 3 was so bad. I mostly enjoyed the first two seasons, though.

Lip Service was good. I had difficulty focusing on the first half of the episode, but then I got more interested in the characters. I'm looking forward to more episodes.

These relationship drama shows without spaceships, vampires, murder mysteries, werewolves or magic usually can only keep my attention for so long, but I am looking forward to a very pleasing season or two!
THIS!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

but I never tried to DL the rest of it because Season 3 was so bad. I mostly enjoyed the first two seasons, though.

I never really loved the L Word, but I was able to deal with it for a while. But as you said, season 3 was abysmal. I only started to watch season 4 for Kristanna Loken, and I ended up just watching Loken clips from the episodes because I couldn't stomach sitting through whole episodes, and finally I just had to give up. Even Lokinator wasn't worth the pain.

I had difficulty focusing on the first half of the episode, but then I got more interested in the characters. I'm looking forward to more episodes.

Word. The beginning took me a while to get into but by the end of the episode I was really enjoying it and wanted more.

THIS!

Oh, thank god I'm not the only one! Genre shows (even bad ones) can just hold my attention so much more than relationship dramas. Hopefully the fact that Lip Service is good and full of lady gay will keep me going with it though

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Glad to help! I hope you enjoy the show :D

[lurkete.livejournal.com]

thank you.

And yes promoting it by juxtaposing it with it's American counterpart was a big mistake because the "L Word" can only add negative connotations to anything it is attached to.

and yes, it was fun :)
the actresses are, well, really good especially the chick who plays Kat.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Glad to help!

And I am so happy to hear from others who thought the L Word was as shitty as I do. Sometimes on the interweb one can feel very alone as an L Word hater. Luckily Lip Service was good enough, that I won't hold the comparisons against it.

I totally agree about all of the actresses being good. Laura Fraser, Kat, is the reason I actually toughened up and watched the show because she's been in lesbian themed movies before and was always fantastic. It's great to see her playing gay again and remaining adorable while doing so.

[wickedqueen21.livejournal.com]

is liking Laura Fraser more than ever now

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I know right! The woman can do no wrong and is possibly the most adorable thing ever.

[quew.livejournal.com]

Oh, this. This, this, this.

1) Frankie pwns Shane. She does. I'm not really into the emo thing, but Frankie is hot.

2) Lip Service pwns the L Word HARD. I watched quite a lot of TLW (and I'm not ashamed to say I shipped Tina/Bette), but this grabbed me so much harder from the first ep.

3) I do ship Frankie/Cat, I do (esp after the park scene), but I have a massive soft spot for Lady Cop (Sam), not least because she's totally my type (I tend to go for Dr Lauren/Lady Cop serious types with dry senses of humour), so I kind of want them to work out (I love that within one episode, Lip Service set up a triangle and made me care about both sides of it, as in I'd be happy either way).

4) Tess was adorable.

5) The morgue scene freaked me out.

6) I'm loving the love this series is getting so far. It kind of makes me proud to be British (is that weird?)

7) WHEN IS LOST| |GIRL BACK??

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

1) Frankie pwns Shane. She does. I'm not really into the emo thing, but Frankie is hot.


THIS! As hard as I tried, and I did try, I never found Shane all that appealing. There were odd moments, but on a whole I just didn't get the appeal. Frankie on the other hand, I totally get. She's the bad girl I can't resist. By the end of the episode I was totally lusting after Frankie like every other woman in Glasgow, lol.

but this grabbed me so much harder from the first ep.

word. I had to like talk myself into finding the L Word alright, but I already care about the Lip service characters more than the L word ones after one episode.


5) The morgue scene freaked me out.

Yeah, that was gross (though I did laugh inappropriate when Frankie made that comment about Aunt Betty or whatever). I'm guessing they needed to go over-the-top slutty/twisted with that scene to give Kat a reason to start actively working on getting over Frankie. But yeah ... that place looked huge, I'm sure they could have found another spot.


7) WHEN IS LOST| |GIRL BACK??

It's on tonight!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Frankie - she's a photographer yay!
Its set in Scotland! Yay!
Its got hot women in! Yaaaaaay!

this list is pure awesome and totally reason enough to watch the show. Also, I am now majorly in lust with Frankie, in love with Kat, and want to be BFF with Tess (as well as watch her makeout) so this show has me for the foreseeable future!

[spanishtvjunkie.livejournal.com]

Ok. I liked it. Frankie is an enigma, sometimes she seems like a psycho and other times you just wanna, well. Tess is an awesome character, love her and Ed. And Kat, well I would run the other way too if I were her. Frankie will just break your heart and you know it. Run! Run away! Thanks again for the link! I wonder if you can do that again for the next episodes? (I know, I'm cheeky)

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Frankie is an enigma, sometimes she seems like a psycho and other times you just wanna, well.

This! It's like I'm ashamed of myself for lusting after Frankie so much because she is messed up, but then she struts, or smirks, or something and my timbers are shivering.

Tess is hilarious, Kat is adorable personified, and Frankie/Cat is going to be such a angst-filled ship, but after that park scene and some of the shots where you can see Frankie's love for Cat even though she's shit at actually expressing that love to Cat, well I ship them. Frankie needs to mature a lot before I want them to actually hook up because as she is right now she'll just hurt Cat, but as an end game ... yeah, I totally want them together.

I'll try and upload the episodes as I get them, but I do have a tendency of being a bit unreliable and I might miss one here or there.

[lisel-ht.livejournal.com]

Gotta say I'm on somewhat of a TV high because of imports: Lost Girl, Lip Service plus a couple of other U.K. shows like the Sherlock Holmes reboot and Thorne (the latter with Natascha McElhone, who looks stunning IMO). Next up is Whitechapel.

Back to Lip Service. The morgue-asm scene was eww, but I enjoyed the episode and will keep watching. I too like the Frankie-Cat ship. Frankie's a player, but they've made it clear already that she feels deeply. So while Cat I'm sure will hook up with Lady Cop Sam, who seems nice and all, I'm rooting for Frat as endgame.

Cat reminds me a little of Helen (Simone Lahbib) from Bad Girls. Helen made me swoon with her accent. And the angrier she got the more pronounced it became. ROWR A weirder comparison that struck me: the hair. Cat's hair looked a little awkward, considering the care she takes with her attire. Helen's hair I thought was unflattering in series 1 of BG. She sported a new do for series 2. Anyhoo, I loved Helen and I'm digging Cat.

Really?

[(Anonymous)]

I saw the Cat/Helen thing too! Awesome...This is looking like a pretty good show so far. I can't catch it live, but I'll look it up on Wednesdays. :)

Agreed that relationship shows have never drawn me in. I can't take too much drama. And somehow these types of shows push drama to the limit. *cough*lword*cough* Fantasy/scifi does so much better in my book as well.

In other news, LOST GIRL TOMORROW! -dances-

(Also, I'm not trying to be sneaky with my posts, I just don't have an LJ account yet.)

[(Anonymous)]

Lip Service ep 2 (550MB) (http://www.fileserve.com/file/BXf7xdY)

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

thank you so much! I bow down to thee!