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The L Word Season 3 Episode 8

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AIRED: 2/26/06

Jenny plans a charity event to support Max when they find out he can't pay for the top surgery. Helena takes the girls to a surprise trip to honor Dana in her recovery, and Carmen is still dealing with the aftermath of Shane's ex. Meanwhile, Bette kicks Tina out of the bedroom and tries to find peace in Buddhism. In a recording studio, Kit gets help from unexpected sources -- but is it too much to handle?moreless

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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

This episode caused me to write this rant, masquerading as a review. I apologize for the length, and the rantiness.

6.5

By IceMachine213, Feb 25, 2011

Well, I'll come out and say this first of all -

I watched this episode with a few friends who had never seen an "L Word" episode before, and by the end I was embarrassed for being such an avid fan.

Last week suffered from poor writing, but I expect that from the dreaded 'ezgirl' menace that has been looming over this show for the last year.

The writers staff's solution?

Put her IN the next one! We just can't get enough of this woman!

Why, why, why, why WHY do they continue to insist on involving Betty and "ezgirl" more than is absolutely necessary?

The theme song to the show is hokey at best, and if that wasn't enough, members of the band appeared numerous times in throughout season 2. Were any of these appearances clever, insightful, or entertaining? Nope.

But they're still throwing in 'em in, for what appears to be no apparent reason.

Why would Kit want to make her music comeback via an extreme association with an unknown, untalented, exclusively lesbian band? (Not that there's anything wrong with lesbian goups. I loves me some Tegan and Sara.)

Kit deserves better than that, and Angus was right, she should have been singing without the Betty crap in the background.

BUT enough about them. What else?

Moira Max is basically annoying, especially since as fans we have almost no emotional tie to him.

Jenny had just about nothing to do.

Alice and Dana are friends again which is sweet.

Bette and Tina, our main focus since the Pilot are being brushed aside for the less intriguing Helena / Dylan, Moira stuff.

Shane and Carmen as well - it was like "WELLlll they gotta do something, how about Carmen has a dream and is pissy and that'll be all they do throughout the hour."

I'm writing all of this because season 1 of the L Word was SOoo Good. Period. It was different, and clever, and engaging. It kept us on the edge of our seats, every aspect was just phenomenal. By this point, I rejoice if one epsiode doesn't completely dissapoint me.

If season 4 doesn't have a pretty major turn around, I may give up on this show.

Sad.moreless
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8.4

By Shana868, Sep 18, 2006

Yet again, another episode that amazed me and delighted me. I think it's fair to say that this show just keeps getting better by the season!

Obviously, Dana's illness took priority this episode. The writers are handling the subject with such sensitivity and care, they're doing a great job on it. Of course the audience all emphasised with Dana at the surprise shock at the basketball game - the show is managing to show us how the cancer is changing her and hurting her yet allowing us to continue seeing Dana as the strong woman she is.

Bette and Tina's relationship, or lack of one, is also being written better this season than before IMO. Bette's phonecall to Kit was perfect, and I'm worried about the influence of the homophobic social worker on Tina's decision regarding Angelica!

I'm unsure of where the show actually stands on the character of Moira/Max. They seem to be trying to make us negative towards him, but then, the comment about the attempted suicide today felt like an effort to introduce compassion into us - it seems they can't make up their minds. Anyway, Max's response at Jenny was totally understandable and appropriate, so I don't know why they brushed that under the carpet and let Jenny have the last word. Also, why do all the summaries mention this charity bash - it was hardly an integral part of the episode!</p> <p>I really enjoyed Kit's song at the end of the program, and the camera's focus on all the changing lives of the various women. That said, I did not see that marriage proposal coming - if their bickering was supposed to be a sign, they should have made that clearer! It was nice to see some vocalists from earlier seasons though.

It seems strange to me that the show seems to be making Helena the main sexual pull of the show. I guess right now they're just lacking any other relevant characters. I've always liked Helena, but I thought that she was introduced to us as someone who always fell for pregnant, maternal women. Also, wasn't she supposed to be using her wealth to fight for her children? I see the show was conveniently displaced them.

I'm not really understanding the Shane/Carmen thing. I thought perhaps that they were writing some kind of mental illness into Carmen's character, but then it appeared not. Anyway, hopefully the next episode can clarify what's going on for me.

All in all, another great episode. I'm a little disappointed that so much screen-time is being used-up on Moria/Max though. And baby Angelica just gets more beautiful all the time! :Dmoreless
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Not much happened in here, but it has some nice parts in it.

8.0

By dju010, Feb 28, 2006

Dana finally looses her hair. Hey we’re in a TV show that has to be. Today in reality it doesn’t happen so often anymore. So just enjoy the drama. But then what’s up with Dana’s head? She didn’t really shaved her head, did she? I mean look at her head. I looks like that she’s wearing some kind of plastic over her hair. It looks like she got such a big head this way. Somehow I can’t think that can be real. But hey that’s just a detail.

Well the picture of her breast really looks horrible, but she had to do it.

Max is getting weirder and weirder. Seriously. It looks like he got a bit too many hormones, that he’s so aggressive.

But Jenny’s getting stronger and stronger. She really holds against Max. Something she couldn’t do for two long seasons.

Helena and her new girlfriend bring it finally to the next level. Something I liked to see. And finally we’re back at Helena’s beautiful house again. OK, we didn’t see that much. But I like the Maybach car. I’m really surprised that the show can afford such a car. The private jet is nice too.

Carmen and Alice are still having trouble. I hope that they figure it out some time soon.

Then Kit, I think it was the biggest mistake of her to blow her boyfriend off. I think the really knew what he was doing. But at least the girls see it the right way.

The scene at the game was nice and I think Dana might finally learn to live with everything. I think Max really is right about what he said.

Tina and Bette are breaking up completely, I think that there’s no doubt about that. I even think that it might be better that way, especially for the child. Sadly Bette only wants the child, not her mother too. I think that Bette really can’t handle Tina anymore. She lost control and Tina got everything. Job, Baby and maybe soon a new boy or girlfriend...moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Dallas Roberts	Angus Partridge (Season 3-)
Erin Daniels	Dana Fairbanks
Jennifer Beals	Bette Porter
Katherine Moennig	Shane McCutcheon
Laurel Holloman	Tina Kennard
Leisha Hailey	Alice Pieszecki

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Cynthia Stevenson	Roberta Collie	Guest Star
Alyson Palmer	Herself	Guest Star
Amy Ziff	Herself	Guest Star
Alexandra Hedison	Dylan Moreland	Recurring Role
Olivia Windbiel	Angelica	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- Opening Teaser:
  Los Angeles, seven and a half months ago: The scene takes place between seasons 2 and 3. Dana is breaking up with Alice.
  The Connection: Alice and Dana make up the eighth link in The Chart.
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- We find out that Moira/Max first tried to commit suicide when s/he was 10 years old.
  EDIT SHARE
- Deleted Scene: Kit recording in the studio with Angus
  Kit is in the recording studio and it's her first take. Nona Hendryx and Amy Ziff are making her really nervous from behind the glass. Kit messes it up really bad; she's not ready and her singing is quite terrible.
  
  Note: This clip was presented on the SHO.com The L Word website as a deleted scene from episode 3-8. However, the scene was included in the version that aired. The only difference between the two versions was that the clip available on the website was a few seconds longer than the one that was aired.
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QUOTES (14)
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- Carmen: I am not here for you, I am here for Kit. You are not to talk to me. That's it.
  Shane: I didn't do anything.
  Carmen: Okay, not only did you give Cherie Jaffe a tattoo but there was a scary looking like bird flying around and at one point it was screaming your name. It was like 'Shane, Shane, Shane. Hello, Shane.' And you sprouted wings and you flew off with the bird, okay? That is unacceptable.
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- Dylan: This is fucking insane.
  Helena: Come here and I'll show just how fucking insane it is.
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- Alice: Where's Carmen?
  Shane: Oh, I'm in the shithouse. Carmen had a dream I gave Cherie a fucking tattoo.
  Alice: Oh, yeah. I've had that happen. I had this girlfriend who dreamt that I fucked David Schmimmer. (Shane looks at her) Well, Friends was on a lot.
  Dana: You know, Al, when we were going out, I had a dream that you were a midget. (Shane laughs)
  EDIT SHARE
- Bette: I'm going on a meditation retreat.
  Roberta: How long will you be gone?
  Bette: Ten days.
  Roberta: Well, I guess that's fine considering that Angelica will be home and safe with her mother.
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- Bette: Sorry, I didn't mean to touch you.
  Tina: I don't mind being touched by you.
  Bette: Obviously you do.
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- Bette: I want you to move out.
  Tina: Where am I supposed to go?
  Bette: I don't know, I just... Just move in to the other bedroom until we figure it out. I just don't want you in my bed any more.
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- Helena: (noticeably looking at Dylan) I'm gonna get some tea.
  Dylan: (to Tina after Helena's gone) Do you want some tea?
  Tina: (grinning) Oh, no thanks. I've... already had tea.
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- Dylan: You're flying everyone out on your mother's jet.
  Helena: You think it's too much? (smiling) You think it's too much!
  Dylan: I don't, I don't think it's too much. I think it's, I think it's amazing. It is, it's like the most incredible thing to do to your friend who is sick. I think you're amazing.
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- Dana: (showing Alice her lost hair) Check it out... Hot, hot, hot. Isn't it? It's too bad Lara is not around to see that. Maybe I'll save it and sell it on eBay. What do you think?
  Alice: Right, can you not be so morbid?
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- Tina: (about Dylan and Helena) So I thought you're just friends.
  Helena: We are.
  Tina: (being ironic) Oh, god. Yeah, right.
  Helena: We are.
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- Bette: I'm not the one who decided that the last eight years of her life were some meaningless little dally into the land of alternative lifestyles.
  Tina: You know that's not true. I can't help the feelings I'm having.
  Bette: Well, I don't want you to have them in my bed.
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- Carmen: (talking about the dream she had) You were giving a tattoo to Cherie Jaffe. Like the one that we have that's on the back of our necks. Why did you do that?
  Shane: (dumbfounded and half asleep) Do what?
  Carmen: Give her a tattoo!
  Shane: I didn't!
  Carmen: That was something that's really sacred to us, that's just between us.
  Shane: But I -- I didn't give it to--
  Carmen: Goddammit, Shane! That's so fucked up!
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- Alice: (to Shane, after Carmen still rants about the dream) Latin women... ¡Caliente!
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- Max: I want you to know... I mean, you don't have to accept this. Maybe I shouldn't even say it but... It's life and death for me, too.
  Dana: But you don't have cancer.
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NOTES (2)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Czech Republic: April 1, 2012 on Prima LOVE
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- Music Featured in This Episode:
  - Whether You Fall by Tracy Bonham
  - Bummer by Scarling
  - Get in the Van by Numchucks
  - Don't Look Back by Télépopmusik
  - C'mon by Go Betty Go
  - Neckbreakin' by DJ Revolution
  - Transformation, performed by Nona Hendryx, Pam Grier and Betty
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Alice: I had this girl who dreamt that I f---ed David Schwimmer.
  
  Alice explains that this happened during a time when Friends was on a lot. David Schwimmer was one of the six main stars of the NBC hit comedy that ran for 10 seasons.
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