The L Word

Livin' La Vida Loca

Season 4, Episode 2, Aired 1/14/07

Episode Summary

Alice meets Papi, a girl who lights up on The Chart even more than Shane. Jenny is interviewed by a gay writer. Bette's new boss has some surprising news for her. After Helena's departure, a new guy takes the reigns at the studio as Tina's new boss. Meanwhile, Max goes out on a date with a straight girl.moreless

8.9

EPISODE RATING: Great

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Episode Clips

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Cast & Crew

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Janina Gavankar

Eva "Papi" Torres (Season 4-)
Daniela Sea

Moira/Max Sweeney (Season 3-)
Rachel Shelley

Helena Peabody (Season 2-)

Fan Episode Reviews (10)

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This season is much anticipated mostly because of last year's disapointment..

8.6

"Great"

By papaki_74, Jan 21, 2007 Report Abuse

I think that this episode was mostly funny.It had some good moments especially with alice looking for Papi. Alice seems to have developed a lot as a character and is always the most pleasant one to watch. I'm a Bette fan so i loved seeing Alpha coming back! Jenny is still annoying, Tina has to find her way back to being interesting,so as Shane, Max is really boring for me ,although he seems to get a rather interesting s/l with Brooke.. My first impressions on the new characters are divided..Papi seems like a caricature for me and Phyllis seems quite interesting.. I love CS so it is good to see her.
I think that the best is yet to come!moreless

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0 1
This season is much anticipated mostly because of last year's disapointment..

8.6

"Great"

By papaki_74, Jan 21, 2007 Report Abuse

I think that this episode was mostly funny.It had some good moments especially with alice looking for Papi. Alice seems to have developed a lot as a character and is always the most pleasant one to watch. I'm a Bette fan so i loved seeing Alpha coming back! Jenny is still annoying, Tina has to find her way back to being interesting,so as Shane, Max is really boring for me ,although he seems to get a rather interesting s/l with Brooke.. My first impressions on the new characters are divided..Papi seems like a caricature for me and Phyllis seems quite interesting.. I love CS so it is good to see her.
I think that the best is yet to come!moreless

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0 0
What a character Papi is! Very hot, very self-assured, very beautiful. She's got it all over on Carmen in all depts (now don't attack me - just JMHO).

9.0

"Superb"

By kcbelles, Jan 19, 2007 Report Abuse

I enjoyed this episode - it was good to see Shane having to deal with Shay; I'm hoping it gives her a positive outlook on life. I'd like to see Shane back in action, though. Just because she has a kid in her life now doesn't mean she's dead. While I like Papi a lot, I don't want her to upstage Shane, although Papi and Shane are both free spirits for very different reasons.

Jenny - while it was a funny scene in the kitchen with Shay, I didn't appreciate the foul language in front of a 9 year old, and she should know better. This really shows how self-absorbed she is - nothing else matters but her world. Kudos to Shane for trying to rein in Jenny. I did feel for Jenny, though - very uncool of that interviewer to make Jenny open up as she did, and then write such an uncomplimentary review.

Papi and Alice - I loved the limo scene. Very nicely done - lovin' them circles! And it was good for Alice to see Papi right after flirting with Helena - gives her a sense of what a player Papi is. I'd hate to see Alice get all obsessive over Papi - that would not be funny.

Hated the TA Bette hired - way to forward and assuming. Bette would be very stupid to hook up with a student; she can't be doing those things as a dean. But then I can't see her with Cybil either.

Totally bored with Max's storyline - I see nothing but trouble by dating the boss's daughter, even though it was the boss that set it up.

This episode kept me riveted - it was over so fast. If I could wait, I'd not watch until I bought season 4 on DVD so that I can watch all within a few days, but.... patience is so not my middle name lolmoreless

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FIVE STARS ***** GREAT EPISODE !

10

"Perfect"

By libelul, Jan 19, 2007 Report Abuse

GREAT EPISODE !

Now we are getting a preview of the new characters and storylines we will be enjoying this season.

I already love the mysterious "Papi", want to know more about her, and hope that one of the fabuLous L Girls will get to keep her.

Each character has its moment:
While Kit is facing reality with great pain, Max is going to have to step up as a man and try to live this new life he has chosen.
Bette, after last years lows, is opening up and will help, as for Tina, her boss' coming out.
Shane (my personal favourite character) is facing responsibilities as never before, and could lead her finally accept true commitment.

Hoping to see if Marina & Jenny still have a story...

Let's just wait and see where the L wind will take us.moreless

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Didn't I say I was expecting more? Come on, you gotta do better!

7.0

"Good"

By diecaro, Jan 18, 2007 Report Abuse

Nice episode, but it didn't really blow my mind like I expected after the good start last week. Well, I liked the Shane-Shane-bonding, I guess we'll see girl Shane change a lot due to her little brother being around. I don't get how both parents can just abandon their child... Ain't that horrible!?
Bette bores me, she has for a long time and I don't think it's surprising that nothing has changed.
The Alice-Papi-scene was really hot, but here as well: I expected more. Well, okay, it was kinda funny when Papi and Helena came out of the bushes at the end of the day :-D
Still: You gotta do better, girls!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Papi's Rules: - Rule #1: Papi doesn't do breakfast. - Rule #2: Never go home with a girl whose roommate you just bopped that same morning. Edit
- Deleted Scene: Like in Season 3, deleted scenes for some of the Season 4 episodes were available on the official The L Word website on SHO.com. In the deleted scene from this episode, the trucker who picks up Shay calls Shane. The clip is just a few seconds long and only his side of the conversation is heard. He agrees to meet Shane and then gets back in the cabin of his truck. Edit
- Opening Teaser: Alice is in a crowded gay bar where loud Spanish disco music is playing. Girl, guys and transsexuals come up to her and they all introduce themselves as 'Papi'. The connection: The real Papi turns out to be quite elusive and she has been sending Alice on a wild goose chase to various locations looking for her. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- Although credited, Dallas Roberts (Angus) doesn't appear in this episode. Edit
- Music Featured in This Episode: - La Carretilla by Jenny Peer - Running Out by Mable John - Short Stoppin' by Veda Brown - Carry On by Jean Knight - Champion Lover by Deborahe Glasgow - Waltz from the ballet Coppelia, composed by Léo Delibes - Teresita from Five Alarm Music Library - Never Run from Jah by Queen Omega - No Me Hables Así by Sol - Esta Noche Tu Vendras by Chelo Silva - Salve Me, performed by studio musicians - Piano Concerto No. 23, composed by Mozart - Wargasm by L7 - Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill - Couldn't Leave Her Alone by The Hedrons - Fallaste Corazon by Ranchera All Stars feat. Maria E. Garcia Edit
- In the behind-the-scenes video for this episode on the OurChart website, exec producer Ilene Chaiken and this episode's writer Alex Kondracke say that the idea for Carla dumping Shay on Shane's porch came from Kate Moennig, and the idea for Jenny swearing in the kitchen and Shay spilling milk on her bag came from Mia Kirshner. Mia also ad-libbed the line about merkin meaning a "vagina wig" at the Curve magazine office. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Jenny: Shane, your friends just miss seeing you. Shane: Jenny, I haven't gone anywhere. Jenny: Well, I think that you're hiding. Edit
- Alice (after Papi grabs a remote in her limousine): What's that, make the bed pop out? Edit
- (Shane prepares to leave Shay with Jenny for the day.) Jenny: Shay, say "Stacey Merkin's a fucking cunt." Shane: Okay, you know what... Jenny: Say "Stacey Merkin's a fucking cunt." Shane: No, you know what, he's not gonna say it. Jenny: Say it. Say it, say it, say it, say it. Shane (taking Shay away) Have a great day, Jen. Jenny: (still talking to Shay as they walk away) Stacey Merkin's a fucking cunt! Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Title: Livin' La Vida Loca The episode title is taken from the 1999 hit song by the same name, performed by Ricky Martin. Edit