The L Word: Generation Q Review: Lapse in Judgment (Season 1 Episode 8)

It’s finally election night on The L Word: Generation Q Season 1 Episode 8, “Lapse in Judgment,” which means everyone is on hand to support Bette through the surprising and painful loss to her political rival. 

I expected the episode to build tension by withholding the election results until the very end, but the emotional blow of Bette’s loss happens right at the outset. It’s a strong narrative choice, one that allows the show to avoid a cliché ending while also producing some beautiful acting work by Jennifer Beals.

Bette has always been characterized by her passion, her iron will, and her refusal to accept personal injustices. Her anger is propulsive, and even in her lowest moments, she is typically driven to action by that sense of righteous indignation.

It’s devastating, therefore, to watch her lie listlessly on the couch in the wake of the election. The grief she feels is not just the disappointment of a lost campaign — it’s the deferred anguish of her sister’s passing, which has finally caught up with her after a year of determined suppression. 

Giving oneself permission to feel this kind of sadness is an act of healing, especially for a woman like Bette, who has suffered so many losses and yet rarely allows herself to feel or express vulnerability.

The tender way Angie responds to her mother’s sorrow is also incredibly moving. The shot of them both standing on a hill, screaming their frustration out over the vista of Los Angeles and then laughing bashfully at one another, is one of the episode’s most perfectly composed moments.

The bond between Bette and her daughter — the similarity of their personalities, the authenticity of their arguments, and singular gentleness of their care for another — is by far The L Word: Generation Q‘s best innovation. 

Unfortunately, there are also some character arcs that fall flat in this episode. 

The subplot of Quiara’s miscarriage feels rushed and predictable, a way to quickly detonate her relationship with Shane and side-step a more nuanced exploration of their competing desires. 

That writing decision is representative of the show’s many hurried plotlines, an unfortunate side effect of trying to cram an ensemble’s worth of character arcs into just eight episodes. There isn’t enough time to give every character’s emotional predicaments the depth and detail they deserve, resulting in stories that feel half-told and somewhat squandered. 

This problem has also plagued Dani and Sophie’s relationship all season. Their limited screen time together is devoted to conflict and argument, while the supposedly happy and supportive moments happen offscreen, left to the audience’s imagination.

They argue, they avoid one another, and they don’t make each other happy — at least not where we can see it.

Sophie’s choice between marrying Dani and chasing after Finley should be an agonizing one, but instead, it feels like a no-brainer. She should go after the woman who supports her, shows up for her, makes her laugh, and gives her confidence, rather than the fiancé who rarely seems anything other than sullen and distant. 

Still, it’s never easy to make a decision when you know the outcome will harm someone you care about, and that’s the unifying theme of this episode: how difficult it is to find a balance between selfishness and self-care.

Prioritizing one’s own needs and desires can be an act of self-love, but it can also have painful consequences. Our best hope lies in finding the people who will love us for our intentions and in spite of our faults, while also pushing us to learn from our mistakes.

What did you think of this episode of The L Word: Generation Q? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The L Word: Generation Q airs Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.

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