The L Word: Generation Q Review: Loose Ends (Season 1 Episode 6)

On The L Word: Generation Q Season 1 Episode 6, “Loose Ends,” Bette and the audience both get a big surprise: Tina’s back! 

Her appearance in this episode is somewhat shocking, especially given the fact that Laurel Holloman stopped acting shortly after The L Word originally wrapped back in 2009. Clearly, the opportunity to revisit this character — and her relationship with her now-teenage daughter — was compelling enough to bring Holloman back into the fold. 

Her chemistry with Jennifer Beals is evident from the first moment they share the screen. There’s such a comfortable, familiar physicality to the way they interact with one another that speaks to their characters’ long history as a couple, with all of the joy and sorrow that divorce and co-parenting entail.

Some of the conversations between the two of them feel a little stilted, overstuffed with exposition rehashing the circumstances of their divorce. But Beals and Holloman carry the dialogue well, and if nothing else, it’s worth watching the way Bette’s eyes soften whenever she’s looking at Tina.

Their relationship ended more than a year ago, but the sense of grief and confusion about what to do with their leftover love still feels new and aching.

It’s also wonderful to finally get a glimpse of Tina’s relationship with Angie and to learn that she’s still the person Angie confides in most about her personal life — aside from Uncle Shane, of course.

Speaking of Shane, she makes a decision in this episode to get back together with Quiara and help raise her child.

On the one hand, this is incredible character development for Shane, who has always struggled with commitment in relationships due to the fear that she can’t provide what people want from her.

On the other, the show’s insistence that being good with other people’s kids should make Shane want to have some of her own feels outdated and uncomfortable.

It’s perfectly okay to enjoy spending time with kids and still not want to be a parent, and I worry that Shane is agreeing to something she might not actually want, because it’s the only way she can keep Quiara.

Meanwhile, Finley chases away the memory of her drunk hookup with Tess by having “bro night” of partying with Sophie. It’s cute and extremely fun, and the two of them have great chemistry — but it also leads to some uncomfortable moments where Sophie seems to flirting and making passes at Finley in a way that goes beyond friendship. 

Maybe it’s just because Finley is there, and Dani isn’t. There’s no denying that the two of them have fun together, whereas Sophie and Dani never do anything except argue and upset one another.

But that speaks more to Dani’s detriment than it does in Finley’s favor because Finley is an absolute mess. At some point, Sophie and the rest of her friends seriously need to stop enabling her alcoholism and start pushing her to get help. 

With the season heading into its final few episodes, we’re probably right to be nervous about Dani and Sophie’s prospects as a couple, but it’s comforting to know that even when the romances on The L Word: Generation Q feel messy and unstable, the friendships will always endure.

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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