Parents' Guide to

The L Word

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Relationships get complicated in entertaining, sexy drama.

TV Showtime Drama 2004
The L Word Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

KiaraJoe
KiaraJoe Adult
March 23, 2022
age 18+

Don’t let your kids watch it

Don’t get me wrong, the show is good. It was really important as a little gay but some people are really saying they’ll let their kids as young as 13 or even 10 watch it…are you kidding me?? Y’all are sick and should be investigated, maybe even get your kids taken away. This is not a show for teens and definitely not anyone younger.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Too much sex
Elena the mom
Elena the mom Adult
September 30, 2020
age 13+

Very important

Though it has flaws, and is too much for tweens and younger, I would definitely let anyone 13+ watch it. After letting my 13 year daughter (she's lesbian) she was extremely grateful as she barely sees lesbians on tv in relationships or happy. Additionally, they are often side roles, and represent a small part of the main cast if that at all. Though I can agree that there are issues with this show, it's very important, and allows wlw to see an entire main cast of a show.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE L WORD depicts lesbian relationships much like straight relationships: Messy, passionate, bewildering, challenging, and, if one should be so lucky to find a stable, solid one, ultimately fulfilling. The main characters include Shane (Katherine Moennig), a female lothario going through her list of conquests without an ounce of care; poet Jenny (Mia Kirshner), who is awakening to her lesbian tendencies Dana (Erin Daniels); and a female tennis player coming out of the closet in fantastically awkward ways. And there's the delicious/painful rollercoaster of Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman), who struggle to make their live-in relationship work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Prurient minds may think that this hour-long drama is nothing but a romp-fest of naked women. And, in many ways, it is. Women do have sex -- and lots of it -- but that's not what it's all about. It's exciting for lesbian relationships to have such a frank forum; for them to be characterized in living color, with all their complications; and for the "L" word not to be a forbidden word anymore.

Yet while the series is stylish and its ensemble cast is obviously quite talented, in many ways it panders to the stereotypes it tries so hard to smash. Shane is caricatured -- as if to say she's just acting like a "man" instead of like someone who's simply unwilling to commit. Predictably, Jenny is a poet, as if to say only "creative types" go through sexual confusion. Why can't she be an accountant? With its hip L.A. backdrop, the show presents an exciting and dazzling, even intoxicating, milieu. But it's not perfect, and it's definitely not for kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to be a lesbian and how difficult it is to exist in a world that has problems accepting people's sexual preferences. How complicated must it be to love someone and have that not be accepted by everyone important to you? Families can also discuss how there are many similarities between heterosexual and homosexual relationships.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate