Airing on Showtime from 2004-2009, The L Word definitely had some soaring highs and soul-crushing lows. However, there is no denying the show made great strides in telling stories generally not seen on TV at that point in time. The series followed a group of lesbian friends struggling to survive life and love in Los Angeles, California.
One of the focal points of The L Word was always its romantic relationships. While the show gave fans some truly epic romances, there were also quite a few that were difficult to get behind. With a revival set to drop in December, let’s reminisce about the love lives of these unforgettable women.
Best - Shane and Carmen
Shane was in a bad place when she met Carmen. She hadn’t realized her heart could be broken until Cherie Jaffe did just that. By the time Carmen was in her orbit, Shane had resumed her womanizing ways. thankfully, what was meant to be a one night stand evolved into so much more.
Though their relationship had some complications - like Carmen dating Jenny to move on from Shane - once they finally got together, this couple quickly became a fan favorite. For one thing, the onscreen chemistry between Katherine Moennig and Sarah Shahi was undeniable. Aside from that, the two really complemented one another without losing themselves in each other. Shane leaving Carmen at the alter remains one of the most heartbreaking moments of the series and no other romance Shane had afterward could ever compare.
Worst - Dana and Tonya
The romance between Dana and Tonya was obviously meant to be terrible, so mission accomplished The L Word! It was little more than a plot device to push Dana and Alice together, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t painful to witness. Tonya was just kind of the worst - well, we’ll get to the actual worst later - and she really had no redeeming qualities. Plus, she may have killed Mr. Piddles!
Dana was still getting over Lara, which led her directly into Tonya’s open arms. Luckily, all their looming nuptials ultimately served to do was help Dana and Alice realize their feelings for one another.
Best - Bette and Tina
ittedly, these two were a bit of a mixed bag, but the truth is, they were better together than they were apart. No one Tina dated ever came close to replacing Bette and Bette never found someone who could occupy the same space in her heart as Tina (Seriously though, Jodi deserved better).
Bette and Tina brought out both the best and the worst in each other. but by the time they reunited in season 5 for good, the couple had come a long way. Tina was conspicuously absent from The L Word: Generation Q trailer, so fans will have to wait to see what happened there since the original series ended.
Worst - Shane and Jenny
This is hands down, the worst romance on this list. Like much of season 6 itself, this relationship never should have happened. The L Word’s final season made a host of confusing and unforgivable narrative decisions, but none quite so egregious as having these two best friends fall in love. It’s not just that their romance was toxic - you could say that about any relationship involving Jenny - but it was also kind of icky.
Shane’s friends (and fans) watched in horror as she lost her autonomy and her spark to Jenny’s constant manipulations. In the end, putting them together was pointless and further proof the series should’ve ended a year earlier.
Best - Alice and Dana
Jenny and Shane were an example of why putting friends into romantic relationships won't work, but Alice and Dana proved themselves an exception. Rather than feeling gross, their evolution felt natural. Aside from that, their romance really was pretty adorable.
It wasn’t just their love story that was sweet though. These two women also had a beautiful and layered friendship prior to becoming a couple. Even though Dana left Alice for Lara and Alice got super creepy for a while there, these two still found their way back to one another before Dana’s untimely death - which we’re still crying over.
Worst - Jenny and Max
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: Jenny Schecter was the worst character on The L Word. She was detested by fans, but it's a hatred that was earned. Maybe Jenny was mentally ill, but the writers always leaned more into her over-the-top behavior than exploring any of the motivations behind it. There’s a reason why Jenny’s romances are only in the “bad” column here. She left a trail of destruction in her wake wherever she went.
Jenny initially seemed ive of Max’s transition, but in the end, she treated him just as poorly as everyone else she claimed to care about. The worst part of their relationship was the fact that early on, the romance between them was rather sweet, making it that much more upsetting when Jenny turned out to be an even bigger jerk than we already knew she could be.
Best - Alice and Tasha
These two may have been polar opposites, but they still couldn’t seem to quit one another. Aways challenging, but also ive, the affection between them was always clear. Alice and Tasha loved each other even when they hated each other.
Tasha was more than just a love interest for Alice. She was a fully formed character in her own right, whether she and Alice were together or not. Even though this couple didn’t make sense on paper, fans enjoyed watching their relationship unfold onscreen. They may not have agreed on much, but they always had fun together.
Worst - Kit and Angus
Did anyone ever buy into this relationship? It’s not that it’s unbelievable that Angus could fall for Kit or vice versa. However, it was difficult to endure the stilted performances from Pam Grier and Dallas Roberts every time they shared the screen. There was simply no chemistry between them.
Seriously, everyone loves Kit and wanted the best for her. Angus seemed really sweet right up until he cheated, but he and Kit were never going to last. Their affection for each other didn't resonate with the audience because their onscreen rapport never felt real. Music may have initially bonded them but it wasn’t enough.
Best - Helena and Dusty
When Helena showed up in season 2, fans were quick to hate her and truthfully, she deserved every bit of their ire. However, the Helena of season 3 and beyond was quite different. In the end, she really made a great addition to the gang in general. When it came to her relationships, there weren’t really any winners (sorry Tina, Katherine and Dylan), except for Dusty.
Yes, this prison romance was incredibly short-lived and afterwards not much was seen or heard from Dusty. All we’re saying is, this relationship was delightful and many fans would’ve liked to see more of the love story between these two women unfold.
Worst - Jenny and Tim
Fans knew this relationship was doomed from the moment Jenny locked eyes with Karina. With that in mind, it’s sort of an exercise in torture to watch this romance continue to flail until Tim finally let it die. Jenny certainly wasn't going to. Again, Jenny didn’t really have any good relationships, but she was especially awful to Tim.
Not that Tim was perfect, but watching these two desperately cling to their failing marriage was one of the more depressing aspects of season 1. It’s understandable that Jenny was confused, but there’s really no excuse for her behavior. This was one romance viewers were never really meant to get behind anyway and the show could've benefitted from spending a bit less time on it.