The L Word returns to Showtime

In January 2004, Showtime premiered The L Word, a television drama that focused on the lives of a group of friends, mostly lesbian and bisexual, living in West Hollywood. For six seasons, the popular show chronicled the day-to-day lives and roller coaster romances of the friends, from flings to marriage. Ten years later, the show returns, with several returning favorites as well as a new cast in Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q. 

The original series had a strong following and was a landmark show for many viewers. Despite a somewhat lukewarm reception over the time, and criticism for the simplification and glamorization of the women’s lives, as compared to the more critically acclaimed series Queer as Folk, it ran strong for six seasons. Fans of the series were drawn to both the rather melodramatic entertainment, but also a mainstream series focused primarily on lesbian characters and bisexual characters.  

Now, ten years after the conclusion of The L Word, the series returns.  The L Word: Generation Q debuts on December 8 with all-new episodes and stories. The new series hopes to embrace the energy of the original but broaden its scope and awareness to handle a more diverse range of the queer experience better. 

The show starts with some ties to its predecessor. Returning to the series are three of the original cast: Jennifer Beals as the posh, gallery owner Bette, now running for Mayor; Kate Moennig as tough, androgynous Shane; and Leisha Hailey as bisexual journalist Alice. The three have grown and changed over the years but still, have some lingering secrets in their past. Joining them are a new group of friends, all are looking to find love, friendship, and success. The setting has also shaken things up, moving from posh West Hollywood to hip Silver Lake, Los Angeles. While the premium cable drama promises plenty of sex, it also looks to find a heart-centered on how these women (and a few men) bonds and connect within their community.

The new cast includes Arienne Mandi (In the Vault), Leo Sheng, Jacqueline Toboni (Grimm), Rosanny Zayas (Orange Is the New Black), and Sepideh Moafi (The Deuce). Original series creator Ilene Chaiken still serves as executive producer, although she has handed the reigns of writer and showrunner to new talent, Marja-Lewis Ryan. 

How to watch The L Word: Generation Q

The L Word: Generation Q debuts on Showtime on December 8, and is available only through the premium network. However, Showtime offers several options for streaming subscriptions. All options are explained in our guide to watching Showtime without cable. 

In short, subscribing to Showtime costs about $10.99 a month, after a 7-day free trial. Showtime can also be added to most major streaming services as an add-on premium channel, for the same rate, such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, FuboTV, Sling, and YouTube TV.

Want to catch up on the original? All past seasons of The L Word are available on Showtime, of course. But they are also available with a Showtime subscription at Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube TV.