With Pride Month now in full swing, the topic of LGBT representation has once again risen to the forefront of the collective conversation about film and television. Although it's hard to deny that progress has been made in this realm over the last few years, there's still quite a bit of work that artists, actors, and TV networks need to do. Specifically, the number of shows focusing specifically on the lesbian experience has admittedly lacked since Showtime's The L Word went off the air in 2009. Many have called for a series reunion to fill that void, and the possibility doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility. Producer and series co-creator Ilene Chaiken said:
There's certainly a chance. We talk about it all the time. When we went off the air in 2009, I think a lot of people thought, 'Okay, the baton is passed now, and there will be lots of shows that portray lesbian life'" There's really nothing. It feels like maybe it should come back.
When the series ended its five-year run back in 2009, the consensus was that its success with audiences would lead to a significant increase in the number of shows positively focusing on the lesbian experience. However, outside of Orange is the New Black, lesbian representation has generally lagged behind other forms of diversification in pop culture. Beyond that, the shows that do depict lesbian characters often mishandle the depiction -- which is an accusation that has been leveled against shows like Supergirl and Gotham. When you put all of that together, Ilene Chaiken's comments to EW make it clear that there's enough room for The L Word to come back to the small screen.
We should probably note that this isn't the first time that an L Word revival has been floated. Only last year, Ilene Chaiken similarly opened up and supported the possibility. Based on her assessment, the series still has plenty of potential in its core concept, and there are stories within this world the still need to be told. Remember, this doesn't provide any concrete confirmation that the show WILL come back, but it indicates that there's enthusiasm to do so from people with the power to get the ball rolling.
In all honesty, The L Word wouldn't even need to return to Showtime if it ever came back for a reunion season. Streaming services like Netflix have become the go-to platforms for series revivals (look no further than Arrested Development), and the increasingly diversified small screen landscape means that there are plenty of options for The L Word to find a new home.
Whether or not The L Word will return to the small screen remains to be seen, but there's plenty of enthusiasm to see the show come back at some point. For now, make sure to take a glance at CinemaBlend's summer TV premiere guide and fill out your television viewing schedules accordingly!
