'The L Word' Creator Promises Inclusivity in the Show's New Run

Whether you loved it or hated it by the crazy final season, The L Word was a cultural staple for queer women, and really the only American show in existence so fully dedicated to showing our lives.

But the show was often criticized for focusing on the lives of rich queer white women, for failing to embrace diversity, and for some of its flawed portrayals of transgender characters.

With the new run, that may finally be set to change.

“The world has changed; we’ve learned a great deal, I’ve learned a great deal,” creator Ilene Chaiken said in an interview with NBC News yesterday. “I know things now that I didn’t know then, and I’m glad to know them. I recognize the sensitivities.”

But Chaiken won’t be running the continuation of the show. Director Marja-Lewis Ryan has been hired for that job, and Chaiken is convinced she’ll bring the change fans want.

“Marja is really keenly attuned to the issues of representation and inclusivity… I think people will be gratified by how inclusive this show is,” she said.

But of course, not everything is set to change. Original cast members are coming back, to start. Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig will be returning as Bette, Alice, and Shane, and other original cast members are set to come through as well.

It’s even possible, apparently, for Dana and Jenny, who both died during the course of the show, to return.

“I said to Marja, who is very respectful and collaborative, ‘Feel free to say it was a dream if you want to to,’” Chaiken said. “But I just wanted her to know that I wasn’t precious about any of it, so anything could happen, who knows?”

Once upon a time, there was originally set to be an entire spin-off of The L Word during which Alice got blamed for Jenny’s murder and went to prison. The show never came to fruition, and we never learned what really happened to Jenny. It’s unclear whether that will play any role in this continuation, or if we truly will just enter a new version of reality.

Another thing that won’t be changing with the continuation?

Sex.

As interviewer Trish Bendix notes, The L Word was “famous for some of the sexiest sex scenes we’ve seen on television.”

That was apparently very important to Chaiken in choosing her replacement showrunner, and she credits Ryan for also really enjoying “telling stories about sex and making film about sex and portraying it and enjoying it and exploring it.”

“It’s really important to me that the person who takes over this show shares my enjoyment of telling sexy stories about sex.”

I don’t think anyone can imagine a PG-rated version of The L Word in any universe, so that’s a relief.

Now the most important question still looming over our heads, of course, is — will we be getting the same theme song, or has the way, the way that we live and love changed?