What we learned from the new full-length The L Word trailer

From Cosmopolitan

• The L Word: Generation Q reboot finally has a full-length trailer!

• With eight episodes, the series will be out in December 2019 and act as a sequel to the original on Showtime

• It will feature loads of original cast members including Katherine Moennig, Jennifer Beals and Leisha Hailey

• Plus, new additions Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas, Arienne Mandi, Queen Sugar and Leo Sheng

Lesbian drama The L Word has divided viewers since it began nearly 15 years ago. I mean sure, it was overly dramatic, at points totally unbelievable and pretty much always cringe as hell. Its representation of trans people was problematic at times, and it was criticised for centring the stories of super rich, privileged (mostly) white women. But, it (*cough* Katherine Moennig aka Shane) was also to blame for many a queer person's sexual awakening.

The show won shit tons of GLAAD awards and was praised for representing lesbian, bisexual and trans people in pop culture at a time where there were basically no (it's still kinda slim pickings, let's be honest) LGBTQ+ focused shows. And, its success allowed shows like Will and Grace and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (and in its newest iteration - Queer Eye) to exist. So yeah, it's kind of a big deal. DW: If you missed it first time around, you've got a little while to get bingeing the original series on Amazon before the reboot's out.

After months of waiting on more info, in May we finally found out the revival has a brand new name: The L Word: Generation Q. Then it was announced that the new series will be released on December 8 2019. AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW, FULL-LENGTH TRAILER. And it's very revealing...

So what has it taught us?

Bette, as we suspected from the earlier trailers, is running for Mayor (the first lesbian mayor of LA no less!)

We got a little bit more a glimpse into the new characters, with Easy's Jacqueline Toboni as Sarah rushing over to meet two new people who've moved in next door (one - at least - of whom she excitedly announces is gay). According to Gay Times, Sarah is Catholic and coming to terms with her sexuality. Micah, played by Leo Sheng is a trans man and social worker.

We're also introduced to publication relations rep Dani, played by Arienne Mandi, as she seems to be planning a secret proposal to her partner Sophie (Rosanny Zayas).

In the first, shorter teaser trailer, we saw Jacqueline Toboni sneaking out of someone's house naked, and then being spotted wearing her shirt backwards as if she's got dressed in a rush. WhoTF is she sleeping with who she shouldn't be, we need to know.

Shane, Alice and Bette were hanging out as if no time has passed. It looked like they've got a new coffee shop to wile away the hours in, or maybe The Planet's had a major revamp. Who knows!

We got introduced to two new characters, one of whom put a chair leg through a window while flirting with the other. They cute. The first trailer showed us Bette is running for mayor of L.A. for goodness sake. Jacqueline Toboni was rocking quite a Kristen Stewart style grown out bleach blonde haircut.

Naturally, queer Twitter is very bloody excited:

And we've been left with many, many questions:

Jennifer Beals, an original cast member who plays Bette Porter said at a panel, "[In 2004] non-binary was a mathematical term, rather than part of the lexicon in today’s discussion of gender identification and sexuality. We have had long conversations about [lesbians and trans people] and we are very plugged into the conversations that are coming out of the divide." The series' new showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan then said, "I strongly stand on the side of inclusivity. We don’t have enough teammates to play a full game if we’re not all on the team."

Back in May, cable network Showtime announced the title and release date on Twitter, with a kind of sneak peak (albeit in cartoon form), and a tag line: "New generation. All new drama".

And am I the only one guessing the Q stands for queer?

While loads of fans are excited by this title, and see it as an awesomely positive move towards inclusivity (let's face it, The L Word was typically a bit shitty with its representation of bisexual and trans characters), others are being big old babies about it.

Others find it kind of funny that such an old show is using "woke" language to appeal to a new audience.

But whatever, we're still excited.

Some of our favourite OG cast members are signed up for the reboot. Bette (Jennifer Beals), Shane (Katherine Moennig) and Alice (Leisha Hailey) will play their original characters as well as working on the show as executive producers - alongside showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan.

Showtime says those fan favourites will appear "alongside a new generation of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, and success in L.A."

We've also learned the new series will follow in the footsteps of the original six seasons - in other words, it'll be very sexy indeed.

The cast - old and new - have been hanging out loads recently, too.

In an interview with NBC news, the original creator Ilene Chaiken said choosing someone to take over the new series who was just as into the sex stuff as her was super important. That's why she chose Marja Lewis-Ryan to steer the ship this time.

"One of things Marja and I connected over in the very beginning and one of the reasons it was clear that she was so right to do that show is that she and I really like telling stories about sex and making film about sex and portraying it and enjoying it and exploring it," Ilene said. "It's really important to me that the person who takes over this show shares my enjoyment of telling sexy stories about sex."

The L Word originally ran from 2004 until 2009, and followed the relationships, careers, sex lives and journeys into parenthood of group of friends in L.A.

The revival will act as a sequel, following on from the sixth season which ended in jail time and death for some of our most loved/hated characters.

And, according to Hollywood Reporter, some of the other stars from the original series could potentially return.

Either way, we'll be watching.

Stream series 1-6 on Amazon

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