The WORST episodes of The L Word

Every episode of The L Word ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The L Word!

The series tells the intimate story about the lives and loves of a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles. Mostly centering on Jenny, a recent graduate of the University of Chicago, who moves to L.A. to live with her boyfriend Tim and begin a professional writing career. Jenny's life is turned upside down when she attends a party hosted by Tim's neighbors, Bette and Tina, a lesbian couple who are looking to take the step into parenthood after seven years of dating. A brief encounter at the party suddenly has Jenny thrust into the local lesbian community and a whole new world she never understood until she questions her own sexual orientation.

Last Updated: 2/1/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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Litmus Test
star
5.79
163 votes

#1 - Litmus Test

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/15/2009

Jenny writes another script that sells; Bette and Kelly go into business; Alice and Tasha have a third-wheel crush; the girls plot a sting operation to test Dylan; and, Jenny encroaches more on Shane.

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Least Likely
star
6.07
175 votes

#2 - Least Likely

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/25/2009

Bette and Tina talk about expanding their family and beginning a new life but the plan could be ruined when Bette bumps into an old friend with dangerous potential; Alice and Tasha ponder their compatibility as they seek counseling; an old flame appears, sending Helena reeling; and Max is faced with an extraordinary situation.

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Lactose Intolerant
star
6.16
227 votes

#3 - Lactose Intolerant

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/22/2009

Jenny throws a baby shower for Max; Bette and Tina hit a roadblock in the adoption process; Bette goes solo to her gallery’s opening night celebration leading Kelly to go in for the kill; Shane is feeling boxed in by Jenny; and Alice starts to feel like three is a crowd.

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Lone Star
star
6.16
150 votes

#4 - Lone Star

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/19/2006

Tina takes a business trip to Canada and has a chance to explore her feelings for the opposite sex. Dana's treatment puts a strain on her and Lara's relationship. Meanwhile, Jenny helps Moira in her transformation to Max, Carmen and Shane dedicate parts of their bodies to each other, Alice reverts back in her obsession over Dana, and Kit takes control. In a special appearance the B-52's perform at The Planet.

Directors: Frank Pierson
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Leaving Los Angeles
star
6.17
167 votes

#5 - Leaving Los Angeles

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/8/2009

Shane and Jenny are still melting over each other; Bette and Tina go to Nevada to meet a potential birth mother; Max is trying to deal with being pregnant; Alice and Tasha play matchmaker; and Kelly Wentworth may have what Bette needs.

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Last Word
star
6.31
172 votes

#6 - Last Word

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/8/2009

In the final episode of the series, what starts out as a celebration of friendship quickly ends in a web of betrayal and deceit; the girls find themselves in the slammer with Sergeant Duffy; and the investigation into ? ? death begins…

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Last Couple Standing
star
6.39
199 votes

#7 - Last Couple Standing

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/1/2009

The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center dance marathon is on; someone is moving to the Big Apple; rumors fly fast around the dance floor that Alice and Tasha may be in couple trouble; The HIT!’s Sunset Blvd makes a shocking revelation to Kit; and there’s a no-show at the bus station.

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Literary License to Kill
star
6.44
145 votes

#8 - Literary License to Kill

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/18/2007

Bette finds out that Jodi's been offered a job at an art center on the East Coast. Tasha's memories of the war continue to haunt her, and she is ordered to keep her sexual orientation a secret. Meanwhile, Shane plans a surprise for Paige, Helena is kicked out of the hotel, and Max comes to a decision regarding his job.

Directors: John Stockwell
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LMFAO
star
6.50
173 votes

#9 - LMFAO

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/1/2009

The negative of “Lez Girls” goes missing; Shane’s incessant apologizing to Jenny finally gets noticed; Alice’s feelings are hurt when Jenny denounces her desire to write a screenplay; Phyllis lets Bette in on a suppressed secret; and it’s opening night at Kit and Helena’s new club, HIT!

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Luck Be a Lady
star
6.52
175 votes

#10 - Luck Be a Lady

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/11/2007

The girls attend a movie premiere sponsored by Shane's underwear campaign. Papi teaches Helena and Alice how to play poker for a high-stakes private game hosted by a high-profile female gambler. Bette disagrees with Tina about Angelica's education, and goes on a date with Jodi. Meanwhile, Phyllis is having trouble letting go of Alice.

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Lookin' at You, Kid
star
6.59
174 votes

#11 - Lookin' at You, Kid

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/3/2008

Jenny throws a party for the girls to get to meet their movie counterparts -- with mixed results. Shane stirs up drama between Dawn and Cindi, which escalates into bitter rivalry between The Planet and SheBar. Meanwhile, Alice is stunned by a basketball star's gay-bashing on national TV.

Directors: Angela Robinson
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Lifeline
star
6.63
213 votes

#12 - Lifeline

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/5/2006

As Tina finds herself attracted to men, Bette explores Buddhism and also hears good news on the work front. Both Alice and Kit try out speed-dating; Kit with Angelica's male nanny Angus and Alice with a lesbian vampire. Meanwhile, Dana receives devastating news about her illness, Helena pursues documentarist Dylan Moreland, Moira goes out as Max, and Shane's ex drops by to see her.

Directors: Kimberly Peirce
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Lassoed
star
6.64
177 votes

#13 - Lassoed

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/2007

Tina throws a cocktail party to get her gay and straight friends to know each other better. Penniless Helena is looking for a job. Shane takes care of her little brother, Angus' band is on the verge of a breakthrough, and at the art college, Bette's teaching assistant is having feelings for her. Meanwhile, Phyllis attends a ladies-only Texan night at The Planet.

Directors: Tricia Brock
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Lobsters
star
6.65
251 votes

#14 - Lobsters

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/22/2006

Shane opens her own styling business, and Bette loses her position as the sole provider for the family, forcing Tina to take up a job under Helena. Now back in L.A., Jenny introduces Moira to her surprised friends. Dana and Lara make plans to visit France while Alice still obsesses over Dana. Meanwhile, Kit is surprised by The Planet's new manager who wants to make some drastic changes to the place.

Directors: Bronwen Hughes
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lez Girls
star
6.65
233 votes

#15 - Lez Girls

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/4/2007

Bette's forbidden relationship with her TA, Nadia, could jeopardize her career. Alice, on the other hand, ends her affair with a married woman after meeting her husband. She also gets upset by one of Jenny's short stories which gets published in a magazine. Meanwhile, Angus is caught in a compromising position.

Directors: John Stockwell
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lacy Lilting Lyrics
star
6.66
207 votes

#16 - Lacy Lilting Lyrics

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/4/2007

Jenny and Tina look for the right movie director but butt heads over creative differences. Phyllis' husband drops by unannounced at Alice's place. Bette is falling hard for Jodi and lets her emotions interfere with her work. Kit manages to crack through Papi's hard outer shell – with unexpected consequences.

Directors: Bronwen Hughes
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LGB Tease
star
6.66
238 votes

#17 - LGB Tease

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/6/2008

Following the events of the season finale, Helena is imprisoned and no one can get a hold of her mother. Jenny finds a rich investor and schemes her way to directing Lez Girls the movie. Shane is about to sign a lease on a house with Paige. The Planet hosts a coming-out party for Phyllis, where Alice and Shane attempt to hook Tina up with someone who isn't Bette. Meanwhile, Bette is waiting for Jodi to come back home from New York.

Directors: Angela Robinson
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Lost Weekend
star
6.66
249 votes

#18 - Lost Weekend

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/2006

Kit hires a party promoter to get the business up at The Planet. Jenny and Moira run into hateful rednecks on their way back to California. Carmen's mother tries to make Shane more feminine, Bette and Tina try to find a male role model for Angelica, Helena helps Alice get over her obsession with Dana, while Dana herself deals with health problems.

Directors: Bille Eltringham
Writer: A.M. Homes
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Labia Majora
star
6.68
284 votes

#19 - Labia Majora

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/8/2006

Bette and Tina deal with parenting Angelica while attempting to rekindle their relationship and handle an obnoxious social worker. Alice has a traffic accident, Helena gets into the movie business, Carmen and Shane's relationship gets more serious as Carmen takes her to meet the parents, and Jenny, recovering at her parents', has had enough with the Midwest and ponders moving back to L.A. with her new girlfriend Moira.

Directors: Rose Troche
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Light My Fire
star
6.72
190 votes

#20 - Light My Fire

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/29/2006

While Tina and Helena attend a documentary screening, Bette leaves for Washington D.C. to speak at a Senate hearing and meets with Senator Barbara Grisham. Attempting to provide for both herself and Moira, Jenny puts her dreams of becoming a writer on hold and starts waitressing at The Planet. Jenny and Moira are also invited to a party hosted by Billie Blaikie where Moira meets like-minded people. Meanwhile, Carmen has to decide whether to give up Shane's opening party in exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to DJ at an exclusive VIP party, and Dana plays at a tennis tournament and declares her love for Lara in front of TV cameras.

Directors: Lynne Stopkewich
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Lay Down the Law
star
6.74
175 votes

#21 - Lay Down the Law

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/24/2008

Niki's multi-million dollar action movie opens, but allegations about her sexuality lead Tina and her manager to suggest she take a date -- a male date -- to the premiere. Jenny is banned from the theater causing Adele to take the reins for the evening. Shane and Molly continue to play mind games with each other. Jodi throws a dinner party to some couples, and Bette is devastated to learn Tina and her date are also invited. Meanwhile, Tasha goes on trial and Alice delivers a shocking statement.

Directors: Leslie Libman
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Little Boy Blue
star
6.75
175 votes

#22 - Little Boy Blue

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/11/2007

The girls spend a day at the horse tracks where Catherine and Helena risk it all. Max takes Grace home to meet his estranged family. Bette hosts a dinner party but her obsession over every detail gets on Jodi's nerves. Meanwhile, Jenny and Tina agree on a director, Kate Arden, who quickly becomes interested in Tina.

Directors: Karyn Kusama
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Layup
star
6.75
176 votes

#23 - Layup

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/2007

Bette meets the new resident artist, Jodi, but a controversial arts project in her class upsets a potential donor for the college. Papi challenges Alice and the girls to a basketball game. Max reveals a secret to his girlfriend. Jenny schemes her way into meeting Stacey Merkin's girlfriend. Meanwhile, Shane is struggling to scrape up money for a hospital bill.

Directors: Jessica Sharzer
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Latecomer
star
6.76
208 votes

#24 - Latecomer

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/26/2006

Jenny plans a charity event to support Max when they find out he can't pay for the top surgery. Helena takes the girls to a surprise trip to honor Dana in her recovery, and Carmen is still dealing with the aftermath of Shane's ex. Meanwhile, Bette kicks Tina out of the bedroom and tries to find peace in Buddhism. In a recording studio, Kit gets help from unexpected sources -- but is it too much to handle?

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Lexington and Concord
star
6.80
211 votes

#25 - Lexington and Concord

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/25/2007

Tina gets introduced to Jodi, and has second thoughts about leaving the lesbian life behind. Alice and Tasha argue heatedly over politics. Max hires an intern to help him with the workload on OurChart. While Shane and Paige steam up the car windows, and Catherine and Helena make a winning team at the poker tables, the rest of the girls attend the unveiling of Kit's new single at The Planet.

Directors: Jamie Babbit
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