We’re processing the second season of The L Word, which takes a dark turn into more heartbreak, childhood trauma, new (read: dramatic) relationships, voyeurism and the male gaze, and a whole lot of whispering.

We’re processing the first season of The L Word, introducing the characters and all their drama—from Bette and Tina’s hunt for a sperm donor, love triangles, everybody coming out, and Shane’s awful leather ensemble.

Before we launch into our season-by-season recap, we start with introductions and offer a primer on The L Word, queer women’s culture and a quick history of LGBTQ2 representation on TV.

Launching Oct 30, Off The Chart is a new, eight-episode podcast discussing and debating the groundbreaking TV series The L Word.