Critic Reviews

Unlike the other phony "Housewives," when these L-women party, it's for real. The dialogue is gritty, funny and real.

Do you miss Shane? Stay up nights worrying about Bette and Tina? This reality version of the defunct lesbian drama is just what the homeopathic West Hollywood doctor ordered.

At a full, commercial-free hour, this can all start to drag a bit. But L.A. is strongly evoked as a casually sensual backdrop and-thank you!-that awful L Word theme music is gone.

It's pretty clear The Real L Word is just another reality show that's only moderately real --the further adventures of "The L Word" with a non-SAG cast.

Too often The Real L Word feels like sitting in a restaurant and hearing about some incredible specials that happen to be sold out. Anything genuinely interesting seems to have already taken place.

It could spark discussion or debate. But it's mostly just a reality series. And that means manufactured scenarios, big drama, tears, tattoos, drinking, sex, swearing and lots of arguing and playing to the camera. Straight people have been making fools of themselves on TV like this for ages.

But aside from endearing couple Cori and Kacy, who document their struggles to have a child, the constant drama and she-said-she-said babble become as tiresome as the antics of another SoCal-set reality show--The Hills.

We've seen that moment many times before, from gays and straights. That doesn't mean we can't see it again. It just means The Real L Word needs to feel like more than a Facebook post.