Thursday 14 October 2010

Paying Lip Service

I got back from fencing late last night and ended sprawled on the couch watching Lip Service, despite it being on BBC3 (it was on after Family Guy and I was too lazy to change channel).

I learned several things about contemporary lesbianism.

1. Lesbians have sex.
2. Almost all lesbians are deliciously middle class.
3. All lesbians work in the creative industries (architecture, photography, acting, TV).
4. All lesbians live in delightful loft apartments.
5. All lesbians conform to magazine definitions of attractiveness. This applies to their straight male friends too. They have no straight female friends.
5. All lesbians live out their lives with a Delgados soundtrack.

Hold on a second. Either I'm one too, or Lip Service is just another soap opera with all the realism of Dallas. Obviously there are caveats - I'm clearly not the target demographic (hip young lesbians and fat dads).

If you listen to the boasting of TV executives, this is a ground-breaking piece of experimental drama. On the other hand, if you've seen The L Word or any glossy drama with heterosexuals, you're on very familiar territory.

It's This Life with very little added. I won't be going back.

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