'The L Word: Generation Q': In a bid to safeguard her campaign, Bette meets with the youth of LGBTQIA community
Spoilers for season 1 episode 2 of 'The L Word: Generation Q' titled 'Less is More'
Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) is running for mayor of Los Angeles. Through a clean campaign, she wishes to bring to fore some of the grave issues the city has been facing - opioids and the growing homelessness problem. Which is why she refuses funding for her campaign from Núñez Incorporated, a company that is contributing to the drug problem of the city.
In the pilot episode last week, funding is hardly the issue threatening her campaign. During a live press conference, a man named Tyler Adams openly accuses Bette of having an affair with his wife, who at that time was one of Bette's employees. The accusation immediately endangers her electoral race. But not just that, it also ruptures her relationship with her daughter Angelica (Jordan Hull) who finds out about the accusation on social media.
In order to respond to the accusations, Bette makes an appearance on Alice Pieszecki's new talk show and reveals that she is just like any other citizen - "the part of you that wants to do better". Also adding that while she might not be the perfect messenger, she sure has the perfect message. Her earnestness prompts Dani (Arienne Mandi) to switch sides and quit Núñez Incorporated and join Bette's campaign.
Now in order to do some damage control, Bette is scheduled to present a talk at an LGBTQIA centre. Dani ensures that the press is not present for the talk; she believes that the talk will have a better impact with the press absent and that Bette should rely on her young audience to spread the message through their social media.
And much to the surprise of Bette's campaign manager Pierce Williams (Brian Michael Smith), the trick works in her favour. The very heartfelt conversation brings to fore the issues faced by the youth of the LGBTQIA community - estrangement from families and friends and homelessness being the most important ones. The youth also sees a trans ally in Bette and trust her and her campaign enough to support her, hence securing one section of the LA community for Bette.
Going forward, it remains to be seen how Bette will be taking her campaign forward. We are guessing there will be a debate upcoming in the next episode or so.
'The L Word: Generation Q' airs on Sundays at 10/ 9c on Showtime.
