Scattered Thoughts on the Male Gaze and Lesbian Erotica in "The L Word"

I started watching The L Word just before its penultimate season. I was 14 and while I had some concept of the themes and intrigues, I missed a lot of the nuances in the content. Once the final season rolled around, I dutifully watched it week by week (remember those days?!) and was incredibly disappointed with the story direction. Amid rumors and then confirmation that The L Word, like every other television show in TV history these days, is coming back, I have started to re-watch the series (which is infinitely more entertaining now that I live in LA and understand the jokes that are based on neighborhoods). While at times the content really draws attention to very real issues facing women, transgenders, and the lesbian community, the show can be absolutely cringey in terms of the actual sex that takes place. Often, my bemused roommate will interject with "that's now how it's done!"

Watching The L Word, I just wonder for whom the rampant sex scenes are staged for? Are they working for the male gaze or are they attempting to undermine it? I can't help but think of a typical male erotic fantasy of seeing two women have sex before his very eyes. The L Word seems to oblige them that, but I am not sure whether or not the sex scenes are meant to empower the lesbian female gaze and the lecherous male gaze simply functions as an unintended byproduct? Most of the episodes are written and directed by women (contrast this, to say, the particularly vivid and gratuitous sex scenes of Blue is the Warmest Color) and as a subscription service show that doesn't rely on across-the-board appeasement of the masses, my question still remains a bit open.

Anywho, just as another random tangent, The L Word was pretty damn progressive in terms of social issues, holy moly. It deals with transgender issues, racial issues, sexuality issues, the Iraq War, drug problems, etc. It's truly overwhelming at times how many things this show juggles.