Last Week’s Lost Girl Goes The Mature Route With Bo And Lauren Just Talking

That’s how you kiss someone like you’re scared every day you’ll lose ‘em and want to take in every moment.

One of the reasons Lois and Clark worked so well (besides Teri Hatcher’s insane like-ability) is that it wasn’t afraid to genuinely approach the relationship struggles of a super-powered guy and his girlfriend. There were whole episodes devoted to sex and pregnancy and, my particular favorite, an episode where Lois ran around throwing herself into pointless danger because she knew her fiancé would always save her. It was refreshingly honest. Void of the cynicism and “irony” shows often drift towards when dealing with “real” problems and the supernatural.

It made last week’s Lost Girl insanely fun for precisely the same reason. Lauren and Bo love each other dearly but being a human and a succubus they have one major relationship issue that’s kind of ridiculous in a world without fae but absolutely vital in Lost Girl’s universe. One of them needs sex to survive and the other physically can’t meet her girlfriend’s intense physical needs. The whole episode was these two trying to avoid talking about it because they cared too damn much to hurt one another. So Lauren was mainlining energy drinks and avoiding Bo and maybe starting fights so they wouldn’t see each other for hours at a time and Bo was bleeding internally and nearly dying to protect Lauren’s feelings.

It finally reached the point where Bo had to bang Dyson just so she’d live and when they came together it wasn’t the explosion of “finally” that their ‘will they won’t they’ relationship has had in the past. It was utterly tragic. He’s in love with her and she’s getting the goods and getting out of there because she wants to stay monogamous even if, as both Dyson and Lauren acknowledge, it’s physically against Bo’s nature.

What’s even more extraordinary is how Bo later handles the infidelity. Even in a tightly written thirteen episode season like Lost Girl’s third such a massive betrayal of a relationship would be milked. We are accustomed, in our dramas, to drawing out every little piece of pathos. Spreading it so thin it becomes dramatic gossamer that disappears with even the gentlest exertion of force. Bo telling Lauren what she’s done not twenty minutes later is the antithesis of modern tv drama. It’s good form relationship wise but it breaks every rule that’s been driven into our collective consciousness. Sitcoms and soap operas tell us things can only get better the more ridiculous they become. When really it’s just a ploy to avoid creating genuine characterizations.

Somehow, over these last few seasons Lost Girl’s has actually managed to create those genuine characters. What began as a poor-woman’s Buffy with quirky dialogue and lots of sex and a rare zinger of a line from the always flawless Kenzi, has become a drama full of characters with a whole swath of emotions that all react not how the plot dictates, but how their previous actions suggest they should. If that sounds like something silly to be astounded by then go look at Once Upon A Time where characters mood’s are determined by whatever guest star is on roster.

Bo seeks out her lover and is very clear on what she’s done and Lauren, being this hyper-rational, frigid and deeply passionate woman that she is simply accepts it. There is no cliffhanger. No screaming. Tears are shed and promises are made and these two women come together in a kiss that’s a bald attempt at keeping their own natures at bay.

This is a season where the conflict comes from within and what is more excruciating than lovers doomed by biology but desperate to try anyways?

Notes

• While Bo and Lauren battled Bo’s nature Kenzi was busy fighting an awful rash and looking for a friend.
• Meanwhile Trick told Hale to forget all about Kenzi (and now he’s on my burn list) and focus on being a hardass friendless Ash. AND HE DID. HALE BABY NO.
• And Tamsin decided she wanted to be this show’s Spike/Cordelia with the snark and efficiency. This is mid-series regular character introduction done right genre tv. TAKE NOTE.
• Also, I was so irritated when Bo just up and became a therapist because even if she has therapeutic super powers woah nelly is it unethical. So it was fantastic that Lauren voiced my concerns and then that became a couple thing they argued over.
• Bo’s drive to be monagmous was so angsty and perfect. As was nekkid Dyson.

I am all aboard the Doccubus train, but guys he gets nekkid every week and he looks good that way.

• Later Today or Early Tomorrow Because I Was Ill Last Week: Bo goes cray cray and something is up with Kenzi besides a gnarly rash.