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Look, I've been taking care of people my whole life. It's about time I started to take care of myself.

Tina, "Lap Dance"

Tina Kennard is a main character in The L Word and a recurring character in its sequel The L Word: Generation Q. She is portrayed by Laurel Holloman and debuts in the series premiere.

Tina is a nurturing and patient individual, willing to lend a sympathetic ear to those in need. She can get caught up in taking care of her loved ones, taking on their problems and prioritizing their needs, to the point of ignoring her own.[3] Over time, her pent up resentment can lead to bouts of passive aggression.

Tina is a successful film producer, but initially gives up her career to start a family with her long-term girlfriend, and eventually ex-wife, Bette Porter, leading to the birth of her daughter Angelica Porter-Kennard. A homebody with a pragmatic outlook on life, Tina is at first glance dismissed as a "boring"[4] "little housewife"[5]. When her relationship with Bette falls apart, she realizes the importance of having her own autonomy and starts to assert herself, initially throwing herself into volunteer work before rebuilding her career in the film industry.

Background[]

Early life and family[]

Tina was born to a suburban[6] family in Yuma, Arizona.[1] Her father was a "rabid right-wing" Republican who served as the mayor of Yuma for three terms. Her mother initially tolerated her father's extramarital affairs, but a particularly serious affair was the last straw, and Tina's mother left him, taking her children with her and moving them to Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother died around the time Tina graduated from college.[1]

Childhood abuse[]

Starting from when Tina was around 11 years old, she was sexually abused by her older sister for three years. Tina was unaware that she was being abused at the time, thinking that the sexual "roleplaying" was what normal children did. Her sister eventually moved to Texas and became a born-again Christian who now thinks that Tina is going to hell for being in a relationship with a woman. Tina has never told anyone about the abuse and no longer speaks to her sister.[1]

Meeting Bette[]

LW S01E11 Eric and Tina 02

Tina and Eric attend an art opening at the Bette Porter Gallery.

After college, Tina worked in the film industry as a producer, moving up the ranks until she was heading up development at Alphaville studio.[7] She began dating an entertainment lawyer named Eric.[7] One night, Eric was invited by journalist Alice Pieszecki to an art opening at Bette Porter's gallery, and he brought Tina along as his date.[8]

Although she had never been with a woman before (discounting her sister's abuse), Tina was immediately drawn to Bette. Tina and Eric were subsequently invited to one of Bette's famed artist dinners, and Tina later returned to the gallery alone to retrieve an earring she had lost at the dinner, which Bette had found and kept for her. As Bette handed her the earring, the pair shared their first kiss.[7]

LW S01E11 Bette and Tina flashback 01

Tina and Bette's first kiss in 1996.

Dating Bette[]

Tina and Bette started dating and Tina moved into Bette's house at some point.[9] By this time, Tina had become a pretty successful[10] producer and was responsible for some of acclaimed filmmaker Kate Arden's favorite films.[11] However, Tina did not earn as much as Bette and so she let Bette control all of their finances. Consequently, all of their assets were legally under Bette's name.[9] At the turn of the millennium, Tina and Bette threw a Y2K party at their house. It was during this party that they first met Dana Fairbanks, who had been invited by Alice.[12]

LW S03E11 Alice Shane Tina and Kit

Bette and Tina's Y2K party.

Several anecdotes have been shared of Bette and Tina's history prior to the series. Notably, Bette once took Tina to one of Pippa Pascal's art shows in Harlem, New York City, and Tina was greatly moved by Pippa's work.[13] Another time, Tina and Bette were on a luxury yacht with the likes of fashion designer Valentino, when a US Senator entered their state room with his boner exposed, and tried to invite himself into their bed.[14] The couple have also gone on vacations to countries such as Nepal[15] and India[16]. During their trip to Jaipur, India, Bette got really sick with food poisoning; Bette lost ten pounds and was so weak that Tina had to practically carry her through the city.[16]

Lead up to The L Word[]

After seven years together, Tina and Bette have decided to start a family.[10] They originally wanted to adopt a child, but figured that as a lesbian couple they would never be selected as parents due to the way the adoption system works.[17] Instead, Tina has given up her career at Bette's urging[9] so as to carry their child.[10][18]

Throughout the series[]

The L Word[]

Interrogation Tapes[]

In between[]

Ten years passed between end of The L Word and the start of Generation Q. During this time, Tina and Bette got married but the marriage only lasted a couple of years and they got divorced around one year prior to GQ.[19] Tina was the one to instigate the breakup,[20] wanting to step outside of Bette's dominating shadow to find herself. They remained on good terms for their daughter, Angie, who was left in Bette's care.[19] Tina subsequently found love again with another woman, Carrie.[20][21]

Generation Q[]

In "Loose Ends", Bette's campaign to become mayor of Los Angeles is scandalized by her affair with a married woman. Following a confrontation between Bette and the woman's husband, Angie calls Tina who immediately comes over to help.

Physical appearance[]

Tina is a tall and slender blonde. She has an attractive lithe figure, with good definition of hips and feminine curves. A pair of dimples accentuate her natural features, complimenting her hazel eyes. She's is a classic beauty with traditional soft features.

Personality[]

Tina is shown as submissive in OG season one, often compromising herself and putting Bette before her needs. She gave up her career and ambition to build a family with Bette.

After Bette cheats and Tina leaves her, the latter discovers herself new self, where she's not fragile anymore, making Bette worry that the brunette lose her in that process.

By season five, Tina blooms into a new version of herself where she's not perseived as the submissive "wife" of Bette Porter anymore. She learnt to voice her needs and stand her ground, calling out on Bette when necessary yet giving Bette her own space.

Tina's character is written as a complex yet compassionate, patient and understanding person. Following her tragic childhood, she has daddy issues, and more of dark trauma embedded deep within her due to her getting sexually exploited and abused by her own sister.

In Gen Q season one, it's shown Tina left because she felt like Bette took up her space and she needed to have her autonomy back. Amongst her and Bette, she's the one parent who bonds more with their daughter, Angie. During crisis, Angie trusts her Mama T to gather her other mother and handle things. It's shown Tina often calms Angie down during the teenager's emotional conflicts, always supporting her daughter yet expressing her own views in an understandable manner.

Relationships[]

Notable relationships[]

Episode appearances[]

The L Word, season 1
Episode Appearance Status
"Pilot"Appears
"Let's Do It"Appears
"Longing"Appears
"Lies, Lies, Lies"Appears
"Lawfully"Appears
"Losing It"Appears
"L'Ennui"Appears
"Listen Up"Appears
"Luck, Next Time"Appears
"Liberally"Appears
"Looking Back"Appears
"Locked Up"Appears
"Limb from Limb"Appears
The L Word, season 2
Episode Appearance Status
"Life, Loss, Leaving"Appears
"Lap Dance"Appears
"Loneliest Number"Appears
"Lynch Pin"Appears
"Labyrinth"Appears
"Lagrimas de Oro"Appears
"Luminous"Appears
"Loyal"Appears
"Late, Later, Latent"Appears
"Land Ahoy"Appears
"Loud & Proud"Appears
"L'Chaim"Appears
"Lacuna"Appears
The L Word, season 3
Episode Appearance Status
"Labia Majora"Appears
"Lost Weekend"Appears
"Lobsters"Appears
"Light My Fire"Appears
"Lifeline"Appears
"Lifesize"Appears
"Lone Star"Appears
"Latecomer"Appears
"Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way"Appears
"Losing the Light"Appears
"Last Dance"Appears
"Left Hand of the Goddess"Appears
The L Word, season 4
Episode Appearance Status
"Legend in the Making"Appears
"Livin' La Vida Loca"Appears
"Lassoed"Appears
"Layup"Appears
"Lez Girls"Appears
"Luck Be a Lady"Appears
"Lesson Number One"Appears
"Lexington and Concord"Appears
"Lacy Lilting Lyrics"Appears
"Little Boy Blue"Appears
"Literary License to Kill"Appears
"Long Time Coming"Appears
The L Word, season 5
Episode Appearance Status
"LGB Tease"Appears
"Look Out, Here They Come!"Appears
"Lady of the Lake"Appears
"Let's Get This Party Started"Appears
"Lookin' at You, Kid"Appears
"Lights! Camera! Action!"Appears
"Lesbians Gone Wild"Appears
"Lay Down the Law"Appears
"Liquid Heat"Appears
"Lifecycle"Appears
"Lunar Cycle"Appears
"Loyal and True"Appears
The L Word, season 6
Episode Appearance Status
"Long Night's Journey Into Day"Appears
"Least Likely"Appears
"LMFAO"Appears
"Leaving Los Angeles"Appears
"Litmus Test"Appears
"Lactose Intolerant"Appears
"Last Couple Standing"Appears
"Last Word"Appears
The L Word, Interrogation Tapes
Episode Appearance Status
"Bette"Mentioned
"Alice"Mentioned
"Tina"Appears
"Shane"Absent
"Helena"Absent
"Max"Absent
"Niki"Absent
Generation Q, season 1
Episode Appearance Status
"Let's Do It Again"Mentioned
"Less Is More"Mentioned
"Lost Love"Mentioned
"LA Times"Mentioned
"Labels"Absent
"Loose Ends"Appears
"Lose It All"Appears
"Lapse in Judgement"Mentioned
Generation Q, season 2
Episode Appearance Status
"Late to the Party"Appears
"Lean on Me"Mentioned
"Luck Be a Lady"Mentioned
"Lake House"Mentioned
"Lobsters, Too"Appears
"Love Shack"Absent
"Light"Mentioned
"Launch Party"Absent
"Last Dance"Appears
"Last Call"Appears

Quotes[]

Gallery[]

Notes and trivia[]

  • Tina's pregnancy in The L Word season two was not part of the writers' original plan, but had to be written in because of the actress Laurel Holloman's real-life pregnancy at the time.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 The L Word, Interrogation Tapes: "Tina".
  2. The L Word, 4x04: "Layup".
  3. See "Lap Dance" (TLW 2x02), "Literary License to Kill" (TLW 4x11), and "Loose Ends" (GQ 1x06).
  4. The L Word, 1x07: "L'Ennui".
  5. See "Lap Dance" (TLW 2x02) and "Lez Girls" (TLW 4x05).
  6. The L Word, 3x01: "Labia Majora".
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 The L Word, 1x11: "Looking Back".
  8. The L Word, Interrogation Tapes: "Alice".
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 The L Word, 2x02: "Lap Dance".
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 The L Word, 1x01: "Pilot".
  11. The L Word, 4x10: "Little Boy Blue".
  12. The L Word, 3x11: "Last Dance".
  13. Generation Q, 2x09: "Last Dance".
  14. The L Word, 4x05: "Lez Girls".
  15. The L Word, 2x04: "Lynch Pin".
  16. 16.0 16.1 The L Word, 5x08: "Lay Down the Law".
  17. The L Word, 1x08: "Listen Up".
  18. The L Word, 1x05: "Lawfully".
  19. 19.0 19.1 Generation Q, 1x06: "Loose Ends".
  20. 20.0 20.1 Generation Q, 1x03: "Lost Love".
  21. Generation Q, 1x07: "Lose It All".

External links[]

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