The essential episodes of The L Word

Watch these 15 in order and you've got The L Word — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · January 15, 2004 · 1h

   Pilot (Part 1)7.0

   Jenny moves to L.A. and meets her new lesbian neighbors.

2. 02

   S01E11 · Top rated · March 21, 2004 · 1h

   Liberally8.0

   Tina's grief is eased by volunteer work; Bette defends the gallery against a right-wing attack; Marina has a fight with Francesca.

3. 03

   S01E12 · Top rated · March 28, 2004 · 1h

   Looking Back8.0

   Bette hires an attractive contractor to set up for the gallery's new show; Tina, Jenny, Shane, Alice and Dana take an eventful trip to Palm Springs.

4. 04

   S01E13 · Top rated · April 4, 2004 · 1h

   Locked Up8.0

   Bette lands in jail thanks to a near-riot at the gallery; Marina contemplates life without Francesca as Tim and Jenny discuss divorce.

5. 05

   S01E14 · Season 1 peak · April 11, 2004 · 1h

   Limb from Limb9.8

   Tina learns the truth about Candace; Dana loses a friend but gains a fiancee; Jenny finds herself in another romantic quandary involving Marina that pushes Tim further away.

6. 06

   S02E03 · Season 2 peak · March 6, 2005 · 1h

   Loneliest Number7.8

   Kit preps The Planet for its grand reopening. Shane becomes Jenny's new roommate and Bette's emotional tailspin continues.

7. 07

   S03E10 · Season 3 peak · March 12, 2006 · 1h

   Losing the Light8.3

   When Dana takes a turn for the worse, Alice keeps vigil at her bedside; Carmen drops the unexpected on Shane; Bette finds inner peace elusive; Jenny introduces her ex-husband Tim to Max; Tina settles in with Henry.

8. 08

   S04E03 · Top rated · January 21, 2007 · 1h

   Lassoed8.3

   Bette embarks on an ill-advised affair with a teaching assistant, and her boss Phyllis comes out; Jenny tries to dig up dirt on the journalist that panned her book; Tina throws a party; Shane gets Helena a job at WAX.

9. 09

   S04E09 · Season 4 peak · March 4, 2007 · 1h

   Lacy Lilting Lyrics8.7

   Tina and Jenny have creative differences over the development of their movie; Alice and her friends console Phyllis's heartbroken husband; Bette and Jodi's relationship might go to the next level if Bette can curb her Type-A personality.

10. 10

    S05E09 · Top rated · March 2, 2008 · 1h

    Liquid Heat8.3

    A heat wave causes temperatures to rise between Bette and Tina, who are trapped in an elevator by a power outage, and between Molly and Shane, whose attraction is discouraged by Phyllis; Jenny catches costars Nikki and Greg together.

11. 11

    S05E10 · Season 5 peak · March 9, 2008 · 1h

    Lifecycle8.4

    A memorial breast cancer bike ride becomes the unlikely setting where Bette and Tina reveal their rekindled passion, Jenny and Nikki shoot a steamy video, Molly stalks Shane, and Alice and Tasha consider a major move.

12. 12

    S05E11 · Top rated · March 16, 2008 · 1h

    Lunar Cycle8.1

    The enigmatic and mysterious Adele finally makes a power play and usurps Jenny as the director of "Lez Girls," while Bette finalizes her breakup with Jodi, and a distressed Kit loses financial control of The Planet to Dawn and Cindi.

13. 13

    S06E03 · Season 6 peak · February 1, 2009 · 1h

    LMFAO8.3

    The negative of Jenny's movie goes missing, while Shane's apologies to her are finally noticed; Jenny dismisses Alice's aspiration to write a screenplay; Phyllis shares a secret with Bette; Kit and Helena open a new nightclub.

14. 14

    S06E07 · Top rated · March 1, 2009 · 1h

    Last Couple Standing8.2

    Rumors fly around a dance marathon that Alice and Tasha are having relationship trouble; someone plans a move to the Big Apple; Kit meets a real man; there's a no-show at the bus station.

15. 15

    S06E08 · Series finale · March 8, 2009 · 1h

    Last Word6.9

    A celebration of friendship ends in a web of betrayal and deceit as the girls find themselves in the slammer with a detective investigating the death of one of their own.