The L Word Interrogation Tape of Helena Peabody
The Breathtaking Progressive Dishes on Loyalty and Catherine's Money
Following on the heels of Tina's and Shane's interrogations, Helena's tape is more lighthearted and playful than those of her predecessors. Though her interrogation closely resembles the structure of the others, in terms of containing a secret and some sort of confession, the revelations in this webisode generally verge on humor rather than trauma.
Helena’s Connection to Alice
The tape does start out rather seriously, and is strikingly similar to Shane’s in its mention of Alice. In fact, Helena says for the record that “Alice was the first real friend [she] ever had.” She then goes on to comment that Alice was there for her and would support her, expecting nothing in return.
Although these remarks certainly highlight the themes of loyalty and friendship that have been emphasized throughout the series, they also seem oddly misplaced and detract from the real matter at hand: the question of who killed Jenny Schecter. Regardless of how well-intended the comments are, when they are viewed in light of the statements made in Shane’s tape, the overemphasis on Alice seems to serve mostly as a poorly-timed reminder that, lo and behold, the spin-off is coming.
Helena Spreads the Love
After the serious and straightforward mention of Alice, the tape takes a more light-hearted turn as the fallen heiress makes a confession to Sergeant Duffy. The big secret this time is what happened to the money that Helena stole from her ex, Catherine Rothberg, a wealthy and well-traveled gambler who capitalized upon Helena’s sexuality in her ploy to make millions in high-stakes poker games. Helena has already served jail time for her offense and has no fear of retribution, so when the detectives begin to inquire, Helena readily offers an explanation as to what exactly became of all that money.
Thoroughly satisfied with herself, Helena takes great delight in explicating how she formulated a plan to dispense of the money in a way that would make Catherine “the most angry.” She explains that because Catherine was a “George Bush Republican,” a “free-market capitalist," and a "social conservative,” she had taken the liberty of distributing the wealth (Robin Hood style) to a variety of progressive organizations, including Planned Parenthood and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
In this way, Helena’s tape veers sharply from that of either Tina or Shane. Rather than revealing a weighty or thoroughly traumatic secret, Helena’s revelation instead seems to inspire laughter or a sense of vigilante justice. Raising her water glass and offering a toast to Catherine, Helena concludes her “confession” with a smile.
Rachel Shelley’s Performance
Regardless of the circumstances, the audience can rely on Rachel Shelley to never miss a beat. Unlike Katherine Moennig (Shane) or Laurel Holloman (Tina) who appear stiff and unnatural in their tapes, Rachel Shelley remains true to Helena’s character. She switches seamlessly between vulnerability and carefree flirtatiousness as she transitions from an explanation of how Alice has been her only true friend to the description she gives as to what became of Catherine’s money.
Similarly, in step with her flawless acting, Shelley and Lucy Lawless (Sgt. Duffy) play off each other brilliantly in this brief webisode. When the male detective leaves the room, Sgt. Duffy can’t help but be drawn to Helena, calling her “breathtaking.” Both fully in control, the two actresses build on this comment and successfully ratchet up the sexual tension in the room. When the male detective finally returns with a coffee for Sgt. Duffy, Helena asks for a coffee as well…or, better yet, a drink. Shamelessly flirty in these moments, Shelley effortlessly reminds us of the exact way in which she has crafted Helena to own a room.
Conclusions and Implications for Upcoming Tapes
With Tina’s, Shane’s and Helena’s interrogations down, there are just a few more to go. And, the creators and producers are doing a good job of stringing us along. With only little insight as to who (or what) killed Jenny Schecter, it seems we’re on the hook to come back next week and find out a few more pieces in the grand puzzle.
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