The L Word Interrogation Tape of Max Sweeney
Identity, Failed Relationships, and the Secret of the Toothbrush
After Tina’s tape that took on the weighty issue of incest, Shane’s tape which tackled arson, and Helena’s tape that sent sparks flying between she and the detective, Max’s tape is rather bland. It is neither comedic enough to inspire outward laughter as Helena’s did, nor is it compelling enough to inspire shock, as did Tina's.
French Fries and a Salad
Max starts out by discussing the general pretentiousness of the other characters and how out of place he felt when he met them for the first time at a fancy restaurant. Max notes that he ordered just french fries and a salad because he only had thirteen dollars in his pocket. Under other circumstances, this tale might have positioned Max as a heroic "everyman"; however, here the story falls flat, thereby serving little purpose except to place additional emphasis on his awkward position within the group.
“She Saw Me For Who I am”
As the tape progresses, Max becomes increasingly emotional. The male detective is simply put out by all of this while Sergeant Duffy (played by Lucy Lawless) pushes Max to “spit it out.” Max comments that Jenny was the only one who could see him for who he is and that she had an uncanny ability to “read” people's "inner thoughts and desires." He pays Jenny a high compliment by explaining that she helped him "come to terms" with his identity.
Yet, through Max's description of Jenny, the audience also sees the manipulative and controlling side of her character. Max goes on to explain that she had a real "power" over him, and Sergeant Duffy puts words in his mouth to explain that his boyfriend, Tom, might not have left had it not been for Jenny. However, Max says, it’s hard not to forgive her. The emotional stranglehold that Jenny had on Max is evident in these reactions which oscillate between resentment and indebtedness and have clearly impacted his ability to function in an emotionally healthy way.
Max Did What With the Toothbrush?
As Max continues to talk, the tape becomes more and more ridiculous. He finally comments to the detectives, “I’m not sure I should be telling you all of this; it’s just coming out, you know?”
With a lead-in like that, the audience expects that Max might have something profound or revealing to share; some piece of information that would lend insight into who killed Jenny. However, when Max finally makes his confession, it is not at all what the audience expects. His guilt, apparently, stems from the fact that, in a moment of anger, he had used Jenny’s toothbrush to clean the bathroom floor.
Disgusting, sure, but a confession of this nature hardly seems to warrant the look of guilt that streaks Max’s face.
Daniela Sea’s Performance
With a melodramatic plot that lacks in substance, this is not the stage for a noteworthy acting performance. The emotion is over-done for the content and the final scene where Sea puts her head in her hands could just as easily inspire mocking laughter as it could encourage pity and empathy.
Ultimately, no additional information about Jenny’s death is given to supplement the other tapes and audience members are simply left to watch the next tape in the sequence and hold their breath that it will be better than this.
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