Shane McCutcheon’s (Katherine Moennig) hook-ups and relationships on The L Word have established her character’s phenomenal effect amongst audiences and fans alike. While these relationships contribute to our understanding of Shane - her friends would say that someone is always falling for her - she is also honest and loyal, an expert at real talk and listening. Shane's relationships have always allured fans, with the Shane-Carmen (Sarah Shahi) ship enduring as an all-time favorite. The original series tracks her progress as a hairstylist, and when The L Word: Generation Q opens, Shane is a millionaire with multiple salons. She says, to a crowd at her bar for her birthday party, if you know her, you know that she earned her success. We also learn that Shane has gotten married and a divorce since we last saw her, opening up the floor to potential new love interests for her.
Shane starts a relationship with Tess Van De Berg (Jamie Clayton), who is, at first, a co-worker and friend. Tess is the head bartender at Shane’s bar, Dana’s, but is so much more than that. She's an entrepreneurial firecracker who works a poker game and is magic at relating to people and spreading her positive energy around. Shane is experienced at working with high profile clientele worldwide, and as potential business partners in the restaurant and entertainment industry, Tess and Shane are primed for success. Shane opens a poker game at Dana’s for Tess, knowing she will make it the hottest in town, telling her, "the game is yours". Shane gets fired up seeing Tess in her go-getter stride. From Tess’ perspective, her and Shane becoming partners at Dana’s, nevermind a couple, wasn’t assured for most of the season. So, Tess walks a smart line between engaging other business (the side poker game) and performing well at Dana’s. Shane relates to Tess' determination and focus, which helps to build trust between them.
Tess is an alcoholic and she is devoted to her recovery. She drinks one night, early in the season, but goes to a meeting first thing the morning after. She counsels Finley (Jacqueline Toboni), who has alcohol abuse problems, and separately, her girlfriend, Sophie (Rosanny Zayas), about their relationship. Tess insists to Shane they drive a drunk Carrie (Rosie O’Donnell), Tina’s (Laurel Holloman) fiancée, home after she gets physically and emotionally smashed at one of the poker games. When we see Tess alone or with other characters, Tess appears compassionate and in-control of her recovery. Tess’ recovery shows that you can be messy but still manage to get up and walk on forwards. Shane struggled with alcohol and drug dependency in the original series; she seems in control of these behaviors, but Tess’ recovery is a lifestyle and one Shane could learn from. This is just another example of how Tess challenges Shane and inspires her to live her life to the absolute fullest and with the most meaning, and this helps form a sense of connection and understanding between them.
Tess’ mother has dementia, so she goes to Las Vegas to see her whenever necessary. Never a clinger, Shane understands that Tess needs to leave and admires her generosity in caring for others, and Tess can feel her appreciation. Shane knows that family is important, too, as in The L Word, Shane’s younger brother, Shay (Aidan Jarrar) lives with her briefly and this is a responsibility that Shane takes seriously. Tess always speaks with honesty and directness to Shane, early on about her sleeping with her then-girlfriend and now about her feelings for her, and direct talk is a language Shane respects, of course. The way that they don't have to hide behind things and can look at each other dead in the eye makes for a comitted and natural bond between them, speaking the same language that no one else can understand.
At the end of Episode 8, Shane travels to Las Vegas, where Tess is seeing her mother, and shows up at Tess’ hotel. Right before, Tess is on the phone, assuring someone she is in touch with her sponsor, as well as her sponsees and attending meetings. She is about to climb into bed, lace booty shorts on, after a probably taxing day. Shane knocks on the door, clear and ready - she wants to be with Tess, both in that moment, and in general, and Tess is on the same page. In Episode 9, Shane and Tess make their first public appearance as a couple at Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina’s pre-prom party for their daughter, Angie (Jordan Hull). They flow, the kind of couple who easily separate at a party and link back up (to kiss in the pantry). When Tess leaves to meet Sophie, who is in crisis over Finley’s drinking, Shane gets it and doesn't try to possess Tess.
Shane counts on Tess’ stability, and it makes her feel good. For Tess, being seen by Shane is important to her recovery. Theirs is a worn-in trusting, largely due to being intimate as people before becoming lovers. As the series heads to its finale, renewal news as of yet unannounced, the teaser indicates that they run into some tension. Let’s see how their grounding is tested when conflict arrives; their toolbox is packed.