The show, although broadly about having sex with your neighbors, is about the women: their relationships with each other, of course, but more importantly, about their inner growth in a time of political and social upheaval.

I am vastly impressed by the writers’ ability to turn “women’s lib” into something that’s not a cliché, that doesn’t feel like you’re being beaten with a plotstick, and exhibits real growth on the part of the women (and yes, the men, too) involved.

I’m not even certain that I can do this episode justice by describing it. I’m afraid of turning the characters into cardboard archetypes or offending readers…if you will forgive me for both, and don’t mind some spoilers, read on. But most of what I want you to come away from has already been said, and I highly recommend the show as a feminist exercise.

Janet and Susan used to be next door neighbors & best friends. Susan recently moved across the street from Trina and they are quickly becoming good friends. Janet and Susan are wives and mothers, who are used to filling their days with cooking, Tupperware parties, and concern for their charges (both the children who are children and the men who merely sometimes act like them). Trina is married, too, but hangs out with corporate (female) lawyers at the Playboy Club in her spare time, throwing swingin’ parties (in all senses of the word, although the Basement is optional for her guests), and just generally having a life and interests that are separate from, if complementary to, her husband’s.

Janet fears that Trina’s corrupting Susan, and she’s right. Susan has started thinking and acting for herself. The person who really takes this hard is her husband. Susan wants to go to one of Trina’s infamous parties without her husband (the party is slightly different and she’s not going to partake in basement antics, but to make a political statement: you don’t own me), which he forbids her from doing. She goes anyway, and manages to convince Janet to, as well.

There’s a wonderful moment when the three women, upon entering Trina’s home, link arms and support each other emotionally. Susan’s learning that she can be autonomous, Janet knows that Susan is still her friend and will support her regardless of her choices, and Trina knows how hard the path is that each of the walks. She’s their guide as they get to the other side.

That’s why I keep watching Swingtown.