GIRLS

Girls is a Sex and the City style single-white-women sex com about four privileged girls romping around New York City. We watch in horror as they magnify both their trite and significant issues with the laser-focus of a kid trying to fry ants with the sun. These women are all insufferable. They are terrible people. While viewing the show I definitely said the word ‘UGH’ out loud more than I’ve ever written it and that is truly saying a lot. The show is the brainchild of writer-director-actress Lena Dunham, and everyone has an opinion about her. As I’ve witnessed it, people loved her and now they hate her. From where I’m sitting, the show was wildly popular when it first aired five years ago. As the characters became more unbearable and Dunham’s eyebrow raising memoir was published, the acclaims became less and less… ‘critical.’ It seems as though people found the show funny and endearing and entertaining, and now the characters are too cringey to be adored. Why can’t anyone see their horribleness as being the point of the entertainment? (And on that subject, why does everyone hate Ramsey more than Joffrey because for some reason I really enjoyed watching Ramsey’s harrowing cruelty - wasn’t that the point? And why does everyone complain every time someone dies because that is the ride Georgie Martin is TAKING. US. ON. and it’s a lot more pleasant if you decide to see it as entertainment rather than something to be irritated by? Oh right, I just remembered. Outrage is the new Black. Nevermind.) 

When Girls first aired it was too widely received for me to be interested. (I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel…and a contrarian, it’s what I do.) It just looked so AWFUL. Desperate women who think they’re a lot brighter than they are while eternally whining about their first world problems. Weeeelllllllll as the viewers turned on Dunham, (I recently saw someone somewhat accurately describe her as a wet piece of ham,) I decided to bite. The dissent was attractive to me. The sixth and final season began a few weeks ago, so I binged the entire show a few months before. (I love how it’s somehow ok for me to say “I binged (something)” and it will be accepted. See also: my blog title.) After watching fans grow less excited about Girls, I learned to view the characters with a certain lens. One that prepared me for the gross display of juvenile ineptitude. Having accepted that perception, I really enjoy the show!! No, really! This could be a scathing review but in my opinion, the unbearable spectacle of these tone deaf infants is THE amusement of the show. If it isn’t viewed through this position, what’s the point in watching? Is this making sense? Cuz it was somewhat complicated for me to articulate. DOES ANYONE FEEEEEEL ME?

One of the flaws I’ve spotted is writers bending personas in favor of the story. After discussing this with a blog consultant, friend, and fan of the show, - Mallory; I’m wondering if I feel this way because of the way I consumed the show - through bingeing. A character changing their personality would definitely be a lot more palatable and understandable over an extended period of time. Like I’ve said before - this could be why HBO still releases a show once a week - the show makes more sense in tiny potent doses of our ‘fix’, like those unrealistic commercials of women savoring a single piece of chocolate at a time like it’s the last time they’ll ever see chocolate. HAHA RIGHT. HBO is trying to teach us delay of gratification, something we’ve seemed to have forgotten about or never learned to begin with….(see also: me devouring an entire bag of chocolate.) Girls is genuinely funny. Funny enough to keep my snobby husband ‘hate-watching’ it. (His words.) The humor carries the weight of the melodrama and oblivious despair. The comedy is definitely a big part of the shows appeal. As with Sex and the City, there are many set-ups and falls. Maybe there’s a satisfaction in watching these girls get slapped in the face by the reality of life. No, there’s definitely a satisfaction in that. 

My husband claims Adam Driver is the only reason why he watches the show. I must admit, my introduction to Driver was the latest Star Wars and he is quickly becoming my new favorite actor. (See also: Lakeith Stanfield - CALL ME BOO.) Driver’s get-me-out-of-my-own-skin awkwardness is just what the show needs. The juxtaposition between his insecurity and the girls’ misplaced security is smart. His physicality is unrivaled. He steals every scene he’s in. His ability to control his emotional, verbal, and physical discomfort is captivating. What’s more, is that Driver gets to play an actor on the show. And a GREAT one at that. This is like an actor’s dream. He gets to play someone playing actor, getting to wear various masks and OWNING. IT. Driver is nuanced and interesting and leaves you wanting more. (Note to self - must see Paterson.)

Lena Dunham has stated the series will end as you expect it to, which to me, means giant face-slaps all around. And I’m happy for that. She says fans of the show will love the ending and I’m interpreting that as each girl falling flat on her ass, seemingly never having learned a thing in the show’s exhaustive six seasons. Who wants a neatly wrapped bow when you can have torment and tragedy?? Besides, that’s what truly makes a person overcome their immaturity, is it not?