Review: HBO’s Girls

By Catherine Bergin

Aaahh, post-college life in the Big Apple. It’s the life everyone desires: paid internship at your dream job, a shared apartment with your best friend, financial independence, and dating the guy of your fantasy. Welcome to the life of Hannah Horvath, the central character on HBO’s “Girls.”

Hannah has been laid off from an unpaid internship and can no longer afford an apartment. Her parents cut her off financially and she’s in a title-less “relationship” with a guy who, according to Hannah, “treats my heart like it’s monkey meat.” Doesn’t sound too desirable, does it?

While Hannah’s less than ideal circumstances may not be ones you would wish for yourself, they make for great television. Think “Sex and the City” without the stick-thin stars, thousand dollar shoes, and endless Prince Charmings.

Lena Dunham, the 26 year old writer, director, and star behind “Girls” is the mastermind behind the process. Fresh out of Oberlin College at 24 years old, Dunham drew from real life experiences as well as her creative writing background to write the show. She constructs hilariously quirky, sweet, and often awkward scenes—ones that viewers, regardless of background, can identify with.

“Girls” follows Dunham’s character, Hannah, and her three friends as they try to navigate their new, sometimes exciting, and often cringe-worthy experiences with an honest, fresh tone.

Senior Alexa Marks ‘13 calls the show “different, because Lena Dunham picks up on emotions and feelings that most shows don’t explore.”

There are points where the viewer may suspect Dunham of reaching into their brain and verbalizing their inner most fears, thoughts, and vulnerabilities. Whether it be through Hannah’s dependence on cupcakes for comfort or a character admitting that the guy she occasionally sees “never, ever texts [her] back,” the show is relatable. If you ever feel that you “don’t have any special skills,” or that you are “unfit for any and all paying jobs,” Girls assures you that you are not alone.

Perfect for transitioning college and high school students (though definitely R-rated), Dunham’s production focuses on real life experiences and dilemmas, whether they be an overly-touchy boss, a one-sided relationship with a boy, or the feeling that one’s “entire life has been one ridiculous mistake after another.”

So, if (like central character Hannah Horvath) you are tired of feeling alone in your cupcake obsession, are “an individual and…feel how [you] feel when [you] feel it,” or are just looking for a show worth your time, “Girls” is for you.