GIRLS (Nina Gioia)

With the third season of GIRLS fast approaching, premiering January 12, 2014 at 10pm,  I’d like to take a moment to refresh our memories.  The show focuses on the lives of four girlfriends living in New York City, delivering an honest, funny, and satisfyingly uncomfortable first two seasons.  I found myself feeling so connected with each character that I almost felt like their fifth friend (and I don’t think I’m alone on that).

The pilot episode introduces a not-so-successful dinner conversation between Hannah (Lena Dunham) and her parents which accurately portrays their relationship right off the bat. Hannah is twenty-four years old living in the city, working as an unpaid intern and living off her parents’ allowance.  For some reason the thought of getting a real job and paying for her own expenses is a debilitating reality for Hannah.  As an aspiring writer, work has been sparse and income non-existent.  Struggling throughout the season monetarily, Hannah faces romantic issues as well.  Her want for Adam’s (Adam Driver) affection leads to multiple forms of degradation which is accepts as normal.  I hated Adam throughout most of the season, but he really turned around for me at the end of season one and into the second season.

Marnie, (Allison Williams) Hannah’s best friend and roommate is introduced to the show expressing her unhappiness with current boyfriend, Charlie (Christopher Abbott).  He’s way too nice and she can’t get him away fast enough.  In Marnie’s defense I can see how the relentlessly doting boyfriend can get old quick.  Her eventual break-up with him leads to endless games between the two of them for the rest of the show.  Whether it’s her jealously of his new girlfriend or his disinterest in her once he gets back on his feet in season two, Marnie and Charlie are doomed from the start.  It’s hard not to feel sorry for Charlie and I consistently wanted to scream at Marnie to shut up and go away through the TV screen (well, in my case, computer screen). 

Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) and Jessa (Jemima Kirke) were my favorite characters.  Their first interaction is hilarious; showing their complete oppositeness and depicting their characters in full.  Shoshanna’s non-stop babble had me laughing every time she was on camera.  Even when she wasn’t in a scene I would hope for her to show up in the next.  Free spirit and world traveler, Jessa, is always leaving her friends out of the loop and in fear that she is about to bolt at any second.  Her carefree attitude has a way of drawing people (usually men) in effortlessly.  To date, her relationships with men have yet to end well.

These first two seasons have been a huge success for creator, Lena Dunham, and HBO.  I have seen a few sneak peaks of season three and it looks just as good if not better than the first couple.  I eagerly look forward to the upcoming season in January so I can be reunited with the GIRLS.