For many fans, the series “Girls” has become an outlet to let out pent up aggression onto self-important and often highly unlikable characters.
But the show’s following is apparently strong. In fact, HBO rescheduled its fifth episode of “Girls” to Saturday night so it wouldn’t conflict with Sunday’s flop of a Superbowl.
Dunham’s nuanced writing has the audience’s interests peaked, even in the midst of utter destruction.
In this week's episode, Hannah’s continued severe lack of empathy, immature impulsivity and tactless self-involvement stagnates.
The episode, titled “Only Child” highlights all of Hannah’s flaws, summed up by the fact that Hannah has never had to care about anyone but Hannah.
The episode opens at her editor David’s funeral. She makes her way through the service, making painfully detached small talk with Adam.
In the previous episode, we learned that death brings about no emotional response from Hannah and that she will instead resort to feigning that emotion via a fake story in order to appear sane to her boyfriend.
Characteristically, Hannah now asks her editor’s grieving widow where she can find a new publisher - at the funeral reception of said widow’s husband.
Her insensitivity is downright laughable when she asks if her ebook is “dead” at the wake. Punny, Dunham. The sad reality though, is Hannah’s apparent ignorance of her lack of empathy. The guilt that follows moments of selfishness stems not from a genuine sense of right and wrong but from a fundamental misunderstanding of human emotion.
So when Hannah meets with a new publisher who raves over her work, even offering her a real-life not-an-ebook book deal, we can only care momentarily. And when her dreams are dashed due to contractual obligations, we shrug. She had it coming. She shouldn’t have handed over every dysfunctional story of her last twenty-five years over without guarantee of publication. This should serve as a reality check. Hannah should really just get a job maintaining a twitter account.
Even if fans did muster up some pity for this major pitfall, it was quickly counteracted by her manic thoughtlessness when she kicked Adam’s extremely mentally unstable sister out on to the street.
Dysfunction is a universal condition, and it can be beautiful, but Hannah’s plight is becoming disturbing to watch unfold. Clearly though, it’s far from unwatchable.
Meanwhile we get quick check-in scenes with the other “girls”. Jessa and Shoshanna are living together, Shoshanna refocusing on her studies and her “15 year plan” and Jessa is apparently watching strange nighttime dramas whilst doing some serious introspective contemplation.
Marnie seeks to improve herself, in the most logical way she can think possible, which is apparently to ask Ray to tell her what’s wrong with her and then subsequently have sex with him.
By far, the highlight of this season has been Adam Driver’s performance as Hannah’s boyfriend, Adam. In it’s second issue, “So It Goes,” a relatively new small arts magazine, profiled Driver in an interview this past year in recognition of his talent.
The actor is a compelling character in and of himself, a former Marine who graduated from Julliard. We hang on for Adam. What could be inside his incredibly complex soul?
