HBO’s Girls. It’s raw, awkward, real… And it works.
Lena Dunham is the powerhouse behind the new series, Girls, and for good reason. She’s the writer, creator, producer, and star actress in Girls, and presents a very real perspective into the lives of 20-somethings living in New York. Being a 20-something myself, I’ve related with Dunham’s quirky writing in more ways than one.
Watching Girls, there are times I think, “I shouldn’t be watching this,” due to the sheer embarrassment you share with the cast. There are plenty of sex scenes, folks, and no, they are not ideal. Laughter will ensue. The intimate scenes are so imperfect at times, that they seem even more real, if that makes sense. Dunham reveals more than just her nude body in Girls, and I applaud her for being so bold. Winning two golden globes for her efforts were not in vain. Unfortunately, the show has been spotlighted for racist speculation, due to the all-white cast. As much as I can understand the legitimacy of this accusation, I don’t agree with it. Bluestockings Magazine illuminates the situation well, as they claim Girls was targeted due to its female author. Other shows with all-white casts, like Sex and the City, Seinfeld, and Friends, all set in New York City, were all written by men and were not criticized for being racist. I believe Dunham’s choice (albeit ignorant and possibly naive) to cast all white women was an innocent product of being true to herself and her writing. There’s a famous saying we all know that states, “To write well is to write what you know.” Well, I think Lena Dunham knows young, white girls. It’s as if any production that does not immediately diversify their cast racially are branded racists. Overkill, much? Anyway, let’s not forget Girls‘ genius executive producer and overall successful human being, Judd Apatow, and his wonderful collaboration with the show.
Every character has apparent flaws, and instantly makes them more relatable. The dialogue is eccentric, compelling, and tackles truthful issues that young women face. These characters are real girls, with real bodies, and real problems with confidence, money, careers, relationships and sex. There are no model-thin, perfectly made-up, not-a-strand-out-of-place girls in sight. It’s awesome. Finally, I get to watch a show that won’t psychologically distort my standards of body image. My only grievance is the level of intensity the awkwardness reaches. Watching Girls for the first time, the intimate scenes were so shocking and unorthodox to what I’m accustomed to, it was hard to commit to the season. Dunham could have lightened up the load the first few episodes to prevent scaring away her audience. However, lightening up the unembellished acting/writing would detract from what the show signifies: reality.
Often times I would watch the show with my father.
He would ask me, “This isn’t really how it is, though, right?” I hesitantly respond, “Actually Dad, this is pretty realistic. Things get awkward.”
And that is what Girls is about. Currently watching Season 2, which airs on HBO Sundays @ 9 pm.
Cons: The awkward level could very well be too much for people, along with the realistic sex scenes. But, if you’re being completely honest with yourself, you know you’ve had similar, awkward occurrences as the characters in Girls. It really comes down to how uncomfortable you’re comfortable being.
Fun Facts: Lena Dunham gives her own interpretation after each episode about what she wanted to convey to the audience, and how she accomplished that. It’s very insightful if you’re thinking, “What the hell is the Director thinking?” The interviews with Dunham really helped me grasp the point behind some of the decisions she made.
I give Girls 4.5 stars out of 5!
Follow the show on Twitter like I do! Or check out this this funny interview with Lena Dunham on Conan, and a more serious interview with her about her career development!
Talking About Talkies 
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