Thompson on Hollywood

'Girls' Recap 10: Saving the Worst for Last

Television

If last week’s episode dealt with body horror (ass splinters! lodged Q-tips!), this week’s episode deals with the horror of finishing things. Hannah struggles -- but not too hard -- with wrapping up her barely inchoate manuscript, while “Girls” struggles with capping off its second season in a coherent, consistent fashion. It fails.

By Beth Hanna
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March 18, 2013 12:30 AM
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'Girls' Recap 8: OCD and AA in an Episode That's All Over the Place

Television

“It’s Back” works hard to juggle four different storylines. Two are successful, and two are cringe-inducingly out of left field.

By Beth Hanna
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March 4, 2013 12:33 AM
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'Girls' Recap 7: In 'Video Games,' Ben Mendelsohn Guest Stars as Jessa's Flaky Father

Television

In Season One’s “The Return,” we see Hannah and her parents in their natural Horvath habitat, Michigan. In Season Two’s “It’s About Time,” we’re offered a brief glimpse of Jersey girl incognito Marnie’s passive-aggressive relationship with her mother. In this week’s episode, “Video Games,” we’re introduced to Jessa’s father (Ben Mendelsohn) and gain some insight into his character, and the characteristics he’s transferred to his daughter.

By Beth Hanna
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February 24, 2013 9:30 PM
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'Girls' Recap 6: The 'Boys' Aren't in Kansas Anymore, Toto

Television

One of the things I’ve admired about this season of “Girls” is that it has no obligation to regularly check in with each of the four “leads” of the show. Instead, certain characters are more central in certain episodes, in an organic way, while supporting characters are given a surprising amount of interiority.

By Beth Hanna
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February 17, 2013 9:30 PM
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‘Girls’ Recap 5: ‘One Man’s Trash’ a Two-Hander for Dunham and Guest Star Patrick Wilson

Television

In “One Man’s Trash,” Joshua (Patrick Wilson), a handsome, disgruntled neighborhood man, confronts Grumpy’s manager Ray about trash from the café that’s being foisted into his personal garbage bins. Hannah follows Joshua back to his gorgeous Willamsburg brownstone and confesses that she was the culprit. They end up spending the next day and couple of nights together -- talking, having sex, and (mostly) enjoying each other’s company.

By Beth Hanna
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February 10, 2013 9:30 PM
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'Girls' Recap 4: And After All, Where's the Wonderwall?

Television

We haven’t seen much of Jessa or Shoshanna so far in the second season of “Girls,” making their highlighted storylines in this week’s episode refreshing. “It’s a Shame About Ray” deals with the difficulty of relationships, and how being in love and feeling used can overlap.

By Beth Hanna
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February 2, 2013 10:35 PM
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Lena Dunham Talks Success, Image Misconception, Franco, Fey and Poehler in New EW

News

In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (on newsstands February 1), "Girls" creator and recent Golden Globe winner Lena Dunham talks her surprise meteoric rise, the misconception that she comes from a rich family, James Franco as a TV critic, Globes hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and more.

By Beth Hanna
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January 31, 2013 2:32 PM
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'Girls' Recap 3: 'Bad Friend,' or the One Where Hannah Does Lots of Coke

Television

Aspiring writers are often encouraged to write about their own experiences, a tactic that “Girls” creator and star Lena Dunham uses frequently. But sometimes, when a young writer doesn’t feel she or he has “lived” enough, an experience is contrived with the sole intention of then writing about it. Enter Hannah Horvath’s insane night on cocaine.

By Beth Hanna
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January 27, 2013 9:30 PM
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HBO Renews 'Girls' For a Third Season

Television

HBO has renewed "Girls" for a third season. Star and executive producer Lena Dunham (who also writes and directs episodes of the show) reportedly told Alec Baldwin in a Podcast earlier this week that Season Three would begin filming "at the end of March."

By Beth Hanna
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January 24, 2013 11:41 AM
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'Girls' Recap 2: The Girls 'Get Ideas,' But What Do They Want?

Television

In the epic Hannah vs. Marnie blowout last season, Marnie snaps at Hannah, “I like to be around people who know what they want!” This line is particularly relevant in Sunday night’s all-new episode, “I Get Ideas”: Do the young women of “Girls” know what they want?