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Unlike many typical coming of age TV shows, many of the main characters have qualities that paint them as less than perfect. For example, the main character Hannah (played by Lena Dunham) has a toxic relationship with Adam, a sexually perverse guy who clearly uses her for sex though she sees their relationship as more substantial. Hannah also has a sense of entitlement about her life in New York, as early on in the pilot episode she tries to convince her parents to pay for her living expenses so she can pursue her dream of completing a book of essays. Hannah’s friend Jessa (played by Jemima Kirke) is a young world traveling libertine with few responsibilities; she gets a babysitting job simply because she’s bored, and she’s quick to excuse any reckless indulgence in her life.
So yes, the characters on Girls are less than perfect, and sometimes you can get quite worked up about what they do during the course of an episode. This isn’t a show where the purity and innocence of the main characters is constantly challenged by stereotypically “bad” foils; every character on Girls makes mistakes and carries their flaws, just like everyone does in real life. There’s something appealingly unappealing about Girls, something that rings true through all the mid-twenties angst, the somewhat hipster NYC backdrop, and the constant handwringing about guys. To be sure, the show doesn’t capture the essence of any one generation or group of women, but it certainly tries hard to portray a genuine human experience. And in this age of escapist genre TV, that’s something worth noting.
Better yet, it makes Girls something worth talking about.
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Samantha Gray is a freelance writer. Her writing often focuses on providing information about obtaining an online bachelor degree. She also writes writes poetry and short fiction. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to samanthagray024@gmail.com.
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Wow, what's with this really poorly written, dumbed down, college post? "ain't going
May 18, 2013 5:18 PM -
The shows that are cited made have been created by women, but look how many women were hired to
By Maria Giese onWomen Created Shows That Have Been CanceledMay 18, 2013 3:16 AM -
May 18, 2013 12:31 AM
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This is wonderfully articulated -- thanks for reposting, Melissa!
By Maria Burton onWhy Society Needs FeminismMay 17, 2013 8:19 PM -
Even show's like ABC's hit series, "Once Upon A Time," one of my favorites that
By deejae onWomen Created Shows That Have Been CanceledMay 17, 2013 6:35 PM
4 Comments
Vickie | June 7, 2012 1:29 PM
Melissa - I've been reading your blog for some time now, and I cannot express what a useful tool it has become in my own process of navigating the entertainment industry. Access to the kind of information you write about isn't easy to come by, unless perhaps you are already an industry 'insider.' I also wanted to just say that I think this post is one of the best written posts by a guest contributer that I've seen thus far. I love that you incorporate other voices and are willing to share this platform. You are probably aware of this, but I think this blog is helping to "pull up" other women in(to) the industry simply by providing the most powerful tool of all: information. So, anyway - thank you!
SunFlowerEnthusiast | June 6, 2012 6:18 PM
I think the show is OK. I'm just not sure whether to see it as a series with a plot or like a sitcom. As for the nepotism thing, i wouldn't say any of their parents are so famous to get them their own TV series, I've only ever heard of Alison William's dad
ronni | June 6, 2012 3:41 PM
Girls is brilliant! Cut the crap about nepotism, all 4 girls are incredibly talented!
Bob | June 6, 2012 12:31 PM
That show is a piece of crap. Lena Dunham owes ALL of her success to nepotism. End of discussion.