Girls: season three, episodes one and two – Females Only/Truth or Dare
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Version 0 of 1. <em><strong>Spoiler alert:</strong> this blog is published after Girls airs on HBO in the US on Sunday. Do not read on unless you have watched episodes one and two (which air in the UK on Sky Atlantic on 20 January)</em> <strong>Females Only</strong> Well, they certainly started this season with a bang. The excruciating and hilarious confrontation between Adam, his ex Natalia and her friend played out in full before the title screen had even run. And that one scene contained everything that makes Girls such an unsettling and unique show. It was uncomfortable, dark, ridiculous and extremely funny. I loved the friend’s false declaration of pregnancy, and the moment when Natalia finally cracked and started screaming about how Adam and Hannah would kill their kids. “That’s Hannah?” she asked, incredulous. “Did you leave in a rush?” What an opener! <strong>Hannah</strong> Hannah is medicated, living with Adam and writing her book again. In fact, she’s so back on track that she’s ready to invite her friends over for tacos and ice cream, much to Adam’s horror. On the evidence of these first two episodes, Lena Dunham appears to have stepped back slightly in terms of Hannah being the main focus. Her storyline had got so dark by the end of last season that it needed a little bit of light and air. So here it is. Of course, she’s still as self-involved as ever, comforting Marnie with a spectacular humblebrag: “This isn’t the appropriate time to discuss my incredible professional endeavour.” But at least she seems <em>happily</em> self-involved. <strong>Jessa</strong> The episode belonged to Jemima Kirke, really, as Jessa wrought destruction on yet another stay in rehab. She took down Kelvin, a fellow patient whose main trauma appears to be the irreversible tide of gentrification. She made a lifetime enemy out of Mindy by accusing her of wearing scrunchies. But what finally got her kicked out was the outing of, and subsequent going down on, Laura, who had been molested by her uncle. “I feel like you’re being a bit whiney,” she said. The humour here was pitch-black and the writing was truly sharp. Jessa claims she already “figured out my shit when I was five years old”, but despite her bolshiness this unfinished rehab stint had made her seem more vulnerable, not less. <strong>Shoshanna</strong> There wasn’t much Zosia Mamet, which is always a shame, but Shoshanna is continuing with what she describes as “the beginning of a somewhat sexually adventurous time for me”, waking up after a bunkbed conquest in a shared room as the episode kicks off. I love the ways she repositions her behaviour into a sort of career-boosting extra credit project, but I suspect she might be the one to unravel, Marnie-stye, this year. <strong>Marnie</strong> Marnie is my least favourite of the Girls. Though I get that she was the one with the most to lose, who then lost it, I find her hard to sympathise with. The writers swiftly explained Charlie’s absence (actor Christopher Abbott left abruptly in April) with a fantasy of a possible brain tumour – a case for Oliver Sacks, suggests Hannah – and it certainly didn’t feel like a rushed fix; it was very much part of the show. This opener put Marnie back on the up and though she’s still on the sofa at her mum’s under Rainbow Brite sheets, she’s moving back to the city. “I’ve already fixed everything.” Hmm. <strong>New Girls</strong> Danielle Brooks, who plays Taystee in Orange is the New Black, was “fat gay Laura”. Richard E Grant also appeared in what looks to be a meaty role as Jessa’s rehab friend Jasper, though I couldn’t quite gauge whether he was being paternal or pervy, which is not a good thing to be uncertain about. Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon played “methface” Mindy. It wasn’t exactly a natural performance, but I did enjoy how much she hated Jessa. <strong>Stereo watch</strong> The song playing over the end credits was It’s On by Broncho – which already has an “as heard on Girls” note on its YouTube page. <strong>Notes and observations</strong> • There was a moment of pure slapstick in Jessa’s “male ban”, which of course sounded like the more sensible sanction of a “mail ban”. The “females only” sign was a silly, funny gag. • It’s unlikely, but I enjoyed at least entertaining the idea that Rita Wilson’s dismissal of Charlie – he’s no Ryan Gosling or Channing Tatum – might have been a sly dig at Abbott. • It’s often discussed but was this the first time we had a direct explanation of what Hannah actually writes? Her editor said: “You write about jerking a kidney stone out of some Puerto Rican Jew’s dick.” Blimey. But it’d be good for nerve.com, apparently. • Ray’s got a new shop but Hannah and now Marnie are still working for him. • Adam contributes to the rent with his grandmother’s money, but also whatever he makes from selling papier maché. Cute. • Marnie’s middle name is Marie – which is, as she points out, one letter away from her first name. Which is weird. Truth or Dare It’s time to pick Jessa up from rehab, and the long drive gives Shoshanna the chance to offer a belated recap of season two: “Adam was there for you when you went totally batshit insane and decided to cut your hair like a little boy on a fancy cookie box.” This wasn’t quite as “bam-bam-bam” quippy as the opener, but it was another strong and confident 30 minutes. I’m now hugely optimistic for this season. It’s funnier than its predecessor and there’s a real sense that it has a confident, clear identity now, and is totally comfortable in that. <strong>Hannah</strong> Hannah gets the least out of the road trip. She doesn’t want to hike, she’s bored in the back, and is disappointed when she discovers that driving a long way is simply driving a long way, and isn’t a metaphor that she can use in her book. With actions that challenge her earlier stance on the true nature of female friendship, she effectively boots Shoshanna out of their motel room so she can have sex with Adam. Though on the flip side of that, her love for Jessa appears to be unshakeable, no matter what she does. That hug at the end was surprisingly moving. <strong>Jessa</strong> Jasper offers what could be a precis of Girls as Jessa prepares to leave rehab: “Of course, being young is terrifying as well. You have all of the knowledge but none of the language to dissuade yourself from the horrible truths of the world.” However, what initially seems to be a friendship based on mutual wisdom quickly turns – he’s at the end of his secret stash, and in a state of mania insists they were “always going to fuck”. It’s a credit to Jemima Kirke that Jessa’s reaction isn’t straightforward disgust or indeed disappointment – it’s more complex than that, and is even a little maternal, just in the briefest flicker of a look. Though she’s left rehab, I hope there’s more of these two. It’s a fascinatingly tricky pairing. <strong>Shoshanna</strong> Zosia Mamet turns Shoshanna up to 11 this episode, driving Adam crazy with her car singing, asking questions like “what is your favourite utensil”, insisting that a woman’s menstruation would cloud her judgment so there shouldn’t be a female president and trying to teach everyone truth or dare. If last episode belonged to Jessa, Shoshanna gets to shine this time. She is a brilliant creation, brilliantly played. <strong>Marnie</strong> There wasn’t much for Marnie to do except feel a little bit left out of the road trip, but we did see her moving back to the city – into her "new shitbox”, according to her mother. <strong>Stereo watch</strong> There’s a singalong in the car to Maroon 5’s One More Night. Until Adam smashes the car stereo with his fist (not entirely unreasonably). • The closing track was Completely Not Me by Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley fame). <strong>Notes and observations</strong> • “I’m really not hungry so if you could just order me pancakes and turkey bacon, and I guess if they don’t have turkey bacon I’ll have regular bacon. And a milkshake thank you.” This is a very familiar conversation. • In college, according to Hannah, Jessa danced on the quad in rain boots and a bikini and juggled knives. There’s an image for you. • Hannah is Adam’s best friend. His confession in the woods was simple and incredibly sweet. • Still, Hannah would rather listen to This American Life than go for a walk. • “There’s an airport?” “It’s a very small one.” • Adam is grunting like an animal a lot this season – has he always done that, or have I just never noticed it until now? <strong>So what did you make of the new Girls? Let us know below. </strong> Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |