Watch This: HBO’s Girls Season 2

Jan 14, 2013

Watch This: HBO’s Girls Season 2

Up until two days ago, I had only ever seen one episode of HBO’s newest hit show, GIRLS. I queued up the pilot a few months back and nestled into my sofa expecting to be wowed, inspired, entertained. I was anything but. Sure, there were a few funny lines sprinkled throughout, but really, I found it rather slow and sad–particularly the lack of self-respect displayed by the heroine, Hannah, when it came to the man in her life. (“He never texts you back,” “Where do you disappear to?” and “Will you get a condom?” “I’ll consider it,” are a few lines that stand out in my head. I just wanted to shout through the screen, Run, Hannah! In the opposite direction!) Suffice to say, I never made it to the second episode.

Fast forward to November 30. The lengthier GIRLS season 2 trailer is released (watch above), and boy oh boy, it. is. good. I’m talking dying laughing, e-mail all my friends, research season 1, learn all about the wunderkind writer, director, star Lena Dunham, and plan a date on my couch to finish the first season. (Just watch the trailer. You’ll see.) So this weekend, I buckled down for a GIRLS mini-marathon (there are only ten 30-minute episodes in season 1) so that I’d be fully prepared for the season two premiere which debuted last night. Long story short? The show IS great. And funny. The characters are real. You probably know someone just like each of main characters. It’s similar to Sex and the City in all the right ways and different in the ways that matter; the former being it’s set against the beautiful backdrop of NYC and viewers have four main characters to enjoy and identify with, the latter being these girls live in cramped apartments on the other side of the river and don thrifted wardrobes, have bad jobs or no job at all, and date mediocre men. It’s REAL. This is what life in your twenties is like for many of us. Lost. Broke. Defeated. Trying to figure it out. And that’s the beauty of the show everyone is talking about.

The best part of all? The main character, Hannah, is played by 26-year-old Lena Dunham who also happens to write, direct, and produce the show. So each and every episode I’m reminding myself, she wrote this. She created this. She is starring in it. And I’m completely inspired by her talent and drive and want to learn everything about her and how she got her start.

I’ve included two other clips from season 1 that I particularly love to entice you all to start watching if you don’t already…

Do you watch GIRLS? What are your thoughts on the lifestyles, characters, and plots within the series? Did you catch the season 2 trailer? And which girl is your favorite? I’m currently loving the ditzy delight that is Shoshannah, in large part thanks to her accidental run-in with crack. Hard to explain.

Lastly, congratulations Lena and the ladies on winning two Golden Globes, including best comedy!

– Alaina

alaina kaczmarski

http://www.ColorHug.com/ Lauren M.

I am in love with this show! I ended up watching the majority of the first season in one night…started around 1am and ended at 5am. I just could not turn it off and go to bed! I also was pleased to find out that Lena carries so many roles behind the scenes and especially being so young. True inspiration. I enjoy Hannah for her humor and awkwardness, Shoshannah for her naivety yet adventurous side and Jessah for being a free spirit. I am not a fan of Marnie; she seems to be draining in the friend department. Overall, I am so excited about this season and for the various plots to unfold.

http://www.ColorHug.com
Bec Feldman

The best TV show I have ever seen. Lena Dunham is my idol…
http://twitter.com/allysonfulcher Allyson Fulcher

I absolutely love the crack-sident episode! I’ve seen it at least five times!
Chloe Moon

I love this show and I agree, part of the glamour is the praise of lena dunham…good for her to be such a jack of all trades and really pulls it off! I can’t wait to see Season 2!!! =)

Ergo – Blog
heather

I actually need to start watching, I like you, need to give it a second chance!
thanks!
http://twitter.com/staffbens s • c • b

I’ve loved this show since I first watched it at my friend’s place – he’s a guy and thinks it’s brilliant (and sometimes TMI). I made the guy I was dating at the time watch an episode with me and a bunch of his dude friends when I was at his place once, and none of them got the humor and kept asking why I was making them watch it! Howwww rude. I think it’s absolutely real humor and bold. I just wish I had HBO so I could watch it all the time! And the trailer for season 2 seems incredible.
Rosa Joseph

Great show! As with you, I was not impressed with the first episode. However, if I take the time to watch the first episode of a show, I typically vow to watch at least two more before I make a final decision. And, by the 3rd episode of Girls, I was hooked! It’s so real and un-glamorous, which is what life is 3/4s of the time!! I love it! Stayed up after the golden globes last night (in which Lena Dunham won 2 globes!) to enjoy the Season 2 premiere and it’s full of the same humor that draws you to the show!
Annietucker

started with season 1 last night can’t wait to watch more!
grace

I can’t believe how similar our experiences with this show
were! Like you said, I clicked onto an episode once, and immediately dismissed
it as another lame comedy. It wasn’t until after all my friends from my office
at DISH kept talking about how great it is that I decided to give it another
shot. Luckily, I was easily able to catch up in time for the season two
premiere, since the whole first season is available to rent from the
Blockbuster @Home service through DISH, which always has the most talked about
shows and movies. Now I’m absolutely hooked!
http://kelseyelizabetha.blogspot.ca/ Kelsey Elizabeth

I am absolutely smitten with this show! I had a girls part last night with some girlfriends and it is definitely going to become a tradition. Her writing is amazing and speaks to women in such a fresh way. Can’t get enough of Lena mania!
- Time Stand Still
Anna Hecksher

I really can’t get over this show. I see a little bit of myself in every character and some of the situations are so similar to my life it’s ridiculous. Lena Dunham has done the best job of capturing the way it really feels to be young and confused. She definitely deserved the Golden Globes!
Louise Murphy

I love Girls. Its very good and I think that is all down to the fact that it is real and we can relate to it as girls in our 20s. Lena is a very very talented 26 year old!! Cant wait to start watching Season 2
http://twitter.com/TheCuratorblog Dervla Kelly

yay can’t wait to watch it tonight! I put it off because of the golden globes but i have a date with my couch tonight (and Downton abbey too)
Chelsea Briche

love this show, so real!! Trying to navigate through life in your twenties can truly be something else. If you feel like you are stuck living your life in reverse check out my website http://eighties-baby.com xoxo
Nragognetti

Loved the season finale “I am 13 lbs overweight, and it has been AWFUL for me MY WHOLE LIFE!!!”
it’s so absurd that I say it to myself whenever I’m upset about something and it just makes me laugh….
http://www.onceuponarecipeblog.com/ Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe

I also watched the mini-marathon of season 1 on Saturday and oh my goodness, I adore this show. The realness, the hilarity, it’s just too good. I’m excited to watch along with season 2! PS. Shoshannah is totally my favorite. I love the things that come out of her mouth.
http://twitter.com/TheFeistyHouse Krystal K.

Haven’t ever watched Girls. Based on reviews (upon reviews, upon never-ending reviews), I’m not sure I’d be interested. Everyone says this show is so true-to-life, but it honestly doesn’t sound anything like my life now, or in my earlier twenties. I’ll probably watch an episode from Season 2 just to be sure. Kudos to Lena Dunham for all her success though!
Melanie Beatus

I LOVE GIRLS! And Shoshanna is my number one favorite–I love when she asks which Sex and the City character are you..hilarious!!
amanda

I love GIRLS and have since the first episode. This time last year the media seemed to be up in arms about GIRLS but not it seems like they are converts. I wonder what happened given that the content and context of the show is relatively unchanged (thankfully). I agree that there are definitely a ton of cringe worthy semi-sad moments but I also that that is true to life. Who hasn’t dating a guy that they shudder to think about now? Who hasn’t snagged a $20 from their parents post-25 y.o.? The list goes on. I also agree that the show lends itself, as mocked by Shosh herself, to say, I’m a Marnie, or I’m a Jessa, but it seems any cult-ish show really does that (e.g. I am a Robin Scherbatsky). I guess I feel vindicated by GIRLS, meaning that I think it is for us, by us. Lena/Hannah is perhaps the voice of a generation.

amanda
http://thingstoholdandstir.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/essiebabe1992 sarah liz

Meh, this show is super over-hyped. I think I’d be able to tolerate it better if Lena Dunham was only behind the scenes.
http://www.thedreameryblog.wordpress.com/ Diana

I absolutely love this show!! It is just hysterical and real, but what makes me admire this show is the amount of talent that Lena has!! Can’t wait for this season!
http://oatcoutureblog.wordpress.com/ Hayley @ Oat Couture

Ah I did exactly the same as you! Watched the season 1 pilot and wasn’t a fan but hearing all the hype and watching those clips makes me think I need to get back on board!! Hilarious!
http://lushnluxe.wordpress.com/ Joanna

I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet, but your review has strongly encouraged me to see the pilot.
http://livingmylifeasiknowit.wordpress.com/ Christina Tamm

Thanks for the this post. I quickly got caught up on the episodes and this is such a perfect show for twenty something girls.