If you're a twenty-something, you should be watching GIRLS on HBO.
- Judd Apatow is a writer and producer on the show: Judd freaking Apatow! How can you deny anything that man has done? The creator of Freaks & Geeks (which was cancelled for reasons I can never comprehend) and basically everyone's favorite comedies. You name a hilarious movie, this man made it. He's a genius. He's perfect. This show just is another masterpiece he's a part of.
- Self-Discovery: I'm about to be a senior in college and from what I've heard & seen, the transition from the comforts of college to being an actual adult in the real world can be rough. TV shows and movies tend to sugarcoat this rough times in our lives, but GIRLS keeps it real. The show's pilot episode begins with the main character Hannah (Lena Dunham) getting cut off from her parents and telling her she needs to get a real job. She can't be in her mid-20's with an unpaid internship and her parents, as they say, "funding her groovy lifestyle". This whole scene sets the stage for the series as Hannah embarks on getting a real job and finally growing up.
- You Are Beautiful -- Seriously: All five of the girls the show centers around are very different in many ways. Unlike you're typical show, it's not all size zero girls who eat cheeseburgers for every meal and don't gain a pound. Dunham, the creator of the series and main writer, realizes that we're not all a size zero. The show is infamous for all the naked Hannah that we see and although at times we may cringe, Dunham doesn't have the perfect body. She is comfortable in her own skin, all the girls are. This positive self image continually radiates. Yes, there are times where Hannah may say she hates herself, but don't we all? We all have moments where we are unhappy with our bodies, but in the end, no matter what shape or size; we are all beautiful.
- We're all a little self-centered...: It's true. It's undeniable. No matter what you may say, every single one of us is a little bit self-centered. When you're a twenty-something, the most important person in your life is you. Hannah doesn't stop talking about herself and manages to make every situation about her. Jessa lives in her own little bubble and runs away from every sign of struggle or problematic situation. Shoshanna is Shosh. There's really not much more to say. Once you meet her, you'll just understand. Marnie has a smothering boyfriend and once they break up, she falls apart and goes into a downward spiral. While they're all friends, you can tell that sometimes they just love themselves more than each other.
- It's freaking hilarious: During a break up Hannah quotes Missy Elliot as defense. Seriously. This show is so hilarious in the most honest way. The unbeatable creative team of Dunham and Apatow come up with some of the best lines in any TV show I've seen lately. The way pop culture is so intricately weaved into this show is perfection.
All in all, these ladies are the voice of our generation. Every episode is relatable on some level. The struggles of a twenty-something are real and the show dramatizes situations the same way we all do in our minds. If you're not watching, get it on. If you don't have HBO, steal a friend's HBOGO password or find it illegally online (yes, I'm promoting illegal activity because it's THAT good!).
