Leave it to HBO to give us yet another raw, in your face drama about women.  Sex and the City lead the charges and now the quirky Girls takes the reins.  However, I don’t really see these two shows in the same category except for the fact that they are about women, dealing with their lives, in New York City.  Girls aesthetic, humor, and all around vibe is so different from Sex and the City.Sex and the City certainly had its raunchy moments but even those were able to be glamorized.  Girls, I believe, intentionally does the opposite.  It’s heroine is more of an anti-heroine who is ’13 pounds overweight’ and working as an unpaid intern with little to no ambition when it comes to her job and her boyfriend.  It’s a bit too real to be frank, and I think most women who have lived in a big city, immediately post college, can attest to the fact that they have been in the exact same situations that these girls have.  Sometimes the memories aren’t so great to re-live though, right?

Since the season finale was on last night I think I’ll start by writing about that and work my way backwards.  The season finale was a bit out of left field.  Here are some things that worked for me:

1. Well really nothing.

I just flat out didn’t think it made sense at all.  Why would Jessa, of all the characters get married to some random guy who she detested a few episodes prior?  (And if you saw the episode it was clear that he was more into Marnie than her).

I could have told you that Hannah’s boyfriend, Adam, who went from complacent jerk to stage five-clinger over night would have pulled this completely irrational stunt on Hannah.  You can’t trust a guy who pees on you: that’s rule number two, after: Rule number one.  Rule number three is: don’t fall asleep on the subway!  That was an amateur move.  I guess we’ll have to wait until next season to see how she resolved her stolen purse/Coney Island situation.

Marnie making out with that random slightly overweight officiator for the wedding was so contrived.  I know Marnie was trying to be more laid back and let loose this episode but let’s be real: Marnie is way hotter than that guy and was not that drunk:  this was a huge storyline stretch.   The only hook-up that was actually sweet and made any sense was Shoshanna and Ray.  That was clearly going to happen ever since their moments at the Bushwick warehouse party.  I hope they develop into a couple next season.

There is a part of last night’s episode that I must touch on: the kiss on the lips that Hannah gives Jessa in the bathroom.  I’ve had this feeling all along and after listening to Bill Simmons interview with Lena Dunham I believe it is confirmed: Hannah’s character purposely borders on the bi-sexual line.  I believe she is infatuated with her best friends: Jessa and Marnie, in a Heavenly Creatures kind of way (ya you know what I’m talking about).  I’m not sure that this will actually ever be fully realized (or acknowledged) in the series besides some spooning and bathing together (1st episode with Hannah and Marnie) and kiss with Jessa on the lips (last episode), but I think it is intentionally there.  Lena Dunham told Bill Simmons that some of her “most tortured relationships have been with other women” and her actions throughout the series have emulated that statement.   It would be in line with this quirky series to have some sort of homoerotic story line, whether it be outright and obvious or just an insinuation.

Besides, the debacle that was the last episode, the rest of the series was entertaining to watch and really touched on a lot of themes for twenty somethings living in a big city.  Some themes are just so close to home it’s hard to watch: job security, relationships (with friends and more than friends), paying rent, dealing with parents, etc.  The best part of the show are the quips that Hannah often spits out or the subtle pop culture references (i.e. Hannah singing to Jewel in her car while she’s home).  I do appreciate (for the most part) the organic feeling of the show and that the four of them are all friends, but not best friends, and this incongruence is shown within their group of friends.

This is the one show that does not romanticize this critical time in a young adults’ life and in some ways that’s refreshing but then it also leaves me yearning for a scene in the Barney’s shoe department.  Sigh.