The juiciest segment of the episode is the chance to see Hannah immerse herself into a new pool of contemporaries at school. It’s brilliantly executed. None of her schoolmates indulge her whims. In fact, the bulk of that small group seemingly adopt the voices of the show’s critics. A spin on the harsh critical comment Girls has received, they bash her first story for its self-entitled, rich girl protagonist who approaches serious subject matter with levity. Watching Hannah try to justify her writing and her subsequent response, “I’m metabolizing my notes,” is an episode highlight.
After the trek home following her first class, one of the show’s stand-out supporting characters, Elijah, makes a surprise appearance. Andrew Rannells is note perfect as Hannah’s gay ex-boyfriend-turned-confidante. When asked about his sudden departure from New York, he once again lands the punchiest, funniest line of the episode – “Last week I saw a homeless woman fist herself on my stoop… I’ve had enough.” He’s a most-welcome palate cleanser.
At its core, Girls is still a very funny, exacting response to a generation obsessed with its own discourse. In the last year, it’s been easy to lose sight of what makes it such a watchable series in light of public interest surrounding its creator and star, Lena Dunham. It’s an unfair assessment of a razor sharp series that continues to shine a spotlight on some of the worse examples of human interaction.
These girls are not perfect; Dunham and the show’s creators know this. Their antics aren’t showcased as examples of ideal twenty-something behaviour. Far from it, in fact. “Triggering” is another snapshot, a fictionalized social document if you will, into the life of the hyper-aware. It does make you wonder, however, just how far Hannah’s irony goes, especially while watching her always-enjoyable dance scenes. Is she goofing off? Does she really think she’s a badass dancer?
And, in the end, does it even really matter?