Created by and starring filmmaker Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), GIRLS premiered in the US earlier this year and got great reviews. The Hollywood Reporter called it a “brilliant gem” and New York Magazine said it was “remarkably poignant” and “like nothing else on TV.”
GIRLS is not the new Sex and the City or Friends – thank the lord – much as I loved Friends back in the day, I’m weary of it being on a loop as the “go to comfort TV” in our house. Friends is for cosy nights in, wearing a onesie and eating ice cream out of the tub – possibly with you mum. GIRLS however, is risky and a little bit uncomfortable (whether you are 22 or 52) and you need to watch it with your friends and several bottles of wine – and definitely not your mum!
The story centres round four 24 year olds living in Brooklyn, struggling to manage their work and personal lives. Main character Hannah, played by Lena Dunham, is an aspiring writer, who still relies on her parents for money and is negotiating a tricky relationship with the strange but wonderful, Adam. She shares her apartment with Brooke Shields look alike and control freak Marnie and hangs out with unconventional, stylish Brit, Jessa and adorable, slightly mad virgin, Shoshanna – who has the best ever sayings.
Marni, Jessa, Hannah and Shoshanna
The characters are believable and very likeable and remind me of what it was like to embark on a new life a big city, full of hope and enthusiasm and no money – but at least in our day we got paid and didn’t still rely on our parents to pay our mobile phone bill (if we’d had one) in our twenties.
Like so many excellent American TV prgrammes at the moment, all the characters in GIRLS are equally interesting and resonate with women of all ages. Watching it made me yearn for my 24 year old self, glad that I’m 50, resolve to be more empathetic with the young girls and interns at work and dread the day my daughter is in that situation.
GIRLS is a raw, sometimes uncomfortable, really funny look at what its like to be a young women struggling to have a future in a world where everything is out there for everyone to see.
Lena Dunahm
When criticised by style bloggers for her outfit at an awards ceremony last week, Lena Dunahm said ‘Get used to it because I am going to live to be 100, and I am going to show my thighs every day till I die.’
At last, a real icon for the younger generation – Lena Dunham I love you!
GIRLS starts tonight at 10pm on Sky Atlantic.
Oh I’d love to see this but we don’t have Sky, I’m waiting for the box set!
Its too fab Alyson – you will love it. Jx