“Girls” Isn’t The Next “Sex And The City”- And That’s OK
Are you watching HBO’s new show Girls? Well you should be—hell, at least to see what all of the fuss is about. The blogosphere’s been blowing up with polarizing reactions to Lena Dunham’s brainchild (which she stars in, writes, directs and produces—go girl!), with some touting it as the second coming of Sex and the City, while others criticizing the lack of diversity amongst the principal cast (all Caucasian, all brunette, all from well-off families, yada yada yada). I’ll admit, my initial reaction to Girls was a bit like this, but now a few episodes in, I’ve come to not only respect the show, but actually like it, and realize that Girls is definitely not the new Sex and the City and that’s A-ok with me. Let’s break it down:
-Christina Izzo
Don’t expect glitz & glamour: Let’s just say you’ll never find this foursome wearing Jimmy Choos atop camels in Abu Dhabi. Girls’ version of Mr. Big is a tattooed twenty-something with his mattress sitting on the floor. Sure, Sex and the City was pioneering in looking at female friendships and sex from a woman’s perspective, but it was a glossed over, glamorous fantasy world that didn’t really exist then and definitely doesn’t exist now. The age of donning designer shoes and taking cabs everywhere is long gone (head’s up Gossip Girl!) and it’s refreshing to see something on TV today that grittily, unflinchingly looks like today.
Actually Does Show Diversity: When critics haven’t been jumping on the anti-diversity bandwagon, all they can talk about is Dunham’s less-than-modelesque figure, which has been frequently put on display in Girls’ hilariously awkward sex scenes. But to a carbohydrate-loving lady like myself, seeing a female body that’s similar to my own and the ones I see on a daily basis is something new in the sea of leggy Blake Livelys and bodacious Sofia Vergaras. In the film version of Sex and the City, Samantha puts on weight much to the incredulity of her best friends and they actually have to have a sit-down discussion about it. Here, Dunham’s Hannah shows off her wobbly bits without even batting an un-mascared eyelash—what a breath of fresh air!
It’s pretty freakin’ funny: Between the aforementioned hilariously cringe-worthy sex scenes (one of which begins with shocking dirty talk from Hannah’s friend-with-benefits and ends with him offering her an orange Gatorade), surprising gay announcements from an ex-boyfriend and been-there interactions with everyone from bosses to parents, Girls will have you actually laughing out loud, and with the crappy comedy on TV nowadays, that’s definitely something!
Image Credit: thegrio.com
Girl Talk Time: Have you been watching Girls? What do you think? Is it the new Sex and the City? If you haven’t been tuning in, will you be watching it tonight at 10:30 pm (on HBO)?
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10 Comments
Post a CommentThis makes me wish I still had HBO.
ok, so the lack of CULTURAL diversity is poignant, ladies; but let’s be fair to the extent that looking behind and beyond the camera, and knowing the scenes are all based on the Caucasian experience, is not unfamiliar territory.
that said, i also was hesitant in watching, more so because I DIDN’T want to see another or younger SATC version (producers are well on their way to working that one up), and have been pleasantly surprised by this show’s comedic quality and approach to “the young woman in NYC coming of age” stories.
if you take it for what it is, you might enjoy it!
love this show!
“while others criticizing the lack of diversity amongst the principal cast… (all Caucasian, all brunette, all from well-off families, yada yada yada)”.
Yada, yada, yada…I know right? That is such bs! ‘Cuz thin white girls and plump white girls and tall white girls and short white girls is such a diverse population of white girls! I mean, all those complainers/whiners are way out in left field, right? Girls has hella wicked diversity, yeah!
I don’t get HBO myself, but from what I’ve read about the show, it looks really good, and I’m glad you brought up body-type as a kind of diversity, since it seems like everywhere I look, shows are filled with perfect model-thin figures. I think it is refreshing to have a girl where the aforementioned ‘wobbly bits’ are just there– not the butt of fat jokes or concern, but part of a human being.
Never heard of it.
I don’t have HBO :O(
I will be tuning in.
I’d like to catch this show, I’ve heard a bit about it.
Never heard of it! I love SATC, but also nice to see this too.