As Lena Dunham’s “Girls” romanticizes the 20-something, Netflix-obsessed generation, it has apparently made its network eager to jump into free-streaming content. Not only does HBO offer its HBO Go service, but its Youtube premiere marks a potential change in marketing strategies for the company.
Needless to say, the premiere of “Girls” went off without a hitch. The beloved characters of Jessa (Jemima Kirke), Marnie (Allison Williams) and Hannah (Lena Dunham) were quick to appear on screen.
The first episode never addresses the obvious time lapse between the second and third season, but there is a notable absence of series regular Charlie (Christopher Abbott). Abbott had cited creative differences with Dunham for his departure from the show.
As the episode reveals, Charlie had walked out on his and Marnie’s relationship, which was thought to be rekindled at the end of the second season.
As a result, Marnie appears in the third season as fulfilling the same victim archetype that so many of the protagonists do in “Girls.” Her first appearance in the third season, in pajamas on her mother’s couch, foreshadows her mopey and sad demeanor for the rest of the premiere.
Jessa’s character, perhaps the most surprising appearance in the third season given her absence from the final episodes of the second season, appears at a rehabilitation center for heroin addiction. While perceived as the mysterious one both by fans and the fellow women on the show, Jessa is portrayed as incredibly vulnerable and troubled in this premiere. Her character and portrayal leaves the most to be desired and I can’t wait to see what details are revealed about Jessa’s character.
As all of the character’s continue to struggle in New York, creating that ever-present relatability on which “Girls” thrives, Hannah, with boyfriend Adam (Adam Driver), appear to be doing fantastically well. While still awkwardly trying to come to grips with her success (a certain coffee cup made of pure chocolate comes to mind), Hannah appears to be peaking while all of her friends struggle in the rapidly changing social dynamic of “Girls.”
As usual, the humor and wit are delivered perfectly with Dunham’s irreverent and self-deprecating view of her generation. While the premiere manages to pinball around from character to character, I’m confident in the third season to meld so effortlessly, as the first and second season did, the overlapping stories of a group of highly relatable 20-somethings.
You can reach the Arts and Entertainment Editor at jwwoodma@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @poetrysidying
