What I’m Watching: Girls

Girls: Season 5, Episode 5 “Queen for Two Days” (B+)

While it seems that this show has forgotten all about Marnie, it’s doing a good job otherwise of meeting its characters where they are, following them as they navigate the challenges that life throws at them, which is what this show has always been about. It was nice to see Hannah spend some time with her mom in a context that didn’t find her being judged for anything, potentially having the moral superiority for once because her relationship with Fran is, despite her reports to the contrary, going pretty well, as contrasted with the state of Loreen’s marriage. Hannah testing the waters by bringing her cell phone with her and wearing a bathing suit during the hike was typical, but she also tried something completely new that didn’t go anywhere near as smoothly as planned. Ending up in a very comprised situation with her instructor led to some quick romance, but that ended swiftly when Hannah couldn’t keep going and she got left behind by her selfish partner, for lack of a better way of phrasing it. Loreen being told that her gay husband was a nonexistent problem didn’t feel good, but I think it helped her realize that it is a surmountable issue. Jessa introducing Adam to her sister and asking her for money ended up being a great moment for Adam to step up and show that he cares about her and can be the type of boyfriend for her that he was never willing to be for Hannah. Shoshanna’s self-exploration in Japan was interesting, and ending the episode with her walking through the deserted streets was very contemplative and oddly silent for the incessant chatterbox.