What I’m Watching: Girls (Season Finale)

Girls: Season 5, Episodes 9 and 10 “Love Stories” and “I Love You Baby” (B+)

I feel like this season totally flew by, and maybe that’s because it has aired entirely during the time that I’ve been racing to catch up on TV post-honeymoon. In my mind, this has definitely been the best season of this show since the first, and though it didn’t necessarily get its characters to a great place, it has presented some pretty terrific comedy and drama these past ten episodes. Some things are firmly set in the past, like Fran, who at the beginning of these first two installments got to spew a bit more hate at Hannah as he she closed their relationship up for good. Hannah, somehow, has come through everything a happier and more confident person, quitting her job and telling an earnest story about sex and jealously that landed well. Ending the episode with the title song and Hannah running with a grin on her face was a great way to end the season. I like that we got to meet Jenny Slate’s Tally, and I hope we see her again in season six. Marnie having a sex dream about Ray was strange but a strong impetus for the two of them to finally get together and for Ray to come on the road and help her manage the unstable mess that is Desi. Elijah dressing to impress for Dill led to a heartfelt speech, and it’s just too bad that what he described is exactly what Dill wants, but not with Elijah. Shoshanna spicing up the coffee shop and turning it into the anti-hipster joint it was always meant to be was great, and it’s nice to see her find success back in America. Adam and Jessa had quite the blowout fight about Hannah, and even if they don’t see eye-to-eye on the subject of friendship, they are similarly violent in how they deal with their rage. I’m really impressed with this show, and these two episodes had me looking forward to the sixth and final season in a big way.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Allison Williams as Marnie and Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna