Girls – Definitely Out There

Has anyone else seen HBO’s new show Girls? It received a lot of buzz (but really, what HBO show doesn’t? I can’t even think of an HBO show that was cancelled after one season – almost everything they do brings in enough viewers to be invited back), for a few different reasons. I finally decided to take the plunge and see what all the fuss was about.

To begin, I really wanted to watch it for no other reason than because it’s supposedly be a younger Sex and the City. It’s about four twenty-somethings, just out of college, trying to make it on their own. There also is a lot of sex. However, after one episode, I quickly learned that perhaps the defining factor of Sex and the City, the fashion, is nowhere to be found in Girls. Yeah, these girls have a sense of bohemian style that is definitely in now, but this is a far cry from the Versace and Dolce that pervaded Sex and the City. Girls is about four broke girls with no jobs, asking their parents for money. They look like they shop at Goodwill, which isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re looking for a newer, hipper, fresher Sex and the City, you won’t find it in the same sense.

On the other hand, Girls is definitely a pioneer. It broaches a lot of risqué topics relating to women’s health and issues, which is commendable. It mirrors Grey’s Anatomy in its realistic approach, and is a pleasant surprise...in that I was expecting far less. Everyone I know has complained that it’s just about a bunch of rich girls who look alike and are complaining about being “poor” and other generic upper middle-class “problems.” But it does boast a lot deeper content than this…you just have to a) watch more episode than one and b) consider the deeper meaning of supposedly superfluous stories.

It also has a biting wit that proves better than any other aspect of the show why it’s on HBO. It’s got language that’s not only racy, it’s downright crude, but it still makes you laugh. Even if you’re not enticed by the stories of these burgeoning New Yorkers, it’s likely you’ll be entertained by their snarky observations, arguments, and general dialogue.  Besides, there have only been two episodes! I’m gonna assume that with all this buzz, HBO will ensure it only gets better as time goes on. I wish these Girls the best of luck.