Anonymous wrote:I know I am going to sound shallow, but I cannot look at the main character. I am physically repulsed by her. I keep thinking you are way too young to be that out of shape and blubbery. There is nothing redeeming about her face, her clothes are horrible, her hair is horrible, she has no chin, her front teeth suck, and she has an annoying personality. I want to see her get on a treadmill, stop wallowing in her misery and do SOMETHING other than complain and feel sorry for herself.

Yup, you do sound and probably are shallow. Are you perfect? I doubt it.

OK, in full disclosure I'm 40 years old. I think this is important to disclose as it colors my opinion of the show. I relate more to her parents than I do her -- scary to admit. Like another poster I loved the first episode where her Mom was screaming, "I want my lake house!" I told my husband I could see us having that argument in @15 years.

The show is amazingly well written. I give Lena major kudos for the writing. I watch the show and cringe as the Girls are a trainwreck and frankly, I have a hard time relating to them, but I think it is my age. And yes, I made stupid mistakes and I so wish she's kick that gross guy to the curb, but hey, I made my share of stupid guy mistakes. I guess I would want to sit them down and say, I know it's hard, but you will survive this and don't make choices which you are going to regret...

I find watching the clips where Lena discusses the show afterwards helpful -- it gives me a better perspective on the situations and I find her interesting.

Wow - I love this show. The writing is great, the acting is equally good, it's funny and poignant at the same time. Although I am considerably older than the characters, I have found myself totally relating to them; it totally reminds me of that post-college time when you (I) were filled with both anxiety and hope.

Anonymous wrote:I know I am going to sound shallow, but I cannot look at the main character. I am physically repulsed by her. I keep thinking you are way too young to be that out of shape and blubbery. There is nothing redeeming about her face, her clothes are horrible, her hair is horrible, she has no chin, her front teeth suck, and she has an annoying personality. I want to see her get on a treadmill, stop wallowing in her misery and do SOMETHING other than complain and feel sorry for herself.

She is shockingly fugly. I watch TV to see beautiful people and don't want to be subjected to that, so I simply cannot watch.

I loved the first episode, the mom screaming, "I want my lake house". Sure the economy's shit now, but I had a college degree and worked in restaurants. I can't stop watching, but the sense of entitlement is gross. I think that's the point though. Wanting and working for what you want is one thing, feeling like it's owed to you is another.

Anonymous wrote:It may be a generational difference, but although I recall myself and friends making equally ridiculous decisions about men, we definitely had better skills to hold a job. Yes, I know the economy was better, but we also had better skills than these characters in terms of knowing how to behave in an interview, do basic office work, not use our employer's lipstick etc...

+1. If this is how young women are today it is sad. All of my friends were ambitious in school and work. Whether we were all emotionally developed is one thing---everyone has kissed a few frogs or dated the wrong guy when young. That is really different from this crew. They are very pathetic.

Maybe it is the result of helicopter parenting.

OP here. Ok, good, I am not the only one. I think the economy has made a difference in this generation, their life chances just aren't as good.

I remember writing a letter to an organization that advertised in opportunity nocs and getting the job. Right out of college, in a matter of weeks. I remember there were pages and pages of online jobs at UC Berkeley and UCSF. Not so much anymore.

But it doesn't explain how pathetic they are. Then again, the chick from Prozac Nation was EXTREMELY annoying to me. Maybe I just don't get this culture.

I couldn't even get through the first episode-- turned it off in the middle of the booty call on the couch.

Not saying I never made bad choices, but doesn't mean I want to watch someone else make them.

I really love the series and how unfiltered it is and how willing Leah Dunham is to make fun of herself.

It may be a generational difference, but although I recall myself and friends making equally ridiculous decisions about men, we definitely had better skills to hold a job. Yes, I know the economy was better, but we also had better skills than these characters in terms of knowing how to behave in an interview, do basic office work, not use our employer's lipstick etc...

I know I am going to sound shallow, but I cannot look at the main character. I am physically repulsed by her. I keep thinking you are way too young to be that out of shape and blubbery. There is nothing redeeming about her face, her clothes are horrible, her hair is horrible, she has no chin, her front teeth suck, and she has an annoying personality. I want to see her get on a treadmill, stop wallowing in her misery and do SOMETHING other than complain and feel sorry for herself.

I've said out loud while watching this show "why am I watching this" and "I can't watch this."

As a white lady who graduated from a liberal arts college fifteen years ago, some of the things I've been thinking while watching the show.

1. My friends and I made equally bad choices and embarrassed ourselves in as many ways, but it didn't feel as bad at the time as this looks. I don't know what, if anything, that says about me.
2. It would seem more realistic if it was a little gayer and more multi-racial, and if there were more real problems mixed in with the fake problems, but maybe realism isn't what the writers are going for.
3. Shouldn't there be some kind of viable fourth wave feminism by now?

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. The most I get out of it is a wan smile. And yet I keep watching it. There are moments I identify with, but mostly I'm like, huh? These GIRLS are annoying.

Got to read Guys on Girls at Slate:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/05/20/girls_on_hbo_episode_6_the_return_reviewed_by_a_bunch_of_guys_.html

I know! It's terribly depressing. If the lead character doesn't get her shit together eventually at least in a small way, I don't know if I can keep watching it. But it's like some slow motion trainwreck - hard to look away.

I think it's like Super Nanny, which I used to watch because the families were so messed up, I could say, look at that family, I'm not a bad parent compared to them. I can say - at least I'm not that screwed up.

I don't get it. The most I get out of it is a wan smile. And yet I keep watching it. There are moments I identify with, but mostly I'm like, huh? These GIRLS are annoying.