On this week’s episode of Girls, Marnie faces her worst nightmare, Shoshanna faces the consequences of her choices, and Hannah is actually kind of great. Featuring Jamba Jeans, Hannah’s terrible secret-keeping skills, pigs in blankets, and a mason jar of “mints.”
Wow. “Hostage Situation” was only the second episode in season 6, and it’s clear that Lena Dunham and Co. have no plans to pull any punches. The difference in intensity from the beginning to the end was really stark. And it made a huge difference to see that side of what growing up means for these Girls. Let’s get into it.
Marnie
At the beginning of the episode, Marnie exclaims, almost crying, that she’s disgusting during sex with Desi. The next time we see them, they are rolling up to collect Hannah for a road trip. She and Desi are driving a classic convertible – guitar in the backseat, big sunglasses on, scarf wrapped around her head in that old Hollywood way. Marnie and her former husband/current lover are the picture of an idyllic, fun-loving couple, and that was certainly not an accident.
Throughout the episode, we see this image crumble. When Hannah gets aggravated with them, they are both reminded of the reality of their situation. When Desi checks out a girl at the yogurt place, the ideal cracks. Each time, Marnie rushes to put the pieces back together and re-make the image of that perfect romance. And then, she learns that Desi carries Oxycontin with him. Because he is addicted to it. And he has been for a year. Including at their wedding.
Episode 54 (season 6, episode 2), debut 2/19/17: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Allison Williams.
photo: Craig Blankenhorn
There have been many ups and downs with Marnie and Desi, but each time she justifies working it out. She has always wanted that passionate, perfect romance. She left Charlie and his stability for it. She idealized Desi. His sensitivity and his turbulence were proof, to her, of how much he loved her. And if someone loved her that much – so much that he would cry about it, so much that he wouldn’t accept her refusal to be with him – they had to be able to make it work, right?
This time, she seems to get it. That turbulence is not necessarily love. And when she and Hannah force Desi out of the house, he tries to fight his way back in, like he always has with Marnie. Those scenes are shot like a horror movie. Because Marnie is truly living her worst nightmare. Scared of what’s happening, for sure. But scared for herself, too. The last images are such a stark contrast to that beautiful couple destined for Hollywood romance. Marnie’s driving the muscle car with mascara running down her face. Desi’s bleeding in the back. And this time, her best friend is the one in the passenger’s seat next to her.
I feel like this is going to be a huge turning point for Marnie. And I think this could be when we start to see Hannah and Marnie have a real, loving, selfless, supportive friendship. I hope that’s what it means, anyway.
Episode 54 (season 6, episode 2), debut 2/19/17: Allison Williams, Lena Dunham.
photo: Craig Blankenhorn
Hannah
I was never really sure I would say this, but Hannah is the MVP of this episode. She does spill Marnie’s secret to Elijah (who then spills it to Shosh and Jessa). And, while I’m glad she was calling Marnie out on her bullshit with Desi, she could have done so in a more mature way. Shrugging off Desi’s arm and denouncing their “house of lies” while running away isn’t exactly peak adulthood. But I’m so happy with the way her growth was portrayed in this episode.
There’s a strange interlude in a Poughkeepsie antique shop with the owner, played by the remarkable Joy Bryant. She claims to be psychic and gives Hannah a free tea set, insinuating that it may save her life. And later, when Desi is punching through the window, he knocks it over and breaks it. Which seems like just an accident, rather than a live-saving barrier. But maybe the point is the destruction of outwardly beautiful things – like Marnie and Desi’s relationship? Is that too analytical for Girls?
Either way, the point is, Hannah hates this trip. She really hates it. She hates that Marnie and Desi are still together. She hates that she has to be around them. But she does it, to help Marnie have a cover story for Ray. And, though she’s writing bitterly in her room at the time when Marnie calls for her help, she goes. Even though she’s witnessed many of their fights before. Maybe this one sounded different, because it was. But she went.
There were so many times during that situation that I expected Hannah to do something more self-centered and less empathic. When Marnie called for her help, I truly thought Hannah was going to put in headphones and carry on writing. When Desi broke through a window and knocked over her tea set, I thought she was going to comment on it – instead of the horror of the whole situation. And when she told Marnie, “It can be pretty hard to have observations about other people when you’re only thinking about yourself,” I expected her to leave it at that. Old Hannah would have judged and placed blame on Marnie. I didn’t expect her to then say, “I would know.”
That’s the self-awareness that I love about this show. And it’s that self-awareness that many people seem to miss about this show. These characters know what they are. But it seems like they’re just now deciding to try and be better.
Episode 54 (season 6, episode 2), debut 2/19/17: Lena Dunham, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Allison Williams.
photo: Craig Blankenhorn
Shoshanna and Jessa
I love Shoshanna. I love her arc so much, and I loved seeing her try to get out there and do something for herself. She went to the WEMUN (Women Entrepreneurs Meet Up Now – obviously) party to try to follow her own path. Too bad Jessa invited herself and brought her down the whole time.
To be fair, Jessa didn’t openly comment on her obvious disdain for the people there until some of them insulted Shosh. She seemed to be trying to keep up appearances somewhat. But Shoshanna’s conversation with her two old friends – who started a Jamba Jeans, a now successful athletic denim (?) company – was extremely telling. This event and those people are exactly where Shoshanna should fit. But because she once ditched them for Jessa, she isn’t welcome there anymore. Shoshanna is just starting to realize all of the emotional energy she’s put into her friendship with Jessa. And she’s starting to realize that she gets none of it back.
It’s unfair of Shoshanna to blame Jessa for her own choices. Shosh decided not to go to Aruba. She decided to hang out with Jessa instead of the Jamba Jeans girls. That’s on her. But getting no return on the investment that she’s put into their friendship is on Jessa. I would actually be very satisfied if the series ended with Shosh cutting ties with the others. She seems to be heading that way. And while I love Jessa, Hannah, and Marnie in their own ways, it seems like it would be good for her.
Next: Girls Recap: “All I Ever Wanted” – Season 6, Episode 1
Best Girl: Hannah! Helping your friend out of an abusive situation, without judgment and with max emotional support, is something I really didn’t know Hannah had in her. Well done.
Most Improved: Marnie. She went from crazy-gluing the pieces of her broken marriage to kicking him to the curb in one episode. Proud of you, Marn.
Best Line: “He looks like someone in, like, the Pacific Northwest knit a man.” – Hannah, describing Desi
But also, these written lines: “It was the addition of a narcoleptic chef that turned the cult from odd to downright sinister.” – the article Hannah is writing
“I survived the third season of Ally McBeal.” – Elijah’s T-shirt