In this week’s episode of Girls, Hannah finds herself in debate with a famous author about whether her article condemning his sexual behavior is fair.
Girls is always at its best when it doesn’t pull any punches. And based on the season so far, that will be how it goes out. My sense is that Lena Dunham and co., knowing the sixth season would be the last, chose to seize the opportunity to really go for it. This episode continues the trend. After all, if Girls has to leave us, the best way is in a blaze of glory.
The framing of this episode is fairly simple. A famous novelist, Chuck Palmer (excellently portrayed by Matthew Rhys), contacts Hannah and asks to meet with her at his home. We discover in the first few moments that the reason for the meeting is an article Hannah wrote. Several women have accused Chuck of coercive sexual behavior, and Hannah published a takedown of the author after reading their Tumblr posts. Chuck, we discover, is intent on defending himself. Hannah is determined not to let him off scot-free.
This episode is extremely unsubtle. It directly and obviously deals with major issues that are ever-present in our culture. But the direct, obvious nature is what makes it so great. Any understated exploration of these issues would not get deep enough to hit on the nuance of the situation.
Episode 55 (season 6, episode 3), debut 2/26/17: Matthew Rhys.
photo: Craig Blankenhorn
In Hannah’s attempts to explain to Chuck why what he did was wrong, she recounts a story about her fifth-grade teacher. She tells Chuck how he would often massage her shoulders or tousle her hair during class. And she accepted it, because it was an adult, an authority figure, showing her favor. It was a compliment to her and made her feel special. It’s precisely in this way that Chuck manipulates Hannah.
First, we learn that previous to this, Hannah has always really admired Chuck’s work. Then, knowing this, he compliments her many times over on her writing and her intelligence. Hannah’s self-worth has always been wrapped up in her work. Then he tells her that his mistake was not digging deeper into who these women were as people. He tells her wants to correct that by getting to know Hannah better. And he calls her pretty.
So now she’s a young female writer, being told she’s good and funny and attractive by an extremely successful male writer she admires. This is how he charms her, all up until the point where he unzips his pants and plops his dick on her leg. And it takes Hannah more than a split second after she touches him to realize what happened.
Episode 55 (season 6, episode 3), debut 2/26/17: Lena Dunham, Matthew Rhys.
photo: Craig Blankenhorn
The truth of the story, and the truth of reality most of the time is that this man really did not believe he was doing anything wrong. He, and all of us, have grown up in the same world. Where using one’s power to manipulate and coerce young women for sexual gratification is just par for the course. Where this famous writer can claim that the power imbalance between him and his victim holds her on top, because “she looks like a Victoria’s Secret model.”
These men are everywhere. These men who listen adoringly to their daughters’ flute solos, mere moments after manipulating some woman’s admiration and insecurity. They don’t make the connection between the girl they created and the women they destroy. Their daughters aren’t women. They’re special.
It’s an incredibly tight and well-told half hour, and it culminates in one of the most striking images of the series. Girls rarely breaks from reality (well – from its own privileged, clean, well-lit Brooklyn reality). But there was a distinct and subtle choice for the final shot. Hannah leaves Chuck’s apartment after the disturbing encounter, walking toward the camera. When she exits the building, the street is empty. But as she walks, swarms of young women, faceless and out of focus, emerge from off-camera. At first, they just appear to be extras, to make the set look busy. But then, one by one, each of them files directly into the door Hannah just left, up to Chuck Palmer’s apartment. It’s the image I get when I see Bill Cosby on television. When I remember that, by the time you read this, Casey Affleck might have an Oscar. When I think Woody Allen or Roman Polanski or Chris Brown or Sean Penn or the President of the United States.
Which one of us will it be? Who’s next?
Next: Girls Recap: “Hostage Situation” – Season 6, Episode 2
Best Girl: Hannah’s the only one in this one, of course. But Hannah was actually great. Believing these women. Defending these women. Calling Chuck on his #whitepeopleproblems [Oh, my life is destroyed because ever since I raped someone I have to take sleeping pills. Ugh.]. It was all excellent.
Most Improved: The Hannah that only touched Chuck’s penis for, like, half a second. Season 2 Hannah would have completely bought his bullshit and done the deed. Season 6 Hannah is starting to think she, like the women she was defending, might deserve to be treated well.
Best Line(s): “I don’t consider the accounts of four different women ‘hearsay'” – Hannah, dropping the mic
“No, I don’t even recycle.” – Hannah, when asked if she is some kind of activist
“Your bed smells like snacks.” – Hannah, on the sad state of affairs that is Chuck’s sleeping situation