girls finale

tv:  Given that the HBO show Girls just wrapped up and I have not written about it since the pilot aired, I have quite a lot to say about it.  In the ensuing nine episodes the show has gone through an amazing evolution.  It debuted with a wonderful pilot that gave the viewers fun and real and interesting characters.  It also gave a great mission statement for the show from the voice of Hannah played by series creator/writer/director Lena Dunham (wow, what a hard working girl!):  "I may not be the voice of my generation but I may be the voice of a generation."  The universality of that statement, which I commented on in my post about the pilot, was very telling.  The show was never intended to be about girls in this age, but girls actually at the age at which they are portraying.  Though the show through its first few episodes struggled at times to find its voice and style, in the end, it has done that.  Dunham has shown in the relationships of the friends of Hannah, what being a girl in her early to mid-twenties trying to become a woman is like.   And she has done this in a truly hilarious way.  And watching her organically find a way to do that has been lots of fun, not to mention the fun of the show in general.
The best perspective of this, however, has been Hannah's boyfriend Adam.  He has provided, no doubt, the ultimate look into this universe.  As a guy, seeing a true male perspective, and not just a funny-neurotic dude, like common friend, Ray, he has given a totally brilliant view into the world of these girls.  Adam started out as just some shirtless, sex crazed dude who Hannah was more or less degrading herself as she slept with with who was no doubt totally bizzare.  His turn started with a moment in the streets of New York where he asked Hannah if she wanted him to be her boyfriend.  He said of their relationship that he didn't know if that was what she wanted because all she seemed to want was to show up at his place and complain about her day and then have sex, but if she wanted more then he would be open to that.  All of a sudden the motivations of the first handful of episodes got turned on their head.  All of a sudden Adam's thoughts not only existed but mattered because they challenged, if not debunked, those of our main character.  From then on he continued to interject his perspective into the insanity of the girls world by simply pointing out how insane they are.
The climax of the shows season finale was when, after having heard Adam offer to move in with Hannah after her best friend Marnie moved out, Hannah buckles and asks her now gay ex-boyfriend to move in with her.  Adam becomes wildly upset at the thought of his offer not being taken seriously.  This is followed by a huge fight in which the shows only unrealistic quality is show; that of the total self-awareness of the characters, in which they discuss Hannah's fears and insecurities.  This unrealistic quality is not a drawback.  It is what often drives the shows often near genius dialogue.  But this self-aware argument did happen.
The end of the season finale was a little odd and open-ended as Hannah falls asleep on the L and ends up chilling on the beach on Coney Island, leaving the viewer not knowing where things are headed , as she clearly doesn't know (and is afraid to address, given the discussion with her and Adam) either.
Girls has not been perfect through its first season.  It clearly struggled to find its look.  But when it did, it really started to click.  The stresses on the core group of characters has given the show something to deal with moving forward.  Adam has given the show a great perspective and insight from an outside and sometimes alien person that has been invaluable to the series development.
The only question now(and it is not one of criticism but merely a question), is what this show will become.  Will this show have an overreaching plot that will drive the show?  Will this be more of a snapshot of life at a point in time with no real endgame but just simply to be enjoyed?  Or, and I can't believe I would suggest this because I think Lena Dunham would hate me forever, will it be more like Entourage?  Could we just have a good damn time watching the lives of these girls and be presented with a goal and end game closer to the end of that game(if you don't know what I'm talking about, watch the first episode of season six of Entourage; the first glimpse of story after five years of party)?  Whatever the answer to that question is, the drama of the girls will surely continue, and the outside look of the guys, whether its Adam, or the newly attached Ray, will surely keep us all remembering that the drama, while fun, is no big deal, and always hilarious.