Every time a new show premieres on HBO, there always seems to be controversy following it. Whether it’s the excessive nudity and incest in “Game of Thrones,” the kinky vampire sex in “True Blood” or the polygamous and religious themes in “Big Love,” the network never shies away from pushing the envelope.
The new comedy “Girls” contains what you would expect from an HBO show: frank sexual dialogue, quirky and true-to-life characters and themes that resonate to the current political climate. But the show has also been under fire for racism and unlikeable leads, two criticisms I absolutely do not agree with.
Many critics have taken offense that while the show takes place in the very racially diverse Brooklyn, the four lead girls are all white. I’m all for seeing people of all different colors and backgrounds on TV, but it’s not by any means racist to not feature other ethnic groups in any particular show. Sure, times are changing, but I feel that for the most part, people hang out with people of their same race. There are always exceptions. I have friends from all walks of life and racial groups. But friends are friends for a very simple reason: they have something in common.
The girls of “Girls” are all extremely flawed individuals. You don’t see any of them for their race, but rather their personalities and quirks. It’s almost the anti “Sex and the City.” It shows the reality of being a young woman in New York. Problems include finding money to pay for rent, not for Manolos.
“Girls,” created by and starring the extremely talented Lena Dunham, follows the lives of four recent college graduates trying to navigate the real world without the financial help of their parents. In the pilot, Dunham’s character, Hannah, tells her mom and dad, “I think I may be the voice of my generation. Well, the voice of _a_ generation.” I think she’s right. This show gives a voice to a generation that has largely been ignored in the entertainment world: the generation of spoiled, rich, white kids with a delusional sense of entitlement. I belong to this group, and most of my friends do as well.
The Twitter hashtag #firstworldproblems has been common for years. Every weekend my friends strive to get “white girl wasted.” And just like the characters in “Girls,” we are going to be in a rude awakening when college ends and we have to try to make it on our own.
For a comedy, “Girls” is not afraid to address some very dark, real problems that young girls face. In the second episode, one of the characters, Jessa, scheduled an abortion. Other topics in the episode included the fear of getting STDs and being a 23-year-old virgin. There are definitely laughs to be had, but it comes from a sense of familiarity. You know these girls, you go to school with these girls, these girls are some of your best friends.
Critics will always find something to complain about. Controversy is only invented by people with too much time on their hands. I strongly recommend giving “Girls” a chance. I promise you won’t find any racism. And sure, the characters might have their unlikeable moments, but that comes with the territory of speaking for our generation.
