While there are plenty of YA shows on TV, Lena Dunham's acclaimed HBO series centers on a much less explored demographic: single, aspiring, well-educated twentysomething women struggling to find their place in New York City. Dunham lets her four female characters be as self-absorbed, irritating, jealous, rude, sexually-obsessed, petty, and unrepentant as the young men routinely presented on TV and in movies, and her talent as a writer-producer-star has only grown. The third season finds Hannah (Dunham) addressing her mental health issues while also trying to sustain a relationship with Adam (Adam Driver)—her underemployed actor boyfriend—and succeed in her writing career, which makes significant headway here. Meanwhile, Marnie (Allison Williams) obsesses over a bad breakup, Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) prepares to graduate from college, and Jessa (Jemima Kirke) continues to manipulate and lie her way through life as the group's train-wreck of a friend—although it's hard to tell if these four are actually even friends anymore, given the way they treat one another. These girls are not necessarily likable, and not everyone will relate to them, but this often-cutting satire has developed a loyal audience. Compiling all 12 episodes from 2014, extras include audio commentaries and brief interviews with Dunham for each episode (exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a “making-of” featurette, deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, and music videos). Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Girls: The Complete Third Season
HBO, 2 discs, 360 min., TV-MA, DVD: $39.98, Blu-ray: $49.99 Volume 30, Issue 2
Girls: The Complete Third Season
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