Girls recap – 1×08: ‘Weirdos Need Girlfriends Too’

Ahh the honeymoon phase of a relationship, when everything seems just perfect and you just can’t stop loving that special person in your life. Every relationship starts off this way…until the cracks start to appear. Like when your partner purposefully pees on you in the shower and thinks it’s the funniest thing.

Did I mention Adam (Adam Driver) was weird?

Let’s discuss.

After finally making it official last week, Hannah (Lena Dunham) and Adam enjoy the wonder that is the start of a new relationship (never mind that they have been sorta seeing each other for weeks now). That means sex with condoms, home movies of Adam when he was a boy, and a read-through of Adam’s play (which is basically anecdotes of his weird youth). Throughout all of this we get to see a really different side to Adam. He is sweet, funny, and even caring. Could this be the same guy that lied about getting tested for STD’s, or lied abut using condoms with other girls? The same guy that texted her a picture of his dick which was meant for someone else? Apparently it is, although for me the verdict is still out on this one.

Of course the honeymoon phase isn’t forever and the cracks start showing up.

First, after a read-through of the play that leaves him dissatisfied, Adam completely quits the play even though his friend has invested $2000 of his own money. Then, while fleeing the rehearsal hall, they almost get run over by a car and Adam completely loses his shit and yells at the driver, scaring Hannah – and me! When they get home, Hannah, probably needing to collect herself, decides to take a shower. Adam joins her with his best Anthony Perkins impression and promptly pees on her. Of course Hannah is upset over this, and really, who could blame her? If I want you to pee on me I will ask, but until I do, it seems like a good rule of thumb not to pee on me. It might even be a golden rule, you know?

Ok so let’s just get this out there: Adam is really weird. Apart from the whole race representation controversy this show had going, it has also been getting some flack for the poor representation of male characters. While I don’t feel like chiming in on this issue, it does seem like the expanded time spent getting to know Adam is an answer of sorts to this mini-controversy. But my question is did we really want to get to know Adam? How about we get an episode where we get to know Charlie (Christopher Abbott)? I feel like this show has enough losers going for it that we don’t really need to add another. Can we at least get someone who has half a head on their shoulders? Don’t get me wrong – Adam is…interesting. But knowing what I know about him and even after his somewhat sweet wall of sorrys, at the end of the day the guy creeps me out. I think his co-star in the play summed it all up for me: “All the stuff you’ve been doing, is like, rejection and date rape.” Pretty much!

Meanwhile Marnie (Allison Williams) is on the flip side – in break-up hell – as she reels from the discovery that Charlie has a new love. She’s even Facebook stalking him while listening to Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscrapper’ on repeat (Editor’s Note: Ugh). The girl is not doing well. Cue Jessa (Jemima Kirke) who had plans with Hannah but unfortunately for her – and Marnie – Hannah has all but forgotten her friends because she’s in the new relationship bubble. This allows Marnie and Jessa to talk and get to know each other better. It’s like that episode of Sex and the City where Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) had to hang out. And really these two are totally the ‘Miranda’ and ‘Samantha’ of this show: one is totally uptight and the other is a free bird, both brought together by the main protagonist, Carrie…errr, I mean Hannah.

Jessa tells Marnie that she need to let loose and stop living in her head. So they go out and get hit on by a guy (Chris O’Dowd of Bridesmaids fame) who invites them back to his place for a very special bottle of red wine. Jessa is unimpressed and totally sees through his bullshit, but Marnie is totally enthralled (and maybe a little drunk) so she convinces Jessa to go along. Off they go and, in the spirit of cutting loose, Marnie does what all straight girls do when trying to prove to themselves that they can be free and easy: they go all Katy Perry and kiss another girl (and like it!) In the process Marnie accidently spills a glass of red wine on a $10,000 carpet which makes the guy go completely ballistic. He loses it on both Marnie and Jessa and calls them out for being daddy’s girls who don’t understand the meaning of a hard day’s work. While I love that these two were being called out on their shit, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed by the scene since the show had already taken such great pains to reinforce what a complete loser this guy was. It just took the bite out of the whole thing. I mean the guy was a creeper! Anybody who mixes “Steal My Sunshine”, with the sounds of children’s laughter is seriously on some sex offenders list somewhere (Side Note: Props to O’Dowd who totally nailed the subtle creepiness of this character).

Best lines of the night:

• Marnie (After Jessa compliments her on how she looks) : “I’ve never been this miserable in my life.” Jessa: “It’s totally working.”
• Jessa: “I really admire your work ethic, your commitment to hygiene. I think you are smart, and kind, and…” Marnie: “Uptight.” Jessa: “A bit, yes.”
• Adam (after peeing on Hannah): “Doesn’t make sense to get out now, there’s pee on you.”

What did you think? Are you as creeped out about Adam as I am? Or are you digging his brand of silly cuteness? Were you happy to see Jessa and Marnie hanging out and getting to know each other? And were you wondering if Soshanna (Zosia Mamet) was still running around Bushwick like I was?

Girls airs on Sundays at 10:30pm EST on HBO