Why a 'Girls' Revival Could Be Worth Watching
HBO's 'Girls' is set to return for a five-episode limited run, prompting questions about how Hannah Horvath and the audience have changed. The column reflects on how Lena Dunham was often conflated with her character during the original series and how she later tried to move beyond its shadow. It argues that the revival will test both the creator and viewers.
HBO's "Girls" will return for a five-episode limited series, raising the question of whether Hannah Horvath has evolved and whether viewers have. The original show ended in 2017 after being both a much-discussed cultural fixture and, as the column notes, a well-regarded television series.
During its run, Lena Dunham was frequently treated as if she were Hannah rather than the writer behind her. Some commentary suggested she could not recognize Hannah's flaws, even though Dunham created and wrote the character. After the show ended, she sought to build a career beyond it, a challenge complicated by health and substance issues she later described in her memoir "Famesick."
A revival could affect longtime viewers who grew up with the original, prompting reflection on changing tastes and generational attitudes. It may also shape how audiences reassess Dunham's authorship versus her public persona, and whether creators can separate themselves from defining roles. For newer viewers, it could serve as an introduction to a show that once drove widespread media conversation. The outcome may influence how streamers and networks approach limited revivals of culturally divisive series.