Hannah has a few ups and lots of downs when it comes to life in Iowa.
To love (or even just watch)Girlsis to also engage with the discussion aroundGirls.
It can be hard to look at Hannah Horvath in isolation of Lena Dunham.
Credit: Craig Blankenhorn
Hannah can be a despicable narcissist but thats only because Dunham has the awareness to make her one.
Hannahs Iowa time gets off to a blessed start, though that doesnt last long.
She realizes that real estate comes much cheaper outside of New York and gets herself an amazing living situation.
Im going to break eye contact with you now, Hannah says.
But thats not half as bad as whats to come.
Gut wrenching, and not asking to wrench our guts, just wrenching them, Chandra says.
Hannahs not playing that game.
MFA workshops are about talking about style not about guessing whats going to happen next.
And then we get to Hannahs story.
The professor asks the room to explain what the story is about.
Chester compares it toFifty Shades of Grey.
Logan (Marin Ireland) says the story seems to trivialize real abuse.
When the professor asks whats working in the story, no one speaks up.
Chandra jumps in that she has to say something.
Hannah smiles, thinking she has found an ally.
I had the chance to speak with Hannah yesterday, and she is very much this character.
Hannah bites her lip and starts snacking.
And thats where the episode gets meta.
Dunham, of course, uses her own life in her fiction and fights an uphill battle.
We cant squash her voice of what shes trying to say, he says.
Though theres vocal agreement with the class favorite, but other criticism continues.
But Hannahs story, at least what we hear of it, doesnt sound particularly good.
She resists, but eventually caves.
At the bar Hannah tries to appeal to Logan, saying how misunderstood she felt.
Did Logan really think her piece was insensitive?
Hannah argues that its just a story.
Stories can be very powerful, Hannah.
A look crosses Hannahs face: Oh my God, youre a survivor of abuse.
Logan smiles at Hannah like shes crazy.
Its a self-satisfied revelation thats Hannah at her most delusional.
You dont know what Im talking about, Hannah says.
You dont know what youre talking Logan tries to interrupt.
This prompts a mini rant from Hannah about the futility of TMI.
See, for instance, this NPRinterview.)
Hannahs connection with the New York world is clearly flailing.
You motherfking c-nts, Hannah says as she hangs up.
Still at the pay phone, she calls her parents, lies to them about how great Iowa is.
They brush off her concerns and want her to call back later when they arent playing Scrabble.
(Why did he leave New York?
He runs into people who hes slept with and saw a homeless woman fist herself on his stoop.)
They go to an undergrad rager.
Elijah gives a hand job in a bathroom to a guy who says hes not gay.
Hannah counsels a girl who is crying because her boyfriend at another school cheated.
Tall order from Hannah, who has not snapped out of her relationship with Adam.
Then, Hannah jello wrestles.
When Hannah regresses, she regresses hard.
