Hannah: "Watching you thrive creatively over these past few weeks, it's made me want to thrive. It's made me want to find a hole in the world in the shape of me and just fill it up."
I was holding my breath for a good portion of this finale episode just praying, pleading with the Lords and Ladies of televisions (who, let's be honest, might actually be Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow) wouldn't complete a pretty stellar season with Hannah choosing Adam over graduate school. I was always sticking my fingers in my ears and singing "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" at the top of my lungs when Marnie visits Desi in his dressing room. WHO ARE YOU?!
You know it's a successful season finale when no one has to call 9-1-1... oh wait...
Hannah
A
Adam to Hannah: "Can't one thing ever be easy with you?"
It was pretty lovely to see Hannah so genuinely proud of her sometimes live-in boyfriend at his Broadway debut. It was even better to see her clutch tightly to that Iowa Writers Workshop acceptance letter, infinitely and endlessly proud of her own achievement. Should she have delivered the news to her unsuspecting boyfriend minutes before the show? Probably not, considering how clear he's been about needing his space from her for his, I don't know, professional focus or some bullshit. I sympathize with the guy, who at the very least, did his best to be honest with Hannah about what he needed. But damn if I'm going to let him make this all about him. GO HANNAH! YOU DO YOU!
Marnie
C
Clementine: "Has anyone ever told you when to speak?"
The worst thing about Marnie all season long has been how all her actions were terribly misguided. And why? Because she puts far too much value on her status with boys than she does with girls. I'm not saying that Marnie is the worst or that her behavior isn't relatable -- it totally is. It's just hard to watch. I'm also not claiming that Hannah is the best friend in the world, but I'm convinced that these two would have severely benefited from some intensive female bonding time. And not that fake kind where you co-stalk each other's ex-boyfriend on Facebook. Nope, I'm talking about the kind that shares a bottle of wine and binge-watches YouTube videos. Or maybe walks along the water with some Fro-Yo.
Shoshanna
B
"It's really helpful to know that you were a fuck up, too."
I was worried this might happen. Shosh was wrapped up in her own sexual revolution, taking advice from a drug addict she lets crash in her unreal dorm room and probably taking #YOLO far too literally. I hope you like college debt, girlfriend, because another semester is sure to mess up your parent's financial plan.
I have very little to say about her speech to Ray except that I'm proud of him for recognizing her extreme vulnerability and not taking advantage of her in her weakened state. Also, good call on the peanut M&Ms.
Jessa
B
Anyone else think this whole artist who wants Jessa to help kill her was a really weird way to end the season? Was this the roundabout, full circle storyline of Jessa's addiction? I'm missing the moral, right? It's felt like the writers or even the actor wasn't all that worried about Jessa finding a strong voice or storyline this season, so I'm going to trust that there are bigger plans for her next year.
"Two Plane Rides"
A
Elijah [MIP of the season]: "I'm really intuitive about these things. I've predicated two of my friends' divorces, one pregnancy and a couple of natural disasters."
If I had to pick a theme for season 3 it would be that at a certain point, it's okay to not like your friends. We leave school and enter the big bad real world armed only with the notion of who we were a few short months ago. Obviously, that's complete crap. But as Hannah and her friends are forced to let go of things like boyfriends, jobs, maybe grade point averages, the few people they should be leaning on are often unavailable and distant. They disappoint each other a lot. All season long, Marnie's been the worst version of herself, while Hannah was moving in the opposite direction. And, well, poor Shosh just took a wrong turn and got a bit left behind. [Jessa - no comment]. It's okay to not like your friends, but maybe it's better to find ones you do like. It's also super okay to like yourself first, amiright, Hannah?
Extra Credit
- Elijah in general.
- In general, this was a beautiful directed episode. Lovely shots and just the right amount of Elijah. Well, okay, there could have been more Elijah.
- Elijah stepping into the photograph with the cast. I <3 Elijah.
- Shosh: "We're going to have a chat. At intermission, you're gonna buy some M&Ms and we're going to have a fucking chat."
- Shosh to Marnie: "I HATE YOU!" Arguably, the best reaction to your pseudo-friend telling you she slept with your ex-boyfriend.
Demerits
- Desi in general.
- Of course Marnie took Intro to Hinduism.
- Laird and Caroline procreating.