On paper, Girls could be perceived as the millennial answer to shows like Sex And The City or even Friends. But Dunham’s creation is a far more complex beast. Most significantly, its four protagonists are highly flawed individuals; they’re so self-absorbed that they rarely think about the effects of their actions. For example, Hannah’s tempestuous on/off relationship with Adam (played by Adam Driver, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and her utter disinterest in her parents’ relationship issues – that is, until they begin to affect her.

Girls not only presents a multifaceted view of women’s personalities, it also presents a more honest depiction of their bodies. The first season was heralded for its “realistic” sex scenes, as well as its empowering embracing of women of all shapes and sizes. With her short stature, pear-shaped figure and unusual tattoos, Dunham cuts a wholly different figure to the women typically afforded prime-time TV slots. Seeing a woman like Dunham nude in a mainstream TV show shouldn’t be a revelation – but it sure feels like one.

The show’s bold, brave and unapologetic approach also sets it apart. Episode 3 of season 6 – arguably the smartest in the whole series – explores the power dynamic between Hannah and a famous male author. Played by Matthew Rhys (The Americans), the author uses his position of authority to manipulate Hannah through actions that are uncannily similar to those allegedly used by disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The episode was praised for portraying what critics described as a relatable and honest depiction of sexual assault. And despite being released months before even the earliest iterations of the #MeToo movement and The New York Times’ reporting on Weinstein, it was highly prophetic of what was to come.

When Girls premiered in 2012, it was unlike anything else on TV. Now, female-led shows that present complex, flawed and nuanced women are no longer a rarity; Fleabag, Chewing Gum and Broad City are just some of the small-screen hits that are strongly influenced by Dunham’s pioneering series. The trailblazing writer once joked that her epitaph will be Hannah’s infamous line about being the voice of her generation. But in many ways, she really is.
 

Girls seasons 1-6, available to buy now on the Virgin Media Store

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