TMC
05-09-2013, 08:01 PM
http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/why-the-mindy-project-is-everything-you-wanted-girls-to-be.php
There are a lot of reasons I want so desperately to love HBO’s “Girls.” I still believe the first season was brilliant and I think the second season had flashes of brilliance. Dunham’s bleak “comedy” conveys real, brittle truths about female friendships, life failures, depression and anxiety. Of course, I love the idea of a story that’s largely about women being told by a woman. And whatever issues you have with Lena Dunham (and I know you have many), you can’t deny she’s smart. And that’s always something I want to support. But during its second, scattered season, it was a little harder to staunchly defend Dunham’s show against the disproportionate vitriol. Mostly I found (and still find) myself loudly singing the praises of Adam Driver or Alex Karpovsky. But those are the Boys and I signed up for Dunham’s show with the hope that I would end up loving the Girls. These anti-Carrie/Samantha/Mirandas.
And, truth be told, I don’t. I feel sympathy (and sometimes a frustrated pity) for Dunham’s Hannah. During the depths of Season 2 I even experienced some momentary flashes of uncomfortable self-recognition. But I don’t love any of them. Not Hannah, not Jessa, not Shoshanna and especially not Marnie. (Okay sometimes Shoshanna.) I’m not saying I’m done with the show. I like it and think it’s culturally interesting enough to keep me on the line and, as I mentioned, Driver and Karpovsky are fantastic. But it’s not the greatness I wanted it to be. And why did I want it to be great? I wanted it to be great because I wanted Dunham to be the next Tina Fey. Only, you know, representin’ a different body type. One that’s not often seen on television as anything other than a punchline. (*cough*”Mike And Molly”*cough*) And sure it’s nice to see a bit of cellulite on-screen because, you know what, cellulite f*cking happens. But I don’t blame anyone for their uncomfortable reaction to the Season 2 episode “One Man’s Trash.” From my perspective, it would have been just as awkward if Sarah Jessica Parker in all her Pilates toned fitness had played several rounds of topless ping pong with Patrick Wilson. I don’t ascribe to any of the fat-shaming. Not even a little. But I’m not afraid to say some of the nudity on “Girls” is gratuitous. However, Dustin was wrong when he claimed that Season Two Of “Girls” Sold Out To “The Mindy Project”. Because you know what? Mindy Kaling is better than Lena Dunham. Her show is better is than Lena Dunham’s and to use “The Mindy Project” as a pejorative is to make a big mistake. Huge.
If you gave “The Mindy Project” a shot at the start of its run and were put off by its scattered, sprawling structure and mildly abrasive lead character, I have good news for you, it got better. Some of the extra characters have been jettisoned including, unfortunately, the lovely Anna Camp.
Read more at http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/why-the-mindy-project-is-everything-you-wanted-girls-to-be.php#TlWIS4FcreJCmvxq.99
There are a lot of reasons I want so desperately to love HBO’s “Girls.” I still believe the first season was brilliant and I think the second season had flashes of brilliance. Dunham’s bleak “comedy” conveys real, brittle truths about female friendships, life failures, depression and anxiety. Of course, I love the idea of a story that’s largely about women being told by a woman. And whatever issues you have with Lena Dunham (and I know you have many), you can’t deny she’s smart. And that’s always something I want to support. But during its second, scattered season, it was a little harder to staunchly defend Dunham’s show against the disproportionate vitriol. Mostly I found (and still find) myself loudly singing the praises of Adam Driver or Alex Karpovsky. But those are the Boys and I signed up for Dunham’s show with the hope that I would end up loving the Girls. These anti-Carrie/Samantha/Mirandas.
And, truth be told, I don’t. I feel sympathy (and sometimes a frustrated pity) for Dunham’s Hannah. During the depths of Season 2 I even experienced some momentary flashes of uncomfortable self-recognition. But I don’t love any of them. Not Hannah, not Jessa, not Shoshanna and especially not Marnie. (Okay sometimes Shoshanna.) I’m not saying I’m done with the show. I like it and think it’s culturally interesting enough to keep me on the line and, as I mentioned, Driver and Karpovsky are fantastic. But it’s not the greatness I wanted it to be. And why did I want it to be great? I wanted it to be great because I wanted Dunham to be the next Tina Fey. Only, you know, representin’ a different body type. One that’s not often seen on television as anything other than a punchline. (*cough*”Mike And Molly”*cough*) And sure it’s nice to see a bit of cellulite on-screen because, you know what, cellulite f*cking happens. But I don’t blame anyone for their uncomfortable reaction to the Season 2 episode “One Man’s Trash.” From my perspective, it would have been just as awkward if Sarah Jessica Parker in all her Pilates toned fitness had played several rounds of topless ping pong with Patrick Wilson. I don’t ascribe to any of the fat-shaming. Not even a little. But I’m not afraid to say some of the nudity on “Girls” is gratuitous. However, Dustin was wrong when he claimed that Season Two Of “Girls” Sold Out To “The Mindy Project”. Because you know what? Mindy Kaling is better than Lena Dunham. Her show is better is than Lena Dunham’s and to use “The Mindy Project” as a pejorative is to make a big mistake. Huge.
If you gave “The Mindy Project” a shot at the start of its run and were put off by its scattered, sprawling structure and mildly abrasive lead character, I have good news for you, it got better. Some of the extra characters have been jettisoned including, unfortunately, the lovely Anna Camp.
Read more at http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/why-the-mindy-project-is-everything-you-wanted-girls-to-be.php#TlWIS4FcreJCmvxq.99