Creator Lena Dunham stars as Hannah Horvath, an aspiring writer, living in New York City with three of her college friends. Much of the show's premise centres on the harsh realities of learning to succeed without the financial support of well-meaning parents. Based on experiences drawn from Dunham's life, critics praised the show for its sardonic portrayal of millennial angst, its frank approach to sex, and its attempts to redefine female beauty.
In this way, Girls has an impromptu, fly-by-the-seat of your pants, candid feel that strikes a chord with the smartphone generation. This organic approach to storytelling created personal stories that helped give rise to other cable series created, written, produced, and sometimes even directed by stars who want no part of the girl-next-door mold — actresses like Issa Rae of Insecure and Frankie Shaw of SMILF.
Watch Girls on HBO Go.