Tag Archives: girls

Whether it’s a pastoral manor in Edwardian England or New York City in the 21st century, being a female in one’s early 20s is all about identity. For us ladies, it’s the time when, as Hannah says on “Girls,” most of us are “busy…trying to become who [we are].” Unfortunately, you can’t call a time-out on life to figure out all the problems the world is throwing at you. You’ve just gotta keep on moving forward…despite suddenly realizing how monumental all decisions are now that you’re making them as an adult. For the quartet of friends on “Girls” and the three ladies of “Downton Abbey,” the course to self-actualization has already been charted by the world into which they were born. Yet, it’s the intersection between circumstance and character where things get interesting.

Look, the worlds of “Downton Abbey” and “Girls” are incredibly different, but the archetypes of the characters in both shows are universal. There’s Hannah, who may come across as a hot mess but is actually quite self-assured and confident when it comes to her own opinions and moral compass; Marnie, the type-A, put-together gal whose deep insecurities only surface in times of great emotional turmoil; Jessa, the free spirit quickly tiring of her own selfish ways while finally realizing that her actions actually affect other people; and Shoshanna, whose overeagerness to please and do the socially acceptable thing have become her entire anxious personality. Read more…