Girls (TV series)

Dunham says Hannah fails to recognize her own power to hurt others, which helped explain Jessa's betrayal.

“because Hannah doesn't, see herself as a person with any power she doesn't realize that she's capable of hurting anybody else's feelings”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Lena Dunham (May 26, 2026) · Listen from 43:57

Dunham argues Girls sat between critics' extremes, taking its characters seriously while understanding what was funny about them.

“actually, something can live totally between those places, which is we take them totally seriously and we totally get what's funny about it”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Lena Dunham (May 26, 2026) · Listen from 37:15

Dunham finds watching Girls stressful, despite viewers treating it as comfort television.

“I feel like when I'm watching Girls, I'm like watching one of those movies where somebody has like 10 minutes to disseminate a bomb”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Lena Dunham (May 26, 2026) · Listen from 33:45

Poehler recommends Dunham rewatch Girls as a way to be gentler with herself, as rewatching Parks and Recreation was for her.

“Rewatch Girls, because it is just a really like concrete way to be more gentle”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Lena Dunham (May 26, 2026) · Listen from 35:06