The original post: /r/television by /u/Old-Meringue3590 on 2026-01-18 22:47:02+00:00.
I recently rewatched Girls after a long time and, somewhat unintentionally, started with the final season. I remembered “American Bitch” as a standout episode but revisiting it now, it hits very differently. What’s striking is how the episode disarms you. The dialogue initially feels self-aware, even disarming especially the line, “I’m a horny motherfucker with the impulse control of a toddler.” As the episode progresses, the power dynamics become increasingly uncomfortable. When the writer takes out his dick and flops it onto Hannah’s thigh, it becomes painfully clear that she has walked into the very situation she believed she was calling out.
The final image is devastating, Lena Dunham’s haunting, hollow stare followed by the episode closing on Rihanna’s Desperado. It’s a chilling choice revealing how disturbingly well this episode has aged.