Girls

It's easy to dismiss Girls as a shameless attempt to rekindle the magic of that more famous women-centric HBO hit, Sex and the City, but you'd be remiss to do so. Written, co-produced, and directed by up-and-comer Dunham, this series does a remarkable job of telling an authentic story of life for a more average woman as opposed to the primped, plucked, and (dare it be said?) impossibly petite versions that typically mark TV tales. There's virtually nothing remarkable about Hannah -- including her own behavior at times -- a fact that's confirmed when her boss of two years fires her rather than giving her a paying gig, and by her occasional bed buddy, Adam (Adam Driver), who barely heeds meaningful conversation before enticing her into his sexual fantasies. The final picture isn't always pretty or favorable to its characters, but it does grant viewers a refreshingly believable look at the good and bad of human relationships and how our self-image is tied up in others' assessments of ourselves.

Girls is Dunham's brainchild, but you can also feel the influence of producer Judd Apatow in the show's subliminal humor, unglamorously honest portrayal of sexual relationships, and general knack for singling out a person in the crowd with a surprisingly engaging story to tell. It doesn't promise to keep you in stitches or to jerk any tears, and its noticeably homogenous cast has garnered some criticism, but it's an exceedingly well written, delightfully reflective commentary on what it's like to be out in the real world without a clue. Thank goodness for friends.