In last night’s episode of Girls, the very apparent differences between Hannah and Mimi-Rose were busted wide open as the two women shared an uncomfortable but arguably necessary night out together. Their friction represents a struggle all too familiar to me and probably most women on the planet. It’s a case of the has-it-all girlfriend (Mimi-Rose) versus the underdog ex (Hannah).
From previous episodes, we know Mimi-Rose gives successful lectures, drinks green juice, has perfect hair and an apartment worthy of Anthropologie’s Tumblr, and is totally comfortable going out to buy fresh flowers in her pajamas and a paint-speckled green parka because she’s just that fucking cute. And Hannah is, well, kind of a mess — at her best, she could be called quirky, or lovable in a perpetually-lost-and-figuring-it-out way, but those descriptions seem almost apologetic compared to the Ayn Randian strength and competence of Mimi-Rose.
As a member of team women, I don’t love that Mimi-Rose and Hannah are quasi fighting over Adam, but it’s what they start out doing in the most recent episode. Sure, Mimi-Rose is playing it more like a level-headed adult and neither of them are jello-wrestling, but there is still the distinct smell of competition between the two, one that I would expect from an ABC show like Revenge, but not from Girls.
I got the vibe that Hannah thinks one of them has to “win” this battle, and Mimi-Rose is the bigger winner on paper. This kind of competition for dudes/blaming the new girl ultimately sucks for all women because we’re racing to the bottom when we engage in it. And yet, it’s challenging for even these two emotionally intelligent (at least in their own minds) people to do better.
Hannah takes the conventional asshole route at first and blames the new chick, trying to take down every instance where Mimi-Rose is crushing it in life. Luckily, the writers were smart here and didn’t let either woman “win” this cat fight. In fact, the game shifts to being about taking the high road, a challenge both women rise to by the end of the episode.
It would have been really easy for Hannah to continue hating on someone she doesn’t know but assumes has a perfect life. Instead, after both women are worn down enough to get real, they start acting like adults. Hannah tells Adam she gets why he and Mimi-Rose are together, and I believe her. I like grown up Hannah — she’s slightly less selfish and better at doing her hair.
Last night’s episode was an important reminder of how crazy you can look when you let jealousy and competitiveness get the best of you after a breakup. While I can see why Hannah would feel bitter — when she asks someone their name, they ignore her, but when that Disney princess Mimi-Rose does it, suddenly everyone is charmed and open. That sucks, but dwelling on the unfairness of life doesn’t make it suck any less.
Photo via HBO
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