Iowa was never meant to last, but we grew quite fond of the Midwest. Here is what will we miss most about Girls‘ season 4 field trip.
Hannah’s acceptance to the Iowa Writer’s Workshop at the close of season 3 meant one major move was in store for season 4. With Hannah away at school, a new set of characters were welcomed in if only for a short time. Two characters made their way out to Iowa, one bringing a piece of home to Hannah, and another giving Hannah the courage to go home.
There are certainly things we will miss about Iowa, but some things are better left behind.
Elijah, the deep thinker
There was only one night of wild and crazy fun at an undergrad party until New York City Elijah took a leave of absence. Elijah’s success in friendship and even some published work was meant to counter Hannah’s shortcomings. However, his quips and attitude around Hannah did even less for us than it did for Hannah. Hopefully Hannah was able to switch the name on her lease over to him before she left.
Hannah’s writing group
The crew assembled for Hannah’s writing peers is perhaps what we will miss the most about Iowa. They are brutally honest and gave Hannah a run for her money the entire first half of the season. It was refreshing to have Hannah finally engage with people who challenge her to push her arguments beyond, “I’m right and you’re wrong.” The classes, as well as their social interactions outside, gave Hannah a look at the life she may think that she wants, but does not fit into. Hannah may not miss them, but we certainly will.
Hannah’s attitude
Hannah has never been one to recognize when she is in the wrong. Nothing made that more painfully obvious than having a group of six people point it out to her on a weekly basis. Her opinions are her own, but she cannot expect everyone to get inside her head at any given moment. We’re hoping that Hannah’s strong academic shakedown puts her in a better place to pick up her writing or at least be willing to give something else a shot.
As her father said in last week’s episode, sometimes giving up what we think we should be gives a person more happiness than pursuing what everyone expects of you.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming in New York.
Watch Girls season 4, episode 5, “Sit-In,” Sunday, February 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.