HBO is pulling the plug on ‘Girls’ after season 6: do you even care at this point?

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I kind of wonder if HBO has decided to clean house? A month ago, we learned that HBO and Damon Lindelof had come to a “mutual agreement” as to when to end the low-viewership show The Leftovers, and now HBO has decided that Girls should have an end-date too. The fifth season of Girls hasn’t even premiered yet, but HBO wants you to know that the show is over after season 6. Do you even care? I tried watching Girls a few years ago and it was honestly painful to me – the show is poorly written, insular and the characters are kind of terrible people. Oh, and it’s not funny?

It’s almost time to start saying bye-bye to Brooklyn. Almost. Sources tell E! News exclusively that an end date for Girls has indeed been decided upon, with Lena Dunham and her ladies set to sign off from HBO after a sixth season. Now, before you go into a Hannah Horvath-style meltdown over the impending end, remember that season five of the series has yet to premiere, so we’ve got some time before we have to say “So long, Shosh!”

The notion that Girls would call it quits after season six isn’t too surprising, however. Dunham has repeatedly mentioned in interviews her desire to stop at a half-dozen series. She explained her thought process during a call to Elvis Duran’s radio show last September. “Never say never, but that is the way we’re thinking about it right now and we’re starting to think about sort of how to wrap up the storylines of these particular young women,” Dunham said. “It’s really exciting. I started working on this show when I was 23, and I’m going to be 30 so it kind of feels right that this show kind of sandwiched my 20s and then I go off into the world.”

[From E! News]

I’ve actually been actively avoiding covering anything to do with Lena Dunham (even though she’s been particularly desperate for attention), mostly because it feels like 2015 was the year when people really stopped caring about Lena… and Girls. Season 4 of the series saw plummeting viewership, and the show has been “snubbed” for Golden Globe nominations this year, after only receiving a paltry two Emmy nominations in 2015 (and neither of those noms was for Lena). So, while it sounds like Lena was already losing interest in continuing the show for much longer, it also sounds like HBO was tired of supporting a show that no one cared about.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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91 Responses to “HBO is pulling the plug on ‘Girls’ after season 6: do you even care at this point?”

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  1. tracking says:

    The characters are terrible, unwatchable even. Adam Driver was the only point of real interest in the show. Now that he’s gone, adios.

    • Mira says:

      Adam is going to have a very good career. Best actor on the show.

      • Nancy says:

        Ehh me think he will get type- casted. Perosnally I did not like him in TFA. Really bad acting and totally miscast as Kylo Ren. He looked very weak compared to Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. I would have loved to see Ezra Miller as Kylo instead.

      • Mira says:

        Haven’t see TFA yet. But i really like him. Adam is Julliard educated actor who is at home on Broadway as much as on screen. His next movie is with Scorsese. Hes already worked with Spielberg, Cohen Brothers and Eastwood. Hes carving out a nice career for himself. I like Ezra Miller too.

      • Jellybean says:

        I liked all the new star wars characters, maybe Oscar Isaac’s was a bit thin, but I liked Adam’s the most.

      • Betti says:

        @nancy. Eh DAISY was better than him. Must be joking right. She was terrible, passable at best with that constipated look on her face the whole time. Bodega was good but Adam is a talented actor and he did very well in TFA.

      • nic919 says:

        If you are talking about the light saber duel then he had already been shot by the crossbow thing and was shown to be bleeding and still doing pretty well in the fight. Also, his character is not supposed to have had all the training. If you compare his performance to Hayden Christensen in the prequels, who was also described as emo, Driver’s performance is far less irritating.

      • pinetree13 says:

        Betti, did we watch the same movie? Daisy was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She carried that film!

      • Nancy says:

        @ Betti and Nic919
        Oh please! Daisy Ridley was amazing in the movie! She and Boyega really carried the film while all Driver did was had lame 1 or 2 liners with poor acting. Even Hayden Christensen’s acting in Revenge of the Sith is far superior then Adam Driver. Driver could not play tortured and demented well. He was easily the weakest actor in TFA to me.

    • Alex says:

      Agreed. I made it through 2 seasons before giving up

    • Mia4s says:

      Yeah I didn’t get this show at all.

      Adam is going to be (deservedly) big thanks to Star Wars and even if that fades he will always have income while he works smaller jobs. He won the lotto. Best thing to come out of that show.

    • mom2two says:

      Adam Driver being cast was the main reason why I was not enthused on seeing TFA. I loathe him on Girls (actually stopped watching Girls because of his character). But I did see TFA. And without giving away spoilers, I thought he did well with what he was given. I think his character could have been stronger if some more of his motivation was explored (I don’t want to get too spoilery here for those who have not seen TFA). His Kylo Ren does not make the strong impression that Darth Vader did in a New Hope but I don’t know that Kylo is meant to be the big bad in this trilogy. I am guessing Episode 8 will and should explore his character more.
      I thought Oscar Issac was the weak link, honestly. Charming yes, but his character was paper thin…outside of being the best pilot in the galaxy, there was nothing there. I do know Oscar revealed in an interview that originally his character was supposed to die and they changed their minds. All well and good but they forget to give that character some development. I suppose (and hope) his character gets more developed as time goes on.

    • ell says:

      he’s not gone though? he filmed for season 5.

    • Dangles says:

      I watched it for ten minutes once and found the characters utterly repellent and not in a good way.

  2. Snazzy says:

    Never watched it, not planning to start now. Bye bye Lena – don’t let the door hit your a** on the way out

    • Belle Epoch says:

      Exactly! Can she fade into oblivion now? Please?

    • SnarkySnarkers says:

      Seriously! Hopefully this troll will crawl back under her rock. This show got so much undeserved hype at first and I’m so glad everyone came to their senses and saw it for what it was, a terribly written show about self absorbed people.

    • claire says:

      LOL. Same!
      Hearing about it on here and how terrible it was….yeah, never got the urge. Plus, she seems annoying as all get out. I wonder what the hell she’ll do with herself now.

    • Dani2 says:

      Co-sign all the way.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Ooo, thank you. I was feeling guilty and unsisterhoodish for never watching it, but I can’t abide her, so I never did. Bye now.

    • ctgirl says:

      I choose not t o spend my time watching this beastly and boorish twit with an entitled attitude.

    • holly hobby says:

      I don’t have cable so I never watched this show but Entertainment Weekly kept hyping it and how brilliant Lena Dunham is. Sorry I don’t know why she and that show with Brian “I tell fiction!” Williams’ daughter is a thing. After hearing about her petting her sister that was enough I need to know about this gal.

  3. Mira says:

    I liked the first season a lot, gradually lost interest in it after that.

    • ell says:

      me too. i thought it was different and it was good to see female characters who looked like normal women and acting as unlikeable characters, too. it was very much needed. the problem is the show isn’t all that well written, and everything went to pot after season 1 (although season 3 had its moments…)

  4. Insomniac says:

    I tried watching this once just because I was curious about Adam Driver after The Force Awakens. I really didn’t get it.

    • GingerCrunch says:

      I binged it over the holidays for the same reason and actually enjoyed it and I’m 50-something! I liked that they were goofing on their generation. Would only admit it here where I’m semi anonymous. 😕

      • BangersandMash says:

        I binge watched it too, and actually am proud to say that I love Girls.
        It was quite a good view of how 20 somethings sometimes behave.

      • Jess says:

        I like the show too. Although, I never found it funny. I know everyone hates Lena but I find Allison more annoying. Plus, she can’t act.

      • Nev says:

        I love Girls. She brought a new slant on the SATC setup. Lena is a new voice. Can’t deny that.

      • Candy says:

        I liked it too after a binge watching session. It reminds me of my early 20s. I couldn’t stand Alison’s character either. She was the only one on that show I hated and wish she wasn’t on. I can relate to the other characters and I wouldn’t admit that unless anonymous either!

      • isabelle says:

        They’re definitely slamming their generation but its not well written comedy.

      • Skye says:

        I’m with you. It totally reminds me of being in my twenties and taking myself way too seriously, trying to create a new identity all the time and talking everything to death. Sometimes it’s just fun to rediscover the angst.

    • moo moo says:

      I first watched the “Girls” clips on youtube and really really liked it. But when I tried to watch the full episodes… I just couldn’t get into the show and found it boring. :/

  5. Pinky says:

    Nope. Not in the slightest.

  6. jess1632 says:

    The last season I thought was really great and kinda meshed w my life a little w the same kinda stories and adventures that were happening to me and my friends in 2015 (helps when the show is aimed at your demographic and u get the jokes) …it was strange but somewhat insightful. I don’t mind show Hanna, shosh and Marni are all equally annoying but get passed them and the other characters really help elevate the show…jmo

    • Nope says:

      Same here. This show actually manages to capture what its like being in your early(ish) 20’s right now. We have the older generations telling us we should have had a house by now because hard work is all it takes to be a success (whilst at the same time actively making sure we can’t afford them – thanks guys). The younger generations are completely modern, whilst we just missed out on that. We’re in the middle, suffering from the mistakes of our elders but not being rewarded like the young. It sucks and its hard. The reaction that Girls has had from the older folks really shows up their attitudes towards us – we’re lazy and whiney – yet that was the point of the show.
      TL;DR – watch shows aimed at your demographic or dont complain when you don’t understand the jokes.

      • Ange says:

        Except from what I saw none of them actually wanted to work that hard and they WERE lazy and whiny? The very first episode was Hannah squawking at her parents because in her 20s they finally decided to stop paying all her bills. I didn’t see any of the others do anything much like hard work either yet they loved to complain about success not falling in their lap.

    • ell says:

      the last season was really awful, but i liked season 1 and 3. and yes, i’m in the right demographic.

      • wreaths says:

        Its worth pointing out that another trait of the demographic is being upper-middle class. I’m in the age demographic but grew up working class and find the show totally unrelatable. My impression when I watched it was that you were supposed to at least be able to identify with the characters and their foibles, and that the humor was based on that.

    • Valois says:

      I am the right demographic (maybe slightly younger), but I never met anyone who behaves like anyone on the show. It feels so fake to me. And I watched 2 or 3 seasons. However, the fact that I am not American might be the reason for that.

  7. Fran says:

    I find it really hard to enjoy her work because she projects so much of her unlikable personality and warped, idealist version of herself in to all of her projects I’ve seen. Similar to Ryan Murphy.

  8. ldub says:

    HBO is pulling the plug on ‘Girls’ after season 6….
    And the world breathes a collective sigh of relief.

  9. melodycalder says:

    I binge watched the first season over the holidays and I really liked it. There were too many parts literally made me lol while I was trying to watch it quietly on my phone by my sleeping daughter. I agree, the female characters aren’t particularly endearing, but Adam driver is just. Everything.

  10. Tiffany says:

    The fade is strong with all of them. With the exception of Adam, none of them will have much of a career. They will go back to being trust fund artist.

  11. mp says:

    Has anyone read the Lenny Letter? It’s not all bad. I appreciated her interviews with Kristen Gillibrand (sp?), her story about endometriosis, and the interview with the black art curator who runs museum mammy tumblr was great (love her tumblr).

    Girls has a certain place in my heart for portraying sex accurately (awkward as hell in your 20’s, like Master of None in its 1st episode), and giving a glimpse of NY life that is more real than Sex and the City.

    • BangersandMash says:

      Agreed!!

      I actually am not afraid to say that I love Girls. The characters all have their bad sides, but it’s the same with everyone in life, I think it was interesting to observe these girls in a very real way. And I enjoyed it and at points I related to some of the characters a lot. Or know friends who were and are like some of the characters in the show. I love Girls

  12. Pants says:

    I watched the first two or three seasons, but as someone who grew up in REAL Brooklyn, I couldn’t stomach the hipster BS past that. The only one of the girls I liked was Shoshana too, so that defeats the purpose of watching the show since she got the least focus. I did like Adam and Ray though.

  13. cakecakecake says:

    I give less than a hoot babe!!

    I watched one season and never turned back to the channel.

  14. Lilacflowers says:

    Why wait until Season Six?

  15. CK says:

    Ugh, I wanted Girls to go on forever just so Lena Dunham and Allison Williams would stay over on HBO. Now without the tv shooting schedule to hinder them, I’m afraid we’re going to be seeing them a lot more in shows/films. I’m dreading the post Girls pr blitz that we all know Lena is going to do for some big NBC deal.

  16. Tough Cookie says:

    I like the orange and fuchsia dress. Not on her, though…and the shoes with it are beyond hideous.

  17. Josefina says:

    I’ve only watched a couple of episodes and I couldn’t stand it. It was unfunny and the 4 protagonists were annoying to unwatchable levels.

  18. Miss Grace Jones says:

    Well I think she’s a horrible person who’s passages in her book about her sister was disgusting and who gets a pass for loads she shouldn’t so I hope she fades into oblivion and we never see her again.

  19. Juliette says:

    She is completely unlikeable and the show was so boring I couldn’t get past the first few episodes. The news that it has been cancelled gets a big old “meh” from me. I really hope she just goes away now, I never bought into the narrative of her being a brilliant writer/artist. Bye bye!

  20. frivolity says:

    Six seasons too late. Now can Lena go away forever?

  21. isabelle says:

    Think they want to present the characters as unlikable & selfish people, especially Hannah. They’re not written to be liked. Its sort of tongue in cheek about the millennials but the writing is horrible. The plot lines go nowhere. Think a comedy that did depict the selfish & “bad” side of the millennials could be a great show if done well but girls just sort of walks around in a field with no place to go. Also, they could at least have a few good characters if they wanted to highlight the “bad” of a generation.

    • holly hobby says:

      But it’s not as funny as Seinfeld. Those characters weren’t “likeable” either but they brought on a lot of laughs.

      • isabelle says:

        Good point about Seinfeld and shows that with good writing even unlikable characters can be funny and watchable.

    • ell says:

      is the problem that the characters are unlikeable (because it’s true, they write to be unlikeable as a point) or that the general writing is below par? my issue is that there’s literally no build up in storylines. they pop out of nowhere, and make no narrative sense.

  22. Mandy says:

    I like Girls. I think the jokes are pretty clever and I like that the characters aren’t all that likeable. It’s kind of fun to watch them be the worst. I get why people don’t like Lena, but I’m fine with her. It goes against me nature to bash a show that employs so many women though, so maybe that’s why I give it a little bit of a pass?

    • mp says:

      Yeah, I like to get annoyed by the characters too and hate watch. It’s totally ok! on the whole “the characters aren’t likeable” thing as a reason to not watch… I mean, Tony Soprano, Carmela Soprano were likeable? Really? I don’t know about that. Or how about Don Draper from Mad Men (see privileged white men be assholes) or ppl on Breaking Bad (killing, lying, cheating, stealing, etc.)

      I also think she got a lot of flack just because it was filmed in NY and featured privileged white girls, but oh well, she wrote what she knows. not the first, not the last.

    • isabelle says:

      did laugh my butt off this past season when she was at the Iowa worship and her classmates were pointing out she only writes about herself, while she was snacking the whole time. It has its funny moments.

  23. Frank says:

    I gotta say, this is one of my favorite shows, the writing is spectacular and the acting and characters are great. The ratings were pretty consistent so Im surprised there pulling the plug now. Lena is a super talent and will go on to great things!

  24. knower says:

    Girls isn’t Girls anymore – it’s The Lena Show.

    I’m curious to see what her next move is after the show. She seems the type that needs to be the actor, the inspiration, the story, directed by/written by/produced by/starring (this is a big one – being the lead – I really think Lena NEEDS to be the center of the attention). I’ve continually sensed a quiet chip on her shoulder over being homely, but intelligent.

    I do wonder if she can put her ego on the backburner and create characters/stories that aren’t residents of her precious bubble….we’ll see (though hopefully not. unless she becomes less self-involved)

    • Alltheway says:

      ” I’ve continually sensed a quiet chip on her shoulder over being homely, but intelligent.”

      Really?! I don’t think it’s quiet at all. She wants the world to know that she has a right to be homely and not of the usual size zero mould. She goes overboard and I think she’s actually quite confused. She abuses her fictional character’s body by going all out to look untidy and makes a huge point of showing her body in unflattering angles and situations. It’s not Melissa McCarthy type being proud of being a different size and not looking like a supermodel; it’s baiting people to react. She’s reactive. That’s the only way to put it. And it’s obnoxious.

      • MarBear says:

        yup, this is what bothers me most about Lena. She wants the reactions because she is a real life troll,

  25. na na says:

    what in the name of hell is that pink dress tho??

    • knower says:

      I believe the designer of that dress is Please Look At Me. Their pieces are staples in Lena’s red carpet wardrobe.

  26. Jo says:

    I barely made it through the first episode. I found the whole thing whiny and self absorbed – definitely not funny. To be honest I didn’t even know it was still a show.

  27. Karen says:

    I’m surprised how many people on this site don’t “get” the show. Although I do think ending the show after two more seasons is a good choice, pretty much every male and female I know between the ages of 27-40 loves it. The characters aren’t supposed to be likeable, they are flawed assholes who mirror the worst of naval gazing privileged white young adulthood. This show is pretty relevant to a huge swath of Americans. Maybe the celebitchy crowd just isn’t the demographic? Nothing wrong with that of course.

    • knower says:

      20-something here……

      sorry, but some of us find Lena’s need to be the star enough to through the quality of the show out of balance. It has NOTHING to do with her character. I get it’s borderline satire. I get that they’re meant to be sort of unlikable. I get it’s a broader comment on my generation, and more specifically, white privilege. To dismiss others who dislike her overbearing presence (and its negative effect on the show) as just not “getting it” is a lazy excuse to defend the show.

      And I’m pretty sure people who acknowledge her need to make the show The Lena Show, and are bothered by it, still “get” the show.

    • Josefina says:

      I get the characters aren’t supposed to be likeable, but there’s a difference between being likeable and being a good (as in well-written) character. The best example is Breaking Bad. All of the main characters were pretty douchey and more often than not, I wanted to slap them. But I cared for them within the storyline, because they were interesting.

      The main problem with Girls, I think, is that for a comedic show it simply is not funny. When you have a mediocre plot with annoying characters and unfunny jokes, you’ve built yourself the perfect disaster.

  28. Ghoulish_moose says:

    I watched Series 1 and thought it was a pretty good watch. I watched Series 2 and thought “Meh, not as good as Series 1” I stopped half way through Series 3 because it was awful. And I watched the first episode of Season 4 and thought “Forget it! Unwatchable”

    I’m not even surprised it’s getting canned. Like other people have said, Adam Driver was the best thing to happen in Girls. And his character was written awfully from Series 2 onwards.

  29. Rockin Robin says:

    It should have been pulled after she admitted to molesting her sister in the book. Go away!

  30. lucy2 says:

    I binged the first season when it came out, and decided I hated it. And not in a love to hate kind of way either. And then Lena was everywhere with publicity and super annoying, so I was done.

  31. tacos and tv says:

    No cared about Lena and that was a good thing. She is a one trick pony and luckily that is starting to display itself. I’m happy a strong female has had success in the industry, but unfortunately, I do not find her likeable, relatable or very talented at all. She is a great team and luckily for her was a product of nepotism.

  32. ell says:

    lena said a while ago it was her decision to stop at 6 seasons, so i’m not sure the show got canned (but it should have, because season 4 was awful).

  33. Tandy says:

    What the ever loving fuck are those things on her feet in that photo? Pom pom balls from Hobby Lobby? Cat toys?

  34. Mela says:

    Am I the only one who’s surprised it’s getting another season? I thought it would be done after the last one. I’m sad to see Adam Driver go, since his character was probably the best. I wish it was Allison Williams instead since 1) her character is boring and often goes through the most embarrassing plot lines to be “interesting” and 2) girl can’t act.

  35. Corgis4Life says:

    Who remembers “SHE IS THE VOICE OF OUR GENERATION” I thought the show was pretty good when it first started, but the hype was odd and way too much. When I saw those headlines, it really rubbed me the wrong way – I thought- Kanye must be her publicist. You don’t speak for me or my peers Lena, you are 1-dimensional rich girl and mommy bought you and hbo pilot weeeee. Thank god people realize you ain’t no voice worth even listening to. Bye Girl. And Girls 🙂

  36. lowercaselois says:

    I find most tv shows, whether they are on cable or not run their course in 5 seasons. I know after two years, I usually stop watching. Girls in their 20s, who have just graduated from college, who need to find themselves and living in Brooklyn, have run its course.

  37. Kathryn says:

    After being horrified by the first few episodes being more the age of Lena’s parents than Lena and her friends, Girls really grew on me. The series is uneven, but the best episodes are soulful, unflinchingly honest, and sometimes very very funny. I live in NY and used to work with a lot of Brooklyn 20 somethings — I think the show hits the mark there.

    • Dikotomy says:

      Kathryn, we are of the same age group, and I appreciate what you’re saying — but when I saw that clip of Allison Williams (Brian’s daughter) being “serviced” while she bent over the kitchen sink, that was the end of Girls for me. Maybe because I’m a middle-aged mom, but I kept imagining poor BW having to watch that scene with his daughter!

  38. Melanie says:

    Nope. I do not care.

  39. Really? says:

    Lena, in her own words in her book, describes herself as a sexual predator towards her little sister, and when there is a public backlash, she blames everything on right-wing republicans. The woman has serious issues in my opinion. Her show, the characters and writing were unimpressive. Enough said.

  40. La La Land says:

    She’s lucky she didn’t get cancelled after Season 1 … or 0.2.
    I think even those among her ‘ilk’ are starting to get over the hype. But they, themselves, made this idiot rich and relevant … along with that other idiot Judd ApaTOE (he reminds me of a toe … which I once tweeted … which afterwards LD then tweeted looking like a toe herself … she trolls my celebrity troll page:)).

    But that’s okay, Toe’s got Amy Schumer to dangle in front of our ever bored lives. Anyway. The TV bubble (including it’s prime networks) has yet to burst 🙁

    Disclaimer: I’m sure not all are bored … cause there’s always Shonda Rhimes and SCANDAL! (dry heaving) Maybe Lena will continue to work for her again??

  41. Blackbetty says:

    I shamefully love Girls. Finally something that showed Gen Y struggle in after the Global Financial Crisis. But i just dont believe Adam Driver as a bad guy in Stars Wars.

    • Nancy says:

      I also didn’t think he did good in TFA either. When he took off his mask and started speaking, it was cringe-worthingly awful . He also doesn’t look like a villain either. He looks way too geeky and nerdy. I really think Ezra Miller would have suited the role of Kylo Ren. He looks sorta similar to Adam Driver but can can act evil well. And has got a unique look about him. Perfect for a villain.