‘Girls’ Talk: “Welcome to Bushwick, a.k.a. The Crackcident”

Welcome to our weekly installment of 'Girls' Talk! We're joined by two critics to discuss this week's episode of the hit HBO series 'Girls,' created by and starring Lena Dunham.

ScreenCrush.com editor Britt Hayes is joined by Gwen Reyes and Rudie Obias to discuss this week’s episode, titled “Welcome to Bushwick, a.k.a. The Crackcident.” Gwen is the publisher of Reel Vixen and you can tweet her @ReelVixen. Rudie is the Movies Editor at Shock Ya and a host of the AuteurCast. You can tweet him @rudie_obias.

Britt: This week's episode was largely comedic, but there's some meaty stuff in there, too. The ladies venture to a giant warehouse party that allows all four of them to be in the same place at once for the first time, but it also allows our supporting cast to interact as well.

First things first: Marnie and Charlie. Marnie is so oblivious this episode, in direct contrast to the refreshing self-awareness from Hannah last week. She doesn't understand that her desire for Hannah to be more selfless is borne of her own selfish needs. Thankfully we get the return of Elijah (!!!), who sets Marnie straight, but I find it hard to believe this is the first time someone has tried to get through to her outside of her relationship with Charlie. What do you guys think about Marnie's behavior this week? She's been so up and down, and this is a marked downturn. More importantly, what do you think of Elijah slapping her?

Gwen: Marnie has increasingly become my least favorite ‘Girls’ character. I'm not sure if that is a testament to her character's arc or of the great job Williams does in making me not like her. I have to hand it to Williams for really crafting a good, unlikeable character that I really, really want to like.

This week's episode definitely did not garner the girl any new fans, that's for sure. I loved how she felt so upset after seeing Charlie able to move on from her so quickly (she's not only selfish, she's also totally self-involved in a way I think many, many people relate to) because I think that's a completely reasonable response. Even if you were the one trying to take back your power and end something you aren't happy in, it still hurts to see the other person bounce back so quickly. In a way, I think Marnie felt like she wasn't important to Charlie (and by proxy, anyone). She has a deep-seated issue with being forgotten and not seen as the most "normal" or "rational" member of her group, but that's what makes her a bit off.

She's also a bit jealous of Hannah, did you notice that when she made a point to tell Hannah that "she's cooler than she realizes?"

And, I LOVED seeing Elijah slap her. It's not going to make a lick of difference, or have the desired effect of "waking her up" to her own selfishness, but it was cathartic for the rest of us. I think Elijah really understands the viewer. He's the best.

Britt: I feel like Elijah was a proxy for the audience this week, big time. That was a slap heard 'round the world. Maybe these girls need to sit down and have some therapy sessions with Elijah to get their crap together.

Rudie: I did like Marnie and Charlie's post-breakup storyline, as I feel my favorite character is Marnie because she seems she's just as lost as everyone else, but on the outside she seems like she has it together -- this was a rare instance where she couldn't keep it together. I feel her mindset at the beginning of the episode was to show Charlie what he was missing, but of course the tables were turned. C'mon, it was a crappy way to break up with someone.

Britt: We have to discuss this -- Shoshanna smoked crack this week, you guys! I love how they had her do an atypical drug, and totally by accident, of course. Poor, naive Shosh. I feel like she got the short end of the stick yet again this week, though. I'd like to see her have more to do. And Gwen, didn't you call this thing between her and Ray a couple of weeks ago? What the hell is going on with that?!

Rudie: I would buy her waiting in line for the bathroom at a party and just taking whatever someone had put in front of her. I feel smoking crack was a bit too extreme, but hey, it was funny nevertheless. I can also see the next episode (or so) focusing on Shoshanna's character. I really like her naivete and I think it would be really interesting to see her come into her own.

Gwen: Am I the only one who feels totally open to Shoshanna and Ray? It's not a pairing that will end well, but it'll be a great opportunity to bring such opposing people together. They also have a really nice chemistry. Ray was a stand-up stand-in to remain her Crack Spirit Guide after Jessa left to take on some Crusty Punks.

Britt: I wouldn't actually mind Ray and Shoshanna hooking up. Sure, Ray is snarky, but I think Shoshanna clearly needs -- and more importantly, wants -- to be more adventurous and experience all the things adulthood has to offer. Unlike the other girls, she has such beautiful optimism. Is it mean to say I look forward to watching her get her heart broken?

Gwen: Or that she could soften Ray. That's what I like about this pairing; there's the possibility for them to meet in the middle. And despite how jaded Dunham has shown herself to be towards her ladies, she does have the potential to offer a bit of comfort to them, too.

Britt: This week we finally get confirmation of Mr. Lavoyt's intentions with Jessa, which are as impure as I'd feared. I love the way this was handled, though, with Jessa showing some maturation by steering clear of a path she would have gleefully danced down before. The moment when he stops his played-up crying and calls her a tease was almost jarring because -- although all the characters have flaws -- not one character has been played as straight up villainous or straight up angelic, and this is the first time we've had a character (and a guy, natch) act like an out and out jerk. Still, I'm thrilled that Jessa rejected him as it lends her some much needed dimension. Thoughts?

Gwen: I completely agree that it was jarring to hear him sit up from her lap and call her a tease. But then for her to say she liked him better when he was a good guy was such a wonderfully vilifying moment for Jessa. I have to admit I thought this relationship might have gone to bed, but I was so pleased to see her stand up for herself and Lavoyt's family (something he seemed unable to do himself).

She and Shoshanna are proving to be a pair of growth machines! Jessa still has her sexual power and self-assuredness, but now she recognizes the consequences also affect how she views herself. I think before this, she didn't want to see that.

And that pony-tailed shorty can just kiss off. The crusty punks should have given Lavoyt one more kick and a bottle of wine for later.

Rudie: This was a good moment. I liked when Jessa said she liked him better when he was being the good guy and then Mr. Lavoyt said "Ain't that the way." As if it's something he always heard, maybe. Mr. Lavoyt isn't what Jessa needs at the moment, but it makes me like Jessa even more now. What do you think of this storyline? As it stands, it's my least favorite part of ‘Girls.’

Britt: I think in some way Jessa was turning to Mr. Lavoyt for a parental connection she never had -- see a couple of weeks ago when she intimated to him about her childhood with her mother. I didn't know exactly where it was headed, but I knew it wouldn't be something too typical. It has been delightful to watch her interact with the kids, and I do hope this doesn't mean the end of her babysitting because I can never get enough of Kathryn Hahn.

Gwen: He didn't seem like he was going to fire her, and she needs the job. I'm sure there's another episode of awkwardness in there.

Britt: Let's move on to Hannah and Adam. This week sort of validated what I'd discussed last week, inspired by Kate's observation that we'd never seen another girl at Adam's place, even with all the times Hannah had just popped over, unannounced. I don't think Adam is that much of a player, and as we find out this week, he has feelings too. The show has done an excellent job of funneling Adam through Hannah's perspective, making us feel like he's the jerk, but it's also done some subtle, sneaky stuff where -- while that view is definitely more well-defined -- it's allowed room for perspective and debate. Adam has these lovely, goofy little moments where he feels like a genuine guy you might date, and then those moments where Hannah's wants and needs clash with his own, and this week we see, bluntly, that Hannah hasn't shown much interest in his life outside of her. It's something relatable because the beginning of a relationship is always a little nebulous -- we don't know how much we should pry or if our questions will come off as nosy and unwelcome, but all Hannah needs to do is ask and be direct. That's all you can do in a relationship, rather than over-analyze the crap out of everything and silently drive yourself insane with hypotheticals.

Gwen: I don't really have much to add to what you said, Britt. It was a sneaky move, for sure, throwing the curveball of Adam not being one-dimensional (what?? He has FEELINGS? Gah, Cosmo never taught me that!).

I'm still a bit curious as to where they met, but maybe that's another mystery we won't solve just yet.

I still don't like Adam, but this episode made me like him just a little more than Hannah and mountains more than Marnie -- whose quarter life crisis spiral is going to be so fun to watch during the remaining episodes. Also, I must say ‘Girls’ is really engaging when Dunham does not direct the episodes. And Koller's touch on the script was a breath of fresh air too. More Elijah!

Rudie: My favorite moment of the episode. Getting Adam's side of this relationship with Hannah. Hannah sees Adam the way she wants to see him, and we as the audience see him that way too. It's good to show Adam and Hannah's relationship evolve or at least become defined after six episodes. To reveal Adam as someone who isn't a shiftless slug but someone with substance was pretty well written. This was the first time we've seen Adam outside of his apartment and with a shirt on. This is the first time we've seen Adam with other people too. He appears to be so mysterious because no asks him about his life. This is very reasonable to me. Sure, he might play on Hannah's emotions and somewhat weak-willed nature but now he's evolved into a well-rounded character.

Britt: Oh yes, can we talk about how Adam wore a SHIRT?! I mean, I can see why he didn't before. That shirt was tacky business, and I for one vote Shirtless Adam 4 Prez.

The moment where they were dancing together was so delightful and filled me with immense joy -- just further proof of how well this episode was directed. In the end, when Hannah is sitting between an annoyed Marnie and Adam in the cab while a smug grin grows on her face was just brilliant. It captures the essence of those characters beautifully with such a small, nuanced moment.

Gwen: A s--- eating grin of someone who just won a prize... But who is also not aware of how winning affects others.

I agree, a really nice ending to a thoroughly delightful episode.