You make a valid point. And of course, I always try to appropriately qualify sex scenes and appreciate when they hold symbolic or narrative value. It might be that I simply have encountered too many shows lately portraying nudity or sex where and in ways that I don't think they need to - and it's clouding me. I…

I'm a heterosexual woman, and this particular scene didn't bother me any more than the majority of female/male nudity and sex acts displayed on screen. I find them to be gratuitous, excessive. In most cases, though of course not all, just as much can be achieved with suggestion. I think of shows like Mad Men,…

Good point.

I didn't hear the podcast, but I find Mandel's statement completely ironic since my only thought (since last season finale) is where the show could possibly go now that Selena has lost. And tellingly, it is struggling a bit, so I have no idea why he and the other writers would regard a Selina presidency as a narrative…

He definitely did. I wonder if anyone remembers that reality show he did a long time ago (more than 10 years). He was pretty candid in his pursuit of beautiful, young playthings, and it seemed like women everywhere threw themselves at him.

Me too, I love this show and have watched each episode a few times. Especially being in NY, love that it's about the finance/hedge fund world, law and politics, which is so much of what NY is. All that rigid social class hierarchy based on where you went to school, how much money you make, where you live, etc. - it's…

For me, it's just the opposite. Each character has many detestable qualities, but I find redeeming, humanizing ones in each as well. They don't always have bad intentions or motives for the things they do, even the bad things. I dislike them at times and root for them, all of them (except maybe Mr. Rhoades Sr.), at…

oh ok - I didn't see that "Inside the Episode" but I think Dunham did capture the culture well, so to speak. I think I've just gotten a little jaded, but I do agree that while it is a refreshing departure from the one-sided depiction of abortion as moral/ethical/personal dilemma, there is definitely something worth…

This show may have had some good moments, but it really never had any moments of brilliance.

Marnie is not type A, since that implies she is an ambitious, overachieving perfectionist, and as we all know Marnie has failed in most of her personal/romantic relationships and lacks direction with regard to her professional and creative endeavors to an absurd degree. She's almost 30, hell, when was the last time…

Allison Williams looked pretty in last night's episode, but otherwise, she's fairly average looking. I don't even think she is the best looking out of this bunch of girls. Jennifer Connelly is stunningly beautiful, so I agree, it's hard to compare them. I have a coworker who ran into her, and without knowing who she…

Good point, I hadn't considered the trajectory of Bach's career, and, no, I can't think of any well-known professor (from Harvard or any other top school) who's transitioned from academia back to big law/corporate law. Of course, we know that the reverse happens often.

It's much more likely at Harvard then at Yale where a much higher proportion of the grads go on to public service.

Sorry, just read this comment…days later. No, I don't think you're judging Hannah at all, and your criticism of the writing is completely valid. This show is most often devoid of any perspective other than white privilege and thus comes across as indifferent to or ignorant of issues of racial/ethnic identity. The…

I completely agree. I get that in NYC a 185k salary won't get you far but Wendy is probably carrying most of the bills anyway. Didn't they mention last season, when Wendy and Chuck were discussing her leaving Axe Capiral, that it would be impossible to maintain the house (which I thought they said was rented but now…

True, true…

Exactly, they do use the names of real firms all the time, so Cravath made sense…but ok Horvath works too lol. And I also thought Axe's lawyer worked at Skadden, or at least he did before he became Axe's on call, round-the-clock private counsel.

Yes - to all of this. I think Madeline also needs to be needed and to feel important, which she does when Jane is around. She is clearly the dominant figure in that dyad. And just as one daughter has her foot out the door, Jane, who needs some mentoring and mothering, is right there for her.

Interesting point/comparison. I guess I am just thinking about it as a mother bc I would have done exactly what Carrie did and not have been bothered by it at all.

I agree, the whole "women who engage in sexual behavior are doomed to die" theme is just so trite and misogynistic. I would think (hope?) that Lena Dunham is much more self-aware and enlightened to fall into that trap.