SPOILER ALERT, so proceed with caution, Girls fanatics…
Season Three, Episode Two: “Truth or Dare”
Written by Jenni Konner; Directed by Lena Dunham
This episode, a sort-of tongue-in-cheek half-nod to the road trip as plot device, is loaded with even more signs of how much Hannah and Adam have grown as a couple (a much-welcomed continuation from the first episode of the season). Viewers are also gifted with some memorable Adam moments (Adamoments?).
Quick Breakdown:
There’s a moment early in this episode wherein viewers are subjected to a brief but brilliant display of Adam’s uniquely disarming anti-charm. As Hannah and Shoshanna sing along passionately to some Maroon 5 gobbly goop on the radio in their rental car (en route to pick up Jessa from rehab), Adam silently drives with disciplined intent. Until, of course, he unleashes his fist on the dashboard — banging apeishly until the music stops (Imagine the fee he’ll pay later when turning the car in!)
We see Marnie moving into a new apartment as she talks on the phone with Hannah, who initially tries to lie about her whereabouts, but — within seconds — spills the beans about the road trip. Marnie doesn’t exactly seem bothered by this, and we don’t see her again for the rest of the episode.
The rest of the time is rather satisfyingly spent watching Hannah face the realization that this road trip won’t exactly provide the creative spark she was assuming. When she tries to force the typical road-trip-coming-of-age-realization moment with Shoshanna (after more or less kicking Shoshanna out of their hotel room to quickly have sex with Adam), Shoshanna humorously demolishes Hannah’s entire moment with the simple but likely true accusation of “That’s a really sad story, but I think you’re remembering that wrong.”
In other news: Jessa doesn’t seem profoundly thankful for Hannah’s road trip rescue (we even learn that Hannah didn’t have to come at all, as the rehab facility has a loose open-door policy), though Hannah is quite thankful to see Jessa again. Adam seems skeptical of Jessa’s intentions, and I suspect Jessa’s reappearance might, unfortunately, put a fresh stress on Hannah and Adam’s relationship.
Rating:
B +
This episode is beautiful, if only for the scene in the woods, wherein Adam suddenly parks the car and proclaims that it’s time to hike. Hannah opts out, choosing instead to dive into some This American Life alone. This provides Shoshanna a moment to compliment Adam’s role in his relationship with Hannah, prompting Adam to succinctly sum up his love for Hannah with a simple, beautiful sentence (I won’t ruin it for you here).
Now for some random thoughts and my favorite moments of the night:
“She’s like a life addict.” — Hannah talking about Jessa to Marnie
Adam’s unintentional but direct quoting of The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t Always Get What You Want,” delivered with a perfect uneasiness as he realizes he has fallen into a trite pop culture reference.
