Review: 'Girls' Season 4, Episode 8, 'Tad & Loreen & Avi & Shenaz': Trouble on the Home Front

PREVIOUSLY: ‘Girls’ Season 4, Episode 7, ‘Ask Me My Name’: Closure Might Be Coming

Love Her or Hate Her

Hate. At this point in the season, it’s fair to say Hannah

has gone completely off the rails following her breakup with Adam, and just

when we think she’s starting to embrace routine and responsibility courtesy of

her substitute teacher position, she goes ahead and shows us that instead she’s

reverted back into something of a child, acting as the students’ peer rather

than their teacher. It couldn’t come at a more perfect time, actually, given

her father’s admission to Loreen at the beginning of the episode.

Another Cringe-Worthy

Moment

There was little-to-no doubt in our minds that Hannah was

going to back out of getting her frenulum pierced, despite talking Cleo (guest

star Maude Apatow) into it in the first place. But watching the girl get a needle

stuck through the lower part of her tongue (accompanying blood and all) was a

little much. At that point it became clear that Hannah would never make a good

teacher — not when she’s encouraging her “favorite” students to go

ahead and pierce themselves between periods.

How Many Shots to Forget

That Time…

Shoshanna plucked her bikini line with tweezers?

And that time she tried to talk dirty at a restaurant, the

way only Shosh could?

A Realization

We haven’t focused much on Hannah’s parents these past

seasons of “Girls;” usually they flit in and out of her life

depending on her current situation. This week we saw a whole new side to the

argumentative couple. Aside from learning that Tad is gay, we also learned the

couple has been in therapy, and there was at least one occasion of infidelity

in their past. It all worked to showcase that Hannah might have more in common

with her mother than she previously thought, since they’re both apt to live in

denial when it comes to the men that they spend their time with. And that they

both err on the side of drama. Every. Single. Time.

Mr. Parker Can’t Lose

Thank you Fran (guest star Jake Lacey), for at least

attempting to give Hannah that small does of reality that no one else will. But

you know, he’s such a misogynist, who wants to take away Hannah’s voice and

tame her like a wild horse.

READ MORE: Sundance: Lena Dunham, Kristen Wiig and Your Other Favorite Female Comedians on Misogyny, Sex Scenes, and Their Secret Weapons

Fashion Observation

Is anyone else really digging Hannah’s wardrobe choices now

that she’s a teacher? Or could this be a side effect of living with Elijah?

Where was Elijah this week?

A Growth Spurt

Shoshanna may finally be ready to ditch her torch for Ray,

following his confession to not being over Marnie. Her subsequent date with

Scott (guest star Jason Ritter) was one for the books though. After bantering

back and forth about their exes, Shosh finally seemed to realize what being

with an actual put together dude for once could be like. So naturally she

picked that moment to invoke Jessa’s terrible advice. Luckily for her, Scott

was entirely too nice about the incident. Enter half the cast of “The Good

Wife” to save the conversation.

This Week in Friendship

The most girl time we had this week was between Hannah and

Cleo, thanks to so much other story being packed in. After the past few episodes,

which featured plenty of heavy emotional Hannah time, it was a nice break.

Vote for Ray

Among other things we learned this week? Ray is terrible at

campaigning. Where was that spark we saw during the city council meeting?

A Proposal

Marnie is popularly unpopular, so we’re betting no one

actually cheered for the moment in which Dez weirdly coffee shop-proposed.

Whether the show actually goes through with a wedding or not remains to be

seen, but this was so clearly a random artist moment as opposed to a genuine

ask that we can’t see it happening. Or, maybe we can. Marnie is clearly all

about making deluded decisions when it comes to this guy. Plus oddly enough,

having her seem like the mature one in this relationship gives her likability

points. So, perhaps a wedding should be written after all.

Most telling quote

goes to…

“Please. We’re children!” – Hannah, adding another

layer to her regression.

Runner up…

Everyone who said the word “cock” this week. Too

many to count.

Grade: B

“Girls” airs

Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO. Next time: Hannah reacts to the news about her father.

READ MORE: Watch: New Trailer for Lena Dunham-Produced ‘It’s Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise’

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