Airing from 2012-2017, HBO series Girls follows the lives of four twenty-something friends who struggle to find success both personally and professionally in New York City. The show tries to contextualize what motivates millennials — a generation often dismissed as self-involved and entitled — through its main characters, particularly the show's primary protagonist, Hannah Horvath.
Hannah isn't the kind of character people are always rooting for to succeed. She's often her own worst enemy, but she's also not the stereotypical heroine who aspires to achieve life's benchmarks traditionally. While there's a lot to like about Hannah, she's also someone who's deeply flawed, and by the end of the series, it's questionable if she's learned very much from her mistakes along the way.
Can't Commit To Being A Writer
Despite identifying herself as a writer, Hannah produces very little actual content. She writes for an online publication, and she manages to do just enough to get offered the opportunity to write an e-book, but struggles creatively to meet the deadline. She's accepted into a prestigious writing workshop but can't handle the competition or the critiques by her classmates.
Hannah does suffer some setbacks that are beyond her control, but she's often distracted by the multitude of mini-dramas that consume her life. She's talented enough to continue to receive opportunities that she ultimately squanders.
Unable To Keep A Job
After her parents cut her off financially, Hannah bounces from job to job, but she lacks drive or enthusiasm, and she makes no secret that she believes these jobs are beneath her. After landing a lucrative position writing advertorials, Hannah views herself as a sellout and quits after insulting her co-workers, demeaning them for choosing to behave as responsible adults even if it means putting their creativity on the back burner.
Hannah finds a job teaching for she's well-suited intellectually, but,she doesn't understand how to behave appropriately in a professional environment. During the series final season, Hannah lands a dream job of sorts, but viewers can only hope motherhood and her newfound responsibilities motivate her not to squander another opportunity or burn yet another bridge.
Publicly Shames Jessa And Adam
Hannah has legitimate reasons to feel betrayed since Jessa ends their friendship as a way to justify her relationship. But after insisting during the season 5 finale that she's going to take the high road, Hannah channels her anger into an article that is published in The New York Times, putting both Jessa and Adam on blast in a very public way. It's basically a middle finger to her former bestie and boyfriend, knowing they'll endure negative blowback for their actions. It's Hannah's one-sided account of the situation and a cheap ploy to garner support and sympathy.
Messes With Adam's Head
For almost the entirety of season 1, Hannah tries to pursue a relationship with Adam. When they don't engage in demeaning or demoralizing sex, he's ambivalent about her presence in his life. Hannah pursues him anyway, and it's only when she steps back that he steps up. But viewers learn that the reason Adam is such an enigma to Hannah is that she's never bothered to get to know him.
When he is finally ready to commit to her, she pulls away. Hannah stays with him out of guilt, dates someone else without telling him and ultimately breaks things off. When it comes to dating, Hannah prefers to run from the unpleasant aspects of intimacy. Call it bad timing or immaturity, but there's no mistaking that Hannah messes with Adam's mind.
Cuts Friends Out Of Her Life
At the start of season 1, Hannah has a tight-knit group of friends, but as they deal with the harsh realities of adulthood, she is often at odds with Marnie, Jessa, Elijah and Shoshanna.
Hannah takes things a step further by dismissing each of them from her life at some point in time. If things are going well for her, Hannah is magnanimous enough to share the news, but if she's struggling, she lashes out and questions her pals' loyalty. By the series finale, only Marnie sticks around and eventually Hannah finds her presence annoying and intrusive.
Can't Handle Criticism
Hannah isn't very open to criticism whether it's about her appearance, her behavior or her life choices. This flaw stems from her insecurities, but instead of accepting negative feedback and trying to improve, she becomes defensive.
She can't handle the rejection when her writing isn't met with adulation. Because Hannah's work is autobiographical, she takes it personally. Her thin skin is the reason she drops out of grad school. She's so incensed by her fellow writers' lack of enthusiasm for her work, she verbally attacks them at every turn.
Doesn't Understand Boundaries
Hannah isn't someone who respects boundaries. Either she doesn't recognize them or she chooses to push them. As a teacher, she crosses the line between being an authority figure and a friend. She makes an inappropriate joke about date rape during a job interview, she offers unwanted oral sex to a friend in return for a ride, she attempts to initiate sexual intercourse with an employer and she flashes the school principal to avoid disciplinary action. Above all, Hannah does whatever she wants without much regard as to how it might affect or offend those around her.
Terrible To Her Parents
Hannah has a loving relationship with both of her parents, Tad and Loreen, but this doesn't always translate into her treating them with kindness. She equates their unwillingness to subsidize her lifestyle with being unsupportive of her career aspirations.
She does show some uncharacteristic empathy and support when her parents' marriage crumbles, but she also blames her issues on their dysfunctional relationship. At the heart of most of Hannah's conflict with Tad and Loreen is her inability to view them as people and not just parents.
Ditches Fran In The Middle Of Nowhere
It's obvious from the start of Hannah and Fran's relationship they aren't right for each other. He's someone who adheres to societal norms while she chooses to reject them. Fran is the polar opposite of Adam, which is appealing to Hannah at first, but ultimately becomes the couple's downfall. She decides to break up with him at a rest stop, texting him from the bathroom. When he tries to confront her about what's going on, she runs from him like a child. Sure, he's judgmental and temperamental and a control freak, but he deserves better than being treated like a serial killer in a bad horror movie.
Not Supportive Of Others
Hannah is someone who expects unconditional love and support from those close to her, but she doesn't reciprocate. She thinks Marnie's attempt at a singing career is a joke, she's less than thrilled at the news of Marnie's engagement, and she's an unenthusiastic bridesmaid.
When Adam gets a role in a Broadway play, Hannah becomes threatened and insecure and sabotages his opening night. She shows such little interest in Shoshanna's life, Hannah doesn't even realize her friend is engaged until she accidentally shows up at her engagement party. Hannah also sits idly by as Jessa's addictive behavior spirals out of control. With a friend like this, who needs friends?