RECAP: Life is But a 'Video Game' for the GIRLS

Last night's episode of GIRLS, "Video Games," attempts to show why Jessa is a hipster-coagulation of boho brevity, approaching life lens-less and free. It's nice to actually see her, but it's weird, you know, because she's gotten about 9 minutes of screen time this season. It's also more than welcome considering even Ray got his own episode.

I mean, she's sort of the resident sad sack on the second season of Girls (aside Hannah, Marnie, Ray, and well, almost every other character...so, never mind.) Jessa, now single, heads upstate with Hannah in tow to visit her estranged father and his new girlfriend, Petula. They're fun.

Jessa and her father, are, in actuality, a whole lot alike. He's a scruffy drifter, who might have just "butt-dialed" their invitation, Hannah says. There's no sense, throughout the entire episode, that he even considers himself Jessa's father, or Lemon's (Jessa's five-year-old half-sister.) Not really, at least. It's incredibly easy to see how Jessa has ended up the way she is. It's admirable that she's turned out as well as she has, really, considering she's basically raised herself.

But still, Jessa is his "beautiful creation." She's someone he can practice Cockney accents with and eat the pet rabbit. Hannah, the stowaway, is Petula's "manifested cushion" who will make Jessa hate her less. Turns out she doesn't, but Petula is hardly the focal point of Jessa's issues. Also, she believes the whole world is a video game, and everyone's desire is to just "get to the next level." Hmm.

Hannah's issue, however, is her ever-persistent UTI, which between you and me, seems like something she needs to actually get cleared up. I mean, right? It's always there, but does she actually ever do anything about it? I guess that's sort of indicative of Hannah as a person.

Also indicative of who Hannah is: she's mildly attracted to Petula's son, Frank, who folds down his turtleneck. Also, he's incredibly creepy: all soft-spoken with John Travolta hair and 90s mom jorts.

Jessa, Hannah, Frank, go driving with some guy whose name really doesn't matter because he's just some pretentious locally published poet (who's still an idiot and probably gay, according to everyone.) Apparently that's all there is to do in upstate New York - besides eat your pet rabbit, which, mind you, is what they had for dinner. Anyway, the group huff aerosol from a Cool Whip spray can until Hannah and Frank go off into the woods. The two have really weird, panting forest-sex (it lasts eight seconds) and Frank leaves on his turtleneck. Oh, yeah, that was his first time. Except for that one time he had sex with someone named "Rihanna." Okay, Frank.

And, because this is television, everyone's problems come to a head. "You think I can rely on you?" Jessa's dad asks her as they fight on the rickety swingset.

Related Links

STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/25- Leslie Uggams by Stage Tube - May 25, 2013

Sound Theatre Company to Present an Evening of Plays by Sherry Narens, 6/16 May 24, 2013

Meadow Brook Theatre to Stage 70, GIRLS, 70, 5/29-6/23 May 24, 2013

Irish Rep's WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Will Close May 26 May 24, 2013

THE OTHER F WORD Presnted by Crooked Heart Theater, 6/9-6/23 May 24, 2013

Tyler is currently finishing his senior year of college in Chicago while working on the News Desk at BroadwayWorld. He has also worked in the public relations industry at Margie Korshak Inc., working on campaigns for Broadway In Chicago, including The Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys, and more.