I was convinced that Hannah would choose to have an abortion. So when the series finale of Girls opened with her cradling a vibrant, healthy baby who clearly has a father of color, I gasped aloud. (For the record, I watched most of season six but missed that memorable water skiing instructor encounter, making Hannah’s mixed-race son a surprising twist given the show’s prior lack of diversity and critique for its portrayal of people of color.)
Having grown up alongside the characters of Girls, my early 20s were filled with the same sense of freedom as those Brooklyn-based women. However, after becoming a mother at 26, a part of me believed that those carefree days had vanished forever. As an aspiring writer, I thought my life would become mundane—a series of parenting stories to tell. I documented my experiences as a young parent in a big city, assuming that would define my narrative from then on.
Becoming a first-time parent often leads to a loss of one’s identity and sense of purpose, a theme echoed in the finale of Girls. Yet this transformation was depicted with accuracy, illustrating the growth of the central character.
What Did *Girls* Capture About Millennial Motherhood?
So, what did Girls manage to capture about the realities of being a millennial mom with a newborn? It’s utterly exhausting, occasionally mundane, and sometimes beautiful.
Hannah struggles with breastfeeding, opting to pump milk instead. While I found her emotional distance from her brown, fatherless child frustrating, it highlighted her internal conflict. This disconnect became even more evident when her baby wouldn’t latch on, amplifying the challenges faced by a frazzled single mother. Hannah’s lactation challenges are relatable to many mothers who feel pressured to adhere to the “breast is best” mantra, often pushed by friends like Marnie, even when it’s detrimental to their postpartum recovery or the basic needs of their hungry child.
The finale dedicates a significant portion of its 38 minutes to the struggles of feeding and comforting a newborn—aptly titled “Latching.” While it strays from the show’s usual witty humor, it accurately portrays the early months of motherhood.
You may find yourself envying your partner’s “freedom.” Although Hannah is raising her child alone, her best friend Marnie steps up to help through sleepless nights. This selflessness showcases their strong bond, yet when Marnie casually asks if she can attend a jazz festival, it strikes a nerve with Hannah, evoking the resentment many women feel when their partners enjoy leisure time while they are fully immersed in parenting.
Postpartum depression affects many new mothers, myself included. Marnie, unsure of how to provide support, calls Hannah’s mom, who advises the exhausted Hannah to stay alert even when she’s gotten a precious three hours of sleep with the baby awake. While not the best advice, Marnie’s willingness to help reflects that sometimes actions speak louder than words.
Shifting Perspectives
Becoming a parent shifts your perspective. When Hannah encounters a distressed teenage girl who has run away after a fight with her mother, she’s mortified. I remember feeling similarly when I went to a concert with my daughter and spotted teens heading into the woods. It made me appreciate the boundaries my mother set for me, ensuring I completed my homework and was always safe.
While we applaud what Girls got right about parenting, there were also missteps—like the fantasy of sipping wine on the porch while your baby sleeps peacefully inside, or the unrealistic idea of running away from home while still in postpartum mesh underwear.
Despite its imperfections, I will miss Girls and appreciate its evolution. While some viewers may have found the finale disappointing, it resonated deeply with me as a mother.
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Summary
The series finale of Girls offers an authentic portrayal of motherhood, capturing both the challenges and beauty that come with being a first-time millennial mom. It emphasizes the exhaustion of new parenthood and the bittersweet longing for freedom, while also showcasing the importance of friendship and support during this transformative time.