We’ve had the likes of ‘Friends’, ‘Sex And The City’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ and plenty of other American TV shows that have captivated British viewers for years – and now, new hit TV show ‘Girls’ seems set to become the US’ biggest on-screen export.
The ‘dramedy’, which follows the lives of four friends living in New York City, has received critical acclaim across the States and has obtained a huge following since its UK debut on Sky Atlantic at the end of September. The Guardian named it one of their top autumn shows for 2012, The Daily Mail described it as ‘the new Sex and the City’ and The Independent warned ‘Here Comes Trouble’.
The creator who also stars as the main character of the new cult show is 26-year-old Lena Dunham, who received four Emmy award nominations for the first series of ‘Girls’ and said that the show is based on aspects of her own life. Dunham has also recently caused controversy for her fearless election campaign-funded video for Barack Obama where she relates voting for the first time to losing your virginity. The video (that’s now gone viral) matches the fearlessness of ‘Girls’ which has been equally controversial. It has been criticised for its predominantly white cast and its comic approach to serious issues like abortion and venereal diseases.
Regardless, I think that ‘Girls’ is fantastic. It’s tackles serious issues in a light-hearted way and the situations that occur in the lives of the shows protagonists are relatable to audiences of all ages. In addition to this, it’s written amazingly and there’s a good balance between the comic and the dramatic parts of the show.
It’s no surprise to me that Dunham’s creation has already been given the green light for a second series which airs in the US at the start of 2013 and I am hopeful that ‘Girls’ will dominate screens as much as other past American cult-show classics.
‘Girls’ airs at 10pm every Monday on Sky Atlantic.
By Ryan Cahill
