Girls: Why Hannah And Marnie Aren't Real Friends | ScreenRant
When Girls premiered in the spring of 2012, it was hailed as Sex and the City for the millennial generation. Fans quickly became invested in the twentysomething lives of Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham), Marnie Michaels (Allison Williams), Jessa Johansson (Jemima Kirke), and Shoshanna Shapiro (Zosia Mamet).
But even though Hannah and Marnie are supposed to be best friends, a relationship that's established from the pilot, they don't really treat her other very well, and there are some real problems between them. Here are 10 reasons why Marnie and Hannah aren't real friends on Girls.
10 They Both Focus On Themselves Way Too Much
Hannah and Marnie's biggest issue in the first season is that they both focus on themselves way too much, which doesn't really get better as the show progresses. But this is especially true in the first few episodes when Hannah is in a weird casual situation with Adam (Adam Driver), and Marnie hates that she's got such a dull boyfriend, Charlie (Christopher Abbott).
Best friends always put aside their own problems in order to help each other out, and fans don't see that happening here.
9 Their Season 1 Fight About Charlie Isn't Great
In the first season, Marnie is dating Charlie, and she's utterly bored by their relationship. Marnie and Hannah have a big fight when Charlie and Ray (Alex Karpovsky) literally take Hannah's diary entry and use it as lyrics for a song.
Hannah shouldn't be mad, seeing as how she did have those thoughts in the first place and she should take responsibility for them. Instead of fighting with each other, Hannah and Marnie should be honest that they want the best for each other.
8 They Don't Give Each Other Relationship Advice
It's hard to recall a moment on Girls when Hannah and Marnie give each other relationship advice. They don't seem to really listen to each other and they appear to be jealous of what the other person has.
It feels like a very toxic friendship in this sense, and they seem too young and immature to really be able to support each other and be real friends.
7 Marnie Moves Out Of Their Apartment After Calling Hannah Selfish
In the season 1 episode "Leave Me Alone," Marnie moves out because she no longer wants to live with Hannah, whom she calls selfish.
It's pretty terrible to call a supposed friend selfish, and Marnie is totally in the wrong, even if Hannah isn't perfect. These two really need to work on their communication and name-calling.
6 "Beach House" Is Rough On The Whole Group's Friendships
Sometimes Girls will feature a different location in an episode and the result is always fascinating and powerful. That happened in the season 3 episode "Beach House" when the girls all insult each other and get into a big fight.
They say that Marnie is too flawless and that's annoying and that Hannah never thinks about anyone who isn't herself. This episode is rough on all of them and shows that they're not very kind to each other. Hannah and Marnie should never say such mean things to each other if they're supposed to be best friends.
5 Marnie Should Do Everything She Can To Prevent Hannah From Dating Adam
Even though the Adam/Hannah relationship is one of the most enduring ones on the show, and many fans like them together, it's worth noting that Adam is a total jerk (at least at first). He just wants to sleep with Hannah and he doesn't treat her well.
If Marnie was a real friend, she would do everything that she could to prevent Hannah from dating Adam. She would try her best to make her see that he's toxic and cruel. That's the job of a best friend.
4 They Stop Being Roommates, Which Doesn't Make Sense
When Marnie gets laid off in the season 2 premiere, Hannah is living with her ex-boyfriend Elijah (Andrew Rannells). It doesn't make sense that Marnie and Hannah stop being roommates.
If they were real friends, they would always want to live together, at least during this tough time in their lives (aka the time when they're in their twenties). They would want to have movie nights and learn to cook together and have fun. It just seems strange that Marnie wants to move out.
3 They Frustrate Each Other Way Too Easily
In the season 6 episode "Full Disclosure," Hannah lets Marnie in on the secret of her pregnancy, and Marnie says letting the dad know is the best thing to do.
Hannah is immediately frustrated, which seems weird. If they were real friends, she would understand that this was good advice and take it. Marnie and Hannah irritate each other way too easily.
2 They Use Each Other
In the series finale, Marnie decides that since she's not doing much with her life, the best thing that she can do is live with Hannah and Hannah's baby. Sure, Hannah says this is a good idea, but is it really?
There's nothing wrong with helping a friend out, and of course it's sweet that Marnie wants to do this... but at the same time, it feels like she's using Hannah so she doesn't have to get a life or think about what she needs to do next.
1 Hannah Wants People To Focus On Her During Marnie's Wedding
In the season 5 premiere "Wedding Day," Marnie is marrying Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Hannah does the worst thing that someone can do on their friend's wedding day: she wants people to focus on her.
The series acts like this is just the way that Hannah is and it's to be expected, but when fans think about it, this is such a betrayal. Hannah should want the focus to be on Marnie, and she should do everything she can to make it a beautiful day.