I’ll try and keep this one shorter (and sweeter?) than the loooong review from last week. Only two words are needed to describe this episode: GABY HOFFMANN. It took me a minute to recognize her, but once I did I couldn’t get enough. I just can’t deal with how incredible this woman is. In my daydreams Gaby and Lena grew up together in NYC, eating ice cream sundaes at the bar in the Chelsea Hotel. If you’re not familiar with Hoffmann’s childhood, head to Google. It’s the stuff that dream are made of. Sigh.
Anyway, Hoffmann plays Adam’s long lost sister Caroline. She shows up out of the blue one afternoon and he is incredible weary of letting her in. As it turns out, he was probably right about not wanting her to stay in the apartment he shares with Hannah – she makes the rest of the cast seem like the poster children for normalcy. Hoffmann’s acting is moving, irresistible, and truly committed. There’s no doubt that she’s brought some fresh material to the show.
Episode three centres around Hannah’s twenty-fifth birthday party – highlights include Rent songs, parental dancing, a bloody nose and Laird (!!!!). Most of the action takes place at a very familiar feeling bar (did they location scout at Divan Orange or something?). How many times have we been in a setting just like that – stoic concert listeners, hipsters in wool, Nirvana vs. LMFAO? So familiar. The heartbeat of this episode is Adam and Hannah’s relationship, which is developing into something that feels profoundly important to the arc of the season. They’re in this. Really, really in this. It’s a very familiar feeling of intimacy – the way he studies her, how they find each other in a room, how they take off their clothes in their kitchen. As with the past two episodes, Adam’s compassion (i.e. redemption) is taking centre stage. It’s clearly on display as he bandages his sister’s bleeding hand while she’s naked from the waist down (love her 70’s era bush, btw). He pays attention to her medical needs without shaming her for being naked. While most comedies would make a big deal about forcing her to cover up as part of the punchline, the writing of this scene doesn’t even acknowledge her nakedness. So well done.
Yet with all of the compassion that Adam shows, it’s Hannah’s empathy that’s the most compelling. So far this season she’s displayed a generous amount of sympathy for those around her. She’s dropped everything to pick up Jessa from rehab, demanded that her deranged sister-in-law sleep in her spare bedroom, gotten on stage with Marni to sing showtunes against her will, and is it just me or is her voice different – softer maybe? I’m not saying she’s not the most self-involved character on television – but maybe she’s maturing a bit? Is Hannah Horvath actively trying to be present for the people she loves? Is she realizing that her actions affect others? I don’t want to speak too soon, but it’s looking like Hannah is growing up. Twenty-five ain’t no joke, kids. She’s on the downslope to thirty.
Ugh.
p.s. Anyone know where to get that music video of Marni? Laughed my ass off.
Gillian Sonin 