Girls: American Bitch

February 27, 2017 3:56 AM - Season 6, Episode 3

Hannah has a tense meeting with Chuck Palmer, an author she once greatly admired, about the disturbing allegations swirling around him.
posted by roolya_boolya (12 comments total)

One of the best episodes of television I've ever seen. Even if you've never watched Girls (or stopped watching the series at some point), see this episode. That smile from Matthew Rhys gave me goosebumps!
posted by sallybrown at 4:51 AM on February 27, 2017 [3 favorites]

Yeah, this was so good. So recognisable.
posted by h00py at 5:09 AM on February 27, 2017

"christ, what an asshole"
posted by lmfsilva at 7:06 AM on February 27, 2017

I was thinking, "Oh, this was quite good, well done," at what I thought was the end of the episode. The actual ending with the anonymous women streaming past Hannah? I shut my laptop and had to take a victory lap around the living room. That was EXCELLENT directing.
posted by Bibliogeek at 7:53 AM on February 27, 2017 [2 favorites]

This was really excellent all the way around.

I tried to think that Hannah's explanation was too pat and his creepiness was too creepy but... no it was really terrifically spot on.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:17 PM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

Ahhh, this is so good. How does he make a cup of coffee and not offer her one!? Oh, lol. Go Hannah.
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 7:18 PM on February 27, 2017

Ok, finished the episode. I guess I knew it would have to go that way but what a punch to the gut when Palmer showed that yep, he is a creep who definitely knows what he's doing.

I wonder if he switched his daughter's day to visit on purpose so that Hannah wouldn't be able to make a scene or if he was just messing with his ex and that was a happy coincidence?
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 8:04 PM on February 27, 2017

I was confused by the commentary on this episode after the show. The whole "he didn't plan on pulling his dick out, he just felt a connection to Hannah but he doesn't know how to connect with women without pulling his dick out" thing didn't really scan for me with the smirk and his whole attitude after Hannah jumps up off the bed. But maybe I'm missing something?
posted by dysh at 3:46 PM on February 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

Oh this episode was so good. The compliments he kept piling on Hannah - that was so familiar and so uncomfortable. And Hannah's initial reaction of "I know what you're trying to do but ... thank you." Also familiar and uncomfortable. I was so angry at the end of the episode but it was a really good, righteous anger.
posted by lunasol at 8:07 PM on February 28, 2017 [2 favorites]

Lol, that anyone would think he didn't know exactly what he was doing the whole time. Way to miss the point of the episode! I thought they *might* have been a bit too predictable but apparently not.
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 7:41 AM on March 1, 2017

TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln, the commentary from Lena Dunham and the other creators seemed to suggest that he didn't know exactly what he was doing the whole time. I thought the point was that he knew it too, but after listening to the commentary it seemed like that wasn't necessarily their intent? Hence the confusion on my part.
posted by dysh at 4:33 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Just watched this last night, and it was wonderful. So well written and directed. The daughter - I don't get the whole 'he loves his daughter so much' that Lena talks about in the commentary. He sorta has a look of admiration for his daughter, but it also reads as condescension when he tells his daughter to take all the time she needs.

It took me a while, but I'm finally seeing Hannah as a separate person than Lena. And I'm finally seeing Hannah growing up a little bit.

I believed all the compliments he paid to her, but then at the end, I don't feel I can believe any of them.
posted by hydra77 at 9:14 AM on September 7, 2018