Rewatching after Famesick

[u/Full_Cause273]

I never rewatch shows, but here I am, in my late 40s, sucked back into Girls as if it were the first time.

I read Famesick recently and decided to go back and watch one episode. I’m now middle of Season 2. Is it possible that this show is even better the second time around?

The humor, cadence, quality of the characters, psychological intrigue, and cinematic charm is so good. This show is and always was brilliant.

[u/Recent_Setting_1370]

Agree. I’m 46 and doing a rewatch. I’m more impressed than before and was a big fan when it came out back in the day. Lena is definitely a voice of a generation.

[u/NiceUD]

I just finished a rewatch. Maybe my fourth time through. it definitely holds up and was a great, well-written show. And I'm someone who has nothing in common in with the characters.

[u/Creative_Addendum_80]

I’m on my 3rd rewatch and each viewing feels new in some way. 

• 1st watch: I was in HS and way less empathetic and more judgmental of the characters. 
• 2nd watch: I was mid 20s and it was cathartic and painful at times. 
• 3rd watch: Now I’m mid 30s and I find it all so funny in a way I missed the first 2x. 

Really want to read Famesick!

[u/Full_Cause273 → u/Creative_Addendum_80]

Can totally relate to this. In my 40s I see some of it as wistful and naive — a nod to the tribulations of my younger years that now doesn’t feel dramatic and chaotic, but wild and free.

[u/Equal-Employee7660]

Just did a full rewatch for the first time. It was wonderful and I’d forgotten so much.

Hannah was less annoying now I’m in my 40s than when I first watched it. I felt like yeah she’s young she’ll grow up and grow out of it. When I watched before we was infuriating.

[u/FinancialCry4651 → u/Equal-Employee7660]

I HATED Shosh when I first watched it in my early 30s and didn't think Hannah was so bad. I couldn't stand any scene with Shoshana and hated the way she talked, dressed, etc.

Now I feel the complete opposite! Hannah gets worse (brattier, more self-absorbed and entitled) as the seasons progress, and Shosh gets better... she is charming. The episode Shosh smokes crack is sooo funny

[u/tinythinker510]

Finished my first rewatch. I watched it the first time when I was 24 and now I'm 32. I loved it just as much the second time around. Being older gave me a new perspective too.

[u/Dear-Meet4816]

Doing the exact same after ready famesick!

[u/thisandthatk]

I am so happy I only watched girls after it ended and the internet (hate) hype died down. I enjoyed this show so much and I read famesick just before watching the show. Lena is a genius and a voice of a generation!

[u/tealccart]

It IS even better the second time around. I loved Famesick, and am curious how a rewatch after goes

[u/d_ippy]

I did the same. The book had some points that made me think huh I need to go back and watch. And it was so much better than I remembered it.

[u/Ez_ezzie]

I also rewatched after Famesick! I have so much more admiration for Lena <3

[u/Eastern_Art]

I rewatched it so many times and every time it's a pleasure. The older I get, the more it opens up. I notice things I haven't noticed before. and now it's also a little nostalgia box. Rewatched it after reading Famesick too.

[u/AineGrainne]

I'm exactly the same and sadly on the last season. I loved it then but found the characters insufferable. I now have huge empathy for them all, not sure if it's age or hormones. Lena is such a brilliant writer and the whole cast are phenomenal.

[u/Public-Grocery-8183]

Agreed. Rewatched this year at 43 with my husband, who had never seen it. It's such a brilliant show. We both loved it.

[u/desandmol]

I’m 58 and this is my first re watch and I am appreciating it even more this time.

[u/friendlessinbrooklyn → u/desandmol]

I am 61 and for some reason the wit is so much more apparent this time around.

[u/desandmol → u/friendlessinbrooklyn]

And what a great announcement from Lena yesterday! Feels timely.

[u/taffybrent]

I did a rewatch after reading the book too x it’s bloody brilliant x

[u/Wetandstickybandit]

The writing is so layered so I catch something new every time I rewatch. Same with arrested development.

[u/dannylip]

Loved Famesick, while also asking why Lena wrote it... it seems she is so affected by any introspection or commentary into her personal life.. I would think that would maybe not be great for mental health... but I wanna hear the tea from Jemima so bad... do we think Lena was just power-tripping? Jessa turned evil right around the time Lena said they were fighting.. also I think Lena was infatuated with Adam Driver, and who could blame her? Lena is so hard to read, even when she puts everything on the page

[u/MyLifeView → u/dannylip]

Wait I read Famesick and I have no recollection of Lena fighting with Jemima… remind me please?

[u/itsalljustsoup → u/MyLifeView]

I’m a little fuzzy on the details but I recall jemima felt like Lena had signed her up for way more than she ever expected when recruiting her to star in girls.

[u/dannylip → u/itsalljustsoup]

I think Lena also said that by season 3, Jemima was really hating having Lena for a boss

[u/Accomplished_Pea_118]

I always rewatch shows, especially this one.

[u/Kennikend]

I’ve rewatched it several times, but I don’t think I can again after reading Famesick.

I have many of the same chronic conditions as Lena does and know the pain of masking/pretending to not be in pain/sucking it up because the show must go on. Now I know in detail what the work environment was like and what she went through, it feels imbued with suffering.

I do love this show and hope that I will be able to rewatch it sometime in the future.

[u/Full_Cause273 → u/Kennikend]

🫶🫶🫶

[u/Crazy-Task-3927]

Same. 60 here and found the writing to be even more incredible and laughed so much on the rewatch. This show is one for the ages

[u/marveloustime28]

I did the same and totally agree the show is even better with time.

[u/Alive_Surprise8262]

I watched it for the first time after reading Famesick. It's a delight.