Girls Review: Painful Evacuation (Season 6 Episode 4)

Wow. Girls Season 6 Episode 4, “Painful Evacuation,” drops a major bombshell, and it’s completely unexpected. Although this episode is not as amazing as the previous one, “American Bitch,” it deals with some major issues and sets up the rest of the series nicely.

It’s refreshing to see all the characters on this episode, although it would be great if we could see more of them interacting as a group. Then again, so much drama has happened between everyone that it is probably more realistic not seeing these characters together.

Initially, Hannah takes the backseat story-wise until the end of the episode. We see her talk to a famous author about motherhood, and how women writers can’t be both a mother and a writer. Tracey Ullman is terrific, even though she’s on Girls for just a few moments.

Girls make the most out of their guest stars, unlike some other shows (ahem, Modern Family).  Another guest star, Patrick Wilson, makes a surprise appearance when Hannah goes to the ER for her UTI. We haven’t seen Wilson’s Joshua, since Season 2, and it’s just like Hannah to have this person from her past to deliver the life-changing news to her.

When Hannah does receive the news, she handles it maturely and also, not in a way Hannah from seasons’ past would react.

The MVP for this episode, though, goes to Ray. Ray is still in a relationship with Marnie, but we see that even he is starting to tune her out. One minute she’s talking about wanting them both to die in a lion’s mouth and the next, about meditating in an Uber.

Seriously, Ray. GET OUT OF THIS RELATIONSHIP.

Ray kind of talks at Shosh about his issues, and it’s too bad that Shosh didn’t have more to do in this scene. We haven’t seen much of Shoshanna, so more of her would have been welcomed. They did have a funny little exchange, though, at the end of the conversation.

Ray: “He has the wisdom of a thousand fortune cookies.”

Hermie, Ray’s boss, tells him that he is a “waste of potential.” Everyone can see that Marnie is wrong for Ray, but she is not Ray’s only problem.

After a regular dies outside the coffee shop, Ray is a little upset and says to Hermie that the guy was trying to tell him a story but he can’t listen to everyone. Hermie then says that he has to pick the people he listens to.

It’s a really great moment because earlier, we see Ray tuning out Marnie. The whole conversation between Hermie and Ray is honest, and it makes us, as viewers, think about the things that they are saying.

Are we wastes of potential? Ray looks at Hermie and sees that he has a “fine” life. Is that good enough?

The final scene with Ray is very emotional and really hits the nail on the head with the theme of life and death.

The B-plots of this episode show Marnie visiting Desi in rehab and refusing to take even a little bit of responsibility for Desi’s addiction. It’s hilarious to see the reaction of the therapist to Marnie’s narcissism. Desi is actually really honest and likable in this scene, a contrast to how we last saw him in “Hostage Situation.”

Lastly, after Adam walks off a movie set, he and Jessa decide to make a movie together about their relationship and their relationships with Hannah. These two are nuts together, and when they both get really excited about something, it can be frightening.

You just know that they can crash and self-destruct at any moment.

Overall, “Painful Evacuation” is another well-acted, well-written episode of Girls, which now reveals what the major arc will be for the rest of the season. The episode still manages to have funny moments but also deals realistically with what life throws at us.

Last Thoughts:

• Oh my goodness, Adam’s whole outfit was KILLING me. It was terrible on so many levels.
• Marnie continues to be the worst.
• How did Ray not realize that she was faking it?
• It definitely takes a special mother-daughter relationship to FaceTime your mother your urine. 

What did you think of this episode of Girls? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Girls airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.

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