Girls Season 5

Right now you can watch Girls Season 5 on and — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 445 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Lena Dunham sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Girls Season 5 is worth clearing space for. Girls Season 5 gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Hannah Horvath has put her writing ambitions aside, continuing to work as a teacher alongside new boyfriend Fran—a relationship that her friends urge her not to screw up. Meanwhile, Marnie micro-manages her wedding, only to realize she needs more space—after the honeymoon; Jessa tries to stay on the straight and narrow while working towards becoming a therapist; and Shoshanna thrives in her new job in Japan. Lena Dunham and Allison Williams lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. What keeps Girls Season 5 from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Girls Season 5 is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Lena Dunham's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.