HBO Revives 'Girls' With Five New Episodes After Gen Z Fan Surge
HBO has announced a five-episode revival of Lena Dunham's series Girls. The comeback was driven largely by Gen Z viewers who rediscovered the show a decade after it first aired.
The US cable network HBO announced on Wednesday that it will revive Girls, the comedy-drama created by writer and director Lena Dunham. The new run will consist of five episodes. The series first aired in 2012 and is often seen as defining the millennial generation, those born roughly in the 1980s and 1990s.
From backlash to second life
The show was divisive at launch. Alongside positive reviews, it drew harsh criticism, including sexist attacks on Dunham's body and on the sex depicted onscreen, allegations of nepotism against its stars, and complaints about a lack of diversity.
A decade later, viewers began rewatching it. According to The New York Times, viewership roughly doubled between November 2022 and January 2023 compared with the previous three months. Memes and clip compilations spread across TikTok and Instagram.
The role of Gen Z
The revival was largely fuelled by Gen Z viewers who had missed the show first time round. Brooklyn comedians Amelia Ritthaler and Evan Lazarus launched the Girls Rewatch podcast in 2023, hosting guests including Dunham and cast members Allison Williams, Andrew Rannells and Zosia Mamet. Ritthaler, 28, says society has caught up with Dunham and that Gen Z watched the show through a satirical lens.
Dunham's memoir Famesick, published in April, became a New York Times bestseller and boosted interest further. In a Substack post, Dunham said fans' affection helped her feel ready to return to the series. Other past hits, including Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and iCarly, have also been revived in recent years.
