The Book of Rannells: Girls: Season 6, Episode 9 – “Goodbye Tour” (2017)

Although this isn’t technically the series finale of Girls, the actual series finale feels more like a coda, a next-chapter sort of episode featuring just a few of the characters.  This, the penultimate episode, is the one that feels like more of a send-off for the show, the story, and the cast.  For most of the actors, including Andrew Rannells, this is their final episode on the show (premise spoilers.)

Hannah contemplates a new career opportunity that would begin the next phase of her life in a big way, but it would necessitate moving out of the city.  With 24 hours to make her decision, she roams Brooklyn and tries to connect with her friends – either to say goodbye or to find a reason to stay.

I really enjoy Hannah’s wander through the city as she considers the pros and cons of leaving New York.  On sidewalks, in boutiques, and on subways, we’re treated to a lot of what’s wonderful about New York as well as what’s (literally) crappy about it.  I’ve loved New York every time I’ve visited it, although I’ve never lived there, but I feel like it’s the sort of city in which both coming to and leaving it is a tough question.

It wouldn’t be Girls without a friendship scene that descends into arguments and accusations, and this last hurrah for the core four is a doozy.  Everything culminates in a crucial scene at Shoshanna’s apartment in which tensions run high, and Marnie calls for a “group meeting” to hash all their issues out.  As with Hannah’s journey through Brooklyn, we see both good and bad sides to these characters and their friendships.

Watching this episode, though, and thinking about why these characters are or aren’t fighting for their friendships, I was suddenly struck by a realization of how fragmented the storylines between the girls have been this season.  To be sure, the closeness between the group as a whole and various subsets within it have always fluctuated, but it occurred to me that I honestly don’t think there’s been a legit storyline between two or more of the girls since “Hostage Situation,” which was episode 2 of this season.  That one featured Hannah and Marnie (plus Desi) and Jessa and Shoshanna (plus Elijah.)  Since then, though?  Marnie’s mostly been with Ray and/or Desi, Jessa’s mostly been with Adam, and Shoshanna, when she’s been around, has mostly been with Ray.  Hannah has moved between a variety of characters, but while she’s had the isolated scene here and there one of the other girls, I don’t think she’s had any actual episode plotlines that she’s shared with another girl.  That puts a different spin on this episode for me.  While it’s about this friendship and what’s happened to it, it’s also very much about Hannah:  the direction her life is taking and her realization of the things/people that have drifted from it.

There’s a decent amount of Elijah here in Rannells’s final episode.  He and Hannah have a couple scenes together focused on her possible move.  Unsurprisingly, he’s hurt at the thought of her leaving, although he doesn’t do a terrific job on selling her on the idea of staying, given that he refers to New York as a “godforsaken rathole.”  For the most part, though, he’s sad rather than angry, and these scenes still have a lot of fun to them as well, such as Elijah telling Hannah, “You should have sex before you leave ‘cause I don’t know what kind of dick’s gonna be up in the boondocks.”  There’s also a cute scene of him singing her to sleep (“I’ll give you one Demi, but then it’s lights out,”) and side note, I kind of love it that Hannah and Elijah appear to have designated burrito-eating bandanas.

While a lot of Elijah’s screentime is devoted to Hannah’s decision, that’s not all he gets to do in the episode.  We circle back around to get an update on state of affairs from his A-story in “The Bounce,” and his presence at Shoshanna’s apartment in the second half means he gets to interact a bit more with the other main cast members.  Not a ton, since he’s not about to participate in Marnie’s group meeting, but we get the delightful assertion, “Shosh and I are bros,” and his parting “that’s a series wrap on Andrew Rannells” scene is hilarious in a wonderfully-Elijah way.

I started reviewing Girls for The Book of Rannells ages ago, and now, six seasons later, we’ve come to the end (just in time for the second season of Black Monday, which starts next week!)  Here are my final thoughts.

Recommend?

In General – I think so, as long as you don’t mind the explicit content.  While uneven, I feel like there’s ultimately more to like about it than not.

Andrew Rannells – Yes, yes, yes.  Rannells is so terrific in this, taking what could’ve very easily been a stock character and making him utterly memorable, funny, and watchable.

Warnings

Sexual content (including assorted kinks,) swearing (including the C-word,) drinking/smoking/drug use, occasional violence, and strong thematic elements.