Thank Gen Z for the
WIRED • • entertainment
Key Points:
- HBO has announced a five-episode reboot of Lena Dunham’s 2012 series Girls, largely driven by a resurgence of interest from Gen Z viewers who rediscovered the show through memes, podcasts, and social media.
- Initially criticized for sexism, misogyny, and lack of diversity, Girls faced significant backlash upon release, but its viewership doubled between late 2022 and early 2023, sparking a cultural and critical reevaluation.
- Gen Z audiences connected with the show’s satirical tone and post-ironic style, contrasting with millennials’ more earnest reception, and helped revive its popularity through platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
- The reboot announcement coincides with Dunham’s bestselling memoir Famesick and a broader public reassessment of her career and personal growth, including her sobriety and recent motherhood via surrogacy.
- The Girls revival fits into a larger trend of nostalgic reboots for popular 2000s and 2010s shows, reflecting a renewed cultural appetite for millennial optimism and joy amid contemporary challenges.
