The Best Episodes of Girls

Updated May 8, 2024 66.2K views 62 items

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6.7K votes

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There are so many good episodes of Girls, but which ones really stand out? Do you like "The Panic in Central Park" the best, or is "Beach House" your favorite episode of Girls? To determine once and for all what the best episodes of Girls are, let's rank every Girls episode from best to worst.

Created by Lena Dunham, Girls was a comedy-drama series that aired on HBO from April 15, 2012 to April 16, 2017. The series, inspired by Dunham's life, focused on Hannah (Dunham), an aspiring writer who for the first time in her life, finds herself living on her own in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, without the safety net of her parents. Girls also starred Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Marmet, Adam Driver, and Alex Karpovsky. During its run, Girls was nominated for a number of awards, winning in its first season (2012) a Writers' Guild of America Award for "New Series" and a Peabody Award for "Area of Excellence."

Vote up your favorite episodes of Girls, and downvote any bad episodes that you really didn't enjoy, despite how much you love the series as a whole. It can be painful to put one Girls episode over the other when there are so many good ones, which is why you can vote on however many episodes you like.

1
Truth or Dare
76 votes
Season 3 Episode 2: Hannah, Shoshanna and Adam take a road trip to reunite with Jessa, leaving Marnie feeling left out as she moves into her own place. On the trip, Hannah looks futilely for writing inspiration in order to meet her editor's deadline.
2
Close-Up
70 votes
Season 4 Episode 6: Hannah has an epiphany; another disastrous interview for Shoshanna ends in a positive; Ray attempts to solve his neighborhood noise issue at a community board meeting; Marnie and Desi disagree on their sound; and Adam is shocked by a revelation.
3
Bad Friend
69 votes
Season 2 Episode 3: On a freelance writing assignment to get out of her comfort zone, Hannah befriends the junkie downstairs and parties hard with Elijah, who reveals an explosive secret. Meanwhile, Marnie has a long awaited run-in with artist Booth Jonathan (Jorma Taccone).
4
Ask Me My Name
75 votes
Season 4 Episode 7: Hannah goes for drinks with Fran, a new coworker, before attending an unusual art show. Later, she spends some time alone with Mimi-Rose, while Adam is unnerved by Mimi-Rose's friend, Ace. Meanwhile, Shoshanna helps Ray with his community board campaign.
5
She Did
70 votes
Season 1 Episode 10: Season One finale. Hannah starts to question her relationship with Adam; Jessa throws a mystery party where Marnie embraces her free-spirited side, and Shoshanna's uniqueness works in her favor.
6
Flo
73 votes
Season 3 Episode 9: While visiting her ailing grandmother in the hospital, Hannah is surprised by a strange request from her mother. Later, Hannah shares an uncomfortable drink with her overachieving med student cousin Rebecca.
7
Gummies
73 votes
Season 6 Episode 5: HD. 'Gummies.' (Season Six) Adam and Jessa begin shooting their film; Hannah's mom comes for a visit; Marnie fails to comfort a grieving Ray.
8
The Panic in Central Park
72 votes
Season 5 Episode 6: Needing space after a fight with Desi, Marnie goes for a walk and has an unexpected run-in with someone from her past.
9
One Man's Trash
74 votes
Season 2 Episode 5: Hannah goes to apologize to an angry neighbor and is surprised by how drawn she is to both him--a good-looking 42-year-old doctor--and the trappings of his conventionally successful adult life.
10
Hello Kitty
73 votes
Season 5 Episode 7: Hannah gets reprimanded by the school's principal, and her response tactic infuriates Fran. At Adam's play, a nervous Jessa worries about seeing Hannah after their fight, and Marnie shares some news with Ray. Elijah attends a swanky party at Dill's.

11
Hard Being Easy
76 votes
Season 1 Episode 5: Hannah decides to better her story by propositioning her boss. She subsequently retreats to Adam, who has a different idea about the state of their union. Meanwhile, Marnie and Charlie assess their relationship, and Jessa is determined to reconquer an ex.
12
Only Child
72 votes
Season 3 Episode 5: Hannah is thrilled to be in the presence of the literary illuminati at the funeral of her editor, David Pressler-Goings, until she learns that her eBook deal may also be dead. Later, she tries to help Adam and Caroline work through anger issues.
13
All Adventurous Women Do
72 votes
Season 1 Episode 3: Hannah meets up with her erstwhile college flame to find out how she contracted HPV, uncovering much more in the process. Marnie's art-gallery boss introduces her to a cocky artist who piques her interest, while Jessa gets a baby-sitting gig.
14
Iowa
70 votes
Season 4 Episode 1: Season Four Premiere. Hannah readies for Iowa; Marnie performs with Desi at a jazz brunch; Shoshanna gets her diploma; Jessa faces off with Beedie's daughter.
15
Cubbies
70 votes
Season 4 Episode 4: Hannah is confronted by her classmates after leaving a non-apology apology letter in their cubbies. A frustrated Shoshanna spends a day with Ray. Creative and romantic tensions between Marnie and Desi reach their breaking point.
16
Together
66 votes
Season 2 Episode 10: Season Two Finale. In order to avoid being sued by her publisher, Hannah must write her book in a single day. Marnie misinterprets Charlie's intentions; Ray makes a career move which he hopes will impress Shoshanna.
17
Female Author
72 votes
Season 4 Episode 3: Ray gives Marnie a wake-up call about Desi's true intentions. Shoshanna aces, then blows, a job interview. Adam gets drawn into Jessa's chaotic web. Hannah takes things too far in critiquing her classmates.
18
Incidentals
68 votes
Season 3 Episode 8: During a GQ advertorial interview, Patti LuPone warns Hannah that Adam will change now that he's been cast in a Broadway play. Meanwhile, Jessa's boredom at work is interrupted by an unexpected visit from Jasper, an old friend.
19
Weirdos Need Girlfriends Too
71 votes
Season 1 Episode 8: Hannah ventures further into Adam's world, for better and for worse. Newly unemployed Jessa, and Marnie, at an all-time low, bond unexpectedly and meet a very eligible bachelor (Chris O'Dowd) who is not what he seems.
20
Wedding Day
67 votes
Season 5 Episode 1: Season Five Premiere. At Marnie's upstate wedding, Hannah brings Fran along as her date; a visiting Shoshanna is tasked with carrying out Marnie's wishes; a dejected Ray steps up.

21
Leave Me Alone
73 votes
Season 1 Episode 9: Behind on rent and resentful of the literary success of a former classmate (Jenny Slate), Hannah decides to take some chances. Marnie finds it increasingly difficult to support Hannah financially and emotionally. Jessa is confronted by her former boss.
22
American B***h
70 votes
Season 6 Episode 3: HD. 'American B***h.' (Season Six) Hannah has a tense meeting with an acclaimed author she once admired.
23
What Will We Do This Time About Adam?
69 votes
Season 6 Episode 8: HD. 'What Will We Do This Time About Adam?' (Season Six) Adam has news for Hannah; Jessa spends a day alone.
24
Hannah's Diary
69 votes
Season 1 Episode 4: Adam sends Hannah a 'sext' message that puts her in a tailspin. Meanwhile, Hannah's boss gets touchy, Shoshanna reunites with a boy from sleepaway camp, Jessa gets distracted on the job, and Ray and Charlie snoop through the girls' apartment.
25
Japan
65 votes
Season 5 Episode 3: Thriving at her new job in Japan, Shoshanna finds herself flirting with her boss. Hannah makes a shocking discovery on Fran's phone. After viewing Adam's performance on a TV police procedural, Jessa shares her insights into his character.
26
Dead Inside
78 votes
Season 3 Episode 4: Hannah tries to process an untimely death but seems more concerned about its impact on her eBook deal. Jessa tracks down an old friend she thought was dead. Marnie is horrified to discover a video Charlie posted online.
27
Role-Play
63 votes
Season 3 Episode 10: Alarmed by Adam's indifference after she fails to come home after a night out with her co-workers, Hannah worries that the spark may be gone in their relationship. Marnie begins working at Soo Jin's art gallery; Shoshanna has a surprise for Jessa.
28
Boys
68 votes
Season 2 Episode 6: Hannah signs an e-book deal with a dauntingly tight deadline; Marnie plays hostess for Booth Jonathan's art party; Adam coaxes Ray to go on a Staten Island adventure; a depressed Jessa crashes with Hannah.
29
Tad & Loreen & Avi & Shanaz
73 votes
Season 4 Episode 8: Hannah spends an afternoon with a new young friend; Marnie and Desi fight over money; Jessa gives Shoshanna advice on the art of seduction; Loreen and Tad have a tense dinner party with their friends Avi and Shanaz.
30
Free Snacks
70 votes
Season 3 Episode 6: Hannah gets a job writing advertorials at GQ but worries the corporate environment will kill her creative mojo. Shoshanna rethinks her breakup in light of Ray's newfound success, while he and Marnie butt heads over lunch.