I haven’t been the biggest fan of Jessa, but only in personality. I would hate her. As a character on a TV show, I find that incredibly unlikability interesting. This season, Jessa has sort of taken a backseat but has become even more interesting because of the emotional tailspin she’s in. I liked this episode because it really illustrated the intense differences between Jessa and Hannah.
This was another strange, one-off episode similar to Hannah’s brownstone sexcapade (FYI, I wrote that word before Jessa and Hannah said it in the episode, so I’m leaving it in!), Ray and Adam’s trip to Staten Island. Jessa is one troubled human, and getting further glimpses into her psyche is interesting. She’s a polar opposite of Hannah in so many ways – impulsive, free-spirited, with a tough outer shell. They’re both incredibly self-involved, but Hannah’s comes from neuroses and Jessa’s from a bizarre, damaging upbringing. Jessa sobbing “I’m the child” to her father was sad and revealing.
Hannah, meanwhile, slept with a very weird person. A big difference from Patrick Wilson. And she did it, it seemed, because she thought Jessa was doing the same thing. Because she was freaked out by her surroundings and sex with weird people is familiar? I’m not sure.
Jessa’s dad ended up leaving them at a grocery store, because it’s the sort of thing he does. Sweet, properly-raised Hannah asked “Do you want to call his cell phone?” and then freaked out about her UTI.
My only complaint about the episode was that the final phone call between Hannah and her parents was too heavy-handed in driving the whole point home, and I think usually this show has more subtlety. What did you guys think?
