Ep 6. Close Up

Hannah is at a crossroads in her life. She's still trying to find her footing in her writing career, while dealing with the aftermath of her breakup with Adam. Meanwhile, Marnie is grappling with her own relationship issues, as her longtime boyfriend, Desi, becomes more controlling and demanding.

In this episode, titled "Close Up," both Hannah and Marnie find themselves confronting uncomfortable truths about their lives and relationships. Hannah is coerced into participating in a photo shoot for an article about "cool" Brooklynites, even though she hates having her picture taken. As the shoot progresses, she finds herself becoming more and more uncomfortable, both with the objectification of her body and with her own insecurities about her appearance.

At the same time, Marnie is dealing with her own issues of control and power when it comes to her music career. Desi, who has always been the driving force behind their band, grows increasingly frustrated with Marnie's lack of confidence and assertiveness. He pushes her to take a more active role in their creative process, even going so far as to accuse her of being selfish and ungrateful when she pushes back.

As the episode unfolds, both Hannah and Marnie are forced to confront the ways in which their insecurities and anxieties are affecting their relationships and their own sense of self-worth. For Hannah, this means standing up for herself and asserting her own agency in the face of the male gaze. For Marnie, it means finding the courage to speak her truth and assert her own creative vision.

Throughout the episode, we are also given glimpses into the lives of the other characters, including Shoshanna and Jessa. Shoshanna is dealing with her own sense of aimlessness and disconnection as she tries to navigate her post-college life, while Jessa continues to struggle with addiction and the consequences of her past actions.

Ultimately, "Close Up" is a powerful exploration of the ways in which we shape our lives and identities, for better or for worse. Through the struggles and triumphs of its characters, the episode invites us to reflect on our own lives and the choices we make, and to ask ourselves what kind of people we want to be.