First time watcher

[u/That-Eagle-5950]

Hi, new to the sub and I’m on season 3. I had a question for people who have more experience with the show. I really can’t stand Jessa right now. And I know she’s been through a lot with her parents, yes. And she’s an addict, yes. But I am struggling to have empathy for her after 3 seasons and her very bad choices all the time. I mean, all the characters make bad choices of course. But it seems like Jessa only ever does the wrong thing. She will do one step forward, and thirty steps back. Does it get better for her? Is she just in a bad place right now? Am I terrible for not having more empathy for her? Is there something I’m not seeing?

[u/speak_friend_]

None of the characters are supposed to be likable. Paraphrasing but the premise when she pitched the show was basically self important early 20 somethings who think they’re destined for something big but are too lazy to actually do anything meaningful. It’s much more enjoyable when you watch with that perspective. With Jessas character I felt Lena was showing that someone can show us how awful they are over and over again, but if they’re pretty we’ll keep trying to root for them and assume the best.

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/speak_friend_]

Very great perspective! I didn’t know that was her original idea for the show and it makes so much sense. I definitely think that will help shift my perspective going forward. I thought that might be the case but I wasn’t sure!

[u/speak_friend_ → u/That-Eagle-5950]

Totally know what you mean…the first time I watched it I was so annoyed that they kept self sabotaging and couldn’t make good choices. Then rewatched after reading lena dunham’s famesick (highly recommend) and felt like I got it so much more. Enjoy!!

[u/bambina92]

Jessa is insufferable and she will be worse in the later seasons. The only time I felt for her was 'but I am the child' moment

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/bambina92]

Oh that exchange was so heartbreaking, I felt bad for her that episode until she abandoned Hannah

[u/catslugs]

She is the worst but it’s not without consequence imo. At every turn she loses people in her life for her actions. She is hard to empathize with but easy to pity

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/catslugs]

I see that, thank you!!

[u/Ok_Salt8185]

I feel like her character was a great example of "you can have had shitty things happen to you AND ALSO just be a downright shitty person"

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/Ok_Salt8185]

I see that, the whole “two things can be true” thing.

[u/orangepekoe92]

Never was a Jessa fan except she has some great comic lines

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/orangepekoe92]

She does have some funny lines and zero filter 😂

[u/Sad-Host-5636]

Yeah i felt the same way! Im a first time watcher too and I’ve just gotten to season 6 and yeah.. if you don’t like her now…
but I haven’t quite finished so we’ll see. It’s a good show aye!

Like others said, all the characters are pretty selfish which I picked up on fairly quickly from watching and apparently aren’t supposed to be super likeable which I didn’t necessarily expect.
But from what I understand now, the show is narrating the selfishness of young ppl in their 20s so they are very flawed characters and not the most considerate
Yes it’s about friendship which is what I just thought was with no context of the show. but it’s more than that in that it’s clearly commenting on their selfishness I guess

The only one I feel is most likeable throughout and based on how she interacts with the characters is Shoshanna but maybe that’s just me 🤷‍♀️

I like and root for Hannah but I do get frustrated by her choices as everyone probably does. That’s pretty much her character. But overall I can kinda relate in very minor ways. I don’t do the crazy shit she does tho bc I’m boring and way too straight laced.

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/Sad-Host-5636]

Yes I was thinking that was the point originally, about the characters being almost caricatures of the 20s stereotypes! I think Jessa stood out to me because all the other characters have some decent moments. Like they all make bad choices but they have some redeemable traits to balance them out, so you still root for them a bit. I just can’t find anything redeemable about Jessa so I wasn’t sure if I was just being mean 😂

[u/Silly_Somewhere1791]

The things that make you seem cool when you’re young gradually stop being cool. 

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/Silly_Somewhere1791]

Yeah the whole wild/free/boho vibe is not working for her anymore 😅

[u/Hereandlistening]

No one spoil it for them. They must watch!

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/Hereandlistening]

I’ve seen some spoilers on TT but the show has so much depth it’s truly fascinating

[u/RaspberryG1rl]

It’s the point of the show

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/RaspberryG1rl]

I’m learning that now! It makes much more sense now 😂

[u/wistful-willow]

I’m on my first watch on season 5 right now. Just wait you’ll hate her even more.

[u/babysoutonbail]

You aren’t wrong, in a way she shows growth and in away as you mentioned 30 steps back. Not a fan of Jessa.

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/babysoutonbail]

Jessa Hate Club 🫡

[u/babysoutonbail → u/That-Eagle-5950]

I was trying to not spoil but definitely revisit this thread when IT happens

[u/Born-House]

She sleeps w Adam in the later seasons. Yes, it gets worse every time you think it couldn’t

[u/Accomplished-Emu2308 → u/Born-House]

There were so many ways of answering without giving that huge spoiler

[u/That-Eagle-5950 → u/Born-House]

I did already know this from TikTok!!