Lena Dunham’s latest project, the Lena Dunham Netflix series Too Much, marks a departure from the themes that defined her earlier hit, Girls. Premiering on Netflix, Too Much explores love and relationships from the perspective of a woman navigating her thirties, offering a more mature and introspective look compared to the often chaotic sexual explorations of her twenties featured in Girls. This new series emerged nearly a decade after Girls first captivated audiences, reflecting how Dunham’s personal and creative journey has evolved.
Girls debuted in 2012 with Dunham as the creator, writer, and star, portraying a 20-something New Yorker named Hannah. That show became a defining cultural touchstone for millennials, blending blunt humor with raw depictions of intimacy and ambition. As Dunham herself put it during the early run of Girls,
I think I may be the voice of my generation. Or at least a voice of a generation.
Since then, Dunham’s career has continued through various TV shows and films, even amid some controversies, but Girls remains particularly revered, especially among younger viewers like Gen Z.
Too Much chronicles a new chapter of love and life in London
Too Much unfolds over 10 episodes, charting the life of Jessica, played by Megan Stalter, a heartbroken New Yorker working in television who relocates to London after a breakup. There, she falls for a troubled musician named Felix, portrayed by Will Sharpe. The storyline closely mirrors Dunham’s own experiences, having moved to London following a breakup and subsequently marrying musician Luis Felber, who also co-created the series alongside her.
Despite a tone shift from the edgy sex-centric narrative of Girls to a romantic comedy with more warmth and hope, Too Much preserves Dunham’s characteristic sharp humor and emotional depth. Instead of ending episodes with tension or awkwardness, Too Much frequently concludes with comforting moments of connection, exemplified through tender embraces between Jessica and Felix. This shift was visible during a conversation between Dunham and Stalter in a London hotel, where their camaraderie and affection extended off-screen as well.
Reflections on time, growth, and the stages of life
Dunham recently revisited a recurring dream she shared years ago on Marc Maron’s podcast, where life is compressed into a single day that ends at midnight. At one point, she saw herself at 2:30pm, feeling anxious about time slipping away. A decade later, Dunham relates the dream to where she is now, somewhere between mid-afternoon and early evening, acknowledging she still has time but is mindful of life’s passing.
She reflects,
“In your 20s, everything is a possibility. I remember thinking that things had so much consequence, but looking back I realise how little effect they had on the grand scheme of life.”
This maturation shapes the themes of Too Much as Dunham addresses what it means to live and love in one’s thirties. Unlike the younger characters obsessed with immediate gratification and ambition in Girls or the show Industry, Jessica’s story involves embracing who she has become while exploring new emotional depths.
Stalter and Dunham playfully mapped out life’s different decades during their interview, picturing a timeline from the naivety of youth to the wisdom of old age. The discussion ended with Dunham hoping to write roles into her 80s, inspired by artists like Elaine May, who continue their craft well into advanced years. Dunham envisions a future comedy akin to Golden Girls, celebrating humor linked to life experience rather than youth.
The evolving language around relationships and mental health
The dialogue in Too Much also captures contemporary shifts in how younger generations discuss love and emotional wellbeing, including mainstream psychological terminology. Dunham confesses,
“I’m obsessed with the therapeutic and psychological terminology that’s now become really mainstream. When I was in my early 20s, we were not using a lot of psychology language. We were using basic terms like, ‘He’s a jerk’.”
Terms like “love bombing,” “gaslighting,” and “narcissist” now frequently surface in conversations about relationships, something both Dunham and Stalter explore with curiosity and humor in the show.
Episode two humorously highlights Jessica’s confusion about “love bombing” until someone explains the concept to her. Dunham admits she had to look it up herself, initially thinking it meant simply receiving affectionate gestures. The duo also touches on the popularity of personality tests and diagnostic labels, acknowledging a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism about how psychological ideas are often applied.
Reception of Girls by newer generations and reflecting on aging with the audience
Despite the cultural shifts since Girls premiered, newer generations like Gen Z continue to discover and binge-watch the show, fascinated by its humor and emotional honesty. Dunham describes how, when making Girls, social media platforms like Instagram barely existed, and technology shaped a different cultural landscape. Yet, the themes of identity and growth still resonate universally.
Both Dunham and Stalter note how Girls has become a comfort show some viewers fall asleep to, a compliment Dunham treasures. While Girls was about navigating sexual identity and self-discovery, Too Much focuses more on mature love and acceptance. Stalter succinctly summarizes,
Girls was about sex, and this is about love
— Megan Stalter.
The significance of authentic casting and working with Megan Stalter
Dunham reflects on her decision to star in Girls, acknowledging she was shaped by an earlier television landscape where lead actresses often fit a narrow mold. She admits not considering anyone else for her role due to a lack of imagination at the time. Conversely, for Too Much, she wrote the lead character Jessica specifically with Megan Stalter in mind, having admired her blend of charm, relatability, and physical comedy.
Dunham praises Stalter’s range and talent, calling her “a true, multi-faceted star,” and recounts having a photo of Stalter before meeting her in person. Their creative partnership symbolizes Dunham’s growth as a writer and collaborator, aiming for authentic portrayals of complex women navigating love and life beyond their twenties.
Exploring identity and representation through Jessica’s character
Stalter describes the character Jessica as a “straight version” of herself, noting her own bisexuality but recognizing shared emotions and experiences in portraying Jessica. Dunham encourages openness and suggests Jessica could benefit from embracing different perspectives, illustrating how personal growth and self-acceptance continue through one’s thirties and beyond.
Too Much: a show for all ages evolving with its audience
While Too Much primarily focuses on the experience of a 35-year-old woman, Dunham emphasizes its appeal across generations. She imagines an 80-year-old grandmother watching alongside younger viewers, all connecting with the universal themes of love, disappointment, and hope. The show reflects the changing realities faced by millennials as they age, contrasting with the youthful optimism central to Girls.
Jessica’s interactions with a younger Gen Z colleague highlight the generational gap and Dunham’s delight in portraying
“the old people in the office.”
Far from a simple sequel, Too Much presents a realistic vision of how early aspirations transform with time, balancing heartache with moments of joy and connection.
Behind the scenes: Dunham and Stalter discuss creativity and social media
Dunham and Stalter’s rapport extends off-screen, with Dunham crediting Stalter’s TikTok presence as a factor in their collaboration. Dunham jokes about maintaining a “ghost TikTok” where she makes and deletes videos, showing an ongoing curiosity about contemporary culture despite feeling out of touch at times. They also share candid moments about humor, intelligence, and the challenges of staying relevant in an ever-changing media environment.
Too Much streaming now on Netflix
Too Much premiered on Netflix on July 10, inviting viewers to explore love and growth through the eyes of characters evolving beyond their youth. Rooted in Dunham’s own life experiences and creative evolution, the series offers a blend of comedy and heartfelt insight, appealing to those who grew up watching Girls as well as a new generation seeking honest stories about connection, loss, and hope.
