‘Girls’ Fans Need to Tune Into Zosia Mamet’s ‘Laid’ on Peacock

Those who watched HBO’s Girls either loved the series or hated it. It was critically acclaimed and had a solid fanbase, but it was generally understood that its characters were highly flawed and insufferable almost all the time. They were certainly well-written and fully formed, but they weren’t necessarily the kind of people you wanted in your circle of friends, seeing as their redeeming qualities were few and far between. However, there were a few gems in the mix, particularly Shoshanna. Played perfectly by Zosia Mamet, Shoshanna was arguably the best character in the entire series. She was the fast-talking and genuinely supportive friend who ultimately distanced herself from Hannah (Lena Dunham), Marnie (Allison Williams), and Jessa (Jemima Kirke) after realizing her worth and outgrowing them.

Since her stint on Girls, Mamet has showcased her unique and quirky style in various shows. Her newest series on Peacock, Laid, continues that trend and offers viewers a delightfully funny performance. An adjacent series to Girls, the Peacock show follows Ruby (Stephanie Hsu) and her best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet). After discovering that all of Ruby’s exes are beginning to die one by one in strange and different ways, AJ makes it her mission to figure out why. In the meantime, she and Ruby decide to warn those who are still alive of their impending death. Much like Girls, Laid’s main character is kind of terrible. However, unlike the young women in Girls, Ruby does possess some redeeming qualities, which is merely one reason fans of Girls should check out Laid, two shows that essentially speak the same language. The other includes Mamet’s eccentric and bubbly performance as Ruby’s best friend.

‘Girls’ and ‘Laid’ Have the Same Vibe

While both shows cover extremely different topics, Girls and Laid share a similar vibe and exist in a similar space. Girls definitely has plenty of comical moments throughout the series, but its narrative is rooted in drama. Laid, on the other hand, is inherently meant to make viewers laugh. It certainly has dramatic moments, but its narrative is rooted in comedy. Either way, both shows are derived from female experiences and aim to showcase a messy version of what a young woman can be. Unapologetic in many ways, both Girls and Laid don’t make excuses for the mistakes of their characters. They aren’t perfect, but they aren’t meant to be.

Both series are meant to tell chaotic stories, particularly about women. However, Laid wants viewers to like its characters, while Girls doesn’t seem to care, and sometimes isn’t even aware that their characters are unlikable. However, for a show like Girls, that’s kind of the point. Where Laid balances Ruby’s chaos with a handful of her redeeming qualities, Girls does no such thing. In fact, as the latter progressed, every character almost doubled down on their horrendous behavior and choices. Everyone except Shoshanna, of course.

That being said, fans of Girls would enjoy Laid and should immediately head to Peacock to check it out. If for nothing else than Mamet’s performance as yet another fast-talking, supportive best friend navigating less-than-stellar counterparts, Laid and Girls essentially speak the same language.

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Mamet’s Performance is a Major Reason to Watch ‘Laid’

Just Like It Was a Major Reason to Watch ‘Girls’

Shoshanna was arguably the best part of Girls. She was certainly a better friend than any others and actually grew and learned as she progressed throughout the series. Mamet brought her to life in such a memorable way that it made the show worth watching. Given there were so many irredeemable characters, Shoshanna was someone worth rooting for and Mamet’s delightful and quirky performance made that possible.

While there are plenty of reasons to watch Laid, Mamet once again embodies a character similar to Shoshanna with the same level of eccentric charm. For those who watched Girls and particularly enjoyed Mamet, they’ll undoubtedly feel the same about Laid. In fact, they might enjoy Laid even more than Girls, given how its characters aren’t continuously blaming their friends and others for their problems or bringing them down constantly. Ruby tries to take responsibility for her actions, at least in the best way she knows how, and she tries to learn from her mistakes. The same can’t be said for those in Girls.

Furthermore, Laid doesn’t use Mamet’s character as a punching bag. AJ and Shoshanna are two sides of the same coin, but the way they’re treated in their respective series is strikingly different, which makes Laid a bit more entertaining to watch. Girls was certainly a great show. It had a solid script with sharp and witty dialogue. Thanks to performances from people like Mamet, it made the show worth watching. As such, those who enjoyed Girls and Mamet’s portrayal of Shoshanna will certainly want to dive into Laid. All episodes of Laid are currently streaming on Peacock.