Before The 'Girls' Finale, 21 Cringe-Worthy Moments From Season 1

The 21 Most Cringe-Worthy Moments From 'Girls'

HBO's "Girls" has taken a lot of heat this season for perceived offenses ranging from nepotism to racism. But as its Season 1 finale approaches on Sunday night (June 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO), HuffPost TV is taking a moment to appreciate one thing it's done exceptionally well: utilize gross-out humor and cringe-worthy sex scenes to get laughs in a way that few other shows have dared to.

Under the supervision of co-executive producer Judd Apatow, "Girls" has pushed the envelope of the kind of raunchy comedy viewers are accustomed to watching on TV. Lena Dunham, the show's star and creator, seems willing to put her characters in pretty much every awkward situation she can think of. From exploring innumerable varieties of weird sex, to walking in on her parents naked, to accidentally smoking crack, there's not much that "Girls" has shied away from in its freshman season.

"Girls" cringe-worthy moments aren't always funny, though, and the show sometimes teeters on the edge of hard-to-watch territory. In a few instances, plotlines have intersected with criticisms about the show's lack of diversity and blind-spots to ethnic stereotypes, like when Hannah's Latina co-workers gave her eyebrows a new penciled-on look. But most of the awkwardness feels intentional, as if Dunham's brand of storytelling relishes occasionally making its audience feel uncomfortable.

With that in mind, check out this slideshow tribute to the usually-endearing awkwardness of "Girls." Here are 21 of the show's most cringe-worthy moments from Season 1.

Hannah steals the money her parents left for the hotel maid after they cut her off.

The Most Cringe-Worthy Moments From 'Girls' Season 1

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