The Rapidly-Becoming-Disillusioned One

The Three Sisters: Irina Sergeyevna Prozorova

Girls: Hannah Horvath

Similarities: Both in early 20s. Past and present romantic prospects include a sexy but unaccountable rogue and a nice guy who has a suspicious fondness for dandyish clothes. Relatively (but not objectively) poor. Working at soul-sucking jobs (Irina at the local post office, Hannah at a publishing company).

Differences: Irina’s a virgin. Hannah has HPV.

The Diva

The Three Sisters: Masha Sergeyevna Kulygina

Girls: Marnie Michaels

Similarities: Both in long-term relationships with awkward nice guys who dote on them and bore them. Have the hots for sexy outsiders. Uptight and short-tempered. Fancy dressers.

Differences: Masha longs to live in the big city. Marnie’s already there, and bored anyway.

The Conservative

The Three Sisters: Olya Sergeyevna Prozorova

Girls: Shoshanna Shapiro

Similarities: Both single and dying to not be. Both are alternately jealous of and scared by the dramatic relationships around them.

Differences: Olya doesn’t want to be headmistress of the local school. Shoshanna probably would.

The Worldly One

The Three Sisters: Andrei Sergeyevich Prozorov

Girls: Jessa Johansson

Similarities: Both know a lot about exotic places the other characters haven’t been. Both are kind of spacey. Have not-very-well-hidden vices (gambling for Andrei, drugs for Jessa). Irresponsible.

Differences: Jessa’s a girl, Andrei’s a guy.

– Jay Gabler will leave it to you to map Sex and the City onto this typology.

Three Sisters image courtesy University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Girls image courtesy HBO