I don't think I know a single person IRL who is watching this show, and it's a damn shame. Because "Insecure" is easily one of my favorite television shows. And with just eight half hour episodes in its first season, there's really no excuse not to binge it in one sitting.
"Insecure" has been described as the black "Girls," and I get the comparison. Sort of. Both shows follow millenial women struggling with work, friendships and their love lives. But the comparison mostly ends there.
"Insecure" is set in LA, with the main character working at a non-profit rather than...what does Lena Dunham's character even do besides fight with her friends? Anyway, Issa's apartment could be any one of my friends' places. Her boyfriend works at Best Buy as he job hunts. The show is much more grounded in reality than "Girls" ever was or will be. The writing is better and doesn't try as hard to convince you of its politics. The cast of "Insecure" is inherently more likable, too. You root for them more.
Of course, that doesn't mean Issa is any less complicated than Hannah Horvath - she's just not as clueless. Issa's main story line this season revolves around her relationship with her long-term boyfriend. He's working hard - but failing - to find a steady job. And she loves him, unquestionably, but is a bit bored and frustrated with the relationship - and she's all too willing to get close to another man. It's a story that manages to feel fresh despite of its familiarity.
The acting on this show is fantastic, too. There's a scene about halfway through the season where Issa is privately celebrating a hookup with the "one that got away" when she sees a soap dispenser that reminds her of her boyfriend - the one she just cheated on. The look on her face says a million things all at once. A less talented actress might have made this feel hokey, but I just wanted to hug her. There are so many wonderful little moments that make this show stick with you long after you've marathoned the entire season.
The friendships in "Insecure" are the best part (well, the soundtrack is pretty solid, too - Solange Knowles served as a music consultant) of the show. Molly, Issa's best friend, is the kind of nuanced character Lena Dunham probably wishes Marnie could be.
Molly is a successful attorney, a great friend, beautiful, but can't seem to hold down a date. As the episodes progress, we learn why. This is no Kate Hudson rom com about an unbelievably gorgeous woman struggling to find someone to date her. This is a multilayered look at why some people are so, so picky - and what made them that way.
HBO is a generally pretty white channel, and some might see "Insecure" as niche TV. But the show is more about friendship between women than it is about black culture. That's not to say that "Insecure" downplays the blackness of its characters. Instead, it offers an authentic portrayal of a young black woman - and her race is just one aspect of her identity. So if you're a white person worried that this show isn't "for you," relax. Just because the main character doesn't look like you doesn't mean "Insecure" isn't relatable. And so, so good.
"Insecure" has been described as the black "Girls," and I get the comparison. Sort of. Both shows follow millenial women struggling with work, friendships and their love lives. But the comparison mostly ends there.
"Insecure" is set in LA, with the main character working at a non-profit rather than...what does Lena Dunham's character even do besides fight with her friends? Anyway, Issa's apartment could be any one of my friends' places. Her boyfriend works at Best Buy as he job hunts. The show is much more grounded in reality than "Girls" ever was or will be. The writing is better and doesn't try as hard to convince you of its politics. The cast of "Insecure" is inherently more likable, too. You root for them more.
Of course, that doesn't mean Issa is any less complicated than Hannah Horvath - she's just not as clueless. Issa's main story line this season revolves around her relationship with her long-term boyfriend. He's working hard - but failing - to find a steady job. And she loves him, unquestionably, but is a bit bored and frustrated with the relationship - and she's all too willing to get close to another man. It's a story that manages to feel fresh despite of its familiarity.
The acting on this show is fantastic, too. There's a scene about halfway through the season where Issa is privately celebrating a hookup with the "one that got away" when she sees a soap dispenser that reminds her of her boyfriend - the one she just cheated on. The look on her face says a million things all at once. A less talented actress might have made this feel hokey, but I just wanted to hug her. There are so many wonderful little moments that make this show stick with you long after you've marathoned the entire season.
The friendships in "Insecure" are the best part (well, the soundtrack is pretty solid, too - Solange Knowles served as a music consultant) of the show. Molly, Issa's best friend, is the kind of nuanced character Lena Dunham probably wishes Marnie could be.
Molly is a successful attorney, a great friend, beautiful, but can't seem to hold down a date. As the episodes progress, we learn why. This is no Kate Hudson rom com about an unbelievably gorgeous woman struggling to find someone to date her. This is a multilayered look at why some people are so, so picky - and what made them that way.
HBO is a generally pretty white channel, and some might see "Insecure" as niche TV. But the show is more about friendship between women than it is about black culture. That's not to say that "Insecure" downplays the blackness of its characters. Instead, it offers an authentic portrayal of a young black woman - and her race is just one aspect of her identity. So if you're a white person worried that this show isn't "for you," relax. Just because the main character doesn't look like you doesn't mean "Insecure" isn't relatable. And so, so good.
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