User reviews

Well someone else from London gave this series an extremely unwarranted 1 of 10! 'So Girl, I'm gonna be correcting dat!' (Say that in Issa voice for full effect)

I probably need to state from the beginning, I have NOT seen any episodes of Awkward Black Girl, the web series upon which this is based, nor was I aware of the stand up comedy work of either Ms Rae or Ms Orji before this show. My reason for watching it simply came from wanting to see a good comedy show (I normally watch 2 or 3 before sleeping) and this had been recommended to me, so I came into it totally blind.

The premise of the show is relatively simple. Issa Rae plays Issa (Were no other character names available or was this just easier on set when asking for coffee?) a working black woman in LA, who has been employed as the token black woman run in a charity office run by a an all upper middle class, nearly all white people board of directors who seek to help disadvantaged children by primarily making them feel good about themselves, while also occasionally helping the kids. Issa is also in a steady relationship with Lawrence, (An excellent Jay Ellis) who has dreams but currently is unmotivated. Ex unrequited crush Daniel comes back on the scene and seems more motivated and the danger is of course appealing. Issa's best friend is Molly (Who is not named after the drug Xtasy, and a great performance from Yvonne Orji in her first leading series role) Molly is a lawyer, has a nicer apartment, is more financially stable but like so many people keeps playing the dating game of 'waiting for something better syndrome' and cannot find her ideal man. The friendship of these two affable women lies at the heart of the series and the energy that they have on screen together is key to show's success. Molly has an on/off relationship with mechanic Jared, while seeking love elsewhere with a man of more stable financial means and when she finds it, is either too keen, or not keen enough.

So the scene is set for both girls to self sabotage their relationships and indeed their own friendship while looking for true love.

As a personal side story is that while on holiday in Florida during the playing of the Florida Classic Football game, a friend and I gave up our table for a black couple who could not sit down to eat, as we were close to finishing our meal, and they looked on the verge of leaving from frustration. Said couple then asked us to have drinks with them (Oh your English! Let's get you a drink!) became two of my best friends and a huge portion of both that and subsequent trips was spent with them and their families - something that was completely unheard of (They had no white friends and this only happened because I was English) so it gave me a real insight into just how divided, culturally American was. I mention this because I found several of the characters in the show Insecure, very close to Vikki & Anthony and their friends. So even though being from a different culture, race & country I found the show very accurate based on my own experiences of the time I spent with my friendsand their family. (Hey, that plot line could make a funny episode, I could play the English guy!)

Regardless of this - I also need to add I found the show extremely well written with sharp performances (Though sometimes actor Neil Brown JR spoke so fast I needed subtitles and often watched his scenes twice to catch everything he said.) While in America I am sure this is perceived primarily as a 'Black' show by Executives, but (and please take note of this) the themes of friendship, love, insecurity and relationship choices were all aspects of life that in my view transcended race and indeed gender. While no doubt the setting might be more familiar to those living in LA from the neighbourhoods in which it was set, I found that had little relevance in my ability to enjoy the show. Amusing though it was for me as a man, to see a show where the male cast had their bums out as often as possible and the girls tactfully always kept their pants on during sex scenes (Strip club scene not included) so Female Producers = maximum male butt shots, but hey my other half wasn't complaining plus I am sure this will result in a large gay fanbase for the men! (Funny but true)

Special mention also needs to go to actress Natasha Rothwell (Also Executive Story Editor) who plays mutual single friend Kelli, the annoying friend you want to hate but cannot. A very familiar character. This again underscores the ability of the writers again, to have characters that transcend race and indeed continents. Not all of the writing is perfect and the show is not without its flaws but by episode four I thought it had found its feet well and had me fully engaged. I also saw the writers cleverly squeezed the occasional more serious debate. (Black male labels and sexuality) It would be good to see some Gay characters in season 2 and have them challenge stereotypes within the black community or those seen on other shows.

Issa Rae, I can see how hard she has worked to get this show made from nothing and Producers should take note that this is often where the raw talent comes from. Creatives frustrated with doors being unopened, find a way to open them, themselves.

The final episode of the show sets things up nicely for Season 2 and I will be watching it and I shall encourage many others to do the same.

Love this show, Issa, cast and crew poured so much love into this and you can see that on the screen. It really gives you an insight on the regular everyday lives people live something that wasn't show as much for people of colour on TV in the past, it's great this show explores that from relationships, to jobs, being an adult and dealing with other real life issues. The show has a lot of swag, is shot sophisticatedly capturing the characters environment and the situation they are in. Favourite season is Season 5. So well written and tied up with a final goodbye. The show really could have been 3-4 seasons and would have given us enough. One of the things I would improve, if this show was to be re done again is less use of the N word but I get it, it's part of the culture the characters grew up in. A recommended watch! Very easy to binge on as each episode is 30mins long, re watched multiple times.

This is hands down an amazing series and in my opinion one of the best series of all time. Not top or number one, but it definitely deserves a spot on the list. It ranks! And the ending was so satisfying. A lot of series we love ended horribly. Not this one! I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with the characters and I hate to see this story end.

Great writing. Great acting. The only bad acting came from Kendrick Sampson (he is a terrible actor!) and the star of the show was Issa's hair! I loved how she showed natural women they can have beautiful, versatile styles.

Some reviews are complaining about sex scenes and a lot of stuff that y'all don't complain about with other series. Oh it's a problem on this show? I wonder why. Keep the selective outrage. This is an AMAZING show and Issa is a genius. I can't wait to see what the future holds for her.

I absolutely love this show!!! Covers so many relationship dynamics and societal commentary. The show is relatable and HILARIOUS!! Kelly and Issa make me laugh WAY TOO MUCH. Really sad this will be the last season but so far season 5 has not disappointed!!! GREAT SHOW!!!!

Issa Rae has done a wonderful job writing and playing the lead character in "Insecure." I think this is a very well-written show with an engaging ensemble cast. The characters feel real and relatable, even though they are all much younger and hipper than me! I am 48 and live on the opposite coast, yet I felt that I had experienced many of the same things that Issa, Molly and their friends have in this series: the confusing romantic and sexual connections, the frustrating career experiences, the self-doubt and, most importantly, the benefit of good friendships. I caught "Insecure" one night on HBO and was instantly engaged. It's entertaining and stylishly produced as well. I really like the way the show has expanded to explore Molly's and Lawrence's characters in depth along with Issa's complex experiences and character development.

Confession: I struggled to get through a couple of seasons of HBO's "Girls" because it was always being praised in the media, and I hated it. "Insecure" is vastly superior. I can't wait for the new season.

I'm talking remember your transition from your twenties to thirties. Do you remember? If you don't you should not be very old to begin with, since you probably aren't out of your twenties. For the rest of you, come on! This may be from a perspective other than your own, but it is good and funny and lighthearted and serious show. It may seem to me an oxymoron, but it is not. This is a show for people who don't get offended easily and seek truth wherever it is found. If that is not you, if you get offended by real world language, real world situations, real world relationships, or real world people, no matter what their background or culture, this show is not for you. Go and watch "Leave it to Beaver" and never watch any other show and you will love your life. This is a show for open minded people who are not nostalgic, but recognize the universality of growing up and reaching the grave. This show made me remember what it was like to be dating, and in my twenties while nearing thirty (which happened after dating), and reminded me of how crazy life can be for women, since I am a man. This is a solid show and it should have a higher rating than it does on IMDb.

As a white male senior citizen I'm not the target demographic but I enjoy the show. Assuming the depictions are relatively accurate the writing, casting, music are very good. The talent on display impressed the heck out of me.

I really enjoyed the first season and I thought the show would go in the direction of being intelligent and insightful. I also thought it would make a statement about negative African American stereotypes. However, I find Season 2 is just playing into many of the stereotypes unfortunately.

Season 2 lacks maturity, intelligence and purpose. The characters all come off as immature people who never left high school mentally even long after becoming working professionals. Also, none of the characters seem intelligent at all. Especially Issa and Lawrence. Those two always have a permanent confused/surprised look on their faces like the lights are on but nobody's home.

Hopefully, the story line will lead somewhere interesting and not just be 30 minutes of stereotypes every Sunday. There is not a single character on the show that isn't a black stereotype to some degree. Sigh...

My daughter introduced "Insecure" to me when it first premiered, but I wasn't feeling it at all. I've been married now close to 30 years and didn't think it was relevant to my 50+ age. However, she was on her 2nd round of re-watching this year and since it was the Christmas holidays, I said why not? Well, I binged the entire series over the weekend and fell in love with all of the characters and the scenarios were absolutely hilarious!

The characters/actors had mad chemistry. Yes, I've had friends 40+ years and throughout the years, we have experienced the breakdown in communication, not speaking, interest/conversation/viewpoint changes, etc., but at the end of the day, we're down for each other. My only constructive feedback is the use of the N word and the explicit sex scenes ( could have left some to the imagination, we get it ). Otherwise, no matter the age this show is relatable and so you know, it's not much different from the 80s/90s scene.

I live in the neighborhood where this is filmed and they do nothing to support the neighborhood. We are all inconvenienced with bright filming lights at night and these folks are just rude about it. Go build a set somewhere else.

It's not worth it for a mediocre show.

I've been in love with Issa Rae since "awkward black girl." But this show really showcased her talent, and what an ensemble of amazing actors. So refreshing and fun to watch. There were many instances of "I know how that feels," and a bunch of laughter and a little bit of tears. The show was engaging since episode 1. Other than Issa, the other actors, but especially those playing the character of Lawrence, Molly and Tiffany deserve all the praise and kudoses. As a mid 30s woman, trying to balance friendship, family and career this spoke to me in many ways. I wish all the best for Issa in her future projects.

I just watched the first episode of this wonderful new show. It was a sneak peak free stream from HBO on demand, and I will tell you that it sets up what should be a great series. Our female lead is both beautiful and funny. The show has style and substance and really hit the ground running. This felt like episode six of season three. I have very high expectations for this series. We have two very engaging female leads, we are capturing Los Angeles (a city I lived in for four years while I was the same age as the women on the show), we have an underrepresented pov on display. I will be counting the days until I can watch the next episode. I am just so impressed with the writing, the acting, and the overall feel of the show. We are living in a golden age of television. Movies can no longer compete!

"Insecure' is exactly what the title means a show full of insignificant or irrelevant relationships or lack of finding a true love. This acting is getting boring because the typical everyday life of both women Issa and Molly. No way this show speaks on behalf of all black women because it seems to be an atypical versus untypical show. In other words, the show just appears to go in circles. I keep trying to get into the show even reviewing Episodes from Season One and newest scenes from Season Two but nothing has changed. Its the same scenes like going to night clubs, brunch, or stalking an ex-boyfriend's girlfriend. For Season Two, it seems that the producers changed the scene to display a bar-b-que, but please create something that is uncommon. Soo far it's the same scenario a black woman is still roaming around searching for Mr. Right being Issa and Molly still is an executive. It would be nice if this show could advance on opening doors for other characters like new neighbors. I will watch the new episode that airs Sunday.

Just the everyday life of a lady who runs into everyday issues while black. Love the show, funny, accurate, and just awesome. Loving this spin off can't wait to see more. I am very interested with the focus placed on Issa's thoughts, this truly makes her and the show instantly lovable. The co star molly also brings a very true and accurate representation on professionally accomplished women who in-turn almost surely are considered over qualified for meaningful relationships. I am hoping this will change the dynamics of how African women are perceived both personally and professionally. The perspective of insecure is spot on and there is no doubt it truly mirrors a few of the struggles of A.A. Women today. I am glad to see some of the characters from the YouTube series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl they are faces I recognize. Though their characters have changed they truly make the transition from the YouTube series to the HBO series very familiar yet fresh at the same time. So far I have enjoyed laughing and relating to the characters and I am looking forward to future episodes.

This was so good! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Although I'm not in my 30s but I could relate to all these characters' problems. It's hard to find the right man, the right job, the right friends and when you found it it's even harder to keep them. I wish there would be more seasons. Issa's character is really loveable the places it was filmed are beautiful. Great series 👌

Full disclosure. I'm a 68 year old white girl with almost nothing to relate to in the day to day lives of these characters. I loved, loved, loved this show. The writing and performances are fantastic. For me, it's a view of the true situations that occur between people much younger than me. The fact that they're black is just a huge plus, because black culture is so beautiful, particularly when the show portrays the smartest, most articulate, most successful women in Los Angeles. I've binged this show from end to end without a break, because it hooked me in from the very beginning. I definitely recommend it, and I can't wait to see more from Issa Rae.

This series is my comfort show. Firstly the casting for this production was outstanding and all casting executed their roles so well.

I love how the show portrays the different journeys the characters go through and how it affects everything in their personal, work and love life. This so is so authentic.

This series is a voice to the voiceless, uplifting the black community. The theme of unity despite any difficulties was highlighted so well. Also, how it is important to keep your individuality. No matter who you are, your voice matters.

I love Issa's journey throughout, showing the good, bad, ugly and beauty of one's journey. Issa Rae thank you for showing us that it is possible.

I watch VERY very very few tv series, and this is the only one I am currently watching. I only recently found out about Awkward Black Girl and found the episodes online and watched them all. Everytime I find a tv series that I like, it's usually a comedy series that ends up turning into a drama or soap opera.

The last 3 episodes have been a lot less comical and a lot more stressful, to me. That's literally, why I stopped watching Black-ish, awhile ago (my last tv series). I knew this was going to happen. :-(

Ps... way too much with the sex scenes !!!

Atlanta, Insecure, I don't know who was first, but I see similarities in cinematography. It's a bit faster than Atlanta but there is a vibe that both series have, funny at times, seriously when needed.

A must watch for both men and women.

Don't be put off by the "immaturite" reviews, written by the wannabe critics here, who seem to have the "being adult" under controll or think they have.

For the peeps who are growing older and have their lives so called under control, with careers, families and all that we are supposed to have at a certain age, well, good for them.

We're not all there yet, some of us may never get there.

This is your must watch.

The characters act like middle school teens: superficial, jealous, and mean-spirited. There are good moments, and the acting is solid. Unfortunately, this isn't enough to overcome the feeling that we are watching the serialized, soap opera treatment of a teen girl's diary. If this show depicted younger characters, ideally high school age, (leaving out the obvious sex...) this might be a better show. If this is a "snapshot of a grown woman's life" then we are in trouble. Based on comments made by the writer/creator of the show, I am not the target demographic. Because of this, I am giving the show a 6/10 (assuming I must be missing something). Otherwise, I would give the show a 3/10.

I was hoping I had a new series to watch but it looks like that won't be the case. The first episode was extremely well written and acted. Great story line too. But unfortunately the second episode was ruined by too many remarks about peoples color. It gets very boring very quickly because of that. For once I would love to watch a program that didn't have to constantly remind you what a persons color was. I mean hey, guess what, I can see what color everyone is already. It just seems so cheesy to have the reminders. Or is that all the show is going to be about. Seems limiting. You can feel the change between episode one and episode two.

But I have to say I think the acting is fantastic, especially Issa Rae who is also the creator. And I love that it's set in Los Angeles. You know, the real Los Angeles.