Insecure (TV series)


Insecure is an American comedy-drama television series created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, and is partially based on Rae's acclaimed web series Awkward Black Girl. The series is about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman. The series premiered online on September 23, 2016, via HBO Now and HBO Go, before airing weekly on HBO from October 9, 2016.
Insecure received critical acclaim since its debut in 2016. In 2017, the American Film Institute selected it as one of the top 10 television programs of the year. In 2020, the series received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its fourth season, including Outstanding Comedy Series. For her performance on the series, Rae received three Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, in addition to three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Yvonne Orji received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020 for her performance in the series.
Insecure ran for five seasons. The series finale aired on December 26, 2021.
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Background

On August 6, 2013, Rae began working on a comedy series pilot with co-creator Larry Wilmore. The show was planned to be about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman, and the pair eventually settled on the current title of Insecure. HBO picked up the pilot on October 15, 2015, and it was subsequently greenlit for production.
At HBO's 2016 Television Critics Association session, which featured Rae, showrunner Prentice Penny, and executive producer Melina Matsoukas, Issa Rae explained that the series will examine "the complexities of 'Blackness' and the reality that you can't escape being Black." She also mentioned, in regard to the potential mainstream reaction to the series:
We're just trying to convey that people of color are relatable. This is not a hood story. This is about regular people living life.

Raphael Saadiq created original music for the first season. Solange Knowles served as music consultant for the show and was introduced by Matsoukas, who directed the music video for Knowles's song "Losing You".
On November 14, 2016, HBO renewed the show for a second season which premiered on July 23, 2017. On August 8, 2017, HBO renewed the show for a third season, which premiered on August 12, 2018. On September 6, 2018, HBO renewed the series for a fourth season which premiered on April 12, 2020. On May 1, 2020, the series was renewed for a fifth season. On January 13, 2021, HBO announced that the fifth season will be its last. The fifth and final season premiered on October 24, 2021.

Plot

The first season depicts the Black female experience from the perspective of two female protagonists, Issa and Molly, who have been best friends since their college days at Stanford University. Both in their late 20s, they navigate career and relationship experiences while living in their hometown of South Los Angeles, California. The two share a close bond, and throughout the show, they deal with internal struggles, their friendship and the African American community. Issa works at a non-profit that benefits middle-school aged students of color called "We Got Y'all". She struggles to reignite the passion in her relationship with her long-term boyfriend, Lawrence, who has been slacking in their relationship since his start-up company failed. Molly is a corporate attorney who has career success but difficulty with dating men. The half-hour series explores social and racial issues that relate to the contemporary American experience.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Season 1 (2016)

;Notes

Season 3 (2018)

;Notes

Soundtracks

The soundtrack for the series is overseen by Rae, music supervisor Kier Lehmann and musician Raphael Saadiq. The soundtrack often uses modern alternative R&B artists. Compilations of songs used in the show have been released with each season. Several artists, such as Goldlink, Sampha, and The Internet (band) contributed to the soundtrack. The success of the soundtrack lead to Rae establishing her own record label, Raedio, in partnership with Atlantic Records and a publishing deal with Kobalt Music Group.
SoundtrackRelease dateLabel
Season 1December 16, 2016RCA
Season 2September 8, 2017RCA
Season 3September 21, 2018RCA
Season 4June 10, 2020
Season 5December 3, 2021

Reception

Critical response

Season 1

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 100% based on 65 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure uses star Issa Rae's breakout web series Awkward Black Girl as the basis for an insightful, raunchy, and hilarious journey through the life of a twentysomething black woman that cuts through stereotypes with sharp wit and an effusive spirit." On Metacritic, the season has a score of 84 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Eric Deggans of NPR wrote that "Rae has produced a series that feels revolutionary just by poking fun at the life of an average, twentysomething black woman." Greg Braxton of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "The half-hour series explores the friendship between two African American women who deal with their sometimes stormy relationship while also grappling with conflicts inside and outside black culture. Much of the humor has a raw flavor, and does not hold back on sexually frank situations and dialogue."

Season 2

On Rotten Tomatoes, season two has an approval rating of 98% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 8.11/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure displays title-defying confidence in its second season, upping the comedy and deepening the relationships between its talented ensemble." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Season 3

On Rotten Tomatoes, season three has an approval rating of 94% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure returns for a third season as authentic and exuberant as the star who made it, but with an added layer of growth that keeps it moving forward." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Season 4

On Rotten Tomatoes, season four has an approval rating of 95% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 8.29/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Insecure continues to be one of the funniest, warmest, and most beautifully-shot comedies that takes full advantage of its sunny L.A. setting." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Season 5

On Rotten Tomatoes, season 5 has an approval rating of 100% based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 9.3/10. The site's critical consensus states, "Issa's future remains uncertain, but Insecure enters its final season a fully confident comedy with plenty left to say about friendship, love, and self-esteem." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Syndication

The series began airing on Oprah Winfrey Network on February 7, 2023, with two back-to-back episodes. In July 2023, the series was added to Netflix in the U.S., making it the first HBO series to be available on Netflix.