13 shows to watch if you loved 'Dear White People'

Summary:

Based on a real-life female wrestling organization from the 80s, "GLOW" is about a group of misfits trying to become stars. There is heart, laughs, and a behind-the-scenes look into the world of wrestling.

Why you'll like it:

"GLOW" is a surreal series that uses its comedy to highlight feminist issues which still relate to today. Whilst the series focuses on certain protagonists, it still has more of an ensemble feel like "Dear White People."

Netflix cancelled "Glow's" final season but the first three are available on Netflix.

Summary:

This British comedy-drama series follows a socially awkward teenager, Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), as he starts up an underground sex therapy clinic at his school to help his peers through their relationship and sex woes. Bizarre as it sounds, the Netflix show has been praised by critics for its diversity and for tackling issues and questions that are missed out in sex education lessons at real schools.

Why you'll like it:

If you particularly like the way "Dear White People" explores sexuality, you may like how it is explored within this show as well. It is a bit more down-to-earth but "Sex Education" does not shy away from covering hard topics. The Black characters in the series are all written amazingly well without any stereotyping.

Season three of Sex Education just arrived on Netflix.

Summary:

"Grownish" and "Mixedish" are spinoffs of the sitcom "Blackish," which follows a modern African-American family and their journey to fit in with their predominantly white middle-class neighborhood whilst holding onto their cultural identity.

The success of the series inspired two spinoffs to be made: one about the eldest daughter of the family (Yara Shahidi) leaving the nest to go to college; and the other is a prequel about the mother of the family (Tracee Ellis Ross) growing up in a mixed-race family in the 80s. All 3 series deal with the hardships of growing up as a person of color in modern America in a fun, light tone.

Why you'll like it:

If you particularly are interested in the conversations of being mixed-race, as shown by Sam White (Logan Browning) in "Dear White People," then this is explored further both in "Blackish" and "Mixedish." "Grownish" is also set in a college environment similar to "Dear White People" where race is a big factor. "Blackish" and "Grownish" also use modern slang (African-American Vernacular English particularly) used in Netflix's hit tv series.

However, despite "Blackish" and its spin-offs' exploration of race, the series is never left on a sad note and at least attempts to inspire hope in its darkest episodes. Hence, it is a lighter alternative to "Dear White People."

All three series are available on Hulu.

Summary:

Inspired by the life of "Cosmopolitan" editor-in-chief, Joanna Coles, "The Bold Type" follows three friends trying to make it in their respective careers in the media world whilst working at the same company. There's Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens) who at the beginning of the series lands her dream job of being a writer at women's magazine, Scarlet. Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), the outspoken stubborn social media director who learns more about her sexuality and identity as the series progresses. Then there's hardworking Sutton Brady (Meghann Fahy) who is trying to get her own dream job but gets distracted by love. Fans loved the show's diversity and glamorized representation of the media industry.

Why you'll like it:

Similar to "Dear White People," "The Bold Type" raises many conversations about social issues especially to do with feminism and the fashion/beauty industry. "The Bold Type" is unrealistic and glamorized but at the heart of it, there's a beautiful friendship between its three main characters that will make you seek out your own Jane, Kat, or Sutton.

After five seasons, "The Bold Type" finale aired in June. It is available on Freeform.

Summary:

Similar to "Dear White People," Netflix's "She's Gotta Have It" is a series based on a previous movie that attempts to expand on that story. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee revisits his first feature movie, with the same name as the series. Nora Darling (DeWanda Wise) is a Brooklyn-based artist who finds it hard to divide herself between her job, friends and three lovers. Each of her lovers has their virtues hence Darling is unable to choose between them.

Why you'll like it:

Not only does "She's Gotta Have It" explore sexuality and modern types of romance, but the series also aims to raise conversations much like with "Dear White People."

The series was cancelled after two seasons but you can find the first two on Netflix.

Summary:

"Gentefied" is based on a digital series of the same name with the producer, America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty") and director, Marvin Lemus, of the original web series attached to the Netflix adaptation. The story follows three cousins who work together to keep their Grandfather's Boyle Heights taco shop in business as the neighborhood experiences gentrification.

Why you'll like it:

Much like "Dear White People," this series centers on characters who normally do not get the stories heard. Within the first season, there is an exploration of gentrification, the marginalization of Latinx people in America, sexuality within the Latinx community, and generational and cultural divides.

The first season of "Gentefied is available on Netflix and the second season is set to come out in November 2021.

Summary:

The series follows the lives of two cousins who try to make it in the music scene. Earn Marks (Donald Glover) returns to his hometown Atlanta after dropping out of Princetown. Upon discovering his cousin is an up-and-coming rapper who goes by the name "Paper Boi" (Brian Tyree Henry), Marks becomes his manager.

Why you'll like it:

"Atlanta" is also a surreal series filled with dark humor. It has a brilliant cast and whilst the series comments on race and racism in America, it also covers social issues such as poverty and parenthood.

The first two seasons of "Atlanta" is available to watch on Hulu.

Summary:

"Orange Is the New Black" is one of the early successful Netflix original series. The four-time Emmy-winning comedy-drama focuses on a women's prison based on a true story from the book "Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison" by Piper Kerman. Law-abiding Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) is sentenced to a year and a half behind bars after she is convicted of a decade-old crime.

Why you'll like it:

The series contains amazing performances from the cast, receiving acting Emmy Award nominations for Laverne Cox, Pablo Schreiber, Uzo Aduba. The show was celebrated by critics for its diversity in relation to race, sexuality, and body types.

Summary:

"Insecure," created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, is partially based on a web series created and starring Rae called "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl." The HBO series also starring Rae follows the lives of two African-American women, Issa Dee and her friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they navigate life together.

Why you'll like it:

The HBO series touches on modern social and racial issues as well as shows an authentic friendship between black women.

The final season of "Insecure" releases on HBO Max on October 24.

Summary:

"Unreal" is a dark comedy that goes behind the scenes of a fictitious dating program called "Everlasting," which seems to be based on the hit American reality dating series "The Bachelor." Rachel (Shiri Appleby) is a producer on the show and faces a moral dilemma of instigating drama to live up to her boss' expectations and staying honest and true to herself.

The series was inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's award-winning independent short film "Sequin Raze." Shapiro had previously worked on "The Bachelor" and created the show alongside Marti Noxon.

Why you'll like it:

If you like the commentary on reality TV in "Dear White People," there is so much more of that in "Unreal." Whilst it may be exaggerated, several moments on the show have actually happened on reality TV shows such as contestants being set characters like "the villain." The story is interesting and incredibly dark with amazing performances from the leads Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer.

You can watch all four seasons on Hulu.

Summary:

"One Day At A Time" is a comedy-drama inspired by a 1975 series of the same name created by Norman Lear. In this version, the series focuses on a Cuban-American family led by Penelope (Justina Machado), a newly single Army veteran turned nurse, and their ups and downs in life.

Why you'll like it:

The modern reboot has never shied away from talking about a lot of serious topics including Penelope's PTSD from her time in the Army. Hence like "Dear White People" the series blends its fun light moments with its tear-jerking moments well.

Netflix canceled the series after three seasons, however, it was restored for one more season by CBS. The fourth and final season is available to watch on CBS.

Summary:

"The Politician" is a comedy-drama about the journey of a wealthy high school student, Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), as he attempts to become the president of the United States. Created by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk, the series satirizes politicians and the political landscape as a whole.

Why you'll like it:

Like "Dear White People," this comedy-drama has a lot to say about modern America especially from the political perspective. However, the characters of "The Politician" are deliberately rich, emotionless narcissists who are so far removed from the issues they pretend to care about that the audience never feels the need to root for or even like them. However, entertaining performances from Zoey Deutch and Rahne Jones, and the relevance of the shows' themes to politics today make up for this.

The first two seasons are available to watch on Netflix and a third is on its way.

Summary:

"Sense8" is a science-fiction series that follows the lives of eight strangers from across the globe who find themselves connected to each other telepathically. These strangers set out to find out why they are connected and why they are being hunted down by a secret organization. The series was created by the Wachowskis who were behind "The Matrix" trilogy and J. Michael Straczynski who was a writer on "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and "She-Ra: Princess of Power."

Why you'll like it:

On the surface, this series and "Dear White People" are very different. However, the underlying message behind "Sense8," showing that people from different backgrounds can relate and connect with each other, will resonate pretty well with watchers of "Dear White People." The story can get very strange but at its best, "Sense8" is intense and entertaining.

The series was canceled by Netflix after its second season but received a two-hour finale special to wrap up the story.