8.6 /10 1 Votes
100% Rotten Tomatoes Genre Comedy Country of origin United States No. of seasons 1 Network HBO | 7.6/10 IMDb 84% Metacritic Created by Issa Rae
Larry Wilmore Original language(s) English First episode date 9 October 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Issa Rae
Jay Ellis
Yvonne Orji
Lisa Joyce Nominations NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Cast Issa Rae, Jay Ellis, Yvonne Orji, Lisa Joyce, Amanda Seales Profiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insecure is an HBO original comedy series created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, which is partially based on Rae's widely lauded web series Awkward Black Girl. The series premiered on October 9, 2016. The first episode premiered online on September 23, 2016, via HBO Now and HBO Go. Since its release the show has gone on to receive critical acclaim. On November 14, 2016, HBO renewed the show for a second season.
Contents
Insecure season 1 trailer 2016 new hbo series
Background
In 2013, Rae began working on a comedy series pilot with Larry Wilmore about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman, in which she will be starring, eventually titled Insecure. HBO picked up the pilot in early 2015 and it was subsequently greenlit, scheduled for a fall 2016 release.
At HBO's 2016 Television Critics Association session, which featured Rae, showrunner Prentice Penny, and executive producer Melina Matsoukas, Rae spoke about the show, saying that the series will examine "the complexities of 'blackness' and the reality that you can’t escape being black." Rae also said, 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; she was introduced to Rae by Matsoukas, who directed the music video for Knowles's song "Losing You".
Plot
The eight-episode first season explores the black female experience from the perspective of the two female protagonists, Issa (Issa Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) who have been best friends with each other since their college days at UCLA. Career and relationship experiences are explored. Issa works at a non-profit that benefits middle-school students of color. Issa has a long-term relationship with Lawrence. Molly is a successful 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 black experience.
Main
Recurring
Episodes
Reception
Insecure has received acclaim from television critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the season has a rating of 100%, based on 46 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. 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 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
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."