It’s no secret that Hollywood has a long way to go when it comes to diverse casting on screen. Unfortunately, it has an even bigger bridge to gap when it comes to including marginalised voices in the rooms where the stories are made.
And the reality is, authentic, nuanced narratives set in fictional worlds that open our eyes to our real one, that honour what makes us different (and what makes us the same), can only be done when the behind-the-scenes matches what we see on the screen.
Thankfully, the last few years has seen the rise of streaming and the ongoing demand for such stories — less shackled by the constraints of mainstream television — start to give more diverse voices a (long overdue) seat at the table.
As such, there are a number of excellent shows that emphasise, not only representation on screen, but inclusivity off-camera, by championing people of colour and LGBTQI+ voices as creators, writers and directors.
Below, 15 such TV shows to add to your list.
Vida
Created by Tanya Saracho, Vida tells the complex and captivating story of two Mexican-American sisters who move back to their childhood home in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles after the death of their mother, only for past family secrets to resurface, and with them, the shocking truth about their mother’s identity.
Available on Stan.
Pose
An electrifying show that will have you hooked from the start, Pose is a musical drama set in the world of Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ ball culture in 1980s New York. Making history for having the most transgender actors in lead roles, the Janet Mock-produced series stars the likes of Billy Porter (reason enough to watch!) and Indya Moore, and makes for deeply enthralling viewing.
Available on Foxtel Go, iTunes and Google Play.
Insecure
Calling all fans of Girls, Fleabag and Sex and the City: put Insecure on your ‘watch ASAP’ list, pronto! Created by and starring the Emmy nominated Issa Rae, this criminally underrated dramedy follows Issa Dee (Rae) as she and her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) navigate L.A. life, love, and the many (often hilarious) experiences in between. There are four full seasons to watch on Foxtel, and trust us, once you start, you won’t stop.
Available on Foxtel Go, iTunes and Google Play.
Ramy
Starring Ramy Youssef as the titular character, this critically-acclaimed dark comedy deserves a spot in your show rotation. Per the show’s synopsis, it tells the story of “a first-generation American Muslim who is on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighbourhood” and “explores the challenges of what it is like being caught between an Egyptian community that thinks life is a moral test, and a generation that thinks life has no consequences.”
Available on Stan.
On My Block
Set in a rough inner-city Los Angeles neighbourhood called Freedridge, four teenagers find their lifelong friendship put to the ultimate test as they tackle the triumph, confusion and newness of starting high school. Between dealing with the danger of getting their friend out of a gang, and Platonic relationships evolving into romance, it’s a coming-of-age story in a setting that’s rarely represented.
Available on Netflix.
Black-ish
Like a sharper version of My Wife and Kids, Black-ish follows an upper middle class African-American family led by Andre ‘Dre’ Johnson (Anthony Anderson), the first black vice president at an advertising firm, and Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross), who worry about their kids losing touch with Black culture as their raise them in an affluent, mostly white neighbourhood. The result? A brilliant sitcom that fuses entertainment with education (wihout you even noticing).
Available on Freeview, 7Plus, iTunes and Google Play.
Dear White People
An excellent dramedy that’s well worth a watch, the show follows several black college students as they navigate the daily slights and slippery politics at an Ivy League college that’s not nearly as “post-racial” as it thinks it is. It’s particularly great viewing if you are working to become a better ally to people of colour.
Available on Netflix.
Never Have I Ever
Co-created by Mindy Kaling, Never Have I Ever is a heartwarming is a coming-of-age comedy series about the life of a modern first-generation Indian American teenage girl, inspired by Kaling’s own childhood. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, it’s also perfect for the whole family and particularly great for fans of Sex Education, Atypical and The End of the Fucking World.
Available on Netflix.
Noughts + Crosses
Based on the book series of the same name by Malorie Blackman, Noughts + Crosses is an absolute must watch in 2020. Flipping the script on systemic racism, the six-part BBC drama depicts an alternate reality of modern day Britain, in which the country had previously been colonised by a host of countries in West Africa (forming the ‘Aprican Empire’), and black people (‘crosses’) dominate the positions of power and wealth, while white people (‘noughts’) are the ones who’ve been oppressed.
Available on Foxtel Go, Binge, and iTunes.
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Created, written and starring Robin Thede and executive produced and co-starring Insecure’s Issa Rae, A Black Lady Sketch Show is damn hilarious in its satirical swipes at at the ridiculousness of modern society. As the first show ever to feature the first all-black women cast and writers’ room, with every show directed by a black woman, it’s truly history-making.
Available on Foxtel Go, iTunes and Google Play
Kim’s Convenience
Wholesome, hilarious and deeply underrated, Kim’s Convenience is a perfect sitcom to enjoy with the entire family. Based on show writer Ins Choi’s 2011 play of the same name, the story follows Korean-Canadian couple Mr and Mrs Kim (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon) and their adult children, Jung (Simu Liu) and Janet (Andrea Bang), deftly and humorously exploring how their immigrant background and generational differences interplay as they run their corner convenience store.
Available on Netflix, iTunes and Google Play.
Sex Education
A runaway hit since it dropped on Netflix in 2019, there’s no denying that Sex Education has been a front-runner when it comes to inclusivity in TV. While high schooler and son of a sex therapist, Otis Milburn, may be the central character in this show that sees him become an armchair sex guru for his classmates, it’s his highly diverse group of peers (across both race and sexual orientation) that make the show what it is: Brilliant and representational, without being trite.
Available on Netflix.
Power
Spanning six seasons (with multiple spinoffs in the works), Power is akin to Ozark meets Empire, and definitely one to add to your watch (or rewatch) list. Created by Courtney Kemp and boasting one of TV’s most diverse ensembles both in front and behind the cameras, the series tells the story of James St. Patrick, a ruthless, intelligent drug dealer who under the alias “Ghost”. He tries to leave the criminal world to pursue legitimate entrepreneurial interests as a nightclub owner and balance his two lives, but the streets (and the police) aren’t quite finished with him yet.
Available on Stan, iTunes and Google Play.
Jane the Virgin
Although the series is now over, it’s undeniably worth a rewatch! For those unfamiliar with the show, Jane the Virgin stars Gina Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva, a religious 23-year-old Latina virgin who becomes pregnant after an accidental artificial insemination by her gynaecologist (yes, really). Based loosely on the Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, it playfully parodies the tropes and plot devices used in Latin soap operas, without losing the show’s genuine heart.
Available on Netflix, iTunes and Google Play.
Total Control
Directed by Rachel Perkins and produced by Perkins’ Blackfella Films, Total Control is a six-part drama series about Alex, a charismatic Aboriginal woman (Deborah Mailman) who finds herself the centre of media attention following her noble actions in a high-risk situation. She captures the attention of the Prime Minister of Australia (Rachel Griffiths), a cunning leader who wants to boost her popularity and further her own agenda, who recruits Alex as a senator.
Available on ABC iview and Freeview.
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