Yes, I admit it! I was super late to the party but, wow, am I glad I jumped on board! The third season of Broad City just wrapped up on Comedy Central and was jam packed with all the hilariousness and reliability that makes the show so great. Originally started as a web series developed by the stars and comedy duo Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, it received a massive following online and grabbed the attention of Amy Poehler. She jumped on board as an executive producer when the show made the crossover to television. Now renewed for a fourth and fifth season, the show, which follows young Jewish women in their twenties tackling life in New York City, is only getting better and here's why you should absolutely make this your go-to show to binge watch over the summer!
1. It's actually relatable
If, like me, you watched the first season or so of "Girls" excited and pumped to be finally represented on screen as a young 20-something-year-old woman in New York, but gave up on it half way through, disappointed at the show's deplorable and unidentifiably middle-to-upper-class characters and their "struggles," Broad City is the perfect remedy! From women actually looking like women, repeated wardrobes, rent and job struggles, discussing whether or not "you ever get hair from your head stuck in your butt crack in the shower”, to the fear of having to go to the bathroom in the middle of a social gathering, Broad City makes you relate to things you would never even think about relating to!
2. Diversity!
A show set in New York City that actually represents what New York City looks like seems to be out of the norm. From the entire supporting cast to the extras in the background, this New York is the New York I actually see. Broad City is a wonderful collection of diversity from the supporting characters we love, like Ilana's sex-friend Lincoln to her roommate Jaime, and continues to call out the glaring privilege that comes with our two leads being white. Not to mention the brilliant diversity in sexuality! Ilana is bisexual, a sexuality too often pushed under the rug and dismissed. As someone who identifies as bi, seeing myself represented on screen as more than just a phase or deviance is incredible!
3. Hilarity
It's just funny. Laugh out loud funny and completely quotable. The situations that Ilana and Abbi find themselves in plus the general struggles of New York City life will have you keeled over with laughter! The above situation where Abbi finds herself hopped up on pain meds and weed running rampant through a Whole Foods never gets old!
4. Female friendship
Ilana and Abbi's friendship is unbreakable and inspiring. In a male dominated industry where most female pairings on screen are catty and competitive, Ilana and Abbi's pure love is brilliantly refreshing. These two actually care about each other more than anything and are willing to go to the ends of the earth to make one another happy! From saving your best friend from certain death via a flying porta-potty to taking care of your friends broken toilet situation while her crush is in the other room, these ladies have each other's backs through everything and it's beautiful!
5. No shaming
The sex positive attitude this show has is important and wonderful. Both of the girls engage in a healthy and positive sex life, albeit very differently. Ilana is more adventurous and prefers open relationships while Abbi is slightly more timid. From exploration to masturbation, Broad City manages to show a realistic depiction of female sexuality without ever shaming it or being exploitative. Its honesty is something that needs to be applauded. In a world that tells girls they can't be sexual, yet sexualizes them every step of the way, this positive and educational depiction is remarkable!
6. Awesome and well used guest stars!
7. Abbi and Ilana are just as weird and ridiculous as you are with your best friend!
It's not a true friendship unless you can make strange faces at your best friend across a room while nude modeling at her art class.
8. Binge-ability
Each episode runs about 21-22 minutes long. In an age of every show being an overtly dragged out hour of television, these short and perfectly compacted episodes are completely binge-able!
9. Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler has not only guest starred, but is an Executive Producer of the show, which should be reason enough that it is hilarious! She's been with the show since she guest starred on the final episode of the web-series incarnation and has been a power force in helping it along ever since!
10. F for Feminism!
This show is everything I could want and doesn't force me to take off my feminist goggles just to enjoy it! It is a show made by women about women and that's what makes it so truthful and hilarious. It never shies away from the daily sexism females face. It will have you throwing your hands up and screaming "YAS!" like Ilana at the screen!
So get to binge-watching this hilariously refreshing show and jump on the Ilana and Abbi hype train for Season 4 and 5 on Comedy Central! You will not regret it!
