How and when did Sex and the City, created by a man — Darren Star — become the quintessential show on female bonding?
Now, I didn’t hate the show and had no choice but to watch the films. Luckily though, I’m single now and don’t have to watch the spin-off And Just Like That, which, I’m told, has gone from bad to worse.
It’s a myth that men do not enjoy chick flicks or romcoms — or should we say women-led ensembles. And what separates the good ones from the rest is how many clichés they avoid, how many tropes they subvert, and of course, how they represent male characters. Because romcoms show only two kinds of men: the cute bumbling geek and the cheating player. And both of them will try to win her over by making amends, even if it’s the girl who is largely at fault — because “she’s just a girl”. Cue: Zooey Deschanel sad face.
So, here are my top-three titles in the genre — in random order, since it would be unfair to rank shows so different from each other despite belonging to the same genre.
Feminine view: Gilmore Girls (Netflix)
Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, crafted three universally loved seasons of Gilmore Girls before the show about the mother-daughter duo as friends polarised fans.
Given the 21-plus episodes of 40-plus minutes per season, it’s easy to see why more of the same thing in different iterations yields diminishing returns. But Gilmore Girls is comfort viewing at its best. The writing is consistently smart in the first three seasons — the first remains a personal favourite given how real and lived-in it feels. Even the boys and men in the show never felt like stereotypes.
We see where Mrs. Maisel got her funny bone from in the banter between the Gilmore girls of four different generations. Yes, this is probably the most traditional or conservative in the genre, given how family is the glue that holds the characters and subplots together. But let’s, think about the context of when it was aired and produced.
Sex and the City was the dominant discourse when 33-year-old Amy, after a decade of writing sitcom episodes, decided to look at small-town dynamics — the heart of America. She explored young women growing up, young single mothers, and the conflicts between generations — the differences and the similarities.
If you are a young woman staying away from home, get adopted by Gilmore Girls and let the warmth of family comfort your pangs of growing up.
To female friendships: Girls (JioStar)
A still from Girls
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Lena Dunham starts this show called Girls roasting stereotypes — from girls who love Sex and the City to guys who love Say Anything.
When most stories in the genre are about women trying to find a man or keep a man, Girls is that rare show that keeps the focus on… well, girls, and not the men they like. Dunham keeps it real by focussing on the complicated relationships women have with other women — the mess and twisted dynamics of female friendships.
The male characters of the show are well-written too. Watch out for the episodes co-written with producer Judd Apatow, and you’ll see how and why this show transcends the genre while redefining it.
Unlike Gilmore Girls, this is not a show you can watch with family — given all the sex and nudity.
Tips and tricks: Broad City (JioStar)
A still from Broad City
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If you love Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm like I do, Broad City might just be your new favourite show.
The leads, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, who have also written this show, do most of the heavy lifting. It’s powered by their chemistry — and yes, it’s possible to fall in love with two girls at the same time if they are called Abbi and Ilana.
Their breezy banter is often a riot, the awkward confrontational situations set the stage for escalating laughs, and the hat tips keep coming. Broad City is a sitcom that loves and celebrates other sitcoms — from Friends to Seinfeld to Curb Your Enthusiasm, often doffing its hat to Larry David.
It’s the most I have laughed watching a show in this genre and I cannot recommend it enough.
Special mentions
Why Are You Like This — Aussie irreverence
The Bold Type — Woke SATC
Never Have I Ever — Desi Gilmore Girls
Insecure — Black girl bonding
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — Subverts the genre
From the hottest shows to hidden gems, overlooked classics to guilty pleasures, FOMO Fix is a fortnightly compass through the chaos of content.
Published – August 29, 2025 05:24 pm IST
