16 Reasons Why You Need To Watch “Girlfriends”

Maya's "oh, hell no!" will always be iconic.

Netflix adding Girlfriends to their library was one of the few great things about 2020. The show may have ended over a decade ago, but there are sooo many reasons why you need to be watching it right now– here are just 16 of them!

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1. It stars four Black women as the leads.

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Name another sitcom created and produced by a Black woman with four Black female leads…. I’ll wait. The show features an all-Black cast of four friends: Toni, Joan, Lynn, Maya, and “honorary girlfriend” William. It explores the experiences of everyday Black women living in America trying to navigate their way around friendships, careers, and relationships.

2. And it shows the importance of strong friendships.

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Girlfriends ran for eight seasons and one common theme in every season is how to be a better friend. From the show, we learn how to be honest with those close to us, how to respect boundaries, and how to support our friends when they need us the most.

3. Because you need a bit of Toni’s confidence.

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I think if I had one-tenth of Toni’s self-confidence I would achieve everything I ever wanted. Although she can sometimes be self-centered, you won't be able to deny that she makes you want to look in the mirror and scream "YES, that's me, I'm fabulous honey!"

4. It teaches you that it's never too late to chase your dreams and aspirations.

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Maya is a single mother working full-time as a legal assistant and is also studying for her degree. Joan is an established lawyer who quit her job at a prestigious law firm to pursue her dreams. Both women teach us that if you're passionate about something, you shouldn't be afraid to take a risk and pursue it.

5. It explores important discussions on topics such as colourism...

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In one episode, Toni rejects a man because she thinks his skin is too dark. Although Toni is arguably the most confident member of the group, this episode highlights the insecurities from her childhood about her own skin complexion and how she views herself as an adult.

6. ...And HIV and AIDs awareness.

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Girlfriends aired an HIV/AIDS-related episode as part of 'KNOW HIV/AIDS' global media campaign aimed at raising awareness through television and radio channels. The episode addressed misconceptions about the virus in a way that was informative, and it encouraged viewers to have discussions about it.

7. Becuase you can learn a thing or two from Lynn about being free-spirited.

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What I love about Lynn is that she is authentic and completely comfortable with being herself. She is the least judgemental one in the group and often encourages the others to be more open-minded.

8. But you might also relate to her apparent phobia to adulting.

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With five post-graduate degrees, Lynn struggles to find her place in the working world. I feel like to any Millennial watching, this is something that's completely relatable.

9. Joan teaches us how to be assertive when moving in male-dominated spaces.

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In the fight to become a senior partner at the law firm where she and William work, Joan shows us the struggles she faces to be seen and heard, rather than just being there to fill the quota for diversity and inclusion.

10. And she shows us that you can also be stylish in the process.

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I mean, look at that dress!

11. Mays’s witty comebacks.

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There are few characters who have a tongue as sharp as Maya's. Her quick clapbacks are simply *chef kiss* – we could all learn a thing or two from her!

12. And of course her legendary "oh, hell no!"

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It's the most versatile phrase in the history of TV, and definitely something you won't be able to resist saying in real life. Not that I practice it at home... 👀

13. Because we all need an “honorary girlfriend” like William.

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Yes, he can be a little annoying at times, but Will signifies the importance of having platonic male friendships.

14. It shows that it's good to go to therapy.

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It is no secret that therapy was a big taboo in the early 2000’s, but multiple characters in the show went to therapy, hell – Toni and Joan even went to therapy together! This allows viewers to see the benefits of therapy and how it can help you establish healthy relationships.

15. And the importance of having good boundaries and being able to say "no!"

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Joan is sometimes known as the enabler as she is often the friend that everyone falls back on. But in the episode "Just Say No," Joan shows us that sometimes you need to put yourself first.

16. And finally, the theme song.

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Okay, I'll admit the theme tune is agonizingly slow, but as hard as you try to resist you can't help but sing along. By season eight, you'll have the harmonies down.

All eight seasons of Girlfriends are available to stream on Netflix – enjoy!