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15 Reasons Why "Twenties" Is The Most Bingeable Show Right Now

Lena Waithe's semi-autobiographical show based on life in her twenties is keeping me sane in lockdown.

Muinat Abdul
by Muinat Abdul

BuzzFeed Staff

I’m in the UK and in lockdown, so watching TV is pretty much my life right now. But there are only so many rewatches of New Girl I can take! So you can only imagine the joy of me finding something new to watch.

Nickelodeon / Via GIPHY

I’ve recently discovered Twenties on BBC iPlayer, it’s from Lena Waithe’s slate of Black programming airing on BET in the States, and it is semi-autobiographical. It centres around three female Black best friends and their relationships, careers, and what life is like living in Hollywood.

Here are my reasons why you need to binge this show right now:

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

1. The premise.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

It’s a comedy and follows three Black women who all have their own quirks, hopes and dreams: Hattie, Marie and Nia. They all live in LA, and want to make it in each of their own ways. Hattie wants to be a writer, Marie wants to be taken seriously as a Film Executive, and Nia is a Yoga Teacher with dreams of hitting the silver screen. Watching Black women follow their dreams is so inspiring and makes me feel #seen.

2. Hattie – the lead – is seriously relatable.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

She's not got anything figured out yet at all and between her best friends; Marie and Nia – she's kind of a liability. In the pilot she gets kicked out of her apartment and is left homeless. Hattie is irresponsible, and her priorities are a little out of wack, but that is what is so enthralling about her. No one is perfect in life, and Hattie definitely is not.

3. Queer representation.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Hattie is a masc-presenting Queer woman, and seeing her navigate relationships which are both healthy and unhealthy is refreshing. I love seeing Black women being messy, and being messy as a Queer woman! This is the first show I've seen with a Queer Black woman as the main character. Groundbreaking!

4. The workplace.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Hattie ends up working on a TV Show as a writer’s assistant, and it really shows the struggle of starting on the bottom of the ladder. Coffee runs, difficult tasks, passive-aggressive coworkers, weird requests – you get the idea.

5. Hattie’s boss, Ida B.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

She founded a TV empire producing the shows "Cocoa’s Butter" and "My Bae." You could say she’s a fictional mix of Shonda Rhimes and Tyler Perry. You *could* say that, I’m not. She is a powerhouse who has paved the way, given opportunities to Black talent, and she takes a special shine to Hattie.

6. The music: part one.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Twenties draws on modern rap and r&b music influences, and nods to the past playing Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, and more. Twenties even adds a card with the featured music at the end of each episode, so you can add your faves to your Spotify playlist.

7. The music: part two.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

This show also makes you feel like you’re the leading lady in a classic Hollywood movie with its epic swooning music. Expect to hear the likes of Frank Sinatra's saccharine vocals. Oh the drama of it all!

8. Hattie’s dedication to taking selfies.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Anytime she’s doing something interesting and wants to flex on the ‘gram, she whips out her phone with the biggest, cutest smile! I just really feel this in my bones.

9. The mummy issues.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Hattie and Marie's mums are completely different, and they have very different relationships with them. Hattie’s mum is supportive, loving, and there for her. Meanwhile, Marie’s mum is a gambling addict, who only calls her daughter when she needs money. You can see how those parenting styles have trickled down into their daughters. Generational trauma is real.

10. It tackles sexism.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Dealing with male counterparts – especially at work – is a different kettle of fish for a Black woman. Marie has established herself in her career as a film executive, and yet has to deal with fighting for a promotion that she deserves.

11. The lighting.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

This may seem like a strange one, but the way this show lights Black skin is truly a sight to behold. Stealing their set ups for my IG.

12. The different hairstyles.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

Not everyone is wearing a wig! Don’t get me wrong I am in #wiggang, but Black hair contains multitudes, okay! I love seeing Hattie’s shaved head (heaux don’t do it), Nia’s protective hairstyles, and Marie’s long luscious locks. I’m here for it (and taking notes for my next hair appointment)!

13. Big Sean.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

He's plays a photographer called Tristan who is a love interest for Nia. He's very spiritual and doesn't own a phone because he believes 'they interfere with human connection.' Yes he's as corny in the show as he is in real life.

14. They're all boss ass bitches.

BBC/ BET / Via iPlayer

In my mind being a boss ass bitch doesn’t mean you’re at the top of your game. It’s a mindset. These women may not all exactly be where they need to be, or want to be, but they’re so determined to get where they’re going. It’s inspiring. This show will make you laugh, make you think, and then make you laugh some more.

15. And finally, the history.

instagram.com / Via Instagram

Lena Waithe wrote this show in her twenties but it didn’t get produced till over a decade later. It’s semi-autobiographical and if you're wondering why she didn't opt to star in Twenties, she said that it didn’t make sense anymore for her to play the role as she had no desire to play another fictionalised version of herself.

What are you waiting for? Get watching! Season one of Twenties is streaming on BBC iPlayer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!