Every generation needs its defining women-led ensemble show. Gen X has Sex and the City, millennials have Girls, but where does that leave Gen Z?
Shows like Sex and the City and Girls are a testament to just how powerful an ensemble series can be, as they shift the spotlight from a single lead to a dynamic group of characters. This format brings more variety, more drama, and more chances for viewers to find someone to root for or relate to. The true magic of ensemble TV is in its balance—every character, like every storyline, has a role to play.
When Sex and the City made its debut on HBO in 1998, it became the show of its era, captivating audiences worldwide.
Based on the iconic book anthology by Candace Bushnell, the show fed audiences a fresh take on life, love, and friendship. Sex and the City bottles the essence of New York in the 90s—where cosmos flow as freely as the gossip. It features four unforgettable women, each with her own personality, ambitions, and imperfections—defining archetypes fans have related to for years.
The Sex and the City women function like pop culture zodiacs: Carrie, the dreamer; Charlotte, the traditional romantic; Miranda, the pragmatic lawyer; and Samantha, the bold advocate for sexual liberation. Together, they create a cultural shorthand, helping viewers identify bits of themselves through these memorable women.
Fast-forward 14 years to 2012, when Lena Dunham’s Girls premiered on HBO, and introduced another set of four women for the then-modern era. Also set in New York City, Girls follows the lives of millennials navigating their early 20s. Though it received its fair share of criticism upon its release, the show delivered a raw, unfiltered exploration of friendship, ambition, and the beautiful mess of life.
Girls compounds 2010s New York hipster nostalgia, complete with Blackberries, skater skirts, and warehouse parties in Bushwick. Girls gave both audiences and Buzzfeed quiz-makers alike, four new ways to categorize themselves: are you a Marnie, Shoshanna, Jessa, or Hannah?
Both Sex and the City and Girls excellently reflect their respective eras. With iconic fashion looks like Carrie’s newsprint Dior dress, hairstyles like Shoshanna’s aggressive use of sock buns, and soundtracks that are generation-defining—see “No Regrets” by Aretha Franklin or “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn—it’s clear why these shows have stood the test of time.
While both TV shows continue to resonate deeply with their respective audiences, they reflect a narrow slice of womanhood—both focused primarily on the lives of white, cisgender, and predominantly heterosexual women. These portrayals, though iconic, have left out countless stories and experiences.
Today, we see the landscape of women-led ensemble shows beginning to expand, embracing more diverse perspectives in of race, sexuality, gender identity, and class. Shows like Insecure, Broad City, and The Bold Type, have made strides in featuring more inclusive narratives, addressing the intersectionality of modern womanhood, and representing different realities.
With her recently green-lit HBO project, Rachel Sennott is filling a Gen Z-sized hole in the canon of women-led ensemble television. Sennott’s series is set to mirror the complexities and diversities of younger generations, featuring up-and-coming stars like Odessa A’zion, Jordan Firstman, Miles Robbins, True Whitaker, and more.
As television continues to evolve, I have hope these stories of womanhood and young adulthood will become even more inclusive, ensuring more people—of all backgrounds—can see themselves, their struggles, and their triumphs reflected on screen.
While I may still identify as a Sex and the City Charlotte and a Girls Hannah, my generation deserves characters that better reflect the broad spectrum of experiences that make up womanhood in the 21st century.
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