Broad City

Broad City2010

7.9/10
A freewheeling, female-led stoner comedy series with a wonderful central friendship

Our take

Influenced by classic episodic sitcoms but blazing its own trail with a (generally) more progressive outlook, Broad City stands as a particularly noteworthy example of a show that fully allows its female protagonists to be as messy and gross and fully in charge of their own failures as they should like to be. Though its default setting is to be silly and deeply unserious, the show still works as a more honest portrayal of life as a twentysomething New Yorker. Both Abbi and Ilana love their city and their community, but even they know that "growing up" and trying to earn a living is made up of an increasingly absurd series of endless tasks. Which is what makes their unbreakable friendship through it all so comforting to watch.

Synopsis

Broad City follows two women throughout their daily lives in New York City, making the smallest and mundane events hysterical and disturbing to watch all at the same time.

Storyline

Best friends Abbi and Ilana navigate relationships and odd jobs as they try to get by in New York City.

TLDR

Secretly an unscripted documentary about New York City.

What stands out

Broad City single-handedly put Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer on the map for their comedic chops and their willingness to make fun of themselves. Glazer understandably became the face of the show during its run; her fictionalized self in the series is the loose cannon of the duo, running around loud and proud and completely chaotic, and creating some of the show's funniest moments. But Jacobson arguably had the more difficult role, having to be the more strait-laced and responsible character, while still convincingly selling her own ridiculous moments and gradually developing her Abbi as the dramatic center throughout the show's five seasons.