If you’re reading this, it’s more than likely you’ve seen both The L Word and The L Word: Generation Q, you’re sick of scrolling through the LGBTQ+ section of Netflix and finding nothing new, and you just want something good. It can be hard to come across genuinely great and thoughtful lesbian media. For starters, there is simply not a lot out there, and when you factor in poor quality and inauthenticity, it doesn’t leave you with many options.
The shows in this list cover themes of gentrification, addiction, coming of age, true crime, and more, so there’s something for everyone here. To be clear, the characters mentioned are not all strictly lesbians. It would be impossible to use one word to describe the diverse range of identities covered here, which includes characters who are lesbian, bisexual, queer, and non-binary. Unfortunately, in true underrated queer media style, some of these were unfairly canceled because of a lack of viewership. But you’ll still be grateful that you discovered these gems in spite of some premature endings. These shows are high quality, span a variety of genres, and aren’t the typical recommendations. So, here is our list of the best-kept secrets of lesbian TV.
1/8 Vida
Vida, streaming on Hulu, is the story of two sisters, Lyn and Emma, returning to their childhood home in LA following the death of their mother. They then discover that their mother had secretly been married to a woman and was running a financially troubled bar for “girls like us.” Vida features a plethora of LGBTQ+ Latinx characters, with Emma’s romantic entanglements with women being a main focus. One love interest is played by Roberta Colindrez from the new A League of Their Own series. The show’s inclusion of multiple butch women is incredibly refreshing and important in this landscape where media shies away from portraying gender non-conforming characters.
2/8 Feel Good
Available on Netflix, Feel Good chronicles comedian Mae’s journey with addiction. The show explores the ways that Mae’s addictive personality affects their romantic relationship with George, played by Charlotte Ritchie. Balancing between comedy and poignancy, Feel Good feels intimate and real without sacrificing entertainment value. The second season also touches on Mae’s gender identity and the way that it interacts with their complicated romance with George. Overall, the series manages to provide a realistic image of the complex issues that it presents while maintaining a positive outlook upon its close.
3/8 Dickinson
Apple TV’s Dickinson is a creative imagining of poet Emily Dickinson’s life in the 1800s. Before you dismiss it as a stuffy period drama, you might want to give it a chance. Featuring dialogue using modern-day vocabulary and an electronic soundtrack, it’s definitely not the usual fare. Much of the show’s three-season span is preoccupied with Emily’s romantic relationship with her childhood friend, Sue Gilbert (via Bustle) . Dickinson makes Emily’s poetry more accessible and grounded by contextualizing it in both real and fabricated events. Evidently much more than a typical biopic, it is also a visual feast, including hallucinations of Death played by Wiz Khalifa.
4/8 The Bisexual
Despite starring and being written and directed by Desiree Akhavan, this series really flew under the radar. You might recognize Akhavan from her film adaptation of the novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post starring Chloë Grace Moretz. Available on Hulu, this show follows Leila, played by Akhavan, as she breaks up with her long-term girlfriend, Sadie, in order to try out having relationships with men. The Bisexual is so short that any further plot details will give away too much of the show. But being quick-witted and with only six episodes, the series flies by and leaves you wanting more.
5/8 Mindhunter
In a change of pace, Netflix’s Mindhunter follows a team of FBI agents in the 1970s who are tasked with interviewing serial killers in order to solve open cases. Created by David Fincher, the plot is based on true events, but avoids the exploitation that sometimes comes with sensationalized portrayals of true crime. Dr. Wendy Carr is a psychologist who joins the team. The show provides valuable insights into her experiences as a closeted lesbian in the 70s. Despite the period setting, these scenes are still applicable to the present day and may resonate with viewers’ own lives.
6/8 Betty
HBO’s Betty is inspired by the movie Skate Kitchen; it follows a group of young women skateboarders in New York City. The girls meet at an all-girls “skate sesh” thrown by two characters, Kirt and Janay. Kirt and another skater, Honeybear, are lesbian and unlabeled, respectively. With the rest of the characters sporting loose, fluid identities, the show is a gold mine for anyone looking for charming, relatable, and queer coming-of-age stories.
7/8 Lip Service
Based in Glasgow, Lip Service is the closest thing the UK has to its own version of The L Word. It depicts Frankie, Cat, and Tess and their dating lives. Following successfully in The L Word‘s footsteps, the show is full of hook-ups, drama, and secrets. It’s deeply entertaining and provides perfect melodramatic goodness. Lip Service is available to stream on Apple TV, Tubi, and The Roku Channel.
8/8 Tales of the City
Tales of the City is Netflix’s sequel to the 1994 miniseries of the same name. The ensemble cast features characters from all across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. The show is centered around Anna Madrigal, a trans woman who houses several queer people in her apartment complex. Talking to The Guardian, star and producer of the show Laura Linney mentions that all of the writers and directors on the show are queer. This means there is maximum authenticity to the stories being told. It’s wonderful to watch a story that is vibrant and escapist and evidently told with love.
