Starring: Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Hannibal Buress.
First produced as a web-series, Broad City now airs on Comedy Central and follows the lives of two twenty-somethings living in New York City. Following their working class lives, we see the trials and tribulations they have to go through to afford necessities such as, weed, pizza and possibly rent.
If you liked Girls, you'll like Broad City. If you wish Girls met Community, then you'll love Broad City.
My immediate thought when first watching the show was "this is just like Girls, without the darkness and moaning" however, that opinion has changed. Broad City is in a completely different league. It focuses more on the everyday life of two people living in New York and doesn't really get too deep, whereas Girls delves into relationships and emotions.
Broad City is very lighthearted and you somewhat understand it better as the two main characters Ilana and Abbi are so raw and real. You don't get diverted by a fake persona or a need to always look good, they're just kind of there and you're watching them.
The premise of the show is two friends connecting over a video call and I feel like you, as a viewer, are a part of that. The show is very much as if you are watching someones life through their webcam, it's all so natural. This is something that I like most about this show and also like least; it's so simplistic. There are no fancy gimmicks such as like sets and overboard colouring, it's very pure but this also puts me off as I feel like I'm watching something filmed by university students for a project.
The story-lines that are brought up in Broad City are genuinely quite refreshing and new to see whilst also being funny. I personally don't find the kind of slapstick humour very appealing and although the show does include elements of that, it's much more mature and relatable. This could perhaps just be because I'm a female and it's a female driven show.
There are many positives to be said about the show Broad City, the rawness, the humour, how refreshing it is, it's realistic portrayal of women and other such things. Having just ending it's first season though there a few negatives, for example it at times the humour seems a little forced by the actresses and slightly over the top, this could however just be their own personality
With season two coming in 2015, now is a good time to give Broad City a watch. With 20 minute episodes full of New York sights and relatable humour, you can't go too wrong.
