In one scene of the new HBO comedy Insecure, Issa Rae, its star and cocreator, tries on multiple shades of bold lipstick in the mirror, taking on a different persona with each color, before settling on a layer of Carmex. The situation reflects what the series focuses on: Rae feels like she needs to explore all her options, when often the simplest decision is the best one.
The story of finding yourself as a young adult isn’t by any means a new one, but with Insecure Rae manages to zero in on her personal experience as a young black woman in a way that’s rarely explored on television. The result is a story that’s thought-provoking, hilarious, and relatable.
