Harlem

In season 2, Tracy Oliver's terrific comedy about four friends in the titular NYC neighborhood elevates its keen wit, engrossing relationship drama, and sly cultural commentary with even more confidence.

The season very early on makes a promise to allow the characters to make mistakes and grow from them, and it certainly keeps its word, honoring many of its choices with remarkable commitment. By the end of Harlem Season 2, the characters are in very different places than when the second season began – happier, better places... at least until a cliffhanger closing that immediately demands answers (and a third season).

“Harlem” resonates with fun, heart, verve, and the feeling of togetherness, inherent in both the neighborhood and the Black women it supports.

Harlem may feel like a show that you’ve seen before, but the four stars are more than charming enough, and the writing is clever enough, to make the show stand on its own.

The straightforward humor, enviable wardrobes, winks to previous sitcoms and questionable character antics are likely to keep many viewers hooked.

The characters are fun to hang out with, and the show makes for a quick and enjoyable binge that doesn’t require too much thought. Harlem isn’t as groundbreaking, tight, or fresh as Insecure was, but perhaps the comparison is incorrect—Harlem isn’t trying to be anything other than another show about young, successful Black women thriving.

By season end, there’s plenty of material to grow on and from, and ample reason to give Harlem a second season to do so. ... I just wish the development of the characters kept pace with the show’s progressive foundation.

Tracy Y. Oliver, co-writer of Girls Trip and creator the BET series First Wives Club, created this series which echoes Sex and the City, except these 4 30ish women are all Black. There’s the usual mix of types: the rich designer, the lesbian entrepreneur, the academic and the wild one, played by Shoniqua Shandia, who was actually raised in Richmond and provides most of the comedy. Their trajectories follow expected paths: romantic frustrations, unapologetic sex, plentiful parties and cool clothes. Even though the characters and situations aren’t especially original, the performances are fun, the pacing is quick and the writing is witty. (Review based on 5 of the 10 episodes)