The Mindy Project
Mindy Kaling blessed us with a hilarious, relatable and well-rounded main character when she wrote, produced and starred in The Mindy Project for five years. Centering on OB-GYN Dr. Mindy Lahiri and the lives of her quirky co-workers, the Fox-turned-Hulu series is a perfect watch for anyone obsessed with rom-coms.
I May Destroy You
Better described as a must-watch series for adults of any age, Michaela Coel's critically-acclaimed show I May Destroy You explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life, in addition to race, gender and class.
Sex and the City
Sure, Carrie Bradshaw and her pals were technically in their early 30s when Sex and the City began, but that doesn't make the iconic series any less relatable. A go-to for the ages, the HBO show follows sex columnist Carrie and her three friends Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda as they navigate Manhattan's dating scene.
Felicity
Felicity stars Keri Russell (need we say more?) as the titular college student who's attempting to live independently for the first time—and in New York City, of all places. The best part? The show is much more realistic than most of its counterparts.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Though Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) isn't in her 20s throughout the show's first few seasons, she's certainly up to her neck in responsibilities (among them, saving the world several times). In its entirety, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a stunning examination of the trials and tribulations experienced throughout early adulthood, as well as grief, resilience, depression and compassion.
Fleabag
Centered on a woman known only as Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the eponymous series is equal parts funny and emotional. By the end of the series' two-season run, you're sure to be ruminating on your own self-love process.
The Bold Type
Inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, The Bold Type offers a glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of three millennial women working for a similar magazine.
Girls
Described as a comedy about an aspiring writer and her three 20-something friends living in Brooklyn, Lena Dunham's beloved HBO series doesn't sound nearly as revolutionary—or as polarizing—as it was when it premiered in 2012, but there's no denying Girls impacted the way sex and women's bodies were depicted in media. This, coupled with the archetypical characters' hilarious and relatable moments, makes it well worth a watch (and rewatch, TBH).
Broad City
Yes, Broad City is another series set in New York, but Abbi (Abbi Jacobson) and Ilana (Ilana Wexler)—who are real-life BFFs—aren't your typical best friends. Instead, they do things like clean the apartment of a grown man masquerading as a baby just so they can score Lil Wayne tickets.
Everything I Know About Love
Everything I Know About Love will make you more grateful for your besties than ever before, as its central love story is actually the friendship between two 20-somethings, Maggie (Emma Appleton) and Birdy (Bel Powley).
Please Like Me
An Australian dramedy, Please Like Me follows 20-something Josh (Josh Thomas), who gets dumped by his girlfriend, subsequently realizes he's gay and moves home to take care of his suicidal mom. That sounds like a lot, but that's the point.