In 2013, Rae began working on a comedy series pilot with co-creator Larry Wilmore. The show was planned to be about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman; and the pair eventually settled on the current title of Insecure. HBO picked up the pilot in early 2015, and it was subsequently greenlit for production. At HBO's 2016 Television Critics Association session, which featured Rae, show runner Prentice Penny, and executive producerMelina Matsoukas, Issa Rae explained that the series will examine "the complexities of 'blackness' and the reality that you can’t escape being black." She also mentioned, in regard to the potential mainstream reaction to the series:
We’re just trying to convey that people of color are relatable. This is not a hood story. This is about regular people living life.
Raphael Saadiq created original music for the first season. Solange Knowles served as music consultant for the show and was introduced by Matsoukas, who directed the music video for Knowles's song "Losing You".
Plot
Within the first season, eight episodes unpacked the story of the black female experience from the perspective of two female protagonists, Issa and Molly who have been best friends with each other since their college days at Stanford. Both in their late 20s, they navigate career and relationship experiences while living in their hometown Los Angeles, California. The two share a close bond, and throughout the show, they deal with internal struggles within themselves, their friendship, and the African American community. Issa works at a non-profit that benefits middle-school aged students of color called "We Got Y'all". She struggles to put the spark back into her relationship with her long-term boyfriend, Lawrence, who has been slacking in their relationship since his start-up company failed. Molly is a successful corporate attorney who has career success but difficulty with dating men. The half-hour series explores social and racial issues that relate to the contemporary black experience.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 100% based on 65 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure uses star Issa Rae's breakout web series Awkward Black Girl as the basis for an insightful, raunchy, and hilarious journey through the life of a twentysomething black woman that cuts through stereotypes with sharp wit and an effusive spirit." On Metacritic, the season has a score of 84 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Eric Deggans of NPR wrote that "Rae has produced a series that feels revolutionary just by poking fun at the life of an average, twentysomething black woman." Greg Braxton of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "The half-hour series explores the friendship between two African American women who deal with their sometimes stormy relationship while also grappling with conflicts inside and outside black culture. Much of the humor has a raw flavor, and does not hold back on sexually frank situations and dialogue."
Season 2
On Rotten Tomatoes, season two has an approval rating of 98% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 8.11/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure displays title-defying confidence in its second season, upping the comedy and deepening the relationships between its talented ensemble." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Season 3
On Rotten Tomatoes, season three has an approval rating of 94% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Insecure returns for a third season as authentic and exuberant as the star who made it, but with an added layer of growth that keeps it moving forward." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Season 4
On Rotten Tomatoes, season four has an approval rating of 95% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 8.29/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Insecure continues to be one of the funniest, warmest, and most beautifully-shot comedies that takes full advantage of its sunny L.A. setting." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
