Harlem (2021– ) User Reviews (154)

These women need to grow up

[MacTad · 6/10 · 3 December 2021]

The premise of this show is GREAT! The talent is awesome. However, the scripts make some of the characters-Camille and Quinn-*VERY* immature. I could accept their immaturity were the characters in their early 20s; these women are supposed to be in their 30s. By the time women are in our mid-30s, the hunt for a partner isn't our sole goal in life. At least, that's true for Black professional women. These women act like they're in high school. They only talk about MEN! It's embarrassing.

I don't want to give this show a bad rating because there's so much potential here. But the characters are all wrong. It isn't the actors' fault. They're engaging, talented and beautiful. It's the script. I get the impression Ms. Oliver and Mr. Daniels are trying to make the Black Sex in the City. I didn't like the WHITE Sex in the City! It only made me vow to not hang out with heterosexual white women.

What I want to see is Black professional women who've learned from life and are still rocking it like the bosses they are. There's too much effort put into being humorous and not enough put into character development that's real and age appropriate.

I have to compline Meagan Good. I thought she was far too . . . Religious, conservative and aloof in real life to play a character like Camille. But I have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised. Grace Byers was also a pleasant surprise. I honestly didn't recognize her. I *LOVE* her new look! I've always thought she was beautiful, but she is infinitely more attractive with longer hair. I didn't recognize her until I looked the show up on IMDb.

Ms. Oliver definitely got the butch lesbian right. I've dated women like Tye and been friends with even more. Jerrie Johnson is a treat! And, she's gorgeous and has definite screen presence.

Even with the program's faults, I'm still committed to watching a second season. I'm sure it will be better once the show gets their sea legs.

Enjoyable

[nxbcgvwj · 7/10 · 21 March 2023]

Nice bit of light entertainment. Don't understand all the negative reviews. It's not supposed to be highbrow it's a light hearted look at friendships and relationships between black women. Not to be taken so seriously it's a comedic drama with some stereotypes !

It's worth watching don't be put off by the negative reviews i had some laugh out loud moments and it was good to see the development of the characters.

It has some good acting and script and storyline made me want to watch . I enjoyed season 1 and season 2 is just as watchable. It's worth a watch for a bit of light comedic entertainment.

Something about it is...

[snktrss · 8/10 · 12 December 2021]

Intriguing. I enjoyed season 1 and really hope they bring another season with the ending of the last episode. The dynamic between the four women feels authentic. ImSomehow find the story lines relatable even though have of them I've never experienced in my lifetime. I usually get turned off by LGBTQ story lines although not this time and find Tye is my favourite out of the 4 women.

Terrible, stereotypical and insulting to black women

[NnegestLikke · 6 January 2022]

Very demeaning, lowbrow and insulting to black women. They give every stereotype imaginable to these women. They dress nice and live in nice houses with great set-pieces and everything else is plastic, superficial and unauthentic. They talk ghetto, overly sexual, desperate, and stereotypical and have no class about them. Just disgusting imo. Definitely not a representation of black women that I know.

Great Show!

[jerrellanderson · 10/10 · 3 December 2021]

I'm watching this show and I'm halfway through it! I like the comedy in this show, and even the acting! I see that some of the reviews are trying to get this show canceled. Now every time that it seems lately, when people don't see a representation of themselves shows like this! At least the way they want to be seen, there's always one rating reviews. Instead of really trying to focus on culture and background of what people deal with and watch that show from that perspective people decide to bash it because they don't understand. Now once you get that out of your head. You can really sit down and enjoy the show for what it is! It's a really great show, it's funny, it's witty, and there's some good drama moments in this show. Now does the show center around a black cast? Yes. Does it exclude white or any other race? No But let's be clear this is a story about four black women living in Harlem! Who happened to be best friends and this is their story their lives! And in this particular world of the story there is a lot that center around black culture!!!

A wobbly start...but a start.

[nthervil · 7/10 · 9 December 2021]

I'm so starved for black art that I'm willing to overlook a lot of this show's flaws. First of all, I think they've wrangled up a great cast. I was afraid it would be cringe, but the ladies come off seasoned, even though I only know two of them. Only I find I can feel their excitement, especially Shaniqua's (Angie) who is always on ten. A bit of nuance would help round out her character. Also, Jasmine's (Pat) horrible Jamaican accent also killed me. Lol!

The scenarios skew a bit young. They are in their 30s and I just think the conversations and the reaction to the situations they find themselves in could use a bit more depth.

Overall I find the pacing of the show fast. I think if it could breathe just a little, slow it down, tone down the humor, bring up the angst, dive more deeply into their lives rather than rely on sexual encounters and one-liners, it will be an infinitely better show.

Even if it doesn't get better, it's good enough for me to enjoy. Insecure is out, I need my black girl fix.

Beautiful cast, great show

[samanthastaylor · 10/10 · 24 February 2023]

This is a great show with a fun concept. I love the topics at hand and the colors of the set. It's clearly a show for black woman so I'm not surprised by some of these negative comments. It's the typical responses when a show doesn't cater to y'all.

I'm glad to see Megan as a leading actress, she's beautiful and it's well deserved. The whole cast is great and be bring so much to the show. I also love seeing older black actresses/actors incorporated like countess Vaughn, Rachel true and jazmine guy. I love seeing us on this platform. I hope the show continues to have great success and conibtue the great topics. Stay mad.

Great Potential!

[joywat · 7/10 · 16 March 2023]

I'm going against the grain on this one. If a series don't catch my attention in 25 mins, I usually stop watching. PERIOD! But Harlem was very entertaining to me. Similar to SATC and Insecure with an LGTBQ+ spin. I enjoyed all of the characters, especially Angie! She was so fun to watch. Shoniqua Shandai did her thing! She definitely gave me the best laughs! And shoutout to her BEAUTIFUL hair! I loved it! The energy the show gives was breathtaking. I didn't find it stereotypical at all. Just a group of beautiful black women finding their own paths in life with support from each other. Love Whoopi and Jasmine Guy in this, too. Both Seasons were great to watch. I'm rooting for season 3, if they give it a chance.

The New Sex in the City

[chrizonk · 9/10 · 3 December 2021]

I actually like this series. It puts a colorful spin on Sex in the City. I wonder is Ian Mr. BIG?! Laughing because Mr. Big hangs out in Harlem (clubs) in RL. It focuses on the lives of four WOMEN who happens to be black. It hits a lot of topics without going toooo Stereotypical (If you know what I mean). It was good to see ALL the ladies in the cast and Yaaaasssss Whoopi and LOVE me some Andrea Martin. I hope this series has a long life span. The comedy, subject matter and that soundtrack is is worth watching again and again. Kudos ladies, Here is to watching season 5 and beyond.

SIDEBAR: Ummm Jasmine, where did you get that accent from? SEND IT BACK!

Harlem/Sex in the City (my opinion) Camille - Carrie Quinn - Charlotte Tye - Miranda Angie - Samantha.

I liked the show

[jarvisshwn · 7/10 · 4 December 2021]

I loved the show. It had some parts that I didn't care for but over all it was good. It's about 4 Best-friends following their dreams after college and looking for love. The show is very relatable. If you didn't like it don't watch season two. If you haven't seen it watch it for yourself. I enjoyed it and I want to see what happens next in each of their lives. To the actors, actresses, producers, directors, etc you did a great job. Bring on season two. ( the only part I didn't care for was the broadway show)

Just bad

[rocketowl · 1/10 · 8 December 2021]

Tired, unimaginative storyline filled with stereotyped exaggerations many of which just untrue. Social anecdotal commentary and dialogue that's detrimental to black women, black men and the black community at large. Shame on the writer!

One Of My New Faves!!!

[Rey44 · 10/10 · 3 December 2021]

This show checks all my boxes for a must watch series! 1. Hilarious 2. Great storyline 3. Dope cast 4. All around fun watch. 5. Only thing I don't like is now I've got to wait for a season 2.

LGBTQ In The City

[Advocate1 · 6/10 · 5 December 2021]

Think sex in the city, but with main characters that are LGBTQ. Whether it's a show you enjoy will depend on your tolerance level. The pace of the show is fine and the storylines are good; however, if you can't handle sexually explicit language or gay main characters, you may want to watch something else.

Hoodrats in Expensive Clothes

[darth_hater · 1/10 · 21 January 2022]

Harlem born and raised so I was looking forward to watching this. I didn't make it past the first 15 minutes. They crammed so many stereotypes in already. I'm honestly offended. Loud, rude, trifling women who may be successful but are overcompensating in a struggle to gain status as bad*sses. I was hoping for Black Girl Magic and got Black Girl Tragic. Cursing out potential business partners, being jerks in movie theaters, and treating restaurant workers like trash is not funny. And don't get me started on Angie and her freeloading self. She is the absolute worst. The heavier, darker-skinned, "sassy" friend trope is so played out. I wish they had respected the actress enough to write her role differently. My friends and I don't behave this way and these are not the kind of women I would want in my circle. I don't see myself becoming invested in their lives as they are so unlikeable. Very disappointing since I was looking for something new now that Insecure has ended.

Great show!

[jenwald · 10/10 · 4 December 2021]

I binged all 10 episodes. When I started episode one the show had a waiting of a 6. After finishing the last episode, I couldn't believe the low rating. I came back to see what people said and see it is now 4.7. WTF? It is so good.

So basically Sex In The City but different?

[kesspringer · 20 December 2021]

Seriously. I just don't get it.

I wish we could watch a show with a fresh, new idea.

Nothing will top SITC no matter how much you change the location or ethnicity.

Oh boy, Amazon has a Hallmark division!

[phlbrq58 · 6/10 · 5 December 2021]

Commodity entertainment, separated from reality, devoid of inspiration or humanity, desperate to fill 10 forgettable hours. Fantasy fulfillment with some sophisticated fashion still makes mediocrity. You go girl but see it for what it is...like a grown ass woman!

Amazing

[tswellstw · 10/10 · 4 December 2021]

If I could give this show more 10 stars I would. I love the authenticity of this show and the fact that the issues that some of the characters are facing are issues I can relate too. I cant wait for season 2 to happen. Great job AMAZON!!

Chick Flick

[lisalee-64854 · 7/10 · 11 December 2021]

This show is very predictable and I feel as though it could've been a movie, but it is a fun watch. Each episode is like a chick flick so it's lite hearted even with the bad acting. Also, I love that Jerrie Johnson!

Love this Show

[wqbqyp · 10/10 · 24 February 2023]

The hate is real in these comments. This show is great. I loved Sex & The City and this show is just that with a black spin from our perspective. The personalities, way of dress, career focus, etc of black woman is spot on with woman in OUR age bracket, share the same point of views, just spot on. Interesting story line. The actors/ actresses are great. And I enjoy the comedic relief, again an Ode to the Sex & The city show. It's not always considered copying, they are staying within the genre while putting their own spin to it. Not sure why we only get 8 episodes at a time. Once I'm invested I'd like a little bit more to keep interest. Keep working hard ladies, amazing job and I love all of the characters. Support this amazing show!

I enjoyed it

[tyeej · 7/10 · 11 December 2021]

I enjoyed this show for what it was, I'm not a critic or someone that watches a lot of television. However, at times I find a show, that I can watch from beginning to the end. This show was one of them, but I was a bit disappointed on how it ended.

Boring

[morganlamar · 1/10 · 6 December 2021]

It's pretty unimaginative. They have the right idea, but it needs to be developed more. Instead, there's tons of unnecessary sex scenes (read 'porn'), as the writers aren't creative enough to create wholesome content. Seriously, why exploit these actors? Also, the characters personalities are pretentious -especially Angie. She's the typical loud, black, foul mouth black woman "finding her way", and is unapologetic to anyone she interacts with. Needless to say I won't be watching this.

Love! Love!! Love!!!

[ashleyjonesre · 10/10 · 4 December 2021]

From the plot to the script and all the way down to the shoe laces this show was fantastically done. They touch on so many important topics without ever feeling too heavy, this writing room must have so much diversity. Not to the mention the acting!!! Shoniqua Shandai is one to look out for. 12/10 stars!!!!

Love! Love!! Love!!!

Relatability Scarce

[EyeSeesMovies · 7/10 · 15 July 2023]

In a way, all 4 characters are written the same way...valley girl-ish. I'm on S1, and wonder what bonds these women together...perhaps that will be revealed in S2. I agree with another reviewer who said too many sex scenes -that did not add value to the story lines -(and to be fair, I don't like any show or movie that relies on sex to engage viewers-I don't like watching P when I'm watching a show for substance.) I think this shows has huge potential, but maybe writers need to be swapped...call Issa Rae's people.lol Also, a bit of timeline measurement would be good- no holidays were celebrated in season one and there're literally holidays in ever month, in America. I don't believe Goode/Camille as a professor at all- even the narration sounded like a Grad student. Angie is a little too on the nose for me and what is her value to the group dynamic? She's seems to often be upset, a mooch, and unemployed. Her character traits don't come off as comfortably having a bi boyfriend. That seems more fit of the trust fund baby character's alignment. Ty's character is cool with me, but BFF with 3 straight girls just don't seem real life. Straight girls, if any, usually have Gbff. Lastly, these men were clearly written by women.lmbo I'll keep watching, because I like the foundation and believe with different, in-tuned writers, this show is bomb! 🤞

TERRIBLE

[evspeigner · 1/10 · 26 December 2021]

This is the worst show I have ever seen in my life. I made an account just to say how bad this show is. I have never written a review on any show in my life. I am here because I wanted to Google if this was satirical. But i felt I would be doing mankind a huge disservice if I didn't state how disgusting this show is. I don't know where to start with how bad it is because it is a laundry list. This show was supposed to be for black woman. But the writing is so unimaginative/predicative/insulting that I wouldn't be surprised that this was written with not one POC in the writers room. It's like some big wig at a studio said hey I heard this show Insecure is popular let's make another hit for the color people. Hey let's make it in Harlem and make it the black sex in the city too. The dialogue is so dry and tries way too hard to remind us of the struggle of POC and especially the struggle of women of color. I promise you black people do not talk like this and don't say how much they hate white people every 5 seconds. I could go on for hours about how bad this show is but I want to erase this memory forever.