Set in Toronto, Workin ‘Moms features a very heartfelt and original story of Kate, Anne, Jenny, and Frankie, four women who know each other in a group of mothers. Created by the protagonist, Reitman, the series deals with the conflicts that women go through when the postnatal period is coming to an end, the challenges of motherhood and being a new mom, and the process of going through postpartum depression.
While one is crazy to go back to work as a working woman, the other wants nothing more than to stay home longer. With extremely different personalities, these four friends learn to trust and seek support from each other, always with a lot of humor. Workin’ moms season and the TV series started in 2017.
The second season, fourth season, and fifth season are both memorable. The directors are working on the sixth season, which should air in 2022. Workin’ Moms received nine nominations for the Canadian screen award. Three of the favorite TV shows similar to Working’ Moms are Special, Please Like Me, and After Life, which we will examine below.
Special
A very important series that everyone should see, Special has been created, written, and starred by Ryan O’Connell, writer of the work that inspired the series, I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves. This is a Netflix movie that tells the story of Ryan himself, a gay man with mild cerebral palsy, who wants to change his life.
Living with his controlling mom and never having worked before in his life, he manages to find a way to escape the prejudice of having this condition: pretending that he was in a car accident, which had permanent effects on him. Although he finally got what he wanted – to have a job, live alone, and start dating someone – he tries to provide an essential part of who he is. This storyline was super short, with 15-minute episodes, more like a sitcom, but the series deserves more visibility.
It had the taste of female energy like Working Moms. The series premiered in April 2019 and was renewed for a final season, which premiered in May 2021. It was nominated for the Prime Time Emmy Award and Writer’s Guild American Award.
Please Like Me
Created by Josh Thomas, who is also starring, Please Like Me is a hug to the heart while bringing tears to your eyes as long as you are a normal person. The series follows Josh, who has just ended his relationship with Claire (Caitlin Stasey) and enters the path of accepting his own sexuality.
Together with his best friend Tom (Thomas Ward), he still has to deal with the difficulties of daily life, such as severe dependency on his mother and his father’s new marriage. Tackling themes that could turn the story into a great drama, the series is very light and humorous, with some dramatic moments (mainly due to the character of Hannah Gadsby).
Awards: Australian Writers Guild, Logie Awards, International Emmy Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and AACTA Awards; just to name a few.
After Life
After Life revolves around a single theme: death. After the death of his wife, Tony (Ricky Gervais) no longer sees the point in continuing to live. Depressed that did not get to have a family life, he is ready to commit suicide, but the presence of his dog makes him give up and focus on a new plan: talk and do what he wants, for whoever he wants.
Always with the option of suicide as a way out, he begins to live life in a way that everyone would like: 100% honesty, regardless of the consequences. However, this is his world, the rest of the people around him keep trying to help him. Despite all this introduction to the story, the series can very well balance humor and drama, knowing exactly when to draw laughter or tears.
Awards: Best Returning Sitcom, and Comedy of the Year
Other Similar Shows
Other similarly favorite shows include:
- Manhunt
- Alias Grace
- Tuca & Bertie
- Anne with an E
- Chewing Gum
- On My Block
- Parenthood
- Good Girls
- SMILF
- Modern Family
- The Let Down
- Black-Ish
- I’m Sorry
- Big Little Lies
- The Mindy Project
- Single Parents
- Grey’s Anatomy
- Trying
- Friends from College
- Marlon
- Northern Exposure
Now, let’s look at a few on this list in more detail.
Manhunt
This crime drama follows the true stories of major FBI investigations in the United States. With only one season (for now), Manhunt’s nine-episode case is that of the Unabomber, a terrorist who has spent nearly 20 years building and dropping bombs across the United States. Starring Sam Worthington and Paul Bettany, the series follows FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald (Worthington), an expert in profiling criminals, in his search for Ted Kaczynski.
With a lot of suspense, nothing in the series is new, as the case is public and well known, but the way in which the episodes are built in time very well manages the tension of the story.
Alias Grace
The Canadian mini-series that deserves far more attention than it received, Alias Grace is a period crime drama based on the work of The Handmaids Tale writer, Margaret Atwood. The series follows Grace (playing the character of Sarah Gadon), an Irishwoman who will try her life in Canada as a maid, only to be arrested for the housekeeper’s murder.
Years later, psychiatrist Simon Jordan (Edward Holcroft) falls in love with Grace and tries to convince the authorities of her madness. Despite the setting, the series is highly topical, in addition to the presence of the illustrious Zachary Levi.
Tuca & Bertie
Created by BoJack Horseman and executive producer Lisa Hanawalt, this show may have been canceled after just one season, but the 10 episodes are worth their time. This animated series follows two bird friends who love and support each other despite major differences in their personalities.
While Tuca is confident in his potential and doesn’t have many worries, Bertie lives in a constant state of anxiety and has never stopped believing in his dreams. Dealing with universal themes, the series mainly revolves around thematic friendship, always managing to scratch the public.
Anne With An E
Canadian in origin, Anne with an E is the most recent adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books but brings modern relevance to Anne’s world in Green Gables. Starring the talented Amybeth McNulty, the plot follows the upbeat and romantic redhead in search of her place in the world but addresses issues such as feminism, identity crisis, and bullying.
Stranger things could have happened with all this simple narrative that recalls the adventures of youth, among beautiful landscapes and friendship lessons. In other words, it is the perfect series to get you excited and put a smile on your face. Ps: Get ready to fall in love with Lucas Jade Zumann’s sweet Gilbert!
Chewing Gum
![Chewing Gum: The Complete Series [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51T1JAaEPnL._SL500_.jpg "Chewing Gum: The Complete Series [DVD]")
Created by Michaela Coel, who is also the lead Tracey, Chewing Gum is an English comedy in that mature style. Upon leaving her parents’ house, the protagonist believes that she will finally be able to follow her dreams, and away from her conservative parents, she intends to start with her first new experience: losing her virginity.
Addressing themes like religion, homosexuality, and empowerment, the series has that classic English humor, which would label it a comedy series. The jokes do not come in the form of a normal joke, but it is mixed in the middle of the dialogue. To break out of your traditional sitcom rotation, the 12 episodes of Chewing Gum are worth 100% of your time.
On My Block
On My Block is a teen comedy-drama that turns big series like 13 Reasons Why and Riverdale on its head. The storyline follows a group of four friends in a troubled region of Los Angeles. The group made up of César, Monse, and Jamal addresses the normal problems of young people, such as daily school life and first loves, as well as the dangers that they present on the streets of their neighborhood.
With an inclusive cast and stories and representativeness, the series shows a more real side of the city that is sold as the apex of luxury. The main Actors: Sierra Capri, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco, and Jason Genao This is one of the TV shows you will like, whether you are a teenager, kid, or adult.