5 TV Shows to Watch If You Liked ‘Sex and the City’

'Sex and the City' might've ended in 2004 but there are plenty of TV shows focusing on women navigating their lives with the help of their friends. Ahead, check out our recommendations for shows to watch if you liked 'Sex and the City.'

by Mandi Kerr

Published on March 20, 2020

2 min read

Fear not, fans of Sex and the City! Just because the Emmy Award-winning series ended in 2004 — yes, 16 years ago — doesn’t mean there aren’t similar TV shows out there. Ahead, get our five suggestions to fill the void made by Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) when they left our TV screens.

1. ‘The Carrie Diaries’

The Carrie Diaries ran on The CW from 2013 to 2014. It followed Carrie’s life as a high school student played by AnnaSophia Robb. Based on the book series by Candace Bushnell, the author of Sex and the City which inspired the iconic show, The Carrie Diaries detailed Carrie’s early musings on love, friendship, sex, and family.

While The Carrie Diaries was short-lived, fans of Sex and the City will not only appreciate the ‘80s fashion on a teenage Carrie but they’ll appreciate getting to learn more about her backstory and life before she called New York City home.

Austin Butler and AnnaSophia Robb on the set of 'The Carrie Diaries' on Nov. 6, 2013 — Austin Butler and AnnaSophia Robb on the set of ‘The Carrie Diaries’ on Nov. 6, 2013 | Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic

Watch Seasons 1 and 2 on CW Seed.

2. ‘Dollface’

A Hulu Original Series, Dollface released its 10-episode first season on Nov. 15, 2019. Kat Dennings plays Jules, a young woman unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, who realizes she neglected her friendships for a guy.

The show follows Jules as she attempts to reconnect with her once close friends, Madison (Brenda Song) and Stella (Shay Mitchell). We admit it takes a few episodes to get into Dollface, but the series ultimately soars.

Watch Dollface on Hulu.

3. ‘Broad City’

Even though Comedy Central’s feminist-stoner show, Broad City, ended in March 2019 after five seasons, it’s still a great program to watch for those Sex and the City fans who want something similar.

The show stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glaze as two lazy, broke 20-something best friends trying to just get by in New York City while doing as little as possible. Start with the pilot episode or check out our comprehensive list of the best episodes.

Watch every seasons of Broad City on Hulu.

4. ‘Good Girls’

Good Girls, a sleeper hit from NBC, is currently in its third season documenting the lives of Ruby (Retta of Parks and Recreation ), Beth (Christina Hendricks of Mad Men), and Annie (Mae Whitman of Parenthood) as they take on a life of crime to support themselves and their families.

We deemed Good Girls the best TV show you’re not watching for constantly breaking gender stereotypes and providing the perfect balance between drama and comedy.

Stream Seasons 1 and 2 of Good Girls on Netflix and watch newer episodes on NBC’s website.

5. ‘Shrill’

Watch Aidy Bryant from Saturday Night Live in Hulu’s Original Series, Shrill, which premiered in March 2019.

Loosely based on author Lindy West’s novel, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West, the TV show follows Bryant’s character, Annie, on a journey to rediscover herself. With Season 2 already streaming on Hulu, Shrill has been praised for its approach to abortion, feminism, and inclusivity.

Watch Seasons 1 and 2 of Shrill on Hulu.