For the longest time, predominantly Black-led shows have redefined television—shaping culture, championing inclusivity, and showcasing the creativity of Black creatives. Series like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, A Different World, Martin, In Living Color, That’s So Raven, Tia & Tamera, Living Single, Girlfriends, and many more have influenced pop culture and society, proving that Black actors and creators have range and have also produced some of the best talents in Hollywood. Over the years, these shows have transcended time, fitting seamlessly into today’s trends while retaining their original Black excellence. Whether you're looking for romance, comedy, thrillers, mystery, horror, or reboots, the current television landscape centered on Black characters is a powerful representation of every aspect of culture.

While new Black creators like Shonda Rhimes, Issa Rae, and Quinta Brunson have ushered in popular shows such as Insecure, Abbott Elementary, and Scandal, some creators from older generations are still producing work that resonates with today’s youth and addresses subjects important to them. One of these creators is Mara Brock Akil, the acclaimed showrunner of Girlfriends—one of the first Black-led shows centered on four Black women navigating love, career, and identity. Now, Akil is returning with an upcoming Netflix film, Forever, a reimagined adaptation of Judy Blume’s bestselling young adult novel of the same name, which explores the concept of first love.

The soon-to-be-released series follows the love story of two Black teenagers, Keisha Clark (played by Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper Jr.), as they navigate their relationship as each other's first love amidst life-changing decisions, self-discovery, and scandalous pasts. The first season of the show will be available to stream on May 8, 2025. As we await Akil’s latest work to hit our screens, Get Unruly has compiled a list of some of the best Black-led shows we think everyone should add to their watchlist right now.

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Queenie

Based on Candice Carty-Williams’ novel Queenie, this emotionally charged eponymous series tells the story of its titular character, who struggles with self-worth, identity, love, mental health, self-acceptance, and abuse while navigating a career in journalism and confronting childhood trauma.

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Touted as one of the best series released in 2024, Queenie offers an authentic portrayal of the experiences of a Black Jamaican woman living in the UK. You might dislike Queenie at the beginning of the series, but by the end, you'll likely become her biggest cheerleader, thanks to the director’s thoughtful depiction of her growth and her journey toward healing and self-acceptance. Queenie is a beautiful watch.

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Abbott Elementary

If you haven’t heard about Abbott Elementary or seen clips of the series on social media, you might be living under a rock, because the Emmy-winning series is one of the most talked-about shows in recent times. The series, which originally premiered in 2021, chronicles the lives of a group of teachers at a public school in West Philadelphia. It is a raw and comedic depiction of the chaotic lives of teachers and their students as they navigate personal challenges, impart knowledge, and manage the inquisitive and hilarious minds of their students. Now in its fourth season, Abbott Elementary has successfully delivered a show that will remain relevant for many years to come.

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Watson

While growing up, seeing Morris Chestnut on screen always made hearts flutter. Why, you ask? Well, Chestnut has long been one of the most iconic heartthrobs for Black women—and I hope the new generation is catching on. If they need an introduction, his current series, Watson, is a great place to start. In this hospital-set drama, Chestnut plays Dr. John Watson—Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary character from the Sherlock Holmes stories—reimagined as a medical doctor who runs a clinic specializing in rare disorders, all while grappling with his past and the loss of his best friend, Sherlock Holmes. Alongside Chestnut, actors like Rochelle Aytes, Tati Gabrielle, and Alan Ritchson also take on prominent roles.

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Young Love

Young Love is a lighthearted animated series that captures the lives of a young African-American couple as they navigate the worlds of marriage, parenthood, their careers, and other life challenges. Created by Matthew A. Cherry, the series stars Issa Rae, Kid Cudi, Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Brooke Monroe.

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Chewing Gum

Before Michaela Coel became a spear-wielding warrior in Wakanda Forever, she was a devout young woman navigating sex and self-discovery in Chewing Gum. The British sitcom served as a vehicle through which Coel invited viewers to explore aspects of identity, womanhood, and the world that many were encountering for the first time. For her role in Chewing Gum, she won two BAFTA Awards: Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme and Breakthrough Talent — a testament to the show's quality and her standout performance.

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Dope Thief

Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book Dope Thief, this series— which premiered on Apple TV+—follows two longtime friends, played by Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura, who pose as DEA agents to rob a house in the countryside. However, they are unaware that their small-time robbery will uncover the largest hidden narcotics operation on the Eastern Seaboard, eventually turning into a life-or-death situation for the two friends.

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If you're a fan of crime dramas, this eight-episode series is a must-watch. Dope Thief also stars Nesta Cooper and Liz Caribel.

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Swarm

When Swarm was released, it quickly became one of the most talked-about shows—and for good reason. The lead character, Dre (played by Dominique Fishback), delivered an extremely convincing portrayal of an obsessed fan willing to go to extreme lengths for Ni’Jah, her favorite singer. The satirical Black comedy-horror miniseries was created by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover.

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Reasonable Doubt

For the longest time, Black-led legal drama series have been rare, but that seems to be a thing of the past with the emergence of shows like the highly scintillating How to Get Away With Murder. Recently, another drama-filled legal series keeping cinephiles on their toes is Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt—a show that explores the life of Jax Stewart (played by Emayatzy Corinealdi), a top civil and criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, as she navigates the courtroom, her family, personal relationships, and mental health.

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The first two seasons focused on Stewart as she fought to win a major case, escaped an assassination attempt, saved her marriage, and kept her best friend out of prison. In the newly teased season, she returns to court as a defendant alongside her husband. So, if you enjoy messy court cases and steamy office romance, we highly recommend Reasonable Doubt.

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Bel-Air

In the ’90s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of the most popular shows. The theme song, Will Smith’s antics, Geoffrey’s spot-on sarcasm, Carlton’s obnoxious yet sometimes endearing behavior, Uncle Phil’s stern outbursts, and Aunt Viv’s motherly love were just some of the reasons the show was a hit. It simply asked the question, “What happens when a teenager from Philadelphia relocates to live with his relatives in Bel-Air, a bougie neighborhood?”—and answered it through countless hilarious moments stretched across six seasons.

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In 2025, the series remains popular—this time as a reboot titled Bel-Air. Although Bel-Air follows the storyline of the original ’90s version, it leans less on comedy and more on drama, tackling themes such as gun violence, drug abuse, suicide, sexuality, identity, and depression. With a new and final season set to air soon, now is the perfect time to catch up on all the drama in Bel-Air.

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Beyond Black Beauty

If you loved Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and crave more cowboy or cowgirl experiences, then Beyond Black Beauty was made for you. The 11-episode series tells the story of Jolie Dumont, a passionate horse rider whose Olympic dreams are stalled when her mother relocates them from Belgium’s pristine stables to a family ranch in Baltimore. It is inspired by Anna Sewell’s novel Black Beauty.

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