Lena Waithe's Twenties is at its best when it stops trying so hard and just focuses on the characters’ journeys

The A.V. Club

Waithe's semi-autobiographical BET dramedy revolving around three black female friends as they try to come up in Hollywood has an intriguing premise, says Kellee Terrell. "Twenties has a lot of potential, thanks in part to its diverse group of Black women," says Terrell. "Their stories are significant, as they combine addressing sexuality, racism, colorism, sexism, workplace drama, and ultimately, Black hope. But representation alone isn’t enough. Creators cannot coast on the idea that because their audience is famished to see themselves onscreen, viewers will accept anything. They also have to develop a better understanding of what they think Blackness is versus how Black viewers and critics not only live it, but how they want to see it play out on the screen. There’s been a considerable rise in opportunities for Black creators and artists, many of whom are doing excellent, inclusive work, so “rooting for everybody Black” isn’t by any means the default position. For the moment, Waithe’s Twenties is fine, it gets by, but here’s hoping it exceeds that to become the Black excellence Waithe believes she can deliver—and that her viewers deserve."

ALSO:

• Twenties is a solid coming-of-age comedy that makes a concerted effort to develop its own rhythm and visual style to set it apart: "Twenties is aware of its unique place in the TV canon, and makes moves in its very first episode to both acknowledge and dismiss it," says Caroline Framke.
• Twenties goes for a hangout vibe that works thanks to the chemistry of is three stars: "Waithe doesn’t want us to like her new show just because it’s about black female friendship, or because Hattie’s a rare prominent gay woman of color on television," says Alan Sepinwall. "And the standard she sets is one Twenties more than lives up to: The show is good sh*t that just happens to be black, and queer."
• Twenties is worth watching because it's the only show to ask: What happens when the #MeToo bogeyman is a black woman?
• Twenties is the rare Hollywood-insider series to actually feel current and essential
• Lena Waithe on setting her semi-autobiographical Twenties in 2020: "This is our world post my character on Master of None; it’s a world post Get Out; it’s a world post Moonlight," she said of the story, which has been updated to take place now, in an era that looks different partly because of her own achievements. “This is the first time a masculine-of-center black woman has been the center of a show on prime-time TV."