Just in case you’ve been sleeping under a rock for the past few years—which is possible given the show doesn’t get the love it deserves— Issa Rae has been killing it, and right now, she’s doing some of the most important work on television. While seen in music videos for both Jay-Z and Drake, early on, she’s most notable for creating, producing, writing, and starring in her HBO comedy series “Insecure,” adapted from her career-catapulting web series ” The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl“— and we just got a trailer for Season 4.
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“Insecure” follows Issa Dee (played by Issa Rae) as she struggles to navigate the awkward and tricky professional and personal terrain of Los Angeles along with her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji). The show received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, in addition to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017 and 2018, but it still feels somewhat undervalued (and under-discussed).
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The funny, well-written, observational series deals heavily with racial and social issues as well as funny, quick-witted look at the black female experience. The importance of these themes being depicted on such a wide scale cannot be understated. The relatively recent successes of “Atlanta,” “The Chi,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” and “Master of None” on TV simply (to name just a few) proves that there are diverse audiences longing to see themselves respectively and accurately portrayed on screen – and Issa Rae knows this.
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In an interview with The Atlantic a few years back, Rae described the increase in diverse storytelling a “renaissance” and that she’s happy to contribute: “To be alongside so many amazing content creators and actors of color—feels very optimistic. We’re so aware of what it’s like to not have those images; we’re clinging onto them.”
Here’s the official synopsis:
Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, the comedy series Insecure explores the black female experience. Two black women deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.
Alongside Issa Rae, the cast includes Yvonne Orji, Amanda Seales, Lisa Joyce, Natasha Rothwell, and Jay Ellis. From executive producers Issa Rae, Prentice Penny, Michael Rotenberg, Melina Matsoukas, and Dave Becky, the fourth season of “Insecure” will premiere on April 12 on HBO.