Get ready for an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of American lesbian dramas! In this article, we present to you our carefully curated selection of 2023’s top 35 engaging American lesbian TV dramas that are simply unmissable. From groundbreaking storylines to powerful performances, these series celebrate diversity, love, and the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re a fan of heartfelt romances, gripping mysteries, or thought-provoking narratives, these TV dramas have it all. Join us as we delve into this mesmerizing collection of American lesbian dramas that are set to leave you wanting more.
In This Article
1. The L Word: Seasons 1-4 (2004-2009)
In the sun-drenched city of Los Angeles, a recent graduate named Jenny (played by Mia Kirshner) arrives from the University of Chicago with dreams of becoming a professional writer. Living with her boyfriend Tim (Eric Mabius), they find themselves neighbors with a long-term lesbian couple, Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman). Various encounters and the everyday grind of life lead Jenny to question not only life itself but also her perception of love. The L Word, a landmark series co-produced by Showtime and MGM, is the first to deeply explore lesbian love stories, gaining wide recognition within the LGBTQ+ community in the US and UK.
2. Orange Is the New Black: Seasons 1-7 (2013-2019)
3. Killing Eve: Seasons 1-4 (2018-2022)
Adapted from Luke Jennings’ novel series, Killing Eve puts its spotlight on two characters: a mentally unstable assassin, Villanelle, and Eve, an intelligent yet bored British security agency staff member, portrayed by Sandra Oh, who longs for a more exciting life as a spy. The two women become mutually obsessed with each other, leading to an epic cat-and-mouse game. This thrilling series delves deep into the complexities of their characters, spinning a tale of intrigue and fascination.
4. Everything Sucks! (2018)
Set in the nostalgic era of the ’90s, Everything Sucks! takes us to a town named Boring. Here, we follow a group of high school students from the A/V and drama clubs as they navigate the tumultuous roller coaster of teenage emotions, dealing bravely with their growing pains.
5. Visible: Out on Television (2020)
Created by filmmakers Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave, Visible: Out on Television is a five-part series that explores the influence of television as a powerful medium that can shape the conscience of Americans, and how the LGBTQ+ movement has influenced the landscape of television. This hour-long series features interviews with prominent figures such as Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, and Anderson Cooper, further adding depth to its exploration of LGBTQ+ representation on screen.
6. I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
A departure from convention, I Am Not Okay with This tells the story of a teenage girl navigating the trials of high school, dealing with complex family dynamics, burgeoning sexuality, and the mysterious superpowers starting to awaken within her. From the same creators of The End of The F***ing World and Stranger Things, this show brings to life Charles Forsman’s graphic novel in a compelling new drama series.
7. Wynonna Earp: Seasons 1-4 (2016-2020)
An adaptation of the eponymous comic book, Wynonna Earp is a series developed by Emily Andras. The story revolves around Wynonna Earp, portrayed by Melanie Scrofano, a witty and wild modern gunslinger who is the great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp. Using her unique abilities and a cohort of eccentric allies, she battles demons and supernatural beings.
8. Exes & Ohs: Seasons 1-2 (2006-2009)
A cable TV series in the United States and Canada, Exes & Ohs debuted on Logo in 2007. The series focuses on the dating life of Jennifer, a lesbian documentary producer with a vivid fantasy life and a struggling career.
9. More Beautiful for Having Been Broken (2020)
In this movie, a disgraced FBI agent, suspended and grappling with the pain of losing her mother, retreats to a small mountain village she frequented as a child. There, she befriends a boy with special needs who possesses an extraordinary talent for healing others with his indomitable spirit and unique perspective on life. Although wounded herself, she begins to see fragments of the puzzle through his eyes.
10. Strangers: Seasons 1-2 (2017-2018)
Isobel decides to rent out her extra bedroom to generate much-needed income after a messy and painful breakup. With the help of her best friend, she navigates a time in her life that is emotionally, sexually, and professionally complex, all while hosting a constant stream of new guests.
11. When We Rise (2017)
When We Rise goes beyond the scope of LGBTQ+ issues, discussing civil rights, feminism, minority rights, healthcare, religion, and reproductive rights. The series is aptly summarized by a recurring phrase: One struggle. One fight. No one is exempt; all are fighting for freedom and rights.
12. Atypical: Seasons 1-4 (2017-2021)
Created by Robia Rashid, Atypical chronicles the story of an 18-year-old boy with autism, Sam (portrayed by Keir Gilchrist), on his journey to find love and independence. His painful but humorous journey of self-discovery forces his family to grapple with the question: What is normal?
13. Gentleman Jack: Seasons 1-2 (2019-2022)
Gentleman Jack, adapted from the real-life story of Anne Lister, is set in Halifax in 1832. Known locally as Gentleman Jack, Anne Lister (portrayed by Suranne Jones) is a wealthy landowner, diary writer, and traveler. She lived openly as a lesbian and is known as “the first modern lesbian”. The series explores her relationships with family, servants, tenants, business rivals, and her lesbian lover, Ann Walker.
14. Dickinson: Seasons 1-3 (2019-2021)
Starring Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson, one of the pioneers of twentieth-century modernist poetry. Written by Alena Smith and directed by David Gordon Green, the series is set during Emily Dickinson’s lifetime and explores the Dickinson family and Emily’s journey in creating her poetry. It also chronicles Emily’s personal growth.
15. Swimming with Sharks (2022)
The series follows the story of a young Hollywood studio assistant surrounded by manipulators, schemers, and cunning individuals, who are unaware of her own intelligently crafted plans.
16. First Kill (2022)
For the first time, it is always unforgettable. The vampire girl Juliet is ready to hunt her first prey. She targets a girl named Cleo who has just moved to town. However, unexpectedly, Cleo turns out to be a vampire hunter. Juliet and Cleo both discover that the other is not an easy opponent to defeat, but an easy one to fall in love with…
17. The Last of Us Season 1 (2023)
Produced by HBO and adapted from the same-name game launched on the PlayStation platform by Naughty Dog on June 14, 2013. It tells the story of how humans face the risk of extinction due to a modern infectious disease twenty years after the destruction of modern civilization. The middle-aged male smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) is entrusted by the leader of the “Firefly” organization, Marlene (Merle Dandridge), to take the 14-year-old girl Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of the epidemic quarantine zone protected by the military, through the metropolitan area that has become a jungle of ruins. They face threats from virus-infected mutants and other surviving groups, launching a profound journey that changes their lives.
18. The Morning Show Season 1 (2019)
Let’s pull back the curtain and focus on the news anchors who accompany the public to greet the new day each morning, and go behind the scenes of the morning news program! The series is led by Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, using bold and direct shooting methods to see through all aspects of contemporary workplaces.
19. The L Word: Generation Q Season 1-3 (2019-2022)
Nearly 20 years later, this long-planned and meaningful century wedding has evolved into an illogical rushed reunion, and a forced “chemical reaction” to win over fans’ feelings. The protagonist is no longer important on the wedding day, only countless chaotic and meaningless farces are left. Collapsing with the show is my faith.
20. The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 1-2 (2021-2022)
It’s a new trimester for the suitemates – Kimberly, Bela, Whitney, and Leighton – which means the girls have to navigate new experiences and challenges. From creators Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, season 2 returns November 17 with more college chaos, wild parties, messy relationships, and of course the new hot guys on campus.
21. Ginny & Georgia Season 1-2 (2020-2023)
Two generations of women face different survival difficulties. The mother and daughter’s youth are intertwined. Georgia faced fleeing from her stepfather’s lewdness and weak mother. She became a single mother in her teenage years, constantly fleeing from a controlled life. With no diplomas and no assets, she raised two children, trying to give them the best resources, and therefore treated becoming the wife of a wealthy man as a way of climbing. She also did many things that were not honorable.
Ginny knew her mother’s hardship and love, but after seeing her dark side, she found it hard to bear. The constant migration during her growth made her feel that she had lost control of her own life. The precocious Ginny seemed to me to be like her mother, suffering from a kind of smiling depression, always using “I’m fine” to cover up inner pain. Each character is worth talking about. An interesting point is the multi-faceted nature of the characters. Cynthia, who wants to run for mayor with Paul, was once an enemy of Georgia, but also helped her when Georgia needed help. The two turned enemies into friends because they had been in the same situation. Max, who seems carefree, can’t get over Sophie’s heartbreak…
22. Motherland: Fort Salem Season 1-3 (2020-2022)
Set in contemporary America, this series depicts a world where, 300 years ago, witches ended their persecution by agreeing to fight for their country. Young women are conscripted at the age of 18 and sent to Fort Salem, a place to learn magical warfare. The story primarily follows three young women. In this non-traditional world, gender is viewed differently and power is bestowed in unconventional ways. These young women will form the front line against terrorists, not with guns, but with supernatural abilities.
23. The Wilds Season 1-2 (2020-2022)
Survival hangs in the balance for a group of teenage girls stranded on a deserted island, following the shocking revelation that their predicament is part of an elaborate social experiment. Season 2 ramps up the drama with the introduction of more test subjects – a new island of teenage boys – who must also fight for survival under the watchful eye of the experiment’s puppet master.
24. Warrior Nun Season 1-2 (2020)
Adapted from a graphic novel, Warrior Nun tells the story of a 19-year-old woman who wakes up in a morgue, reborn and embedded with a holy relic. She discovers she is now part of an ancient organization that has been battling demons on Earth, and the powerful forces representing heaven and hell both wish to find and control her.
25. A League of Their Own Season 1 (2022)
Kelly McCormack and Priscilla Delgado will star in Amazon’s pilot episode of “A League of Their Own”, a TV project adapted from the 1992 film of the same name. Other cast members include D’Arcy Carden (also one of the creators), Abbi Jacobson, and Gbemisola Ikumelo. Just like the original film, the series tells the story of a women’s professional baseball team established after World War II.
26. Euphoria Seasons 1-2
“Euphoria” explores the painful journey of adolescence, and the struggle for self-discovery and self-identity, through the lens of a young drug addict’s rehabilitation. Each character is deeply psychologically etched, with a basis for their changes throughout the story. This deeply psychological youth drama explores the impact of the family of origin on the growth of teenagers.
27. Gypsy (2017)
The series follows Jean Holloway, a psychologist portrayed by Naomi Watts, who becomes dangerously intimate with the people in her patients’ lives.
28. Gaycation Season 1 (2016)
A new documentary series, GAYCATION, hosted by Ellen Page and her friend Ian Daniel. In this series, Ellen and her best friend Ian attempt to explore LGBTQ+ cultures around the world with their audience. From Japan to Brazil, Jamaica to the United States, they encounter some amazing people along the way, listening to their views on life and the moving stories that have unfolded in their lives.
29. Person of Interest Season 5 (2016)
Person of Interest could be considered a female empowerment benchmark in television.
It’s often said that to evaluate whether female characters in a work are independent, one should consider whether their conversations revolve solely around men.
Unfortunately, many current works seldom even feature conversations between two women, let alone conversations that do not involve men.
Person of Interest presents a different image for its female characters. They have characters like the elusive Zoe, the strategic Control, and Carter, who has more emotional scenes with men, yet memorable is the scene where she dresses up and goes to the nightclub, laughing with Zoe and Shaw – demonstrating she has female friends.
Even the female POIs that appear in each episode have independent personalities. They’re sisters risking everything for their siblings, surgeons kissing their same-sex partners. Their stories are depicted and appreciated, not merely seen as appendages to male narratives.
One memorable scene features Root and Control’s rivalry, a contest between two formidable forces. Their struggle is for the beliefs they each hold, their dispute born out of the direction of human society.
The most captivating characters are the two female leads, Root and Shaw. Whether in terms of intelligence or combat skills, they are on par with the male leads. Whether it’s deep affection or high principles, they can rival the male leads.
Their profound affection and principles concern people, not just men.
Of course, what shines the brightest on this show’s path to female empowerment, what truly defies the cliché “beauty complements hero,” is the fact that the two charismatic women fall in love in the end – two independent and free spirits.
30. Sense8 Season 1 (2015)
Produced by the Wachowski sisters, directors of The Matrix series and Cloud Atlas, and J. Michael Straczynski, renowned writer and producer of Babylon 5, this show revolves around eight strangers from different cities, with different identities and orientations. They become sensates, sharing emotions, thoughts, languages, and skills due to a mysterious event. While a mysterious person attempts to unite them, an organization hunts them down. Together, they must find a way to survive and discover the truth about their unique connection.
31. The Good Wife Season 6 (2014)
Taking a bullet for her, revealing secrets for her; coming out for her, enduring hardships for her, Kalinda, do you know that FBI Lady is truly the good wife?
32. The Mormon Proposition (2010)
The documentary explores the passage of Proposition 8 in the 2008 United States election cycle, and the involvement of the LDS Church. Thousands of gay people were stripped of their civil rights in 2009, and the Mormons began a nationwide campaign to oppose over thirty years of equal marriage rights.
33. The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 1 (2023)
In The Ultimatum: Queer Love, five new couples, composed of women and non-binary individuals, face a crossroads in their relationships. One partner is ready for marriage, while the other might harbor doubts. An ultimatum is issued, and in just over eight weeks, each couple will either marry or separate. The show presents a life-changing opportunity as each individual chooses new potential partners, exploring two different futures.
34. The Nevers (2021)
The series is set in the last years of Victoria’s reign, when London is beset by the ‘Touched’: people – mostly women – who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities, some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True, a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair, a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched while fighting the forces that would make them ‘other.’
35. Heartland Season 10 (2016)
Heartland is a multi-generational saga set in Alberta, Canada, centered around a family navigating life together in both happy and challenging times.
