We’re a generation of TV show bingers, and that’s okay – own it. But isn’t it annoying when you just want to watch a relatable show, with lesbian characters? If you’re anything like us then what tends to happen is you search for hours and then give up, we all know that new lesbian TV shows are needed to get stuck into. So we’ve compiled a nice list for you below of the best lesbian TV series to watch.
We try to update this regularly so please comment below if you’ve spotted another good lesbian show or tv series that we need to add. Sharing’s caring!
A League of Their Own
We were absolutely blown away by how queer-focused ‘A League of Their Own’ lesbian TV Series is. Plus it is on Amazon Prime. We’re also extremely happy that it’s not advertised as a queer or lesbian tv series, it’s just advertised as exactly what it is – a fun baseball comedy. It just so happens to have a lot of lesbian characters in it and queer people. Hooray for us. Set in 1943, A League of Their Own TV Series is based on the original film and is about a group of women who try out for an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League whilst the men are at war. Abbi Jacobson (Who stars as Carson) co-created the show with Will Graham. We absolutely love A League of Their Own for multiple reasons; It features several lesbian couples, it includes an incredible trans storyline and how that might have been navigated in the 40s, and the extreme struggles of a Black ballplayer called Max Chapman who dreams of playing professionally but is forbidden from trying out for the league because of her race.
Get this series on ASAP, but don’t forget – “there’s no crying in Baseball!”.
Killing Eve
Killing Eve is a critically acclaimed British spy thriller television series that first premiered in 2018. Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the show is based on the Villanelle novels by Luke Jennings. The series follows the cat-and-mouse chase between Eve Polastri, a bored and unfulfilled British intelligence agent, and Villanelle, a talented and psychopathic assassin. Now if you’re looking for good lesbian tv series then this is the one.
The central dynamic of Killing Eve revolves around the complex and unconventional relationship between Eve and Villanelle. Eve becomes obsessed with tracking down Villanelle after realizing the pattern of her seemingly unrelated assassinations. As the series progresses, the pursuit evolves into a twisted game of obsession, attraction, and mutual fascination between the two characters.
Sense8
Ok so this one has sadly come to an end but it still remains one of the best shows with queer representation. Not only is there a wide variety of ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds, but sexuality as well; call us biased but our personal favorites are Nomi and Amanita. These two have an epic love story and honestly, two episodes in and you’ll be hooked on the challenges they’re facing (which lesbian love affair doesn’t have its challenges. riggghhttt?) to be together and have a happy ending….DRAMA.
The L-word: Generation Q
Anyone and we mean anyone, who grew up gay during the 2000s would have watched the original L word at some point.
From its catchy theme song (lols to the song) to questionable wardrobe (anyone remember Shane and that outfit where she looks like Robin Hood going into Sherwood Forest? You know the leather ensemble? Just us then?)
It was a staple in the TV lexicon for baby lesbians out there. Now it is back, and apparently better than ever, while not yet on our TVs in the UK, be prepared, it is arriving in early February on Sky!
For a breakdown of what you may be viewing and what we are looking forward to seeing in this season check out our article on the new Season 3 of L Word Generation Q.
One day at a time
We’ve all been there: realising we’re lesbians, not sure how to tell anyone so you find a boyfriend and date him #BEARD, but then you realise you really are a lesbian (because no one wants to stick with their beard for that long) and you have to come out to everyone.
Let’s face it this beard situ is something that many of us have faced, and this show tells that story well. Watch it if you can get over the fake laughing soundtrack in the background.
Wynonna Earp
Ok when it comes to badass theme songs, Wynonna Earp definitely ticks that box. This show has badass female characters, an element of fantasy, action, and of course a lesbian couple.
Even better, this couple is functioning, and healthy (as healthy as a relationship can be when you are fighting off the underworld) and neither of them is dead, always a bonus.
One of them is a police officer (win) and the other is Wynonnas sister, admittedly at first, Waverly is a bit annoying and whiny but she will grow on you. Plus even our black hearts melted watching the love story unfold between them.
Gentleman Jack
Gentleman Jack; lesbians everywhere rejoiced when it was announced that we would be receiving a very, very gay Sunday night prime-time TV show (on the BBC as well! How very forward-thinking of them).
Anne Lister was a 19th Century lesbian icon (the show is based on her diaries) so to have a TV show documenting her life, was pretty decent. This is one of the best lesbian drama series to date.
Feel Good
A biographical rom-com series from the stand-up comedian Mae Martin. This show defines the term U-Haul.
The story centers around Mae who is a recovering addict and her new girlfriend George. At first, they are completely caught up in there (we will say lust and not love) for each other, being silly, having lots of sex, and spending way too much time together.
Then it gets serious, with troubles beginning when George won’t speak of or introduce Mae to her friends because George has never been with a woman before and is finding it hard to open up about it. And then George finds out Mae is a recovering addict. Awkward.
The Bold Type
Great characters? Fashion to lust after? Well developed characters and storylines? Check, check and check! The Bold Type is one of those shows that isn’t often pushed out to audiences, but this Amazon Prime show has some awesome lesbian representation with main, badass character Kat Edison.
Orphan Black
Cosima in Orphan Black may be one of the best lesbian characters to come out of the TV in the last decade, bold statement but we said what we said. Not only is she wickedly smart, but her one-liners are quotable AF; if you haven’t seen it, spend this weekend binging on Netflix and welcome to the trip man.
Euphoria
One of the newer shows on this list, and not so much explicitly lesbian representation, as queer representation. For anyone over the age of 25, it may get you asking is this what teenagers do nowadays? Honestly, who knows? The fashion and makeup are like Avant Garde meets pride parade, and the characters offer nuanced and well-thought-out storylines.
Riverdale
Riverdale is your classic CW show based around a small town and a group of teenagers. It is a tried and tested formula, but that doesn’t make the show any less addictive. Granted the storylines have gone a little off-piste recently, but one thing that has kept us hooked is the romance between southside serpent Toni Topaz and resident rich bitch Cheryl Blossom.
Orange is the new black
Ah, and here we are, the TV show that many an emerging lesbian watched with vigour. Orange is the new black was revolutionary when it landed on Netflix in 2013; not only was it showing real stories of women from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and sexualities. It had fantastic lesbian representation for the 6 years it was on, and it showed how important representation in TV shows.
Ratched
The show set in the 1940s stars Sarah Paulson as Nurse Ratched who gets a job in an asylum hospital where some questionable experiments are taking place.
Ratched herself is also a questionable character but we won’t give too much away other than we find out she is a closet lesbian (she does have some weird sex with a man at one point but as it is the 40s we think that is because she wants to deny her lesbian tendencies)
I Am Not Ok With This
Sydney is a 17-year-old girl who just wants to be just like everyone else.
She is struggling with the suicide of her father and the inability of her mum to discuss it. This lack of discussion and Sydney realising that she might be a lesbian leads to some serious anger issues which give her some kind of super-strength, this helps out her mates a little bit but also gets her into trouble.
Work In Progress
A comedy about a depressed 45-year-old lesbian. Or as she calls herself “fat, queer dyke.” It is often painstakingly awkward but we loved it for that.
The main character Abby McEnany meets Theo a 22-year-old barista who is a trans man and they begin a relationship.
Lip Service
Ok so this is 10 years old but we still think it is relevant, a bit like a Scottish L Word only a bit more gritty with some straight men thrown in and not quite as popular.
It is part of our lesbian history so we should watch it. If you liked our interview with Heather Peace then you will want to watch this series.
Tales of a City
A remake of the original was on Channel 4 in 1993 and then shown on PBS in the US in 1994. It caused quite a controversy back then with its tales of homosexual themes, nudity, and drug use (all the good stuff).
It is back in this Netflix remake, with Elliot Page as the main character and basically playing herself. It tells the tale of queer, gay, and trans lives with them all trying to save their communal house living situation in San Francisco.
Winonna Earp
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Winonna Earp is the great-great-grandaughter of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. She inherits her grandfather’s special power to return revenants (zombies essentially) back to Hell.
Whilst Winonna is kicking ass, her sister Waverley is (mostly) by her side. Waverley gets a big ol girl crush on the local police officer. A pretty attractive red-headed lady. This is the first time Waverly has been crushing on a woman, queueing some awkward and adorable firsts for her.
Trinkets
A coming of age series and perhaps a little teen for us but it is still worth a mention.
Three girls find they all have something in common when they meet at a Shoplifters Anonymous meeting. They also happen to go to the same school, but they keep their friendship a secret.
Personally, we think the lesbian character (Elodie) is a little bit of a let down we would prefer Moe. But judge for yourself.
South of Nowhere
So this is a long-lost treasure that we have trying really hard to resurrect. It was filmed in 2005 and somehow went under the lesbian radar. The storyline follows a family in LA, and specifically covers complex topics like adoption, racism and homophobia. The specifically is about Spencer and Ashley’s relationship as friends that develops into girlfriends. Think The OC but with lesbians in.
We couldn’t find the trailer but here are the highlights:
Let us know which ones you’ve watched, or which ones you’re adding to your watch list, and if you’re more of a film person check out our top lesbian films on Netflix and Prime!
Love Nonchalant x
Last Updated on 13th November 2023 by Nonchalant Magazine
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
