June will mark a milestone: 25 years since four friends—Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha—took their first stroll down Fifth Avenue, introducing a groundbreaking HBO series that became a global sensation, Sex and the City. The 1990s era saw television rarely feature a quartet of women discussing relationships, sex, and life with such blunt honesty. The show inspired countless stories about female friendship and style, shaping a new standard for modern, independent women. Since then, many series have drawn from its playbook, creating rich narratives centered on women’s perspectives. This piece explores five notable examples that echo the spirit of that iconic series.
25th anniversary of Sex and the City, a show that let women speak plainly and misbehave
A year ago, HBO Max revived the beloved characters after two films fell short of expectations. The revival follows the women as they navigate life in their fifties, adapting to evolving relationships while staying true to their distinctive voices. One veteran cast member did not return, reflecting real-life tensions, yet the show keeps the spirit with fresh dynamics and new personalities who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries of politeness or convention. Season 2 arrives later this year, continuing a trend of casting that introduces diverse, sometimes provocative characters who spark conversations about modern dating, friendship, and self-expression.
Girls
In its mid-twenties, Lena Dunham created and starred in a series that followed four young women in New York, exploring the messy, exhilarating, and fragile early adulthood experience. The show embraces a more unvarnished reality than its predecessors, leaning into candidness about sexuality and ambition. Its protagonists challenge conventional glamour while presenting complex, flawed, and relatable leadership among their peers. The series has been described as a portrait of a generation, capturing roommates navigating the job market, personal identity, and the pressure to define success in a fast-moving city.
Valerie
Netflix introduced Elísabet Benavent’s sweeping romantic saga to screens, following four women in Madrid as they move toward adulthood with curiosity and courage. The final season drops this Friday, bringing to a close a journey that blends friendship, love, and the everyday drama of pursuing dreams. The central character Valeria negotiates doubts about love, while friends Carmen, Nerea, and Lola shape their own paths—balancing romance with career aspirations and self-discovery. The series invites viewers to reflect on the many ways friendship sustains us through changes and challenges.
The perfect life
Leticia Dolera’s Cannes Series hit follows three women in their thirties facing pivotal moments: the end of a relationship, an unplanned pregnancy, and the pursuit of meaningful love. The show dives into the raw realities of modern domestic life, fearlessly presenting uncomfortable truths and intimate moments. It opens a window onto how friends support one another as life pivots, sometimes humorously, sometimes with unflinching honesty, mirroring the fearless spirit that Sex and the City helped normalize in television storytelling.
Working Moms
This Canadian comedy examines the delicate balance of career and family life for new mothers. It shares a lineage with the early Sex and the City characters who confronted professional challenges while navigating personal shifts. The series follows a group of women as they juggle law, corporate life, and motherhood, revealing the practical realities of diapers, scheduling, and ambition. It highlights that pursuing a demanding career and building a family can coexist, with humor and resilience guiding the journey.