Addictive “Sugar and Sweats” Series on Netflix
When I use the term “Sugar and Sweats” series, I am referring to the type of binge-worthy, light-hearted, funny shows which females like to watch in front of the couch at the end of the day, with no bra, no makeup, hair in a bun, and sweat pants, eating something sugary and delicious.
They’re the type of feel-good comedies which we reward ourselves with after a hard day of work, or rushing around doing errands, and making sure we attend an aerobics class. The danger is, that when we plan to watch just one episode, it can turn into five, and the anticipation to see what’s coming next may persuade us to bail on plans on a Friday night.
Rather than being driven by a particular theme like law or medicine, these shows are relatable to the every day woman, covering subjects like relationships, jobs, and the milestones we encounter in daily life.
Of course, there are “Sugar and Sweats” series which pertain to boys too, such as Peaky Blinders paired with XL Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Blizzard.
The following are a list, in no particular order, of my favourite shows which have more of a female-driven focus, to be enjoyed with a box of assorted Dairy Milk chocolates.
1. Drop Dead Diva (2009-2014)
One of my favourites, Drop Dead Diva, is a comedy series about a beautiful and shallow aspiring model who switches places with an overweight lawyer, when both encounter death and are sent to the pearly gates. Deb, the model, hits the return button, and gets put into Jane’s body, and ends up working in a law office where she has Deb’s memories and eye for fashion, but Jane’s body- including her lawyer-smart brain. She ends up working alongside her gorgeous fiancé, who was engaged to Deb before she died. Meanwhile, the real Jane is up in heaven witnessing her body being run by a diva, who gives ‘Jane’ a makeover, while still managing to win cases, with both intelligence and compassion, and a knowledge for fashion.
2. Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012-2013)
Lasting only two seasons, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 is a hilarious series for girls, and perfect for a couple of roommates who can giggle about who is ‘June’ and who is ‘Chloe’. June, an innocent small-town girl from Indiana, moves to New York City for a job she landed on Wall Street with a fabulous apartment set up, and is soon to be joined by her fiancé. All goes to poop, and June is stuck living with a nightmare party-girl roommate, Chloe. The two form an unlikely friendship along with Chloe’s best friend, James Van Der Beek (yes, the real star of Dawson’s Creek), and the three encounter outrageous shenanigans as they explore the big city.
3. The Mindy Project (2012-2017)
I can describe The Mindy Project as a female comedy with a male sense of humour. Although Mindy herself produces and writes the show, she is assisted by a team of producers, the majority of whom are men, as are the lead supporting characters. The stylish, yet quirky star of the show is a gynaecologist working in Manhattan, who is great at her job, yet continuously struggles with herself, adulthood, and her dating life. She uses humour to poke fun of her weight and her awkwardness, while flaunting herself as the fashionable modern day Manhattan woman that she is. Mindy and her team of hilarious co-stars are sure to have you in tears laughing every single show.
4. Jane the Virgin (2014-present)
Loosely based on the Venezuelan telenovela, Juana la Virgen, Jane the Virgin is a satirical romantic comedy about a religious young lady who accidentally becomes pregnant after being artificially inseminated. Though Jane has never had intimate relations with a man, she get’s caught up in a love triangle with her serious boyfriend and baby-daddy, and the characters and the relationships become more convoluted as the plot thickens. Get ready to laugh, but prepare for murder, as this dark comedy unravels an intriguing series which is still currently figuring out just how to tie up everything before coming to an end.
5. Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
If you want a show to watch to make yourself feel pretty, it’s safe to say you’ll feel like a Victoria’s Secret model when you watch Ugly Betty. Poor Betty is a girl from Queens, and is about as un-stylish as they come, yet happens to land a gig working for one of New York’s leading fashion magazines. Living at home with her father, sister, and nephew, Betty juggles her job working for her playboy boss, as well as her own personal life. Kind of like The Devil Wears Prada, but with less hope for the main character transforming into a fox like Anne Hathaway, it’s dark, it’s humorous, and it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Re-Watch the Classics
Desperate Housewives (2004-2012) and Sex and the City (1998-2004)
They may have debut on air over a decade ago, but these shows we used to watch as we learned about womanhood and began to blossom into young ladies ourselves, played integral roles as we grew up. The topics in Desperate Housewives and especially, Sex and the City, may have been very taboo, especially for our age, but we can’t say we didn’t learn valuable lessons which we still think about in our lives today.
Sisterhood, relationships, careers, heartbreak, deaths, and in some cases, crime, though these two shows were very different, they shared the same concept of the power of a female bond.
You may remember pieces of these shows so well you could paint a picture, but there’s valuable information and lots of great laughs to be enjoyed when you re-watch these shows, and other “classic” series. The classic series are the ones we watched when we first became ingrained with the concept of Sugar & Sweats series weekly on TV, before the rise of Netflix!
Love from Lala.
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