7 Shows Like 'Jane the Virgin' Worth Checking Out If You like Quirky Female-Led Dramas
"Jane the Virgin" is an exceptionally well-crafted and skillfully performed TV comedy-drama. The show balances humor while offering valuable insights into mother-daughter relationships. While the series took viewers by storm, other shows like "Jane the Virgin" will get you at the edge of your seat.
"Jane the Virgin" gained immense popularity thanks to its gripping storyline. The show centers around one Venezuelan-American religious young woman whose life turns upside down after she accidentally gets artificially inseminated.
Jane, portrayed by Gina Rodriguez, is shocked upon discovering that the biological donor is her boss and former crush. This revelation catalyzes the show's unfolding narrative leading to a series of complications revolving around Jane's love life and career.
"Jane the Virgin" achieved its popularity due to several compelling factors. The series delved deeply into the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships and explored the complexities of Jane's love triangle, capturing viewers' interests. The show's appeal is further heightened by its rich, dramatic elements, encompassing a wide range of captivating storylines.
It covered extramarital affairs, drug rings, instances of murder, intricate family dynamics like baby daddies and dual identities, and the revelation of concealed family secrets and mysterious pasts. If you liked this series, other TV shows like "Jane the Virgin" will leave you hooked on to your screen.
'Crazy Ex Girlfriend'
If you enjoyed watching"Jane the Virgin," this engaging comedy-musical drama "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" will leave you hooked. The series revolves around Rebecca Bunch, portrayed by Rachel Bloom, who decides to leave behind her job at a law firm and her life in New York to find happiness in West Covina, California.
From an outside perspective, Rebecca is a successful young woman, holding a prestigious position as an attorney in a renowned law firm in New York. She has everything many women would wish for: looks, brains, and wealth.
However, Rebecca has long battled with anxiety and depression, leading her to rely on multiple medications. These struggles are primarily rooted in the pressure exerted by her controlling Jewish mother, which also contributed to her father abandoning the family during her childhood.
When Rebecca unexpectedly bumps into Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), her former boyfriend from a summer camp ten years ago, memories of when she felt truly happy resurfaces. Despite the elusive nature of happiness, Rebecca seizes the opportunity when Josh reveals he is moving back to his hometown of West Covina, California.
She fakes a story about landing a great job there, when in reality, her motive is to reignite a relationship with Josh, believing that this will ultimately bring her the happiness she craves.
'Manhattan Love Story'
This comedy sitcom revolves around the candid internal thoughts of a young man and a young woman, which are exposed as they embark on a new romantic relationship. The show begins with Dana (Lio Tipton), a newcomer to Manhattan, hired by a publishing firm amid cost-cutting. Other employees resent and suspect she's a budget replacement hired to do their jobs.
Guided by her yoga-teaching sorority sister Amy (Jade Catta-Preta), Dana goes on a blind date with womanizer Peter (Jake McDorman), Amy's brother-in-law. With each new episode, the storyline unfolds, creating twists and surprises to gradually advance their relationship, offering viewers a reason to invest emotionally.
'Younger'
This romantic comedy-drama series is as captivating as "Jane the Virgin." The show's storyline centers around 40-year-old Liza (Sutton Foster), a single mother aiming to reenter the workforce.
She discovers that starting a new career at her age proves nearly impossible. After an encounter with a man in his 20s convinces her she looks younger, Liza attempts to pose as a 26-year-old, aided by a makeover from her friend Maggie (Debi Mazar).
Empowered by newfound self-confidence, she secures a position as an assistant to the demanding Diana (Miriam Shor). She collaborates with her coworker Kelsey (Hilary Duff); in her 20s, Liza strives to make it in her dream career.
'The Mindy Project'
"The Mindy Project" tells the story of a young obstetrics and gynecology doctor trying to balance her personal and professional life surrounded by quirky coworkers in a small office. Mindy (Mindy Kaling) excels at her job but doesn't have a pleasant personality sometimes.
Despite seeming self-centered and shallow, she prioritizes friends, coworkers, and patients. Mindy's journey involves numerous blunders and getting herself into comically awkward situations, yet she addresses them with humor and intelligence, often learning from the experience.
While the show pays tribute to the rom-com genre, it also offers a critical perspective. Like real life, the storyline doesn't always culminate in fairy-tale endings; it encompasses breakups, career triumphs and setbacks, and personal struggles.
'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'
This acclaimed series which received 18 Emmy nominations, tells the story of Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper), who, after being rescued from an underground bunker in which she lived for the past fifteen years, she decides to move to New York City to have a normal life.
Kimmy forges a friendship with her new roommate, Titus (Tituss Burgess), and becomes a babysitter for Jacqueline Voorhees (Jane Krakowski), the troubled wife of a wealthy tycoon. Despite facing numerous challenges, she embraces her fresh start and navigates the environment with determination and positivity.
'Gilmore Girls'
"Gilmore Girls" aired from 2000 to 2007, captivating viewers with its compelling narrative. This Emmy-winning show follows the lives of thirtysomething single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter Rory in the charming town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
The series explores Lorelai's complicated relationship with her parents, Rory's experiences at a new prep school, and their romantic involvement, offering a rich tapestry of drama. The show starred Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham.
'The Hook Up Plan
"The Hook Up Plan" is a rom-com series set in modern-day Paris. The show's storyline revolves around a close circle of friends who come together to support their friend Elsa, who remains single and unlucky in love. Charlotte and Emilie devise a well-intentioned yet misguided plan to boost Elsa's self-assurance.
They engage a male escort to help reignite Elsa's belief in dating, relationships, and the prospect of finding true love. Other TV shows like "Jane the Virgin" that you might enjoy are "One Dat at a Time," "The Good Place," "Devious Maids," and "The House of Flowers," "Ugly Betty," "The Santa Clarita Diet," among others.