In all media, including novels, poetry, and film, motherhood in particular has always been a hugely popular subject to explore. Tully, Lion, Room, and many other movies masterfully and accurately portray the grit and struggles of being a mother.
Due to the bigger scope of TV, the subject is also studied in greater detail and in more creative ways. Fans can thus watch a wide range of fantastic shows that highlight mothers and the challenging work of parenting children.
‘Better Things’ (2016 – 2022)
In Better Things, Pamela Adlon plays an actress who manages to raise her three daughters while juggling the pressures of being a single mother and a working actor in Hollywood.
Better Things is better able to depict the dance of contemporary female maturity because of its realistic tone, which stays away from being depressing or selling manufactured imagery. Additionally, the program is a spiritual comedy that boldly raises challenging questions while delving into important topics. The main focus is on the endearing, real interactions between a mother and her daughters.
‘Big Little Lies’ (2017 – 2019)
Big Little Lies, which is based on Liane Moriarty’s 2014 book of the same name, is about five women who are investigating a murder in Monterey, California. The program examines second wives and ex-husbands, playground scandals, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves with seriousness.
Due to its captivating premise, well-known female cast, and non-linear storytelling, the show is an exciting must-watch. A careful examination of parenting, being a single parent, and managing family issues from a mother’s perspective lies beneath it all, though. Even though the show appears to be a posh soap opera, it offers much more.
‘Catastrophe’ (2015 – 2019)
The main characters of Catastrophe are American advertising executive Rob (Rob Delaney) and Irish primary school teacher Sharon (Sharon Horgan), who begin a fling when Rob is away on business. He moves to London after she tells him she’s pregnant, starts seeing her, and eventually gets married to her. They first had a son, then a daughter.
The sense of realism it conveys and the chemistry between the two actors combine for a pleasurable experience that makes the chapters fly by. The show is wonderful to watch since it explores children, marriage, and other life challenges with British charm and humor.
‘Ginny & Georgia’ (2021 – )
In the fictional Massachusetts town of Wellsbury, Ginny & Georgia takes place. It follows 15-year-old Ginny Miller (Antonia Gentry) as she adjusts to her new life in Wellsbury when her mother, Georgia (Brianne Howey), who is 30 years old, decides to settle down with Ginny and her younger brother, Austin (Diesel La Torraca), in order to provide them a better life.
This show portrays the difficulties of dealing with depression, self-harm, and becoming a single mother at a young age in a beautiful and devastating way. Investigating the show is worthwhile due to its emphasis on family issues and other issues impacting children rather than its thriller element.
‘I’m Sorry’ (2017 – 2019)
In the situation comedy I’m Sorry, Andrea Warren (Andrea Savage), a writer living in suburban Los Angeles, balances motherhood, marriage, her career, and her social life. The show was canceled after two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m Sorry is successful because, with its profanity and raw honesty, it can foster genuine conflict as opposed to forced conflict. Savage’s immense charisma, which softens some of the series’ more challenging situations, and his scathing wit also enable the show to reach more intended viewers, giving them all a sense of inclusion and recognition.
‘Mom’ (2013 – 2021)
Bonnie (Allison Janney) and Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris), a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo who have been estranged for years and battle addictions, try to restore their relationship and their lives by attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and maintaining sobriety.
Mom displays a serious (and frequently hilarious) attempt to confront addiction issues in addition to Faris and Janney’s superb chemistry and brilliant performances. It also examines parenthood and the difficulties of finding one’s identity while balancing life and family.
‘Motherland’ (2016 – 2022)
Motherland centers on middle-class mother Julia Johnstone (Anna Maxwell Martin), who is compelled to start thinking about her children’s schooling and middle-class parenthood after her mother decides to stop taking care of her. Later, Julia makes friends with other parents, and Amanda (Lucy Punch), a mother with a strong personality who seems friendly but is actually snarky, is one of them.
Motherland features witty screenplays that provide nonstop entertainment and follow six archetypal parents as they deal with challenges that all parents face on a daily basis. The show’s keenly observed characters, outstanding ensemble, and ability to find humor in even the most routine circumstances make it a hilarious delight that alternates between being cruel and being compassionate.
‘One Day At a Time’ (2017 – 2020)
Based on the same-named 1975 television series, Justina Machado’s single Army veteran mother, her children, and her Cuban mother are the main subjects of One Day At A Time, a drama that follows a Cuban-American family in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park.
With its outstanding acting and compelling and consistent writing, One Day at a Time acknowledges the agony of being a single parent, aids viewers in understanding it, and offers a warm, inviting getaway. By modernizing the classic family sitcom and making it feel current and relevant, the show has inspired viewers to interact with the realities we share.
‘The Letdown’ (2016 – )
The Letdown centers on Audrey (Alison Bell), a young mother who is finding it difficult to adjust to her new role. She seeks help from a new parents’ group and finds a mixed group of females and one male who are all in a similar predicament to hers.
The show’s sharp writing, compelling storylines, and sincere enthusiasm express a complex view of parenting. The Letdown holds up a mirror to middle-class motherhood, bodily functions, and other topics, reflecting mothers’ need to be understood. Bell is also a pleasant source of humor, and the story has a lot of realistic things to say about becoming a new mother.
‘Workin’ Moms’ (2017–2023)
Workin’ Moms follows four women as they juggle their relationships with one another, careers, and mothering. They support, challenge, and strive not to judge one another as life throws them curveballs. Whether it’s an identity crisis, a great job opportunity, postpartum depression, or an unplanned pregnancy, they handle both good and bad with grace and humor.
The show addresses issues such as mom guilt and creating a family-friendly parenting routine in a very authentic way that can help viewers feel heard and understood. Workin’ Moms deviates from standard sitcom plots in order to give unexpected symbolic moments. The program performs a better job of realistically presenting moms’ experiences than most programs on the same topic, despite its flaws.
