Single moms don't always get their due when it comes to good television. The Duchess, from creator and lead actress Katherine Ryan [1], seeks to remedy that by giving her eponymous character a life as full-bodied and robust as the red wine she drinks. In her Netflix series, Ryan divulges all the nitty-gritty details, and more often than not, hilarious dilemmas that single mothers face on a daily basis. From ensuring a good relationship with their child's second parent to balancing a dating life to keeping up with the latest trends [2], mothers tackle it all.
As more women infiltrate the boys' club of Hollywood, more intimate and vivid depictions of motherhood and unabashed feminine life are entering the cannon. For those who lapped up the first season of The Duchess, here are 14 more shows just as relatable and hilarious.
Workin' Moms
This Netlfix series follows four working mothers who lean on each other as they navigate their lives and try their hardest to not screw up their kids in the process. Careers, love, parenting — it's all covered in the four seasons of this series — and good news, there's a fifth on the way.
Watch Workin' Moms [4] on Netflix.
Single Parents
This one is a no-brainer, since the premise is spelled out in the title. Gossip Girl [5]'s Leighton Meester [6] has a glorious return to primetime as single mother Angie working to raise a 7-year-old without losing her life in the process. It's an ensemble comedy, so there's laughs for single dads as well, who also don't get nearly as much screen time as they should.
Watch Single Parents [7] on Hulu.
Raising Hope
What better way to become a father than having a one-night stand leave a baby on your doorstep after being sentenced to death row? This is the situation Jimmy finds himself in during the pilot, and though he isn't a mom, Raising Hope makes the list because his whole tactless, yet well-meaning family steps in to raise Hope with guaranteed laughter along the way.
Watch Raising Hope [8] on Hulu.
One Day at a Time
The Duchess is a lot of things, but family-friendly isn't one of them. For a more nurturing look at the daily joy of being a single mother that's safe to watch with kids, Gloria Calderon Kellett's Cuban reimagination of the Norman Lear classic is a must see.
Watch One Day at a Time [9] on Netflix.
The Letdown
It's always a relief to have friends that can related to the difficulties of your daily life, but new mom Audrey (Alison Bell) soon learns that bonding with other single moms could lead to even more quirky drama in her life. This Australian comedy only snagged two seasons, so it's a quick watch that's well worth the time.
Watch The Letdown [10] on Netflix.
Fleabag
Hear us out: if you loved The Duchess for its raunchy, blunt British humour, then Fleabag is the next stop on your TV road trip. Phoebe Waller-Bridge stuns as a down-on-her-luck, witty woman looking to move past the rut caused by her best friend's death.
Watch Fleabag [11] on Amazon.
Black-ish
Much like Katherine, Andre Johnson is just trying to figure out how to raise a happy and healthy family. Follow along as the Johnsons navigate the complicated life of raising a family, with their signature brand of humourous honesty.
Watch Black-ish [12] on Hulu.
Catastrophe
Catastrophe also capitalizes on those British comedic sensibilities. American tourist Rob (Rob Delaney) has a night of fun with Irish teacher Sharon (Sharon Horgan) during a London holiday, and of course, she winds up expecting. As the two attempt to coparent, they meet questions of parental and romantic relationships that take a good sense of humour to weather.
Watch Catastrophe [13] on Amazon.
Shameless (UK)
Showtime's Shameless is based on a British show of the same name featuring a family that is even more problematic and dysfunctional than their Yankee counterparts. The original series has a meaty eleven seasons, following a young woman forced to become a mother to her siblings after her alcoholic father leaves the kids to fend for themselves.
Watch Shameless [14] on Amazon Prime.
Good Girls
NBC's Good Girls, starring Mae Whitman, Retta, and Christina Hendricks, follows three women who descend into the criminal underworld in efforts to support their children. Whether they're married or single, the women are tired of letting the men run the show and take things into their own hands.
Watch Good Girls [15] on Netflix.
Sex Education
The stars of Sex Education are clearly the teens exploring their sexuality in an English high school, but main character Otis's mother Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson) is what The Duchess's Katherine will comfortably age into. Jean is a sex therapist who wants her son to own his sexuality and get laid as much as she does.
Watch Sex Education [16] on Netflix.
Baby Daddy
Similar to The Duchess, Ben takes on parenting with a sense of humour. When his ex-girlfriend drops a baby off on his doorstep, he decides to raise his little girl with the help of his friends and family.
Watch Baby Daddy [17] on Hulu.
Mom
This heart-wrenching comedy about a mom and daughter trying to get their life back on track is reminiscent of Katherine's attempts to find love, success, and happiness while raising her family. Fall in love with Christy and Bonnie, a mother-daughter duo who reconnect after being estranged for years and attempt to repair their relationship.
Watch Mom [18] on Hulu.
Little Fires Everywhere
If you were into the intense moments and family intrigue in The Duchess, then Little Fires Everywhere is the show for you. You'll follow as Mia Warren and her daughter move to a new town and begin to intertwine their lives with the Richardsons, a picture-perfect family who are not what they seem.
Watch Little Fires Everywhere [19] on Hulu.
