--- title: "Broad City: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/broad-city/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/broad-city" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Broad City (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like Broad City, and the praise gathers in one place: the friendship between Abbi and Ilana. Reviewers describe it as easy, loyal and free of the self-loathing that often comes with comedies about young women, and several credit the show with moving from webseries to television without visible growing pains. Its zany energy and its casual way with sex, money and everyday New York life are singled out as the things that make it feel different from earlier city sitcoms. The reservations are about tone and about age. Vulture finds the early episodes lurching between sharp observation and broad sketch exaggeration, and Variety calls the first run promising rather than finished. The wider gap opens later: Den of Geek thinks the final season is as good as the show ever was, while The Times finds it smug and formulaic. The spread runs from the warmest possible notice to a plainly hostile one, so the consensus is friendly but not unanimous. ## The AV Club — Caroline Framke Rating A-. 23 January 2014. The critic praises the show's low-concept sitcom appeal centered on the worth-watching friendship between Ilana and Abbi, noting the smooth transition from webseries to TV without growing pains. They single out the authentic, fun friendship as the core strength. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/broad-city-what-a-wonderful-world-1798179268) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2014. The critic praises Broad City as a fresh, relatable comedy about two young women whose friendship is central and supportive, free of self-loathing. It singles out the show's casual, unapologetic take on female friendship, sex, and everyday hedonism as a welcome departure in women-centric comedy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/apr/14/broad-city-comedy-genius) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 March 2015. The piece positions Broad City as this generation’s Friends, praising its feminist, racially diverse and risqué take on twentysomething life in New York. It highlights the show’s goofy humour, loyalty among friends and specific cultural references over earlier sitcoms. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/love-friends-but-want-something-more-feminist-racially-diverse-and-risque-then-watch-broad-city-10097742.html) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2014. The series is a promising but not fully formed web-to-TV transplant with energy and an endearing central duo of cash-strapped twentysomethings. It stands out for its zany comedic tone and natural bond between the leads rather than angst. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/broad-city-tv-review-comedy-central-1201055782/) ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2014. The series has moderately sharp and funny moments with a satirical edge about privileged twentysomethings facing economic realities, but it struggles to settle on a consistent tone. It lurches between nuanced real-world observations and broad sketch-comedy exaggeration. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/tv-review-seitz-on-broad-city.html) ## The Times — Liam Fay Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2019. The critic finds that Broad City has degenerated from its sharp 2014 origins into a formulaic, smug series full of mirthless joshing and virtue-signalling. The final season is seen as insufferably complacent, with political jibes mistaken for critique. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/tv-reviews-pure-catastrophe-broad-city-shooting-the-darkness-7t00z65cl) ## Den of Geek — Daniella Bondar Rating 5/5. 29 March 2019. The critic praises the series finale as perfect, highlighting the heartfelt goodbyes and the enduring friendship between Abbi and Ilana. The show is celebrated for its meaningful portrayal of young women's relationships and its consistent quality throughout the run. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/broad-city-series-finale-review/) ## Collider — Chris Cabin Rating ★★★★. 17 February 2016. The critic calls the third season uproarious and buoyantly expressive, noting its unique take on New York City life and its freedom for young, creative women. It contrasts favorably with more conventional city-life shows like Sex and the City. [Read the review](https://collider.com/broad-city-season-3-review-ilana-glazer-abbi-jacobson/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md