After five seasons, 'Insecure' leaves behind a long-lasting legacy

In the saturated world of television and streaming, "Insecure" cut through the noise, transcending to levels of cultural sensationalism.

The hit HBO show, chronicling the lives of Issa Dee, played by star and creator Issa Rae, and her friends has become something of a television phenomenon. For hours on Sunday evening, as the show runs, Twitter is filled with hot takes and reactions to plotlines, jokes and outfits. The next day, websites buzz with recaps -- everyone from podcasters to your favorite group chat picks apart the episode's events, and even Michelle Obama keeps up with the shenanigans. (HBO and CNN are both part of WarnerMedia.)

And the fanbase is notoriously dedicated. Actor Jay Ellis, who plays Lawrence, Issa's polarizing on-again off-again love interest, told Essence in 2018 that fans have cursed him out, chased him down and physically punched him over the show's events.