Chewing Gum

A star is born in this delightfully quirky comedy about a horny, hapless young woman who comes from British public housing and a particularly religious family. She's not exactly sure what she's looking for, but she knows it's something else because of the panic she feels when she asks her sister Cynthia, "What do you want from life?" and the response is, "Nothing, other than this. I see us sitting around the table like every other day except we're really old." Ricocheting away from this vision of the future, Tracey variously tries to seduce her (gay) boyfriend, land a new job at a fancy perfume shop so she can afford Beyoncé extensions, and learn how to beguile strangers over the internet in search of something new.

Coel's comic instinct is killer -- her fourth-wall-breaking asides to the camera about her grand schemes and musings are priceless -- and her writing is as fresh as it comes. Warning her big sister not to attend a party at Candice's place, Cynthia warns "the devils will be prowling round her flat like a lion on a low-carb diet." Other shows have offered similar awkward laughter, but the sharp writing, underlying sweetness, and Coel's unique radiance makes Chewing Gum something truly special.