The support in "Living Single" with friends.

Six friends and neighbours are stuck like glue as they navigate relationships, careers, and other aspects of life within their brownstones in Brooklyn, New York. A spoiler warning is in effect! Khadijah (Queen Latifah), her cousin Synclaire (Kim Coles), her university friend Maxine (Erika Alexander), and her childhood friend Regine (Kim Fields) comprise the female members of the friend group. Kyle (Terrence Carson) and his childhood friend Overton (John Henton) are their neighbours and the male counterparts of the group. They have their opinions of each other and their ways of dealing with one another. The show utilizes a realistic approach considering their arguments and how they work things out as roommates. This is seen when Kyle and Overton fought, and he stayed at the girls' apartment, similar to Regine's fight with Khadijah which resulted in her moving out before her return.

However, their love remains as they support each other when needed as seen in several scenes such as how they all left what they were doing to spend time with Synclaire during Christmas, when they were all present to comfort Regine during her surgery, when they were all present and brainstormed ways to attain funds for Khadijah's magazine, when they were supportive during Overton and Max's career declining moments, when they comforted Kyle after his heartbreak from Stacey (Nia Long), and more. I appreciated the development of their characters and friendships, and I was pleased with how things turned out for most of them.

The character I increasingly found myself disliking is Max. I was happy when she proved her skills and showed resilience, which led to her return to her career as a lawyer but there are aspects of this character that irked me. She was often called masculine, despite being sexually positive, but this positivity takes a downward turn in the time-shift episode, with a reimagined jazz club. She portrayed a sex-crazed image at an alarming level which could portray previous people in that position of a club owner but in light of her previous scenes, it felt worrisome. This image of masculinity solidified over the series but seemed to come to a head when she is informed on a retreat that all other versions of her in her past lives had been men, except for her at the moment. This annoyed me because this and other scenes chipped away at her moments of femininity.

Initially, I liked the banter between herself and Kyle, as it seemed to be reinforced by genuine friendship, which made it an enemies - to - lovers trope within their "will they, won't they" arc. However, they became quite toxic with each other and eventually bonded over a baby. I even preferred the "will they, won't they" between Scooter (Cress Williams) and Khadijah despite all they went through. I was happy that Regine found her path and her man in the end but I would have loved to see her wedding instead of just hearing about it, as it had been such a focus and desire for her. I was happy for Overton and Synclaire, not just for their healthy relationship but also for their successful individual paths in acting and handyman work.

The show highlights Queen Latifah and Terrence Carson's vocals, while cameos keep you engaged. These include Queen Latifah's and Kim Fields' real mothers, Morris Chestnut's extended cameo in special episodes, surprise appearances by Eartha Kitt and Joseph Marcell, and Deion Sanders, who briefly appeared to grab the guys' snacks before returning to the game. The five-season show concludes early, with 13 episodes in its final season, compared to the usual 20. The first three seasons each contain 27 episodes, and the fourth contains 24 episodes.

The last season swaps Kyle out for Tripp (Mel Jackson) in the friend group and he replaces Regine in the women's unit. This change was not smooth, despite their efforts, and would be unnerving to anyone watching. However, Tripp or Ira's inclusion wasn't bad. I felt he may not have been necessary, but he brought a new edge to the show. Even though I didn't appreciate the change due to the cast disruption, he was a new roommate who got along with the others. I was glad about Kyle's return at the end and the cast reunion, despite the strange and rushed feel of it all. Regardless, this show is a splendid depiction of neighbours and their friend who thinks she lives there. This sitcom, which aired from 1993 to 1998, focused on black adults at a time when family sitcoms were more popular and showcased an understanding of the era, which still holds up regarding it's topics about the workplace, society, and relationships. It is the predecessor of several black shows focused on adulthood and friendships such as Insecure, Harlem, Run the World, and more. It's heartwarming, realistic, and a good representation to all adults Living Single.

From May 7th, 2025, Living Single returns in the "official unofficial" podcast led by Kim Coles and Erika Alexander called ReLiving Single, which can be listened to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube for its weekly Wednesday episodes.

Welcome to ReLiving Single - the official unofficial Living Single rewatch podcast. Hosted by sitcom legends and real-life BFFs Erika Alexander and Kim Coles.

From "Ride the Maverick" mishaps to "Woo woo woo" wisdom, every week we're giving you behind-the-scenes stories, exploring the show's iconic moments, and reintroducing you to the stars that made the show a part of TV history. Living Single redefined comedy, friendship, dating, and the Black experience for a new generation and ReLiving Single is here to do it again. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, this podcast offers a front row seat to the laughs, love, and legacy of a groundbreaking show.

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