What is Insecure's IQ Score?

Insecure has an IQ Score of 145/200 on TV Intelligentsia's Intelligence Quotient framework, placing it in the Stimulating tier. The score breaks down to 38/50 Cognitive Stimulation, 30/50 Educational Value, and 42/50 Craft & Quality.

Is Insecure educational?

Insecure is moderate on educational value, 30/50 on TVI's rubric. Some learning happens, but it isn't the show's primary work.

How does TV Intelligentsia calculate IQ Score?

TV Intelligentsia's IQ Score is calculated as round((Cognitive Stimulation × 0.4 + Educational Value × 0.35 + Craft & Quality × 0.25) × 4), scoring titles from 0 to 200 across five tiers: Masterclass (≥160), Stimulating (≥130), Competent (≥100), Passive (≥70), and Numbing (<70). The framework is published at tvintelligentsia.com/methodology/.

Insecure , IQ Score 145/200

Insecure has an IQ Score of 145/200 on TV Intelligentsia's Intelligence Quotient rubric, placing it in the Stimulating tier.

By Jordan Robinson, MPH·Updated 2026-06-06·Methodology

comedydrama

145/ 200

Stimulating

Consistently challenges the viewer and rewards attention

Score Breakdown

Cognitive Stimulation/50

Educational Value/50

Craft & Quality/50

IQ = round((Cognitive × 0.4 + Educational × 0.35 + Craft × 0.25) × 4) · How we score →

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Why you should trust this score

Methodology reviewed by Jordan Robinson, MD, MPH

Physician scientist. Master of Public Health, with substantial coursework in research methodology. Reviews the rubric and its application across the adult catalog.

Methodology

Published rubric, v1.2

Formula

round(C × 0.40 + E × 0.35 + Q × 0.25) × 4

Database scale

2,324 titles, version-controlled

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The TVI Take

Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore's HBO series treating Black female friendship and Los Angeles professional-class precarity as the show's actual subject, not as background to romance plot. The Issa-Molly relationship is rare prestige-TV female-friendship work rendered with specificity across five seasons.

The 'Cards on the Table' direct-address breakthrough and the music supervision (Solange, Frank Ocean, SZA) are the show's formal anchors.

Where to Watch

Stream