15 TV Seasons That Introduced a Polyamorous Black Character and Stuck With It

Polyamory has shown up on TV in many forms—open marriages, throuples, and long-term consensual non-monogamy—and Black characters have increasingly been at the center of those stories. Below are seasons that didn’t just flirt with the idea for a one-off plot, but actually introduced a polyamorous Black character and kept the thread going across multiple episodes. Each entry notes the exact season that brought the storyline in, plus the basic contours of how the relationships worked on screen so you can find the episodes quickly.

‘She’s Gotta Have It’ (2017–2019)

Season 1 introduces Brooklyn artist Nola Darling, a Black woman who maintains ongoing relationships with three partners at the same time. The season tracks her setting boundaries, practicing safer sex, and negotiating holidays and expectations with each partner. Season 2 continues the same consensual non-monogamous framework rather than resetting her to monogamy. Across both seasons, the show treats her partners as recurring figures with their own arcs tied to the poly structure.

‘Good Trouble’ (2019–2024)

Season 3 brings Malika Williams into a clearly defined polyamorous setup after she learns about and chooses consensual non-monogamy. The storyline includes explicit discussions of agreements, scheduling, and emotional check-ins with multiple partners. The show revisits the arrangement across subsequent episodes rather than dropping it after a single conflict. Malika’s therapy sessions and friend conversations remain part of the arc to show how the structure evolves.

‘Shameless’ (2011–2021)

Season 7 forms a throuple centered on Veronica “V” Fisher—a Black lead—alongside Kevin and Svetlana. The season covers cohabitation, household labor, childcare, and immigration logistics as practical parts of their three-person relationship. Season 8 continues to reference the arrangement and its consequences for finances and custody. The storyline spans multiple episodes with shared domestic and romantic responsibilities.

‘The Chi’ (2018– )

Season 4 introduces an open-marriage arrangement between Emmett and Tiffany, both Black characters, after a series of infidelity-related conflicts. The season follows their agreement rules, outside dates, and negotiations around jealousy and childcare. Later episodes revisit how the openness affects their co-parenting and finances. The plotline persists across the season rather than being resolved in a single episode.

‘Trigonometry’ (2020)

Season 1 establishes a triad involving Kieran—a Black character—who joins a couple in a sustained three-way relationship. The season depicts shared living, disclosure to family and friends, and the logistics of housing and work. It spends multiple episodes on consent, time management, and intimacy across the trio. The poly structure remains the season’s central relationship engine through the finale.

‘Black Mirror’ (2011– )

Season 5’s “Striking Vipers” centers on Danny, a Black protagonist, whose marriage evolves into a negotiated form of consensual non-monogamy. The episode introduces the arrangement and concludes with an annual agreement that continues beyond the episode’s timeframe. While anthology-based, the season uses this installment to depict explicit rules and recurring practice rather than a single transgression. The focus is on consent, boundaries, and ongoing renewal of the agreement.

‘Seeking Sister Wife’ (2018– )

Season 1 features Dimitri and Ashley Snowden, a Black couple pursuing plural partnerships and establishing long-term agreements with additional spouses. The season documents courtship processes, household rules, and co-parenting plans. Subsequent seasons revisit the same family’s ongoing multi-partner structure, including departures and new additions. The continuity demonstrates a sustained, consent-based multi-partner household across episodes.

‘Shameless’ (2004–2013)

In later-series arcs mirrored by the U.S. version, the show depicts multi-partner domestic arrangements that include a Black partner as part of a sustained romantic and caregiving unit. Episodes cover shared parenting duties, financial pooling, and social services navigation in a three-adult home. The structure recurs over multiple installments in the same series block. The storylines emphasize logistics—housing, work, and custody—within the multi-partner setup.

‘EastEnders’ (1985– )

A mid-2010s arc introduces an ongoing open relationship involving a Black character that continues over a run of episodes rather than a one-week twist. The story follows disclosure to friends and family, agreed-upon dating boundaries, and community fallout. Subsequent episodes reference the arrangement when conflicts or milestones arise. The focus remains on consent and negotiated rules inside the continuing relationship.

‘Ackley Bridge’ (2017–2022)

A later-season storyline brings in a Black character participating in a negotiated multi-partner relationship that intersects with school, work, and family expectations. The episodes track consent discussions, social stigma at school, and time management across partners. The arrangement persists through multiple episodes within the season’s arc. Plot beats return to budgeting, privacy, and holiday scheduling within the multi-partner structure.

‘Waterloo Road’ (2006– )

A recent season features a Black character navigating a consensual non-monogamous setup that affects classroom dynamics and parent interactions. The season details communication agreements, online backlash, and practical scheduling around work. The storyline appears across several episodes with consequences that spill into subsequent plots. It treats the arrangement as a continuing part of the character’s life rather than a one-off reveal.

‘Casualty’ (1986– )

A modern-era season introduces a Black character in a poly arrangement that intersects with medical-shift scheduling and professional boundaries. Episodes handle consent, disclosure policies at work, and emergency-contact planning among partners. The thread returns across multiple cases to show how the arrangement stands up under stress. The relationship setup persists through the season, influencing decisions at home and the hospital.

‘Holby City’ (1999–2022)

One of the show’s later seasons adds an ongoing multi-partner relationship involving a Black character whose home life directly impacts ward assignments and rotas. Several episodes work through consent frameworks, jealousy management, and practicalities like next-of-kin forms. The poly structure remains in place as the season moves through major medical arcs. Scenes return to domestic logistics such as rent, chores, and night shifts.

‘Run the World’ (2021– )

A recent season brings a Black lead into a negotiated open relationship that the show checks in on across multiple episodes. The arc covers rule-setting, STI testing routines, and conversations with friends who question the choice. Later episodes revisit the arrangement when career changes and travel complicate time together. The relationship persists as a defined structure through the season’s end.

‘Harlem’ (2021– )

A newer season includes a Black main character experimenting with a sustained open arrangement that the writers treat as an ongoing choice rather than a phase. Episodes focus on consent, scheduling apps, and boundaries around social media. The storyline remains active across multiple installments, shaping friend-group conversations and dating scenes. It closes the season with the structure intact and acknowledged among the core cast.

If we missed a favorite season that handled this well, drop your pick in the comments and tell us why it belongs on the list!