16. Atelier

Atelier is a Japanese show about a young woman starting her first job at a boutique lingerie company. It begins with heavy shades of The Devil Wears Prada, and doesn't shy away from extended considerations on the nature of beauty, or the role of fashion on clothing, economics, and innovation. American shows about young people trying to make it (thinkEntourage or Silicon Valley or even Girls) tend to render that entire idea either comedic or foolhardy, but Atelier is built out of the pleasantly unfamiliar fantasy that hard work and passion will lead to immense career success. And as a bonus, it passes the Bechdel test dozens of times in every episode.