The entertainment industry is full of predominately male energy, with gender inequality still running rampant in Hollywood. While I’d never want to diminish the hard work and exemplary performances of our favorite male actors, it’s time to turn the spotlight elsewhere. That’s right, I’m talking about our leading ladies. In celebration of Women’s History Month, let’s show some love for the strong female characters that prove the future is female.
So, throw on a face mask, grab a glass of wine, and turn on one of these binge-worthy female-led series.
Jessica Jones
No one can deny that Krysten Ritter is mesmerizing as the sarcastic, booze-loving Jessica Jones. The anti-hero walks a fine line between destructive cynicism and reluctant hope, all while moonlighting as a private investigator. Not only does she address issues like sexual harassment, but she paves the way for women to showcase their complexities.
She creates a space where women no longer have to be pigeonholed into a one-dimensional character (as we see in so many superhero stories). Jones teaches us that it’s okay to be both strong and traumatized, angry and collected, and determined and weak. She really is the physical embodiment of the challenges and hardships women endure day after day, like harassment, feeling unsafe, discrimination, sexual and physical violence, and emotional manipulation.
Watching this Netflix series can be incredibly cathartic. Especially when we look at the relatability of her character. Jessica Jones is her own worst enemy – alienating and self-sabotaging herself as a defense mechanism against her own emotional trauma. Despite her many layers and deep inner turmoil, I can firmly say Jessica Jones is cool AF.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Dark humor permeates every inch of this Netflix original series. Kimmy, played by Ellie Kemper, is infamously dubbed a “mole woman”. She spent years being held captive in an underground bunker. The show marries fits of laughter with a resounding message about the power of optimism – which we are reminded of each episode through its infectious theme song.
The auto-tuned mashup, which pays homage to viral hits like “Songify the News” and “Bedroom Intruder,” reminds us that “females are strong as hell!” 🎼 🎵 🎶
Even after witnessing the very worst of humankind, Kimmy still maintains an unwavering belief in humanity. And let’s not forget, her journey is not an easy one. After spending 15 years believing her and her mole sisters were the sole survivors of a nuclear apocalypse (thanks to her kidnapper), she must rediscover herself and the world. Despite all this, Kimmy never gives up. And that’s a trait we could all use a little dose of.
Unbelievable
Ok, I know what you’re thinking….I’m drinking the Netflix Kool-Aid right now, but I promise I just ordered this list poorly.
This straight-from-the-headlines true-crime series, led by Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever), Grace Rasmussen (Merritt Wever), and Karen Duvall (Toni Collette), explores a series of rapes in Washington State and Colorado. The timely story follows Marie, a teenager who is charged with falsifying a rape claim. Shocked and traumatized, Marie is interrogated by a detective that should be protecting her. Yet, he continually revictimizes her, insisting she rehashes the story of her attack over and over again. It’s mind-numbing and enraging to watch, especially as nurses callously poke and prod her like a test subject.
Running alongside Marie’s case is a parallel story – one that’s rarely seen or heard of. Another woman is raped. But unlike Marie, she’s with a detective that shows how sexual assault cases should be handled. Both she and the medical staff are gentle, reassuring, comforting, and sensitive to the situation (and emotions) at hand. Thanks to the unrelenting work of detectives Rasmussen and Duvall, the truth is eventually pieced together and the attacker’s identity is revealed.
Why this show is important.
By shedding light on the discrepancies between the two investigations, Unbelievable highlights the need for a major shift in the way rape victims are treated in our legal system. Everyone responds to trauma in their own unique way. Just because someone’s coping mechanism may be to completely shut down, doesn’t mean they deserve to be mistreated.
Despite no one believing her story, Marie showed strength and bravery. And this is all coming from a woman whose childhood was replete with abuse. What’s even more inspirational is how the real victim reacted to the series – calling it “perfect” and saying that it brought her closure. Ugh. So powerful. I just need to hug someone.
The Bold Type
Freeform…I’m wow-ed. There has never been a better time for a show portraying fierce, career-driven women in the workplace. The series follows powerhouse trio Sutton (Meghann Fahy), Jane (Katie Stevens), and Kat (Aisha Dee) as they explore their womanhood and independence. This is feminism at its very core. Not to mention, it’s crucial for young women to be educated on topics like sexual consent, women’s health, sexuality and the LGBTQ community, female friendship and empowerment, politics, and a whole slew of topics that never see the light of day on cable television.
This is applaud-worthy TV at its finest. And I’m not gonna lie, I want to turn this trio into a foursome. Can I get some love over here?
The Handmaid’s Tale
This is a hard one to watch. And not just for me, for many people. The dystopian series depicts a (horrific) fallen America – one in which fertile women (a.k.a. “Handmaids”) are forced into reproductive slavery; bearing children for the corrupt and oppressive individuals in power (Gilead). The theocratic dictatorship has savagely limited the rights of all humans, placing their main focus on women, who are now forbidden to read. Perhaps even more chilling is author Margaret Atwood’s comment on her book, admitting there was “… nothing in the book that didn’t happen, somewhere.”
Although she constantly faces adversity, June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), uses the abuse and female subjugation as a way to channel her emotions into strength. The handmaids are constantly under surveillance. Where they go and what they do is incredibly restricted, yet June and some of her fellow handmaids find subtle ways to defy the oppression, retaliating whenever they see a window of opportunity.
June is incredibly smart, bold, and brave. She finds small ways to cheat the system, all for brief moments of joy, like reuniting with her daughter (who was born before Gilead took over the U.S.). Despite being constantly on the brink of insanity, June continues to push forward and carry out her acts of disobedience.
Side note: Handmaids are not even allowed to keep their real names. June, for instance, is assigned a new one – Offred. A name that grotesquely symbolizes that she is someone else’s property….Of-Fred. Nicely done, Atwood.
The Honorable Mentions
Those a just a few of the many leading ladies that deserve recognition – but I’ll spare you the pain of scrolling through another 20 pages. I just need to give a quick nod to a few more of my favorite female leads, like Rose McIver in iZombie, Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder, Claire Danes in Homeland, Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones, and Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black.
Seriously, these women kick ass.
Either typing away on my keyboard or nose-deep in a good book. Say hi to me on Twitter @Kkantro.