20 must-watch TV shows with strong female Leads

Dickinson | Image Source: Apple TV (Embecta UK )
Dickinson | Image Source: Apple TV

The 20 TV shows on this list boast the best, most powerful female leads and redefine what it is to be robust, resilient, and complex in strength: from gripping drama to thrills of mystery and supernatural adventures to heartwarming comedies with multifaceted women characters. If they are battling in some fantasy world or trying to solve personal problems, all these shows illustrate women in their multitudes. This collection is most exciting for fans of active storytelling and well-rounded women, making each series a must-watch as it celebrates the strength and versatility of women on-screen.

20) The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls | Image Source: Prime Video
The Golden Girls | Image Source: Prime Video

The Golden Girls is a beloved classic sitcom about Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, four older women living together in Miami. It has sharp humor and heartfelt moments as it talks about aging, friendship, and love and tries to break stereotypes about older women. Each character has a unique perspective: Rose's innocence, Dorothy's wit, and so on, creating a rich tapestry of experiences.

19) Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls | Image Source: Netflix
Gilmore Girls | Image Source: Netflix

Gilmore Girls effectively depicts the close relationship between Lorelai and her daughter, Rory, in the picturesque town of Stars Hollow. The show gained fame due to its cleverly worded dialogue which was replete with references to popular culture. It mainly dwells upon the theme of ambition with family dynamics and independence of Lorelai in pursuing her dreams and raising a child as her problems.

18) From Scratch

From Scratch | Image Source: Netflix
From Scratch | Image Source: Netflix

Tembi Locke's memoir, From Scratch, tells the tragic love story of an American woman named Amy and a Sicilian chef called Lino. These two characters face the hurdles of cultural differences and the expectations of their respective families against the backdrop of Italian beauty and culinary traditions as they fall in love. It beautifully blends romance with a story of love, loss, and resilience through which Amy passes to pay tribute to Lino's life.

17) Dickinson

Dickinson | Image Source: Apple TV
Dickinson | Image Source: Apple TV

Dickinson's innovative series reimagines the life of quintessential poet Emily Dickinson through a refreshing approach that combines history and contemporary themes. The lead actress for Dickinson is Hailee Steinfeld, a 19th-century woman writer who faces battles because of conventions and her desire to express herself freely. The show boasts clever humor and colors its aesthetic to give this iconic writer a new voice through often traditionalistic narration.

16) A Small Light

A Small Light | Image Source: Disney+
A Small Light | Image Source: Disney+

A Small Light tells the true story of Miep Gies, who risked everything to hide Anne Frank and her family during World War II. This incredible series portrays a time of unimaginable danger with bravery and Miep's resourcefulness. The story of risking her life for others would show readers the importance of standing up against oppression and fighting for what is right.

15) Isabel

Isabel | Image Source: Prime Video
Isabel | Image Source: Prime Video

Isabel is a historical drama set in the late 15th century. It follows Isabel I, Queen of Castile, as she strives for her country's unification while working to unify Spain. She is portrayed as an influential and intelligent leader who navigates political intrigue, makes personal sacrifices, and seeks power. Amidst struggling for love and family with rival challenges, a queen balances responsibility and personal needs while on the throne.

14) Julia

Julia | Image Source: HBO Max
Julia | Image Source: HBO Max

This series, inspired by the life of culinary icon Julia Child, explores her rise to fame in the male-dominated world of the 1960s. Starring Sarah Lancashire, it portrays Julia as a passionate cook and an early pioneer in television. Her innovative approach transformed how America cooked and changed people's attitudes toward food. She was a perfect example of dedication for the sake of teaching and allowing everyone to cook at their gourmet best.

13) The Crown

The Crown | Image Source: Netflix
The Crown | Image Source: Netflix

The Crown chronicles Queen Elizabeth II's reign, exploring her life with intimacy and depth while navigating leadership, duty, and personal sacrifice. Each season goes through critical historical events and tells one about Elizabeth, as well as her connection with her family and this political world. This is quite a good series with an intense cast and stunning production quality that reveals the plight of women in an otherwise man's realm.

12) The Law According to Lidia Poët

The Law According to Lidia Poët | Image Source: Netflix
The Law According to Lidia Poët | Image Source: Netflix

Lidia Poët's story is inspiring, as she became Italy's first female lawyer. She was one of the women in Italy who fought against gender discrimination. In the late 19th century, her legal battles were testimonies to her intelligence, resilience, and determination to prove her worth in the male-dominated world. The show covers all the court battles and other social battles she has to face for herself as a trailblazer of women in the legal field.

11) The White Queen

The White Queen | Image Source: Prime Video (BBC)
The White Queen | Image Source: Prime Video (BBC)

The White Queen tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville during the Wars of the Roses as they navigate love, betrayal, and power amidst relentless struggle. The historical figures in this period will come alive with the series as Philippa Gregory's novels are adapted to reveal strength and resilience for all. The journey of each character leads to uneventful encounters for women in a patriarchal society since they fight for their families and bring changes to the destiny of their countries.

10) Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy The Vampire Slayer | Image Source: Hotstar
Buffy The Vampire Slayer | Image Source: Hotstar

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, high school student Buffy Summers fights vampires while balancing her everyday adolescent struggles. This popular series does well with witty dialogs and a robust feminist plot and uses supernatural adversaries to try and solve real-life stuff such as relationship issues relating to friendship and love plus finding one's identity in life. It offers a strong woman for the viewer, while the lady is human but accepts her destiny as a demon.

9) The Morning Show

The Morning Show | Image Source: Apple TV
The Morning Show | Image Source: Apple TV

Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show offers an intriguing look behind the scenes of a morning news program, exploring themes of power dynamics, sexism, and personal integrity. The female leads have had to navigate this male-dominated industry since the fallout from a news anchor scandal. With biting humor and scathing performances, this series focuses on complex workplace relationships where women cannot easily assert themselves.

8) Yellow Jackets

Yellowjackets | Image Source: Netflix
Yellowjackets | Image Source: Netflix

It's a survival drama blended with psychological horror. The show follows a girls' soccer team whose plane crashes in the wilderness, forcing them to fight for survival. It interweaves past and present in fine detail, dealing with trauma, friendship, and darker aspects of human nature. As the character fights for survival and haunted memories follow her into adult life, the show unfolds the more complex details of female relationships as they go to extreme lengths for each other and how dramatic it can be with multilayered characters.

7) Minx

Minx | Image Source: Prime Video
Minx | Image Source: Prime Video

Set in the 1970s, Minx tells the coming-of-age story of Joyce, a young feminist who teams up with a low-budget publisher to create the first erotic magazine intended for women. In this series, the writer skillfully explores themes of sexuality, empowerment, and societal expectations as Joyce navigates the male-dominated publishing industry.

6) The Power

The Power | Image Source: Prime Video (Amazon Prime Video)
The Power | Image Source: Prime Video (Amazon Prime Video)

The Power is a prize-winning novel by Naomi Alderman that explores a world where teenage girls can emit electric currents from their fingertips. This new ability shifts societal power dynamics and further examines relationships' influence on girls' lives. As the story unravels through empowerment themes and societal transformation to achieve equality among women, girls learn and begin harnessing their abilities.

5) Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker | Image Source: Netflix
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker | Image Source: Netflix

Self Made is the real-life story of Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made female billionaire in America, portrayed by Octavia Spencer. The series chronicles Walker's entrepreneurial journey, highlighting her rise from humble beginnings to making history through a beauty company confronting racial and gender prejudice. The show emphasizes her determination, strength, and commitment to empowering other African American women to achieve equality.

4) The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid's Tale | Image Source: Prime Video (MGM Television)
The Handmaid's Tale | Image Source: Prime Video (MGM Television)

Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale, tells a story about a totalitarian society where women's rights are stripped away, forcing them into servitude. The series follows Offred's narrative, in which, a woman is forced into childbearing service for the ruling class. In the story, this show defines the depth of oppression, the struggles of resisting it, and female power.

3) Fleabag

Fleabag | Image Source: Prime Video
Fleabag | Image Source: Prime Video

Fleabag, featuring Phoebe Waller-Bridge in critical roles, depicts one young woman's struggles in London with raw, comedic energy. Themes dealing with grief, love, and self-discovery become significant components to be confronted via sharp wit and poignant scenes. This show incorporates distinct storytelling as a unique element of expression, which allows Fleabag to communicate, having direct conversations with her viewers, drawing the observer deep into her life so this journey can be empathetically understood.

2) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Image Source: Prime Video
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Image Source: Prime Video

In the backdrop of the 1950s, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel centers on a housewife named Midge Maisel, whose life changes dramatically after her marriage ends and she pursues a career as a stand-up comedian. With lots of humor, nostalgia, and social commentary, the series follows Midge as she struggles to pursue her dreams in a male-dominated industry.

1) Halt & Catch Fire

Halt & Catch Fire | Image Source: Prime Video (AMC)
Halt & Catch Fire | Image Source: Prime Video (AMC)

Halt & Catch Fire is a series set during the technology boom of the 1980s and 1990s. It follows a group of engineers and visionaries, including the determined Cameron Howe, as they navigate the constantly changing landscape of personal computing. The series addresses its theme about women in technology with the help of the personage of Cameron, who brings together brilliance and a stubborn sense of determination.

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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu