It is currently the golden era for scripted television. Gone are the days when TV was looked down upon when compared to films. With this change, the last few years have seen a rise in series led by strong female characters. There are more shows with women at the forefront than ever before.
Females are starring in comedies, horrors, dramas, mysteries, and pretty much every other genre you can think of. If there's one place where you can find more of these shows than anywhere else, it's Netflix. There is plenty of great content available featuring strong leading ladies you need to check out.
Updated on November 24th, 2022, by Kevin Pantoja: 2022 has seen an even bigger push on Netflix for TV shows led by strong women. There are new seasons of series with a prominent female at the forefront seemingly releasing every month or so. That's not even considering the ones that were unjustly canceled too soon. From superhero tales to stories about brilliant women to the ladies who buck unfortunate stereotypes, Netflix has a female-led show for every situation.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
With everyone at home throughout 2020, there were bound to be TV shows that truly captivated people and right at the top of that list was The Queen's Gambit. Based on a novel of the same name, the show centers on Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who rises to the top of the male-dominated game.
Boosted by a stellar leading performance by Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit won multiple awards and was such a hit that it even marked a rise in popularity for chess itself. Men on the show constantly doubt Beth and she proves them wrong at every turn.
Warrior Nun (2020-Present)
There has been an increase in recent years of comic book adaptations focusing on female characters. One of the best that has flown under the radar is Warrior Nun, which is based on the comic character Warrior Nun Areala.
Initially, it was meant to be a feature film but was repurposed as a TV series for Netflix. That allowed for more time for character development, helping to make Ava Silva one of TV's most interesting characters. The fact that she gains powers that allow her to not only walk again but also give her supernatural abilities is the cherry on top.
Arcane (2021-Present)
Movies and TV shows based on video games are notorious for not being well-received by fans or critics. However, there are a handful of exceptions to the rule and among them is Arcane, which many consider the greatest TV show based on a game.
Set in the League of Legends universe, this series dives much deeper into the origins of popular characters. Even those who don't play the game found themselves engrossed in the story, which centers on two sisters, Vi and Jinx. They are two of TV's most badass characters and their relationship is heartwrenching to watch.
The Crown (2016-Present)
Sometimes, the strongest women you can see on the small screen are characters who exist in real life. That's the case with The Crown, which tells the story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from her young days through the 21st Century.
Although the series brings in different actors for aging purposes every two seasons, the characters remain consistent. Whether it's Elizabeth as a leader, Diana as a rebel, or even Princess Margaret, the show is filled with different kinds of strong women.
Stranger Things (2016-Present)
It could certainly be argued that Stranger Things is an ensemble piece but there are a few women who seem to stand out from the rest of the pack. The show centers mostly around Eleven, the gifted girl with powers who is always there to save the day for her friends.
There's also Joyce, the mother who has braved unthinkable situations to save those she cares for. You also have Nancy, who has gone from an unassuming teen to a strong woman capable of standing up to everything from misogyny to literal monsters. If that's not enough, the series also has Max, Robin, and Erica, proving that the ladies steal the show here.
Girlboss (2017)
It's understandable if you've never heard of this show. Girlboss came out in 2017 and only lasted one season on Netflix before being canned, most likely to save money for bigger budget projects. This Netflix original was based on the story of Sophia Amoruso, who started the online fashion retailer, Nasty Gal.
Britt Robertson played Sophia in the show and gave the most exceptional performance of her career. Girlboss does precisely what the title makes you think it would as it shows how a woman can be a brilliant business person. With it being based on a true story, it becomes all the more empowering.
Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)
One of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood right now is Gina Rodriguez. But if you've only seen her in films like Annihilation and Someone Great, then you're missing out. For five seasons, she has portrayed Jane Villanueva on Jane The Virgin. The premise is that Jane accidentally gets artificially inseminated by her doctor, gracing her with child, even though she's a virgin.
While Jane isn't an intimidating character like others on this list, she's just as strong. We've watched her deal with everything thrown at her for almost 100 episodes. Rodriguez helps make the role feel truly special and she was awarded a Golden Globe win.
How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020)
There might not be a stronger woman on television than Annalise Keating. Played by the incredible Viola Davis, who made history as the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Keating is someone who doesn't take any flak from anyone.
How to Get Away with Murder featured some of the most shocking twists in television history. Keating is a law professor who gets wrapped up in a real murder with a group of her students and the stakes keep getting raised. Keating was one of the strongest women on TV, while the show also features Aja Naomi King as Michaela and Karla Souza as Laurel, two more powerful females.
Orange Is The New Black (2013-2019)
One of the first Netflix originals, Orange is the New Black is filled with strong women up and down the cast. This series tells the story of the inmates at an all-female prison and it boasts some of the most memorable characters of the past decade.
Initially, it began with Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) as the central character. Over the years, the focus shifted and there were four or five women who could be considered the lead. That makes Orange is the New Black a unique experience. While these ladies aren't in a position of power, they remain strong in the face of some truly terrible situations.
Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)
This isn't like the Melissa Joan Hart era of Sabrina. Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a much darker take on the character, who is famously half human and half witch. Played by the talented Kiernan Shipka, this Sabrina has been given plenty of chances to intimidate.
In just a few seasons, the powerful Sabrina goes against the gender bias of the witch world, the treacherous High Preist, and so much more. She rose people from the dead and burned angels to death. There may not be a scarier woman in all of television and Sabrina did more in just a few seasons episodes than most characters can in hundreds of episodes.
Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020)
It may have only lasted a single season but Teenage Bounty Hunters boasted two incredibly strong female leads who made an impact in a short time. The series centered around two fantastic TV twins in Sterling (Maddie Phillips) and Blair Wesley (Anjelica Bette Fellini) as they become bounty hunters.
The premise sounds wacky on paper but that's part of the charm. Though the girls are young and in over their heads more often than not, they don't shy away from these moments, always have each other's backs, and are just fun to watch.
Supergirl (2015-2021)
The definition of a powerful woman. Kara Danvers, better known as Supergirl, has all the extraordinary powers that her cousin Superman has. Since it premiered in 2015, Supergirl has focused on Danvers' adventures on one of the many different Earths within the multiverse.
Melissa Benoist played the seemingly unstoppable female hero since day one and was always a delight in the role. Supergirl is just the kind of hero that all little girls can look up to and aspire to be. This show also happens to crossover with other CW series, including D.C.'s Legends of Tomorrow, which is also on Netflix and also features a strong female lead worth checking out.
The 100 (2014-2020)
Initially, The 100 started as a show about a group of criminal teens sent down to a post-apocalyptic Earth to see if it was inhabitable. Throughout its run, it evolved into many different things and included a time jump of over 100 years. But one thing has remained consistent and that's the leader, Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor).
Clarke acts as the leader of her people, often outranking the adults and government-appointed officials. She stands up in the face of danger almost every episode and is always out to save her people. She's the person who must make some unbelievably difficult decisions because she's the strongest. It's very possible that Clarke is the strongest woman in all of TV. Not to be outdone, the show also includes Raven Reyes (Lindsey Morgan) and Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos), among others, who are all great female characters.
GLOW (2017-2019)
In the 1980s, there was a syndicated women's pro wrestling show called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling or GLOW for short. In 2017, Netflix released a fictionalized take on the series titled GLOW and it was a rousing success. The show won a handful of awards before being canceled due to the COVID pandemic.
Like Orange is the New Black, this was an ensemble that includes a group of great female characters. The main two are Alison Brie's Ruth Wilder and Betty Gilpin's Debbie Eagan. They're the kind of women always looking for more. Ruth is constantly doing extra work behind the scenes so the show can work, while Debbie became a producer in season two. Add in the rest of the incredible women on this show and you'll see why this show works so well.
Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a private investigator with enhanced strength and durability but she doesn't call herself a hero. She also happens to be a heavy drinker with a dark past, making her a flawed and layered character.
Jones may begrudgingly fight for what's right, but she does it better than almost anybody. She has kicked ass, taken down serial criminals, and saved the world. When she shares the screen with other heroes, she still manages to captivate audiences and steal the show. Though the series ended with season 3, there are over 30 episodes starring a powerful woman to enjoy and with Netflix characters popping back up in the MCU, maybe this isn't the end for Jessica.