By now, just about everyone and their mother has heard that there's a new Sex and the City revival on the way, and it's going to be looking at what Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda (no Samantha) are up to in their 40s. It's an interesting idea, especially as so many television shows highlight women in their 20's and 30's, but the real magic happens when television shows feature strong female characters that are over 40 years old.
Like the women on the uber-popular show, Sex and the City, there are plenty of shows from the past or are currently airing that have complex and interesting women that have lives beyond what some shows portray them to be; women that only serve their families. From the 1980s to the resent day, there are shows that have inspired women and empowered them to be shown as what they are; strong and independent!
Golden Girls
From 1985 to 1992, four fabulous women came together to make an iconic television show that could be dubbed Sex and the City, but in the 1980s; enter Golden Girls. Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia are four women, either widowed or divorced, that have moved in together to begin their new lives.
Together, the women discover the strength of friendships, career milestones, relationships, and hard times they get through together. Without a doubt, Golden Girls paved the way for women-led television shows that give women in the 1980s a platform to be icons in the comedy and drama genre. Golden Girls was also way ahead of its time with storytelling and tackling hard issues of that time.
Dead To Me
In 2019, creator Liz Feldman, known for shows such as 2 Broke Girls and The Great Indoors, put together a fabulous show called Dead to Me. This series focuses on the strong friendship made between a high-strung widow and a free-spirited woman that both have their share of secrets.
As they both mourn their losses, they somehow bond with their methods of coping with their issues, and do it with comedic moments and drama, of course. Unfortunately, Dead to Me is one of several shows that will end in 2020/2021 but is worth the watch all the same.
Mrs. America
Based on Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist in the 1970s, Mrs. America shines the light on her fight against the Equal Rights Amendment and her huge role in the cause. Mrs. America gives today's viewers a peek into the mind of a woman in the 1970s, and the culture war that ensued of that time.
Even though this mini-series is loosely based on Phyllis and other women at the time, it is incredibly powerful to see a woman of that time stand up for what she believes in, even if those beliefs were skewed. Even though Phyllis was often dubbed as the "anti-hero" in Mrs. America, there were times when she is looked at as the protagonist.
Grace & Frankie
After viewers watch just a couple of episodes of the insanely-popular television series, Grace and Frankie, they'll know they are in for a treat. When Frankie Bergstein and Grace Hanson find out that their long-time husbands, who are also business partners, are having an affair with each other, their worlds turn upside down.
While Grace is the prim and proper type, Frankie is a care-free woman that prefers to look on the bright side in all situation. Together, the women find solace as they try to move on with life and start over as single ladies. As Grace and Frankie re-build their lives, they change in ways that provide them with growth and accomplishments.
Big Little Lies
Set in the picturesque town of Monterey, CA, and based on the best-selling book, Big Little Lies, this series is not one to miss. Big Little Lies highlight the lives of five different women who appear to have it all together on the outside but are struggling with inner demons on the inside.
When a singular moment brings the women altogether, they try to navigate life after the storm and move on to a moment of healing. Big Little Lies had some memorable moments, but there are some episodes throughout the two seasons thus far that stand out amongst the rest.
Orange Is The New Black
From 2013 to 2019, creator Jenji Kohan gave viewers a binge-worthy show named Orange is the New Black. Based on a memoir of prisoner Piper Kerman's life, this show depicts her time spend at FCI Danbury and her experiences along the way.
The show doesn't just focus on Piper though, it shows diversity and the inter-mingling storylines of women that are mothers, grandmothers, and soon-t0-be mothers. The series will have viewers rooting for the female prisoners, while also disliking them at the same time. That's not to say there aren't clear villains of Orange is the New Black, and harsher consequences to make them pay.
Schitt's Creek
When the Rose family loses the family fortune to their business manager, they find themselves in a small podunk town called Schitt's Creek. As time goes on, the family of four tries to make sense of their new life. One of the stand-outs is Moira, the mother and small-time actress that is struggling with simple living and the town around her.
When she joins the Jazzagals, a local female-led choir, it's there where she shines, while also making quality friends with the other various-aged women's group amongst her. Moira is sassy and classy and knows how to live her best life in Schitt's Creek.
Divorce
A woman named Frances is a middle-aged woman with kids and only known to her, an unhappy marriage. When she voices this to her husband Robert, after having an affair, the divorce process is drawn out, and incredibly painful, while also having some comedic relief.
Frances is a complex character that is full of life, and as each season goes on, she finds her way to a new life by being a mother, exploring new relationships, and navigating a sensible partnership with her now ex-husband.
Happy Valley
Catherine Cawood is the police sergeant of a rural Yorkshire valley police force that is struck with a staged kidnapping. When the case goes haywire, Catherine must balance her career, the aftermath of her daughter's suicide, and a recently settled divorce.
Now living with her troubled sister, Catherine must try to be there for her family as much as she can, while dealing with a string of crimes that are way too close to home. Happy Valley is realistic, dark, and intense with incredible acting.
The Undoing
Based on the popular book called You Should Have Known, The Undoing paints a classic "whodunnit" picture, with twists and turns at every corner. The mini-series is about a wealthy middle-aged New York couple, whose lives get turned upside down when they are involved with a murder case.
The woman in the relationship, Grace, is a successful therapist who encounters a woman that dies shortly after. When her husband is pegged as a potential suspect, all bets are off and suspicions are incredibly high as the killer is still on the loose.