While this need usually results in new shows being made to meet these needs, there are plenty of great shows already out there that represent relatable female experiences. Of course, to be relatable, these shows generally stray from the generic female storylines and either examine reality for women and how they survive it, or the ideal world for women.
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This list could easily go on forever, as shows that have female protagonists tend to get less attention than storylines centered around male characters, especially in the decades prior to this one. However, the underrated shows that most deserve attention are the ones that bring a unique look to the female experience.
Ugly Betty
While this series was written by men, its involvement with creative female producers like Salma Hayek seem to have brought a balance to that. The show is a comedic adaptation of a 1999 Colombian telenovela that follows the experiences of a young Latina woman, that others view as having no sense of fashion, that manages to land a job at a high-end fashion magazine. The show not only shines a light on the experiences of being a woman that doesn’t comply with the standards society has set for women, but also the experiences of immigrant families living in the U.S.
The series does a good job creating a comfortable and comedic atmosphere for the audience to interact with an experience they may not personally understand. In its beginning, the show was well received by viewers but over time, it declined in popularity despite the storyline being consistent, and eventually the show was canceled as a response. Since its ending, more people have begun to discover the show and are now appreciating what it has to offer and are pushing for a revival of the series.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Though this may be the best known series on the list, given the amount of praise this series received from creatives and critics, it should have gained a greater following than it did. The show focuses on a young woman that had been kidnapped and held in a bunker underground with other women by a man that convinced them that doomsday had come. In this series, we see her transition through life as she’s rescued from the bunker and has to adapt to life in a very unfamiliar world. Her experience having to build a place for herself in this unfamiliar place, with nothing but her persistent optimism to keep her going, is an inspiring watch for any viewer in the audience.
Like Ugly Betty, this show gained more of an audience after it ended than it did during the time it was being made. As a response to this, an interactive episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was released during the pandemic.
Wynonna Earp
The first couple of seasons of this series were received very well by both U.S. and Canadian audiences but the viewer numbers dwindled as the show continued. Ultimately, it only got four seasons before being canceled due to issues with costs and low audience numbers. During the peak of its popularity, the show received a lot of praise for its unique and exciting storyline, not to mention, its impressive genre-blending abilities. The story follows the great-great-granddaughter of famous old west lawman, Wyat Earp, as she battles the supernatural spirits of the outlaws her ancestor once took down. The series has enough action and western edginess to attract anyone’s interest, while simultaneously shining a light on the physical, spiritual, and intellectual capabilities of female characters.
Disenchantment
While this animated series does follow the life of a princess, this story is nothing like the dull and helpless image that Disney has commonly painted of princess protagonists. The main character does just about everything but what a princess is expected to do, as a matter of fact. The story follows her unorthodox adventures with a cat-like demon and an elf as she navigates her way around responsibilities and expectations, in a fantastical world that’s almost never what it seems to be on the surface. The great cast that voices the characters in this series is just the cherry on top of this comedic gem.
Despite being created by a name as well-known as Groening’s, this series isn’t at the top of the list in popularity considering his shows. In part, this is likely due to the fact that it was the first series Groening did that was purely for a streaming platform, but considering it’s the first of Groening’s shows that allows a female presence to drive the plot– especially in a way that pushes against the oppressive standards for women– it deserves more credit. Though no specific date has been released for season 5 of this series, it’s expected to hit Netflix in early 2023.
Inside Job
Easily the newest show on the list, with the first season having been released in 2021, it has a lot of potential for growth, both in seasons and in popularity among viewers. It’s like Space Force meets Rick and Morty, only the protagonist is a female scientist. The story follows a lead robotics engineer as she guides her misfit crew through their unusual, top secret tasks, all while trying to prove herself along the way. The series, though new, has already been praised by critics for its original insight and its excellent social commentary that’s displayed in a comedy form. Inside Job is an easy watch that has plenty of potential for expanding on its message of the importance of a female perspective in fields like science.
There are many shows that are focused on a science or technology theme, but they generally involve a male perspective, making this series a much-needed addition to the genre of animated sci-fi comedies. While a second season has been confirmed for Inside job, no release date has been announced, though it’s expected to release sometime toward the end of 2022.
While any show that shines a light on the importance and potential of creating more storylines that explore female characters is important, the ones that get less attention usually have something new to offer and deserve more credit. Each of these shows explores an uncommon and arguably more relatable view of the female perspective, regardless of the genre. It is, after all, the less common representations of female characters that pull away from the general, stereotypical women characters that have been commonly used up to this point. However, if viewers– female and male– turn their attention to shows such as these that represent these more unique, leading roles for female characters, they will soon become the new standard for television.
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