March 8th was International Women’s Day and subsequently, March is a time to celebrate International Women’s Month. I’ve thought a lot about the women in my life that have made a significant impact and shaped me into the person I am today. My mom and sister have been there for me from the start. I’m super appreciative of everything they taught me. They taught me to appreciate all types of music, to listen, to contribute to chores around the house, and to be appreciative sincerely of everyone. Some of my best friends are women. My friend Amy is the bravest and strongest person I’ve ever known and showed me that the little things matter just as much as the grand gestures. My friend Alicia is one of the most compassionate people I know and showed me that anything can be accomplished with a good friend in your corner and having your back. My friend Tiffany taught me in college that caring about something means taking action and not just talking about it. My trio of friends from my time working at the American Cancer Society taught me a tough situation doesn’t mean you can’t make friends for life. Then there’s my wife, who has managed to put up with me for the last 10 years and has given me two of my favorite people on the face of the planet, our daughters.
I owe a lot to the women in my life. And I’ll bet that each one of you should show the women in your life more appreciation.
In honor of International Women’s Month, here are some of my favorite female television show characters:
Sansa Stark (Game of Thrones)
Picking someone from Game of Thrones was tricky. Shoutouts for sure to Arya Stark, Ser Brianne of Tarth, pre-mad queen Daenerys Targaryen, and Lyanna Mormont. What makes Sansa such a great character is her growth throughout the series. She really grows up a lot (albeit after a lot of adversity coming her way). In the end, she gets revenge on the man who betrayed her father and sits on the throne of the North.
Sydney Bristow (Alias)
Some super spies can make anything happen and then there’s Sydney Bristow. Alias was ahead of its time, being part of the wave of late 1990s and early 2000s strong heroines (more on a few of them later). Sydney was a fierce spy, doing anything to get what she needed for her mission. This also put Jennifer Garner on the map.
Eleven (Stranger Things)
To be the most powerful character in Stranger Things is quite an accomplishment. To stand out head and shoulders above the rest of the strong cast of the cult classic is an even bigger accomplishment. What I love about Eleven is that she struggles with her power but still manages to be selfless enough to sacrifice everything for her friends.
Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
If anyone can be credited with bringing the strong female heroine to the forefront in the late 1990s, Buffy Summers is it. She was the premier definition of a strong female character. Buffy was tough and fearless, and never lost sight of the need to have allies around her.
Jessica Jones (Marvel’s Jessica Jones)
Season one of Jessica Jones is the great show Marvel has ever put on screen. As a hero who was in a situation where she was begin controlled, it gave viewers solace that she can manage to get revenge while also still committing to helping people around her on the street level. Jessica Jones is a committed character that doesn’t take crap from anyone, superhero or otherwise.
Temperance Brennan (Bones)
Brennan kicks off a wave of female cops or investigators that know how to solve the crime in front of her. She started as someone who solely looks at the evidence. As a woman of science, it’s what she knows. She’s flexible enough to eventually understand that evidence needs some nuance too.
Dana Scully (The X-Files)
Although Moulder was the one who was the big believer, Scully balances him by not believing in anything. She’s an amazing investigator who is capable of solving the thorniest of cases.
Olivia Benson (Law and Order: SVU)
I can’t imagine what it must be like being a female detective in a sex crimes unit. Yes, I understand that men can be sexually assaulted too but the overwhelming majority of sex crimes happen to women. For Benson, she’s been on hundreds of cases and still manages to treat all her survivors with grace and compassion.
Angela Abar (Watchmen)
Watchmen is one of my favorite shows ever and one of the best shows of the last five years. A large reason why Angela is a super compelling character. Her story has so many layers and that ending makes you think.
Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99)
Rosa felt like she was going to be a side character throughout the series. She luckily evolved into a no-nonsense and outstanding detective. I also appreciated what she did in the final season. It showed some integrity and agency in her character.
Michonne Grimes (The Walking Dead)
Anyone who is introduced during the zombie apocalypse thrusting a katana is alright in my eyes. Michonne is probably the only character other than maybe Daryll that could have made it on their own. Thankfully, Michonne gets integrated into the group and The Walking Dead was far better for it.
Poussey Washington (Orange is the New Black)
In a show about an all-women’s prison, Poussey stood out. Something about her kindness caught me off guard and helped me realize I was unfairly judging all the women in prison. Her death hit pretty hard and Orange is the New Black was never the same after that.
Olivia Dunham (Fringe)
Dana Scully walked so Olivia Dunham could run. Fringe needed a steady presence of a kick-butt and talented agent. Olivia is an excellent character who has the drive to succeed stronger than most others on television.
Peggy Olsen (Mad Men)
Few characters on this list have had more of an evolution from a character standpoint than Peggy. In a show where men ruled, Peggy was head and shoulders the most interesting and dynamic character in a show of standouts. This is coupled with a little bit of bias because I’ve met Elisabeth Moss and she’s an absolute delight!
Alexis Rose (Schitt’s Creek)
Alexis is another character who has a great evolution throughout the show. Of all the Roses on Schitt’s Creek, Alexis is arguably the one who changes for the better the most. She goes from a vapid and spoiled brat to a great human being before our eyes.
Eloise Bridgerton (Bridgerton)
In a show where all the characters can be frustratingly caddy, Eloise is head and shoulders the most relatable and down-to-Earth. She’s clever, witty, and most importantly sassy when women were viewed as nothing more than objects for men to marry.
The Derry Girls (Derry Girls)
Northern Ireland hasn’t seen a group like this ever. This group knows how to get into hijinx better than most of the other groups on this list. They even acclaim a boy into their group with ease.
The Garvey Sisters (Bad Sisters)
When these four sisters get together, insanity happens. They’re loyal to each other, always meddling, and have one another’s best interest at heart even though it can be toxic at times. So in the most elemental way possible, they’re loving sisters.
Grace and Frankie (Grace and Frankie)
For two women stuck in a challenging situation, Grace and Frankie handle everything with grace (slight pun intended) and strength. These two are among some of the funnier twosomes on television.
The Golden Girls (The Golden Girls)
The GOATs. Need I say anything else?
Here are a few honorable mentions of ones I’ve mentioned quite a few times over the last few years: Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation), Marge Simpsons (The Simpsons), Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans), Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars), Pam Beasley (The Office), Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender), Wednesday Adams (Wednesday), Ellie Williams (The Last of Us)
Who are some of your favorite female characters from TV? Post them in the comments below or message me on Twitter or Instagram!
