11 Female TV Characters Who Will Instantly Inspire You
In trying times, a weekend of binge-watching can prove more than necessary. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, a Netflix marathon that proves there’s lots of hope in the world is the best way to get through a long weekend (especially if there’s sure to be drama at the dinner table). Luckily, there are plenty of smart, funny shows to remind you that independent, resilient heroines exist, in real life and on television.
These 11 heroines prove resiliency is more than possible — it’s necessary...especially when someone’s facing down a nemesis. Sometimes, the enemy is secretly a snake (see: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Graduation Day”). Other times, it's someone who pretends he's something he's not, so the public adores him (see: Veronica Mars, every episode). When the world feels entirely hopeless, these TV women exist to remind you how truly tough you are.
No matter who the villain is, these characters never let anyone get in their way or tell them they couldn’t vanquish their own personal demons. Instead, they fought even harder when an adversary challenged who they are, or what they believed. They all overcame what looked like insurmountable obstacles, at least to the viewers at home, to achieve their own versions of happily ever afters — even if they weren’t the type usually seen in fairy tales or Disney movies.
Binge-watching these women do their thing will bring a bit of optimism to an otherwise dreary week — or any time you feel like you need to kick major butt. All 11 ambitious heroines act as helpful reminders that anything is possible, even when you’re facing the worst villains ever.
1/11Ginny Baker, Pitch
There’s nothing quite as inspirational as a focused, driven young woman who’s worked her entire life for one thing (in this case, becoming a professional Major League baseball player) finally achieving everything. Unfortunately, this is television and not reality, but that’s the magic of escapism.
If you’re looking for a kick-ass female heroine who fights for what she believes in without falling into the trope of being just one of the guys or disliking other women, Pitch is a must-see. Actress Kylie Bunburry makes Ginny truly understandable. She alternates between being vulnerable in her personal life and bulletproof on the field, but at time both facets of her personality collide and show her vulnerability and power. Bonus: Pitch teamed up with MLB to create the series, giving viewers hope that one day this could actually happen IRL.
2/11Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy was a strong, pithy blonde woman who battled the forces of evil, which tend to include malicious older men...sound familiar? At least on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (spoiler alert), the woman won.
She’s never weak, but she does rely on her friends and family for support, reminding watchers (those at home, not her actual Watcher, Giles) how important having a support system is. Buffy encountered all sorts of patriarchal obstacles, including an evil mayor, an evil principal and lots of demons hell-bent on her destruction. In the end, there are plenty of people who were hurt in the process, but good prevailed. Buffy even takes a quick trip to hell and come back all in one piece.
Gather your own Scooby Gang and hunker down for the weekend with the season DVD box set. The throwback fashion alone makes it worth the binge. By the end of a few hours, you’ll be wearing a miniskirt, choker and you’ll be ready to conquer the evil in the world.
3/11Mindy Lahiri, The Mindy Project
Mindy might not be armed and dangerous like Buffy, but she is a modern-day version of Carrie Bradshaw, only even better, because she’s a single mother, business owner, and doctor. At times, Mindy might be the typical rom-com heroine, wearing bright, splashy prints and falling into love triangles faster than you can say “Exsqueeze me.” But she’s also a highly motivated, dedicated doctor who’s extremely devoted to her friends and family. Mindy ends it with her longtime boyfriend and her son Leo’s father, Danny Castellano, when he expects her to be the conventional stay-at-home mom, despite the fact that she’s worked her entire life to become a doctor. Her refusal to be a typical caretaker completes her growth into a chic, albeit goofy, feminist icon. The Mindy Project clocks in at a little less than 30 minutes of laughter per episode, but it’s also a look at what it takes to be a single, working mother who always puts her own objectives first.
4/11Leslie Knope, Parks and Rec
Leslie Knope was a character modeled after Hillary Clinton, from the blonde helmet hair to the inability to back down from a challenge, even if her voters are the ones challenging her. She believes not just in her job, but in her community, and doesn't let anyone stop her from realizing her vision of being the best government worker she can be. That may be why many moments from this campaign felt familiar to longtime Parks and Rec viewers. Spoiler alert: the show finale ends with a major jump into the future, where they hinted that Leslie has become the first female president.
5/11Bonnie Bennett, The Vampire Diaries
Elena Gilbert was technically the star of The Vampire Diaries, but since she’s been MIA for a minute now, Bonnie has officially taken over. And frankly, she’s totally owning the moment. Bonnie is confident, strong, and one of the most loyal characters on television. Other characters on the show (ahem, Damon, Lorenzo, and Stefan) are always flip-flopping like it’s an election cycle, but Bonnie is unchanging. Toward the end of the series, Bonnie realized she has to put herself first, and her friends agreed. Even Elena, who had a long history of believing she was the most important person on the planet, mostly because men told her so, volunteered as tribute in Bonnie’s honor. TVD might not make you invest in vervain, but it will make you think about how important your friends are.
6/11Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is a snarky teen detective who helps her dad out in his tiny office in Neptune, California, a sunny suburb full of sin. Veronica takes down criminals with help from her father, her best friends (a smaller Scooby Gang), her trusty taser and her dog, aptly named Backup. Veronica Mars dealt with serious, real issues for what, at first glance, looked like a regular high school show. Throughout the seasons, Veronica coped with her rape, even when her classmates were needlessly, and endlessly, slut-shaming her. She even used her complex personal history to become a lawyer (not an F.B.I. agent, like originally planned. One weekend of watching Veronica Mars will have you trading barbed quips with your friends and considering becoming a special agent.
7/11Franky Fitzgerald, Skins
On the British teen TV show Skins, the female characters are deeply flawed, which makes them all the more relatable. Skins is the antithesis to to shows about “high schoolers” played by 20-something actors who look like they’ve never broken out in their lives; instead, it's about real British teens who sometimes do very bad things and are figuring themselves out as the viewers do, too. Franky was the first pansexual character on the show, and from the second she appeared onscreen in a suit in 2011, viewers knew they were about to see someone help redefine what characters on teen dramas looked like. Franky befriended her schoolmates, challenged the binary, and defied the bullies.
8/11Manny Santos, Degrassi
Degrassi offers the ultimate escape from middle school and high school, and not only because it features a rapping baby Drake at the start of his career. There are also tough, multifaceted women who know exactly what they want, even if they sometimes struggle with their desires. Manny always looked out for herself, even though guys tirelessly tried to take her down. Degrassi High might be a cesspool of hookups and drama, but it did show how easy it is for women to experience slut-shaming and bullying at a young age, and how difficult it can be to ignore it.
9/11Rebecca Bunch, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Are you tired of men telling you you’re crazy and gaslighting you? So is Rebecca Bunch, the so-called titular “crazy” ex. Rebecca is a nice Jewish girl who decides to move to West Covina, California, to reunite with her ex-boyfriend ... from sleepaway camp from when she was a kid. Once on the West Coast, hijinks ensue, all in song. Rebecca’s personal life is often bonkers, but her work life as a savvy lawyer is solid. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend approaches serious issues in a witty way, whether it's coping with anxiety or coming out as bisexual. Rebecca’s worthy nemesis, the gorgeous Valencia, isn’t a simplistic side chick, and her best friend Paula is much more than a simple sidekick. There’s a lot of hatred in the world, but in West Covina, the characters are accepted exactly as they are, even if they are what some might call "crazy."
10/11Emily Fields, Pretty Little Liars
Emily has certainly dealt with her fair share of low blows in her life. Almost every girl she kisses is murdered, or betrayed her in some terrible, trust no one type of way — looking at you, Sarah. The girl a lot of fans consider her "endgame" was engaged to a murderous man. Her swimming career was ... complicated. Still, Emily remains one of the toughest of the Pretty Little Liars, which is saying something since they’ve been tortured, cyberbullied, and chased in the woods for years. She's a loyal friend who’s honest and unafraid to be completely vulnerable, whether it’s with her friends or with a new girlfriend.
11/11Olivia Pope, Scandal
Want to enter a world of politics and policy where a woman is in charge? On Scandal, Olivia Pope is the ultimate heroine, and not just because she manages to never spill on her perfect white pantsuit. She's tough, smart, and fearless, but still human; especially when it comes to her relationships. Her life hints at what happens behind-the-scenes in D.C., only it's less terrifying and more glamorous.
