With so many amazing shows to choose from these days, it’s hard not to get addicted to at least a few. Unlike movies, shows give you the chance to really connect with their characters. These are characters we follow for several years and by the time the season’s finale comes around, we feel as though we can call the cast our friends.
We yelled at Walter White, rooted for Jesse Pinkman, laughed at Ron Swanson and drooled over Stringer Bell. But which female characters had us completely hooked on their lives? Today we’re going to introduce you to fifteen women we look up to, envy, have a secret crush on or even hate. They are all extremely different in terms of personalities and backgrounds, but they share one thing in common: They are the strongest female characters on TV!
Lorelai Gilmore – Gilmore Girls
She talks a hundred miles a minute, she’s full of creative ideas and she’s totally independent. Lorelai Gilmore hasn’t had it easy. Pregnant at sixteen, she left home to start her own life away from her controlling, classist parents and their McMansion full of terrified maids and butlers. Her journey brought her to the quirky town of Star’s Hollow, where all residents are reminiscent of Dr. Seuss characters. Sixteen years on, Lorelai is the manager of the local Independence Inn and the owner of a cosy house and a snazzy monkey lamp. Her daughter Rory is a studious bookworm who has just been accepted to the prestigious Chilton High School, the fees of which are astronomical. It takes a lot for her to swallow her pride and ask her parents to help her get Rory through school, but she makes it clear from the get-go that she is and will always remain to be her own person. No matter what life throws at Lorelai, she always knows how to get back on her feet. What a woman!
Kate Austin – Lost
Even though we hardly had any background on Kate Austin for the first few episodes of Lost, we instantly felt that this was the kind of chick who can hold her own. Her freckled nose and sweet smile will make it easy for you to underestimate her, but once you see her handling a gun or climbing stubborn tree trunks for fruit, you’ll have to start rethinking your prejudice inklings. Before life on the island, Kate was in fact a real bank-robbing bad ass. When her final hit went terribly wrong, she had no option but to lead a life on the run. After a series of mishaps she is finally detained by Marshal Edward Mars, who has made it his life’s mission to catch her. He seems extremely proud as he marches a handcuffed Kate towards her seats aboard the Oceanic Airline. Fortunately for her, the plane crashes on a seemingly deserted island, giving her a second chance in life.
Veronica Mars
She may come across as a little cocky, but her heart is always in the right place. Veronica Mars has been through hell and back. First she’s dumped by her boyfriend Duncan Kane, and then her best friend Lilly Kane is murdered. As if matters couldn’t get worse, her father, Neptune’s Sheriff Keith Mars, falsely accuses Duncan’s father of his involvement in Lilly’s murder. The whole town turns against the Mars family and her father is ousted as a Sheriff. That’s a tough blow to handle but Veronica does so with grace. She throws herself into her part-time work as a private investigator and ignores the stupid comments and insults made by her so-called former 09er friends. She finds new friends in Wallace Fennel, Eli Navarro and Cindy Mackenzie and soon establishes herself as a respected PI amongst her high school peers. This gal takes crap from no one and has no problem uncovering your deepest, darkest secrets.
Arya Stark – Game of Thrones
Granted, none of the Stark sisters have had it easy, but compared to the youngest, Arya Stark, the others just look like whiny princesses, incapable of standing up for themselves. Arya blew our minds from early on in the first season, when she proves she knows how to handle her sword “Needle”. She is what you would describe as a proud tomboy – she has no interest in “ladylike” activities such as needle work and dressing up. She is far more ambitious when it comes to perfecting her horse riding skills, sword fighting and her handling of knives. When shit really hits the fan in King’s Landing, she is forced to escape, taking her on a ruthless journey of revenge and survival. But we’re not worried; Arya Stark has shown us time and again that she has more balls than most men on the Night’s Watch!
Shane McCutcheon – The L Word
The character of Shane McCutcheon in the The L Word had the power to turn every woman on this planet into a full-fledged lesbian. She exudes confidence, has an incredibly sexy albeit boyish style and a smile that will melt your heart and moisten your panties. She’s all about the fleeting one-night-stands and random hook ups, but that doesn’t mean she’s cold. Her commitment phobia has been deeply rooted in her character but upon meeting the right girl, she is eager to overcome it. Shane is the kind of woman we all want to be or at least be around. Watching her character evolve on the show, we can totally imagine joining her on a night on the town, skateboarding down the boardwalk or kicking back on the couch for an evening of movies and special brownies. Shane could be your best friend, your most exciting lover and ambitious stylist all rolled into one. God, we love her!
Claire Fisher – Six Feet Under
In the first couple of seasons of Six Feet Under, we got to know Claire Fisher as a snooty, self-centred teenager who was open to all kinds of intoxicated experimentations. It was easy to look passed her hormonal bitchiness though, because it was obvious that at heart she’s a sensitive young woman just trying to make her way in this world. Life deals her a whole bunch of bad cards and although she often has a rough time finding a way out of tricky situations, she always ends up doing so with a sense of sarcastic humour. We get to watch her grow out of her lost and awkward teen years and into a blossoming artist, an incredibly glowing woman and loving sister. By the time we get to season six of this darkly beautiful show, we simply cannot imagine the Fisher family without the warm and creative presence of the gorgeous red-head and her big, questioning eyes.
Nancy Botwin – Weeds
When Nancy Botwin finds herself suddenly widowed with two kids to feed and a house to pay off, she finds herself at a bit of a loss as to how to get some cash flow. Looking at her you’d think she’s just another one of your typical soccer moms, but don’t let her wide-eyed innocence fool you – this lady’s got plenty of tricks up her sleeve. Thanks to a series of eye-opening chance meetings, Nancy decides to take up an unconventional job in order to keep her family afloat: She reinvents herself as a marijuana dealer. Things are looking good for Nancy in the beginning. She’s got a great client base and there’s plenty of money coming in. But can she stand her ground with the Mexican drug cartel? Oh yes, she can; even if that means having to perform humiliating booty-shaking dances or having to endure bouts of spanking sessions. Nancy may have made many mistakes whilst building her Weed Empire and may not always seem like she has her children’s best interest at heart, but she’s far from being a Walter White.
Red – Orange is the New Black
Choosing the strongest female character on Orange is the New Black is like trying to decide between all our favourite chocolates: It’s almost impossible! The whole show is based on women who have had to fend for themselves for a long time and have learned to play by their own rules. Each and every character on this show has their own charm, strength and presence, but there is one woman who stands out in particular: Red. She’s the boss and not only when it comes to the kitchen; having set up her own little smuggling business, she is the go-to gal for all things forbidden. This of course gives her an incredibly high rank in the prison’s hierarchy and the last thing any inmate would want, is to get on her bad side. Her facial expression is rather strict and stern, but whenever she does crack a smile, her whole being seems to light up and we finally see that there’s a sense of vulnerability hidden deep inside of her stony exterior. Red has taken on the mother role of her chosen prison family and goes through great lengths to ensure their well-being and that says a lot about the woman she is.
Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation
We’ve never met anyone who brings as much enthusiasm to the work place as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreations. This blonde, goofy ball of energy approaches everything with a positive outlook and a childlike spirit that often causes grounds for uncomfortable laughter. Fortunately she has assembled a team of equally eccentric characters around her who are always there to catch her fall. Leslie’s work is her life, but that doesn’t make it dull. She brings her colourful personality into work, meetings, events and her barely existing social life in a manner that can be rather overwhelming but nonetheless appreciated. She’s the most caring person you’ll ever meet and even though she’s like an overbearing mother, she’s the best friend you’ll ever have. Her techniques may be slightly unconventional at times, but we could totally see Leslie running more than just the parks one day.
Michonne – The Walking Dead
If you thought Kate Austin was a reall survival girl, you haven’t met Michonne from The Walking Dead. When she first appeared on the show in season two, we weren’t sure what to make of her at all. Making her way through the woods with two leashed walkers she used as mules and camouflage, she sure as hell made an intimidating impression, which was not helped by her quiet, intense stare. When she rescues Andrea and winds up in the Governor’s bustling town of Woodbury, we get a better sense of who Michonne really is: Loyal, instinctive and ruthless. She may not show her soft side easily but you can tell by just following her actions that she is a kind soul who will fight until the bitter end for the people she loves and cares about.
Carrie Mathison – Homeland
Working as a CIA officer can’t be easy. The hours are long and demanding and it seems to us as though everything else around you falls to the wayside – including your family, health and even your sanity. Carrie Mathison has accepted the consequences her work brings with it and doesn’t seem to care about the implications these have on her borderline personality disorders. Like her recruiter Saul Berenson, Carrie knows no limits; she has no problem putting herself and her job in jeopardy when she believes that her actions are for the greater good of the world. In the first two seasons we got to know Carrie as someone who was deeply involved in her cases on an emotional level. Although we can still recognise this vulnerability in season four, it seems as though something within her has shifted and she has now taken to new extremes. Her tactics may still appear to be just as genuine as before, but we can tell that on the inside, she has turned to ice. But hey, apparently she’s saving the world so who are we to judge?
Marcy Runkle – Californication
She may not have played as much of an important role as Karen, but Marcy Runkle was one of the reasons we grew addicted to Californication. The potty-mouthed sexy little Smurf and her crazy antics repeatedly had us in stitches. She says exactly what she thinks, whether that might hurt you or not. This tiny vixen is all about the straight-up honesty and she’ll have no problem giving it to you while she’s waxing your punani or bleaching your chocolate starfish. You’ll have a blast partying with her, but she’ll also stick around for some girly talk and moments of crisis. She’s by no means the Hausfrau type, but she takes great pride in taking care of her husband and humouring him and his sexual deficiencies. The actress Pamela Adlon also appeared in Louie, where she plays his friend and love interest, a politer version of Marcy if you will.
Snoop – The Wire
She talks the talk and she walks the walk. When Snoop comes a-knockin’ you know what’s up and it probably ain’t good. She may be short but she doesn’t let that get in the way of doing her job. Snoop is seriously respected and has been taken into Marlo’s crew like one of the guys. Her ghetto slang is incomprehensible at times and still she is always understood – her body language and hard stare say it all. When she walks into a builders market asking for a specific nail gun, you know it won’t be used for home improvements. The appearance and manner of Snoop’s character is not far off from the actresses’, Felicia Pearson. Pearson who has leaded a life of drugs and crime met Michael K. Williams in a Baltimore club. He invited her to the set, introduced her to the writers and the rest is history; and we can see why!
Hannah Horvath – Girls
If you like women who aren’t quite as neurotic and self-obsessed as Ally McBeal but close, you’ve gotta love Hannah Horvath. The twenty-something pseudo-New Yorker is a bit chaotic, very determined and totally weird and loveable. She goes about life with an awkward sense of confidence and endless curiosity – the kind that often gets her into trouble. She’s unlike any girl you’ve ever met before; she’s intense but not in an exaggerated way, she’s elegant and yet not at all, she’s selfish but sweet. She’s kind of a walking contradiction that has managed to charm the pants off of us with her odd behaviours and quirky fashion sense. Actress, director and writer of the show, Lena Dunham, has just published her book Not That Kind Of Girl…Wait, so what is she saying? She’s not really a Hannah Horvath? We don’t care either way; we love both Lena and Hannah!
Sister Jude – American Horror Story
Jessica Lange is one of the main reasons we keep going back to American Horror Story. The roles she has taken on for the show thus far have all been outstanding. Delivered with professionalism and grace, her roles have become the true favourites of this show. Nothing quite compared to her role as Sister Jude in Asylum, though. Each character she has played on the show thus far has represented sheer evil and troubled psyches, but Sister Jude definitely takes the cake. We all seem to have this idea that nuns are compassionate albeit stern women, who take on God’s work here on earth. Sister Jude made us rethink this theory. There is no doubting here religious devotion but her sense of empathy has long left the ghoulish interiors of the Briarcliff Mental Institution. Sister Jude has the power to hush an unnerved patient with a single glance and has absolutely no problem dealing out harsh punishments in the name of her chosen Lord. Jessica Lange has rocked the screens since the early seventies and continues to do so in Freak Show. All hail to the lead female actress of the American Horror Story!
