Women’s History Month may only last for 31 days, but in our opinion, the contributions of women should be celebrated every day. Females are strong as hell, and every year, more and more TV shows introduce women characters that are nuanced, complicated, and completely unforgettable. If you’re looking for a TV show where women are more than wives, mothers, and daughters, then we’ve got some series that will inspire some serious girl power in you. We’ve rounded up 50 TV series in 2020 that celebrate women from all walks of life, and if you aren’t watching these shows already, then you’re truly missing out.
Related: 16 of the Year's Biggest Films – All Led by F*cking Awesome Females
The Crown
Anyone who lives for royal family drama is going to want to tune into this epic royal drama series, as it follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and all the landmark events that took place during the second half of the 20th century. Everyone knows that the queen is a total boss IRL, and actresses Claire Foyand Olivia Colman do a killer job portraying her royal highness.
Katy Keene
Riverdale‘s second spinoff (the first being Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) stars Pretty Little Liars‘ Lucy Hale as the titular Archie-verse character. The series follows aspiring fashion designer Katy as she works as a personal shopper and tries to make it in New York City (while also serving as an independent female icon for ladies everywhere).
The Handmaid's Tale
Based on Margaret Atwood 1985 novel of the same name, this dystopian drama stars Elisabeth Moss as June/Offred, a woman forced into child-bearing slavery after the US is taken over by a totalitarian government following a second civil war. Though separated from her husband and daughter and made a Handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford, June never gives up hope of escape – and, eventually, retribution.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
This Netflix series gets the Riverdale treatment, offering a dark new twist on the original Archie comic book character Sabrina as she is forced to choose between the human world and the witch world following her 16th birthday. The series follows the titular Sabrina (played by Mad Men‘s Kiernan Shipka) as she finds herself torn between a cute warlock, Nicholas, and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey, while also trying to balance her friends, her new school, and her newly discovered darker side, and it’s a wild ride.
GLOW
If you’re looking for an incredible display of female badassery, then look no further than GLOW. This comedy series takes the Spandex and big hair of the ’80s and combines it with the glitter and glamour of female wrestling, making for a show that is utterly original and incredibly entertaining.
Killing Eve
Based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings, this British spy thriller stars Sandra Oh from Grey’s Anatomy as the titular Eve, a British intelligence investigator tasked with capturing the twisted assassin Villanelle (who’s played by Jodie Comer). It’s sexy, it’s sharp, and every season of the series has featured a different female showrunner, making it the ultimate girl power series.
Stranger Things
This insanely popular sci-fi series follows an adolescent crew living in 1980s Indiana as they discover supernatural forces, secret government threats, and a young girl with telekinetic powers. Eleven is totally fierce and fearless, whether she’s facing off against a Demogorgon or telling a boy, “I dump your ass.”
Supergirl
Starring Glee‘s Melissa Benoist, this superhero series follows Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, as she attempts to hide her Kryptonian identity while living as a 20-something in National City. She may have grown up in the shadow of her foster sister, but once she’s recruited to protect the city’s citizens from threats, Kara is finally able to discover and embrace her strength.
Nancy Drew
The eponymous young female detective gets a modern take on The CW, starring newcomer Kennedy McMann. Like Riverdale, the series is much darker than its source material, following whip-smart 18-year-old Nancy Drew, whose college plans are put on hold after she and four friends are witnesses to the murder of a classmate.
Younger
Based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Pamela Redmond Satran, Sutton Foster stars in this comedy as a single mom who decides to re-enter the publishing world at 40, though in order to do so, she must pass herself off as 26. The hoax doesn’t last, but this series – which explores the challenges of being a woman in an industry that values youth – will definitely leave a lasting impression.
Russian Doll
Orange Is the New Black‘s Natasha Lyonne stars in this dark comedy series about a hilarious unapologetic woman caught in a Groundhog Day-type loop, repeatedly attending the same party, dying, and waking up the next day unharmed. Lyonne also serves as an executive producer for the show alongside fellow girl bosses Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, so if you have any doubt about how funny it is, you shouldn’t.
Queen Sugar
Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Natalie Baszile, this Ava DuVernay-produced series revolves around the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana, one of whom unexpectedly inherits an 800-acre sugarcane farm from her late father. The drama is never afraid to tackle issues such as race, class, and gender, and it’s also the one of the first TV series in which female directors direct every episode.
Derry Girls
Taking place in early-1990s Northern Ireland during the Troubles, this comedy series follows 16-year-old Erin and her friends as they navigate their adolescence amid the country’s political unrest. Though you think the setting might make the show a bit morose, these hilarious young women and the trials they face in their Catholic girls’ secondary school make the show surprisingly lighthearted.
Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens
Awkwafina stars in this comedy series as Nora Lum, a fictionalized version of herself struggling to get by in Flushing alongside her cousin. From trying to succeed at her menial job to trying to cash a check, Nora’s trials as a young woman with big dreams are definitely relatable (and totally hilarious).
Briarpatch
Based on the Ross Thomas novel of the same name, this thrilling anthology series stars Rosario Dawson as Allegra “Pick” Dill, a strong-willed investigator who must return to home to San Bonifacio, TX in order to hunt down her sister’s killer – though she soon discovers the whole town may be more corrupt than she ever imagined. We still can’t decide if we want to be best friends with Pick or if we just want to be her.
High Fidelity
This female-POV remake of the 2000 John Cusack-led movie (and Nick Hornby novel) of the same name stars Zoë Kravitz as Robyn “Rob” Brooks, a pop culture and music super-fan who runs a record store in the rapidly gentrifying Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Since music culture has historically been dominated by white male perspectives, it’s pretty cool to see a woman of color so fixated on vinyl (especially someone as cool as Kravitz).
Outlander
Based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling series, Outlander tells the story of former World War II combat nurse Claire, her MI6 officer husband, and the time-travel incident that lands her in 18th-century Scotland (and in the arms of a sexy Scottish Highland warrior). Traditional romantic tropes are tossed out the window with this one, and unlike other historical romances, Claire has all the power to choose.
Little Fires Everywhere
This drama series (which stars the fiery duo of Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon) is based on Celeste Ng’s novel of the same name, telling the story of the seemingly perfect Robinson family and the mysterious single mother who rents their home across town with her teenage daughter. Mia Warren and Elena Richardson are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common: They’re fierce women who will do anything to protect their families (and their secrets).
The Morning Show
Based on Brian Stelter’s 2013 book, Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, this wild series – which stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon – revolves around a popular NYC-based morning news program and the sexual misconduct scandal that threatens to dismantle the whole show. Though Alex and Bradley start off as rivals, they’re forced to work together to fight the toxic culture of TV journalism.
Spinning Out
Starring Kaya Scodelario (whom you might know better as Effy Stonem from Skins) and January Jones, this drama revolves around a competitive ice skater who – after making a devastating fall during a competition – attempts to make a comeback by teaming up with a new partner. Accurately portraying mental illness without relying on tropes is difficult, but Spinning Out succeeds in depicting Kat’s bipolar disorder in a way that is sensitive and nuanced, making her an “unlikeable” female protagonist to root for.
I Am Not Okay With This
Sophia Lillis stars in this YA series, which comes from the from the creator/director of The End of The F***ing World and the producers of Stranger Things. Based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel of the same name, the series follows a teenage girl as she deals with high school, family drama, her budding sexuality, and the mysterious superpowers that she’s gradually developing – and somehow, it’s totally relatable.
Gentefied
In this America Ferrera-produced comedy-drama, three very different Mexican-American cousins attempt to work together on their shared dream: keeping their immigrant grandfather’s family taco shop open in their rapidly gentrifying East LA neighborhood. As well as being a celebration of Latinx culture, this series shows just what can happen when determined women band together.
Trinkets
Based on 2013 novel by Kirsten Smith, this YA series revolves around three very different sticky-fingered teens whose paths cross in a Shoplifters Anonymous meeting, and as little as they have in common, the one thing they do share brings them together in unexpected ways. The series will remind you just how essential female friendships are, especially when it comes to having one another’s backs.
Queen Sono
Netflix’s first original South African espionage drama stars Quantico‘s Pearl Thusi as the titular Queen Sono, a kickass female field operative still reeling from the mysterious death of her mother, who was an anti-apartheid revolutionary leader and freedom fighter. Queen proves that you can take on terrorism and look hot while doing it (even while battling your own inner demons).
Feel Good
Canadian comedian Mae Martin stars as herself in this queer rom-com series, following her life in London as she fights to overcome her addiction to narcotics and pursues a relationship with a woman who has never dated another woman before. Mae will give you major Fleabag vibes, and her struggles with identity, depression, and obsession will feel all too real.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker
Based on the biography On Her Own Ground by A’Lelia Bundles, this series follows the true story of Madam C.J. Walker, a black hair care entrepreneur who became the first African American self-made millionaire. Octavia Spencer plays the titular Walker, and we couldn’t think of a better person to play this powerful trailblazer.
Watch Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker on Netflix.
Dare Me
Based on Megan Abbott’s 2012 twisted cheerleader thriller of the same name, this dark series follows the story of a former star cheerleader turned high-school cheerleading coach and an ambitious teen on her squad with whom she develops a questionable relationship. Not even Bring It On‘s Torrance Shipman could face off against these fiery ladies.
Batwoman
Starring Orange Is the New Black‘s Ruby Rose, this new entry in The CW’s Arrowverse follows the fierce Kate Kane, cousin of Bruce Wayne (also known as Batman), who must take over her cousin’s responsibilities after he goes missing. Though Kate’s father tries to protect her from Gotham City’s crime wave through his private security firm, Crows Private Security, Kate refuses to hide any longer after her girlfriend, security officer Sophie Moore, is kidnapped, and yeah, she’s as awesome as she sounds.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Set in the late 1950s, this hilarious comedy series tells the story of a pampered Upper West Side housewife who – after discovering her husband’s infidelity – discovers that she has a secret of her own: She has a real knack for stand-up comedy. While Midge couldn’t care less about domesticity and convention, it’s her razor-tongued agent Susie who really retaliates against the patriarchy, and together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
One Day at a Time
This sweet sitcom reboot of the classic Norman Lear series revolves around a Cuban-American family, following the matriarch Penelope’s divorce as she and her kids navigate life’s challenges together. Though it’s lighthearted and fun, the show also delves into Penelope’s struggles with anxiety, depression, and PTSD and provides a very real look into single motherhood.
Dickinson
Starring Hailee Steinfeld, this historical drama tells the story of promising writer Emily Dickinson as she comes of age in 19th-century Massachusetts. Ambitious, independent, and hopelessly in love with her best friend (who also happens to be her brother’s fiancée), Emily is as complex and compelling a female character as the real-life poet.
Hanna
This reboot of Joe Wright’s 2011 action flick of the same name stars Esme Creed-Miles as the titular Hanna, a young woman who has spent her entire life in the secluded wilderness of northern Finland to be trained as a ruthless assassin by her father, Erik, a hardened and intuitive ex-CIA operative from Germany. Part thriller, part coming-of-age drama, Hanna is just as heart-wrenching as it is exhilarating.
Workin' Moms
If you’re sick of TV moms who always make child-rearing look easy, then you’re going to want to binge in to Workin’ Moms, which follows four female friends – an ambitious PR executive, a no-nonsense psychiatrist, an IT tech with an identity crisis, and an unfailingly optimistic real estate agent – as they attempt to balance careers and family. From postpartum depression to the agonies of breastfeeding, this Canadian dramedy is never afraid to show the less glamorous side of being a new mom.
Shrill
Based on the book Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West, this comedy series stars SNL‘s Aidy Bryant as an ambitious journalist who’s trying to build her confidence while also navigating ailing parents, loser boyfriends, and other people’s opinions about her body. Annie’s journey is all about feeling comfortable in her own skin, not changing her appearance, and once she realizes her potential, she seriously owns it.
