We’re all about celebrating and amplifying women’s voices here at Urban List—and that’s certainly the case when it comes to entertainment. Fortunately, there is a slew of incredible, female-lead shows that hero women in all aspects of life—from bossing it in the boardroom and the powerful tales of friendship to crime-fighting queens.
Need a boost of empowerment in your life? Here’s our edit of the very best feminist TV shows to stream.
The Morning Show (Season 3)
Apple TV+
Starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, this sharp drama dives into the behind-the-scenes world of a morning news show, exploring themes of power dynamics, sexual harassment, and the #MeToo movement. Aniston and Witherspoon give powerhouse performances that highlight the complexities of women navigating a male-dominated industry. Watch it here.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Final Season)
Prime Video
Midge Maisel continues to defy the societal norms of the 1950s by pursuing her dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. This Emmy-winning series blends humor with sharp social commentary, highlighting the challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry.
The Power
Prime Video
In this world, suddenly, and without warning, teenage girls develop the power to electrocute people at will (honestly, amazing). The 'power' basically evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world and book fiends will know this one is based on British author Naomi Alderman’s award-winning novel too. Watch it from March 31.
Yellowjackets (Season 2)
Showtime
Yellowjackets masterfully blends psychological horror and drama with a female-centered narrative that examines survival, trauma, and the darker sides of human nature. The story follows a high school girls' soccer team that survives a plane crash in the wilderness and must fend for themselves, both in the wild and later in life as adults dealing with the aftermath. The complex, multi-dimensional female characters and the show's exploration of power dynamics and group psychology make it a profound piece of feminist television.
Minx
Stan
Minx centres around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), a young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women. In order to get her career on track, they have to navigate their way through the LA porn scene which, during the 1970s, was an absolute time. Watch Minx here.
A League of Their Own
Prime Video
This reimagining of the 1992 classic film takes a deeper dive into the experiences of women in baseball during World War II. It doesn’t just stay on the field; the series broadens its scope to explore issues like racism, sexism, and the struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals in the 1940s. By giving voice to the untold stories of women athletes and highlighting the intersectional struggles they faced, A League of Their Own brings a fresh and relevant perspective to feminist narratives.
High Fidelity
ABC iView
Catch the seriously-cool Zoe Kravitz in the High Fidelity reboot available to stream on ABC iView. Based on the 2000 film starring John Cusack, this adaption stars Kravitz as the 30-year-old record store owner who navigates tricky romantic relationships—you could totally binge it in one day guilt-free.
The Bold Type
Stan
For those who haven’t had the joy of watching this great show yet, it’s basically a sassy mashup of The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and The City. In it you’ll delve deep into the lives of three best friends (Jane, Kat and Sutton) who work for fictitious women’s magazine Scarlet. The trio navigate through the struggles and successes of living in Manhattan, tackling relationship breakdowns, women’s rights and family drama—all side by side. This show is proof that women supporting women is a freaking amazing thing.
Sex Education (Season 4)
Netflix
Sex Education continues to be a groundbreaking series that boldly tackles feminist themes head-on. This season expands on its commitment to showcasing diverse narratives around sexual empowerment, body positivity, and identity. By delving deeper into issues like gender fluidity, asexuality, and the complexities of consent, Sex Education champions the idea that understanding and respecting individual sexual identities is crucial for equality. The series empowers its audience by normalizing conversations about sex, gender, and mental health, helping to dismantle stigmas and challenge traditional gender roles. Its honest and inclusive portrayal of teenage sexuality makes it a must-watch for anyone interested in progressive and feminist storytelling.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Netflix
Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer stars as Madam C.J. Walker, the trailblazing African American hair care entrepreneur who was America’s first female self-made millionaire. Inspired by the book, On Her Own Ground written by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles, the series shows how, against all odds, Walker overcame post-slavery racial and gender biases, personal betrayals, and business rivalries to build a ground-breaking brand that revolutionized black hair care, as she simultaneously fought for social change.
Big Little Lies
Binge
If we’re talking girl power, it doesn’t get much more fierce than the leading ladies of Big Little Lies, based on the book by Aussie Liane Moriarty. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley, the actors play a group of mothers, initially brought together by their children who attend the same primary school—the series takes a dark turn when they work together to cover up a murder.
Killing Eve
ABC/Stan
The epic spy thriller follows steely MI5 agent Eve (Sandra Oh) who, bored with her current job, becomes obsessed with capturing brutal—yet incredibly chic—assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). While Eve embarks on an international hunt to stop Villanelle’s murderous ways, the serial killer takes no prisoners, brutally taking out anyone that gets in her way…everyone except for Eve that is. Catch seasons one and two on Stan and season three on ABC.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stan
The women of The Handmaid’s Tale might start out oppressed but it’s not long until they start rebelling against their captors. Led by June (Elizabeth Moss) this dystopian thriller takes place in Gilead, a new world where women can be used as handmaids to produce children for the men that own them. Beaten and mentally tortured, the handmaids, led by June, decide to turn the tables on their “leaders” by hatching a deadly and daring escape.
The Woman in the House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window
Netflix
This satirical psychological thriller, led by Kristen Bell, flips the script on traditional 'woman in peril' narratives. While it uses the tropes of the genre, it also pokes fun at them, offering a subversive take that critiques how women's fears and traumas are often trivialized or sensationalized in media. It's a darkly comedic and self-aware take on feminist storytelling that blends suspense with a critique of the genre's handling of women. Watch it here.
Little Fires Everywhere
Prime Video
Based on Celeste Ng's bestselling novel, Little Fires Everywhere explores the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother-daughter duo. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, this drama unpacks issues of race, class, and privilege in suburban America. The show masterfully examines the intricacies of motherhood, identity, and the impact of secrets, making it a compelling feminist narrative that challenges societal norms and expectations.
Fleabag
Prime Video
If you loved Killing Eve, then you’ll love the whip smart comedy of Fleabag, which stars and is written by the incredible genius, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (who also penned the first season of Killing Eve). A real, raw portrayal of a young woman living in London, Fleabag is all about celebrating, rather than hiding her “fuck ups”. There’s cursing, cringe moment, loads of sex and tons of LOLs. We could go on about it but seriously, just go and watch it.
The Mindy Project
Amazon Prime
If you’re after some light-hearted LOLs from one of the funniest women going around, then look no further than The Mindy Project. The show follows Dr. Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling), an obstetrician and gyno living in New York who has just about everything figured out… except her love life. Following her disastrous dating escapes is just half the fun, the best bit (in our opinion) is watching Lahiri constantly outwit her male colleagues.
Grace & Frankie
Netflix
You’ll laugh and you’ll cry during this incredible series that puts women to the front. In Grace and Frankie, Jane Fonda (Grace) and Lily Tomlin (Frankie) star as two women whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, they form an unlikely bond to face an uncertain future together and discover a new definition of “family,” with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way.
The L Word: Generation Q
Stan
This show made serious waves when it debuted over a decade ago, showcasing the lives of a group of lesbians and bisexuals in LA. After a 10 year hiatus, the ladies of the L Word are back. The L Word: Generation Q pick ups where it left off, following our faves Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), along with newbies Micha Lee (Leo Sheng) and Gigi (Sepideh Moafi) as they experience love, heartbreak, setbacks and success in LA.
Good Trouble
Stan
This spinoff from the hugely popular drama The Fosters, is a must watch. In Good Trouble, we follow foster sisters Callie (Australia’s own Maia Mitchell) and Mariana as they embark on the next phase of their adult life in LA where Callie has scored a job as a clerk to a big-time judge while Mariana is an engineer at a cool tech start up. The sisters are faced with a myriad of challenges in the big city, like sexism in male-dominated industries, racism and a whole lot of relationship drama.
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Image Credit: Stan