10 TV Shows That Redefined the Complicated Female Lead

Fleabag

Watching Fleabag feels like listening to a friend confess things they probably shouldn’t. The main character is funny, awkward, selfish, and painfully honest. She talks directly to the audience, which somehow makes her flaws even more relatable. Beneath all the humor, the show deals with grief, loneliness, and guilt in a very raw way.

The Morning Show

If you like dramas that feel uncomfortably real, The Morning Show is a solid pick. It dives into the messy world of morning news, where ambition, image, and power constantly clash. The women here aren’t perfect or always likable and that’s exactly the point. The show really captures what it’s like to work in a high-pressure space while dealing with public judgment.

Killing Eve

Killing Eve part thriller, part dark comedy, and completely driven by two fascinating women who become obsessed with each other. One is a spy, the other an assassin, and neither fits into neat boxes. They’re smart, reckless, emotional, and unpredictable.

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale is intense, but it’s also deeply character-driven. The women in this world survive in different ways; some resist openly, others quietly, and some make choices that feel uncomfortable to watch. The show doesn’t pretend there’s one “right” way to survive oppression.

Damages

Damages is darker and far more psychological. At the center is a powerful female lawyer who’s brilliant but also deeply manipulative. You’ll constantly question whether to admire her or fear her. The show plays with timelines, secrets, and moral gray areas, especially in relationships between women.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer may look like a teen fantasy show, but it’s really about growing up with responsibility way too early. Buffy is strong, but she’s also tired, scared, and unsure of herself a lot of the time. She’s expected to save everyone while still figuring out who she is. The show allows her to fail, question herself, and feel overwhelmed.

Hacks

Hacks is about two very different women trying to survive in a tough industry. One is successful but guarded, the other young and desperate to prove herself. The show does a great job showing ambition, insecurity, and how complicated mentorship can be, especially between women.

Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones feels very different from most superhero shows. Jessica isn’t trying to be a hero; she’s just trying to get through the day. She’s closed off, sarcastic, and clearly carrying a lot of emotional baggage. The show deals heavily with trauma and control, and it doesn’t rush her healing or pretend strength fixes everything. That’s what makes her compelling.

Game of Thrones

One thing Game of Thrones did well was showing women fighting for survival. The female characters start in very different places, but all of them are forced to adapt quickly. Some grow stronger, some harder, and some more dangerous. The show doesn’t treat ambition as a flaw or a virtue; it just shows the consequences. These women make tough choices, sometimes cruel ones, and often pay a heavy price.

Good Girls Revolt

Good Girls Revolt is about small acts of courage that slowly add up. Set in the 1960s, it follows women working in a newsroom where they’re constantly overlooked. Some hesitate, some doubt themselves, and some push forward anyway. The show focuses on personal struggles as much as social change.