The Covid-19 lockdown that grounded us indoors also presented us with an ample amount of time to consume as many web series as we could. The number of brilliant shows has shot up on various OTT platforms.
The dazzling world of entertainment introduced us to many astounding female-led web series.
Stories that deal with feminism and empowered women are never going to run out of demand. This is because there is too much to be shown in this arena. There is too much that a woman goes through in her lifetime.
Here is a list of ten beautifully crafted shows which, I believe, every woman must watch.
(This POST contains spoilers.)
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Based on a novel by award-winning writer Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is a heart-rending tale of several powerless and helpless women who are subjected to slavery in the totalitarian society of Gilead.
The job of a handmaid is to bear the child of a Commander and once she has done so, she is transferred to another residence to bear another Commander’s child.
There is grave punishment for the ones who protest. Even those who show any kind of reluctance are reprimanded.
In the male-controlled culture of Gilead, women have no rights or authority. The chauvinistic practices of the society are not even condoned by the wives of the Commanders; these wives themselves have limited roles.
There are secret police who track down any scheme of rebellion.
The character of June Osborne, which is played by Elizabeth Moss is the main protagonist of the show and she is the one who, through her captivating monologue, brings out the dark secrets of Gilead to the audience.
Before the war, she was a working woman who had a husband and a daughter.
It is June who decides to take control of the future of the oppressed women around her and eventually, many others join hands for a ground-breaking revolution.
Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime Videos, SonyLiv
No. of seasons– 4
FLEA BAG
This unconventional dark comedy deserves all the accolades it has bagged.
Fleabag is the story of a guilt-ridden, blundering woman in her early thirties who frequently dissociates herself from the people around her and turns to us, the audience, to escape from her tragic life.
She often finds herself to be a social misfit, even when she is with her family.
Mistake after mistake, she comes to term with the fact that she will always remain misunderstood and unloved.
She pretends to not care and consistently fails to do so.
She is disappointed by relationships and life, that is, until she meets a priest who she falls in love with.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays the character of Fleabag in this short series and who is also the creator of this eccentric story, has done a marvellous job at connecting with the audience and breaking the fourth wall.
At first, she makes us judge her at every instant. Soon she makes us accept her as who she is. And eventually, we feel the same pain and disgust that she feels due to the circumstances around her.
The bittersweet ending of the series leaves us with a sense of loss. In the end, she denies us permission to follow her thoughts any further.
Also, this is a love story.
Available on: Amazon Prime Videos
No. of seasons-2 (2016-2019)
BIG LITTLE LIES
Women, most often, find enough reasons to judge and hate one another.
But in desperate times, women also support one another for the sole reason that they understand the complex fibre with which a woman’s emotion is woven.
Big Little Lies is one such story where a group of passionate and possessive mothers (played by a power-packed cast) go through and deal with different kinds of crisis in their respective personal lives.
The story lets us enter the psyche of women suffering from the trauma of abuse, disempowerment, unacceptance, guilt and denial.
Based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriaty, this show unravels how women survive perpetual anguish and struggle to stay afloat in a world that is constantly trying to drown them.
Available on: Amazon Prime Videos, Disney Hotstar
No. of seasons-2 (2017-2019)
THE MORNING SHOW
Starring Hollywood gems like Jenifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the show introduces us to the glitzy world of the UBA network and gradually unveils the dark skeletons kept in its closet.
It helps us identify the nuances that allow sexual harassments to take place at work.
It demonstrates the power dynamics at the workplace and exposes how frequently it is abused by those at the top.
Following several accusations of sexual misconduct, Mitch Kessler (played by Steve Carell) is fired from his job at the UBA Network, where he had co-anchored a popular morning show with his colleague Alex Levy (played by Jenifer Aniston) for fifteen long years.
The news hits the character of Aniston too deep, as she is shocked by the revelation that someone, she trusted so much, could commit such a horrible thing.
She feels betrayed as she is left behind to host the show alone and fears that she too would lose her position. She also struggles with the realization of her own complicity in what should have not been ignored.
When Alex impulsively chooses the inexperienced and reckless journalist Bradley (played by Reese Witherspoon) as her new co-anchor, she does not realise how badly she is going to regret her decision.
Torn between the crises at both personal and professional front, Alex eventually forges her path forward and it is the eccentric character of Witherspoon which gives her this courage.
The Morning Show is a binge-worthy roller coaster of a ride. The show is full of over-the-top theatrics and enthralling moments.
It is hard-hitting, addictive, and carries the #metoo movement forward with full zeal and effect.
Available on: Apple TV Plus
No. of seasons-1 (2019; awaiting 2nd season)
THE CROWN
One may or may not have pleasant opinions for the British Royal family, but this series, which is based on their lives, has amassed a great fan-following, and rightly so.
The Crown makes us travel through time and observe closely, the evolution of Queen Elizabeth II from a Queen who is struggling with power to one who has finally learned to take control of it.
The series unravels different facets of the lives of the royal family and unveils the vulnerabilities of those in power.
It displays the privileges that the royal members enjoy. It also stresses the limitations that they are burdened with.
The series takes bold risks by changing its entire cast in different seasons (the role of the Queen is played by Claire Foy in Season 1 and Olivia Coleman in subsequent seasons).
But every season introduces us to a talented set of artists who speak through the camera so effortlessly and passionately, that pretty soon we get emotionally connected to all of them.
Famous for its expensive production and lavish sets, The Crown is one of the best web series launched in recent times.
It is engaging and impactful. It demonstrates before us, how, even with all the royalty and power, some cannot easily be who they really are and how they would actually like to be.
After four successful seasons, it is now headed towards its most anticipated season where the story of Princess Diana’s death and the upheaval and tragedy connected with it will be presented to the audience, in the magnificent technique that this drama is so popular for.
The Crown is a series so well executed, and power-packed with such great performances that one can hardly get enough of it.
Available on: Netflix
No. of seasons– 4 (Awaiting the last two seasons)
KILLING EVE
Based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings, Killing Eve is a spy thriller bursting with spectacular actions and intense emotions.
It is a truly feminist package where not only the protagonists are women, but the writers of all its seasons are also women.
The two main characters of the show are Villanelle (played by Jodie Comer) and Eve Polastri (played by Sandra Oh).
Villanelle is a scrupulous and psychopathic assassin who commits cold-hearted murders and escapes the scene effortlessly without any fear of being caught.
Eve Polastri, who is an intelligence agent, has been secretly recruited to track and catch Villanelle.
Both the characters are strong-headed and smart, but when they are presented with opportunities to catch or kill each other, they fail to do so.
Their initial targets are torn apart, as they grown to know and like each other.
The show takes a dramatic turn when a love-hate sensation permeates whenever the protagonists cross each other’s path.
The infatuation that brews within Villanelle and Eve becomes more and more deadly, so much so that, it completely consumes them and makes them obsessed with each other.
It makes the chemistry special and unlike any TV has given us before.
Available on: Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar
No. of seasons– 4
UNBELIEVABLE
Unbelievable begins with the alleged rape of Marie (played by Kaitlyn Dever).
Marie is a young girl who spent most of her life under foster care.
She has to narrate the story of her rape again and again to the investigators who are supposed to help her.
However, the trauma of recalling the abuse so many times and the inquisition breaks her down. She ends up confessing that she was never raped.
Marie is charged for lying about having been raped and as a result of this episode, loses her credibility in both her personal and professional life. She distances herself from everyone she was close to.
Few years after this, two female detectives, Detective Grace Rasmussen (played by Toni Collette) and Detective Karen Duvall (played by Merritt Wever), work together to track the identity of a serial rapist in Washington and Colorado.
When the truth is unearthed, it not only serves justice to multiple victims of the abuse but also reveals the reality about Marie’s case.
What makes this miniseries more shocking is the fact that it is based on a true story. The show is riveting and will keep you hooked to the screen till the end.
Available on: Netflix
No. of seasons– 1 (Miniseries)
UNORTHODOX
Unorthodox is a classic miniseries with a spellbinding and heart-breaking performance by Shira Haas as Esty. It is based on the autobiography of Deborah Feldman.
A 19-year-old married Jewish woman is living an unhappy life with an ultra-orthodox community in New York City.
Unable to bear the medieval ways of life anymore, she makes a scheme and runs away to Berlin to find her estranged mother in order to refurbish her life.
In Berlin, she finds new challenges but gradually overcomes them all.
She tries to absorb the new lifestyle and fit in with the people she meets. Just when she starts feeling confident about her future, she is again threatened by her old orthodox family from New York City.
Unable to escape from her past, she deals with it with a strong will and eventually breaks free.
When Esty finds liberation, it gives out a breath of fresh air for many women out there who are subjected to oppression and injustice.
This show is an emotional roller coaster and, for me, one of the best feminist shows out there.
Available on: Netflix
No. of seasons– 1 (Miniseries)
THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT
The Queen’s Gambit is a show that explicitly shows what ‘Girl Power’ actually means.
We all love a story where an underdog’s journey of success can be witnessed. The fact that this is a coming-of-age drama makes the story more inspiring.
Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) loses her mother in a car crash and is taken by an orphanage.
Here she meets the custodian, Mr Shaibel who helps her learn how to play chess and soon realises that she is a chess prodigy.
Years later, she is adopted by a lady called Alma Wheatley and her husband. She initially faces difficulty in adjusting to her new environment, especially in her school, but eventually finds her way in.
Her passion from playing chess still thrives within her and she starts applying for chess tournaments.
Her career gradually soars as she bags in one win after the other and soon becomes a legend in the chess community.
She also bonds and builds friendships with many from her community.
Beth becomes an icon in her field but is also addicted to the tranquillizers that she used to receive when she was at the orphanage. This addiction becomes her weakness throughout her life and also affects her career in the future.
However, it doesn’t destroy her. She bounces back like a strong wind.
The strong and energetic performance by Anya Taylor-Joy makes the show more enthralling.
Although the story revolves around chess, the emotions and incidents are relevant for many aspects of life. This show is completely binge-watch worthy.
Available on: Netflix
No. of seasons– 1 (Miniseries)
THE BOLD TYPE
Perhaps the most distinct show in this list, The Bold Type is a show that may seem at first like a candid light-hearted story of three millennial women.
However, it gradually engages us with the various professional and personal life dynamics of a modern working woman’s life.
The show perfectly demonstrates what a healthy friendship should be like and why women need to lift one another even if not asked for it.
The bond between the three protagonists of the show, Jane Sloan (played by Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (played by Aisha Dee) and Sutton Brady (played by Meghann Fahy) is inspiring and something we millennials frequently desire to have.
This is a show where varied perspectives are presented and all opinions are given weight.
Throughout the show, we are educated about all the issues that revolve around a woman’s life and the way to deal with them.
It also vividly distinguishes between the views of a Feminist and that of a Femi-Nazi.
Men are not neglected in this female led show. Men’s views and their side of the story is continuously highlighted in this series.
The Bold Type is in its true essence for the ones who are ready to change, who are ambitious, who are eager to grow and who are courageous enough to break taboos.
Available on: Netflix
No. of seasons– 4 (Awaiting 5th season)
TO CONCLUDE
While there are many more popular women-centric shows available on OTT platforms, this list includes all the shows that I’ve personally watched and would recommend to every woman I know.
There is something powerful in each of these shows which transfers into the soul of the viewer who imbibes it.
Good content opens the minds and hearts of many. And sometimes, if we are lucky, helps us discover who we truly are
After all, a woman must discover herself and not be invented by others.
(All Images: Google)
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE FEMINIST WEB SERIES.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FEMALE-LED SHOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO THE READERS?
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