Amount

List of TV series with a strong female lead

26 Feb 2017 20:39 - 30 Mar 2017 22:22 #52821 by j2001
I'm trying to make a list of all the TV series starring a strong female lead with special abilities, so mostly sci-fi or fantasy series with a few exceptions consisting of women with fighting skills bordering on the almost-superhuman level.

I'm throwing everything into the mix, including teen series, but let's avoid ensemble casts if the strong female doesn't have an exceptionally prominent role (no Game of Thrones or Firefly, for example).

Care to help? This is what I could gather so far but I'm surely missing some.

Bewitched (1964)
My Living Doll (1964)
I Dream of Jeannie (1965)
The Flying Nun (1967)
Nanny and the Professor (1970)
The Girl with Something Extra (1973)
The Secrets of Isis (1975)
Wonder Woman (1975)
Charlie's Angels (1976)
Tabitha (1976)
The Bionic Woman (1976)
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)
Super Gran (1985)
Small Wonder (1985)
Out of This World (1987)
Mann & Machine (1992)
Ocean Girl (1994)
Weird Science (1994)
The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994)
Star Trek: Voyager (1995)
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
La Femme Nikita (1997)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Charmed (1998)
Highlander: The Raven (1998)
The Worst Witch (1998)
Relic Hunter (1999)
Cleopatra 2525 (2000)
Queen of Swords (2000)
Dark Angel (2000)
Cybergirl (2001)
Black Scorpion (2001)
Witchblade (2001)
Alias (2001)
Birds Of Prey (2002)
Guinevere Jones (2002)
Joan of Arcadia (2003)
Dead Like Me (2003)
Tru Calling (2003)
Touched by an Angel (1994)
Wonderfalls (2004)
Hex (2004)
Krystala (2004)
Ghost Whisperer (2005)
The New Worst Witch (2005)
Mars Ravelo's Darna (2005)
H2O: Just Add Water (2006)
Painkiller Jane (2007)
Bionic Woman (2007)
Super Twins (2007)
Komiks Presents: Dragonna (2008)
Komiks Presents: Varga (2008)
Volta (2008)
Samurai Girl (2008)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008)
Eastwick (2009)
Darna (2009)
Dollhouse (2009)
Lost Girl (2010)
Rosalka (2010)
Nikita (2010)
Charlie's Angels (2011)
The Nine Lives of Chloe King (2011)
The Secret Circle (2011)
Continuum (2012)
Hunted (2012)
Lightning Point (Alien Surf Girls) (2012)
Orphan Black (2013)
Witches of East End (2013)
Bitten (2014)
Believe (2014)
Salem (2014)
Humans (2015)
Marvel's Agent Carter (2015)
Marvel's Jessica Jones (2015)
iZombie (2015)
Supergirl (2015)
Stitchers (2015)
Eve (2015)
Angel from Hell (2016)
Shadowhunters (2016)
Wynonna Earp (2016)
Van Helsing (2016)
The OA (2016)
Stranger Things (2016)
Crazyhead (2016)
Santa Clarita Diet (2017)
The Worst Witch (2017)
Let the Right One In (2017) (upcoming)
Last edit: 30 Mar 2017 22:22 by j2001.
The following user(s) said Thank You: lfan, Sarge395, Markiehoe, TwiceOnThursdays, Monty, Gargamel

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • j2001
  • j2001's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Member
  • Junior Member
More
26 Feb 2017 21:20 #52824 by andyf
Bionic Woman 1976 and The Nine Lives Of Cloe King 2010.
The following user(s) said Thank You: slim36

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 02:09 #52826 by TwiceOnThursdays
Replied by TwiceOnThursdays on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Assuming the list is supposed to be live action: (so no cartoons/anime):

(the Secrets of ) Isis (1975)
Electowoman and Dyna Girl (1976)
Secret World of Alex Mack (1994)
Stranger Things (2016) (Eleven is the only one with powers in the show, and she's prominent, so I think it skips by the ensemble rule.)
Humans (2015)
Mann and Machine (1992)
Witchblade (2001)
Tru Calling(2003)
Ghost Whisperer (2005)
Secret Circle (2003) -- never watched it, it might fall into the ensemble rule.
Cybergirl (2001)
Ocean Girl (1994)
Sabrina The teenage witch (1996)
(found these while look up the date for Sabrina, I don't know anything about them):
Believe (2014)
Wolfblood (2014) (never seen it, but the young woman is the pack alpha, so I assume that would give her enough prominence to count here.).

On the edge:
The Americans (2013)
Covert Affairs (2010)
Santuary(2008) (esp when Emilie Ullerup was there at the beginning)
Samuari Girl (2008)
Hunted (2012) (Now free streaming if you have Amazon Prime)
The Middleman (2008) (she's mostly outshadowed by her male counterpart, and her main power seems to be that she's unflappable.)
Power Rangers?
Dead Like Me (2003)

For a laugh:

Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 (She MUST have a superhuman resistence poisons else she'd have died from alcohol poisoning ;-) )
Veronic Mars (is snark a super power?)

assume out due to Ensemble: Sense8, Misfits, Misfits of Science, Being Human (both UK and American), The Tick, No Ordinary Family, Heroes, Roswell, Shadow Hunters, The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Alphas, The Legend of the Seeker, Warehouse 13 (on edge anyway), The Tommorrow People, The Almighty Johnsons, Hex (2004)

(I was trying to think of the name of a show the other day, it was the Nine Lives of Chloe King, so thanks for having it on the list.)
The following user(s) said Thank You: j2001

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 10:08 #52830 by Markiehoe
Replied by Markiehoe on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Bewitched
I Dream of Jeanine
Nanny and the Professor
Star Trek Voyager
Cleopatra 2525
Xena Warrior Princess
Queen of Swords

Bubble:
Relic Hunter
V.I.P.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sarge395, j2001, TwiceOnThursdays

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 13:41 #52834 by Helstar
Replied by Helstar on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Black Scorpion and Darna (if foreign series are accepted...)
The following user(s) said Thank You: j2001

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 16:19 #52836 by dauntingmold
Replied by dauntingmold on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Dark Matter, might be classed as ensemble, but Number 2 is the lead character and is certainly super.
The following user(s) said Thank You: j2001

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 20:15 - 27 Feb 2017 20:17 #52841 by j2001
Thanks a lot for helping, some of the series you suggested I'm ashamed I had forgotten (Xena, Sabrina, Tru Calling and Ghost Whisperer mainly), others are as obscure as it gets but they seem to be very interesting :D

I'm adding the following entries to the list thanks to your suggestions, see the first post for the updated list:

Bewitched (1964)
I Dream of Jeannie (1965)
Nanny and the Professor (1970)
The Secrets of Isis (1975)
The Bionic Woman (1976)
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)
Mann & Machine (1992)
Ocean Girl (1994)
The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994)
Star Trek: Voyager (1995)
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
Relic Hunter (1999)
Cleopatra 2525 (2000)
Queen of Swords (2000)
Cybergirl (2001)
Black Scorpion (2001)
Secret Circle (2003)
Dead Like Me (2003)
Tru Calling (2003)
Ghost Whisperer (2005)
Mars Ravelo's Darna (2005)
Samurai Girl (2008)
Hunted (2012)
Believe (2014)
Humans (2015)
Stranger Things (2016)

Stranger Things and Star Trek are a bit of a stretch but I think they qualify overall.
The idea is to avoid series in which, yes, we have a strong and powerful female but just as part of a world with many other characters stronger or as strong as she is because we would have to add dozens if not hundreds of series. The goal is to make a list of series in which the strong woman is special, standing out as the beacon of everyone's attention and source of fear/admiration.

For example, I don't think Wolfblood qualifies. Synopsis reads as follows: "The start of the show sees Maddy, who lives with her wolfblood family in Stoneybridge, Northumbria, coming ever closer to her first transformation. When new boy Rhydian arrives at Bradlington High School, Maddy recognizes him as being a wolfblood too. Rhydian, who lives with his foster family, has only recently started changing into a wolf."
So the girl here isn't special, she's one of many.

Let me know if you disagree, of course.
Last edit: 27 Feb 2017 20:17 by j2001.
The following user(s) said Thank You: TwiceOnThursdays

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • j2001
  • j2001's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Member
  • Junior Member
More
27 Feb 2017 20:52 #52842 by Markiehoe
Replied by Markiehoe on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Seven of Nine in Star Trek Voyager is a unique individual.
Part human/ part Borg but separated from the collective.
She has a super brain and slightly increased strength and reflexes.
That was my thinking.

And Captain Janeway is just a plain Bad A$$

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
27 Feb 2017 20:57 #52843 by lfan
If we're including foreign series, there are a number of Filipino superheroine series that come to mind besides Darna:

Dragonna
Krystala
Super Klenk
Super Twins
Varga
Volta

ElF

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 00:43 - 28 Feb 2017 00:57 #52848 by castor
Replied by castor on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Stichers(2015) qualifies, if the show itself isn't great
Flying Nun(1968)- if your being completest
Tabitha(1977)
Wonderfalls(2004)
Joan Of Arcadia(2003)
Worst witch (1998, 2005, and it looks like a version coming up in 2017)
Hex(2006)
Touched by an Angel (1994)
Angel from hell(2016)

Wouldn't call Stranger Things a streach by any means.
Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 00:57 by castor.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 01:21 - 28 Feb 2017 01:25 #52849 by LustMonster
Replied by LustMonster on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Does Galaxina (1980) count?

Yeah, she's an android, but she progresses toward becoming human in the same way as Data in ST:TNG.

And NOTHING can beat a movie that has this line of dialog:

"I don't eat bars - I'm a rock eater. Rock eaters don't eat bars, bar eaters eat bars. Rock eaters eat rocks! That's how we get our rocks off."
Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 01:25 by LustMonster.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 01:27 #52850 by Markiehoe
Replied by Markiehoe on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Galaxina was a theatrical movie.
I think j2001 is looking for TV shows

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 01:30 #52851 by LustMonster
Replied by LustMonster on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead

Markiehoe wrote: Galaxina was a theatrical movie.
I think j2001 is looking for TV shows


Aww crap, I somehow missed that.

Never mind!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 04:55 #52852 by TwiceOnThursdays
Replied by TwiceOnThursdays on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
By the expanded definition, Stranger Things isn't a stretch. I'd question Once Upon a Time more as there are multiple people with powers, and they aren't all women. There is a lot of girl power on the show though. But if that's the criteria, then I'd offer up Westworld (to be non-spoilery as possibe, given that it's Westworld, people should know the basic plot arc of robots run amok. The simpliest thing to say is that the androids that are the most independent, and therefor exhibit acutal power, are women.).

Dark Matter should qualify despite the ensemble cast. Two is unique (* spoilers). It's an important arc in S1 and S2.

I can't believe I forgot XENA. Remembering all these shows is much harder than I thought it would be.

My Living Doll (1964) I only remember this due to Julie Newmar (the show is before my time.) Sadly there doesn't seem to be much of this show surviving. I did find 10 episodes on Amazon/DVD. (related, but off topic: zowie, speaking of tall being sexy (or well, just Julie Newmar), wait for the Monkees to surround her:
) Scanning some of the remaining episodes, it's clear that she is superiour to humans (she out sharks a pool shark for example.)

Charlie's Angels?
La Femme Nikita (1997) (The one with Petra Wilson)
Cleverhead (2016) on netflix might qualify. I've not watched it.

It is funny with the clusters 64-65, 75-76. Though things have been fairly steady since 94. We need something from 2004. Wait, Castor got it with Wonderfalls. ;-) I do not remember Tabitha _at all_.

We have to be forgetting something. Nothing from 78 thru 91? That can't be right. But I can't remember/find anyhing from the 80's that would fit.
The following user(s) said Thank You: dauntingmold

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 07:44 - 28 Feb 2017 11:09 #52853 by Monty
Vanessa Angel in Weird Science


This message has an attachment image.
Please log in or register to see it.

Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 11:09 by Monty.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sarge395

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 10:35 #52855 by The Highlander
Replied by The Highlander on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead

j2001 wrote: For example, I don't think Wolfblood qualifies. Synopsis reads as follows: "The start of the show sees Maddy, who lives with her wolfblood family in Stoneybridge, Northumbria, coming ever closer to her first transformation. When new boy Rhydian arrives at Bradlington High School, Maddy recognizes him as being a wolfblood too. Rhydian, who lives with his foster family, has only recently started changing into a wolf."
So the girl here isn't special, she's one of many.
Let me know if you disagree, of course.


I'd probably agree that Wolfblood shouldn't be on this list as it is much more of a group show. While all but the third series have a girl as the main character (the third series focuses more on Rhydian) there are always plenty of others around with exactly the same powers. Also the wolfblood's powers are a bit limited by our standards, they are meant to be stronger than normal humans (as well as faster and with better senses) but apart from some jumping this is never shown. However I would suggest watching it anyway, it's a good series and features a lot of very strong and capable females (both human and wolfblood).

How about the CBBC series EVE (2015) about a female android?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 12:55 - 28 Feb 2017 19:10 #52858 by lfan

TwiceOnThursdays wrote: I do not remember Tabitha _at all_..


Wow....blast from the past! Tabitha came out about the time WW and BW were on TV in the late 70s and helped warp my young mind. It was very short lived from what I remember but starred a young (and hot) Lisa Hartman in the starring role of Tabitha Stevens, Samantha and Darren's daughter, in the Bewitched spinoff.

ElF
Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 19:10 by lfan.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 17:29 #52865 by dauntingmold
Replied by dauntingmold on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Super Gran, may not be what you were intending when you started this list but fits the definition.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 17:35 - 28 Feb 2017 17:36 #52866 by njae
There's Out of this World which ran from 1987 until 1991. Main character was a half-alien girl whose main power was to stop time and a few other things (she even flew in a few episodes).

Similar to The Secret World of Alex Max and Sabrina.
Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 17:36 by njae.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 17:43 #52867 by Monty
Super gran! I remember watching that as a kid on a Sunday afternoon! Even as a kid I thought it was weird with the wee Scottish granny getting superpowers. (Pity a young granddaughter never got in the way of the villain's mis-directed super ray). If you're not from the UK, don't ask!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 18:29 - 28 Feb 2017 18:32 #52869 by shadar
Replied by shadar on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Somehow, Uma Thurman in My Super Ex-Girlfriend got lost off these lists.

We actually had two superfemmes in that movie... Uma as G-Girl and Anna Faris as Hannah. The movie ended with two guys being a bit emasculated (but not in a mean way) by having girlfriends who darted off at odd times, leaving their purses with the men as they saved airliners in trouble, or whatever.

Lets hear it for G-Girl...






And Hannah (Anna) who turns into a very enthusiastic redhead when she's super-powered:





Not to forget this movie poster:

This message has attachments images.
Please log in or register to see it.

Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 18:32 by shadar.
The following user(s) said Thank You: erikphandel, Monty

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • shadar
  • shadar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Uberposter par Excellence
  • Uberposter par Excellence
More
28 Feb 2017 18:37 - 28 Feb 2017 18:38 #52871 by shadar
Replied by shadar on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead
Just realize this was supposed to be TV shows, not movies. Sorry.

Maybe we need a thread for that and move this over there.

Shadar
Last edit: 28 Feb 2017 18:38 by shadar.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • shadar
  • shadar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Uberposter par Excellence
  • Uberposter par Excellence
More
28 Feb 2017 19:00 #52874 by njae

shadar wrote: Just realize this was supposed to be TV shows, not movies. Sorry.

Maybe we need a thread for that and move this over there.

Shadar


Don't we have entire forum sections for both? A bit redundant since the Supergirl TV show also has a subforum but I do remember there being subforums for pretty much every kind of fiction that could contain ubergirls.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 19:07 #52876 by lfan

njae wrote:

shadar wrote: Just realize this was supposed to be TV shows, not movies. Sorry.

Maybe we need a thread for that and move this over there.

Shadar


Don't we have entire forum sections for both? A bit redundant since the Supergirl TV show also has a subforum but I do remember there being subforums for pretty much every kind of fiction that could contain ubergirls.


He means a self-contained running list of ubergirl MOVIES. Not redundant at all.....

ElF

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
28 Feb 2017 19:11 #52877 by shadar
Replied by shadar on topic List of TV series with a strong female lead

njae wrote:

shadar wrote: Just realize this was supposed to be TV shows, not movies. Sorry.

Maybe we need a thread for that and move this over there.

Shadar


Don't we have entire forum sections for both? A bit redundant since the Supergirl TV show also has a subforum but I do remember there being subforums for pretty much every kind of fiction that could contain ubergirls.


I suppose there are pigeon holes for everything in the Forum (way too may, IMHO), but as usual, we all just follow along with any conversation of interest that gets started, in whatever sub-forum. That's the nice thing about the home screen list of active topics -- it's easy to just join in.

Even if the topics sometimes lurch off track. That's usually OK for me as long as it's still interesting. The nature of conversation is that it wanders.



Shadar

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • shadar
  • shadar's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Uberposter par Excellence
  • Uberposter par Excellence
More
Time to create page: 0.136 seconds