Women‑centric television has exploded in recent years, delivering bold narratives that put female experiences front and center. From supernatural thrillers to gripping period dramas, these series showcase powerful heroines, complex storytelling, and fresh perspectives. Below you’ll find the 10 greatest women TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist.
Why the 10 Greatest Women TV Shows Matter
10 Lost Girl
Premiered on 2010.
Lost Girl is a supernatural drama hailing from Canada that quickly earned both popular and critical acclaim. The series follows Bo Dennis, a bisexual heroine who discovers she feeds on the sexual energy of humans. As Bo unravels the mystery of her own origins, she simultaneously lends a hand to anyone in need, turning her unique ability into a compelling narrative engine that places her sexuality front‑and‑center.
8 Once Upon A Time
Premiered on 2011.
Created by the writers behind Lost and Tron: Legacy, Once Upon A Time (OUAT) is a uniquely American television venture that blends modern life with classic fairy‑tale lore. Set in the seaside town of Storybrooke, its residents unknowingly live as characters from beloved stories, cursed by the Evil Queen to exist in the real world. The series artfully collides legend and contemporary drama, delivering a fresh spin on timeless narratives.
9 2003)
This iconic American series has cultivated a massive cult following. Featuring the badass heroine Buffy Summers, a teenage vampire slayer, the show has earned accolades such as Time magazine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All‑Time” and Empire’s “50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.” Its trophy cabinet also includes Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, cementing Buffy’s influence on countless subsequent series.
7 The 100
Premiered on 2014.
Set in a post‑apocalyptic world, this American drama thrives on a suspenseful atmosphere. Ninety‑seven years after a nuclear war decimated humanity, a group of juvenile offenders is sent back to Earth to assess its habitability. Unleashing a hundred teenagers into a lawless landscape yields chaos, daring choices, and gripping survival drama.
Praised as one of the “coolest and most daring series on TV,” The 100 also boasts the distinction of featuring the first bisexual lead in a Cartoon Network production.
6 Carmilla
Premiered on 2014.
Carmilla is a Canadian web series adapted from Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella of the same name. Starring the talented Natasha Negovanlis and Elise Bauman, the plot unfolds at the fictional Silas University in Styria, Austria. Freshman journalist Laura investigates her roommate’s disappearance while navigating the enigmatic, brooding presence of her new roommate, Carmilla.
The series employs a multi‑platform storytelling approach and is freely available on YouTube, where its first season has amassed over 21 million views. Carmilla has earned praise for its almost entirely female cast and its commendable representation of LGBT characters.
5 Outlander
Premiered on 2014.
This British‑American drama adapts Diana Gabaldon’s beloved novels. It follows Claire Randall, a World War II nurse played by the incredible Caitriona Balfe, who accidentally travels back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst the rugged highlands, Claire navigates love, war, and a clash of centuries while forging her own destiny.
Outlander earned the title of Favorite Cable Sci‑Fi/Fantasy Show at the People’s Choice Awards and secured the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series.
4 Agent Carter
Premiered on 2015.
Agent Carter follows Peggy Carter, a sharp SSR operative who appears alongside Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Portrayed by Hayley Atwell, Peggy confronts rampant sexism while working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve, all the while battling nefarious forces threatening global security.
The show shines as a stylish drama, blending cheeky humor, sophisticated action, and bursts of excitement into a truly gem‑like viewing experience.
3 Orange Is The New Black
Premiered on 2013.
Orange Is The New Black (OINB) is an American comedy‑drama derived from Piper Kerman’s memoir “Orange Is The New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison.” The inaugural season centers on Piper Chapman, a mid‑thirties woman sentenced for past involvement with a drug runner. Subsequent seasons broaden the focus, weaving together the lives of a diverse ensemble of inmates as they navigate prison life, reminisce about their pasts, and adapt to a new reality behind bars.
In 2014, OINB became the most‑watched show on Netflix and has since garnered a slew of awards and nominations, cementing its cultural impact.
2 The Legend Of Korra
Premiered on 2012.
This follow‑up to “Avatar: The Last Airbender” was crafted by brilliant animators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. Set seventy years after the original series, it follows Avatar Korra as she strives to restore balance amid political and spiritual unrest in a rapidly modernizing world.
The American animated series has been lauded for its top‑tier production quality and its courageous tackling of socio‑political themes such as terrorism, fascism, anarchy, and unrest. It also earned critical and commercial praise for its inclusive representation of race, gender, age, and sexual orientation.
1 Orphan Black
Premiered on 2013.
Orphan Black is a Canadian sci‑fi series headlined by Tatiana Maslany. Without giving away spoilers, the plot follows street‑wise Sarah Manning, whose troubled past leads her to witness the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. Sarah assumes the dead woman’s identity for financial gain, only to discover a tangled web of clones and conspiracies that flips her world upside‑down.
Both fans and critics have hailed the show as an edge‑of‑your‑seat thriller rich with feminist subtext. After an Emmy snub in 2014, Maslany earned a nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama at the 2015 Emmys, cementing the series’ critical acclaim.