Women Name the Best and Worst Female Characters
Female representation in TV and film has changed a lot over the years. From what actresses were allowed to wear on-screen to what kind of stories they were able to play out. We’ve seen women star as everything from housewives to action heroes. But not all female representation is created equal. Sometimes it’s painfully obvious that a clueless guy was behind the creation of the character, making her exist to serve the needs of the male lead. Other times we can tell the writers made an effort to create a three-dimensional strong woman who everyone can get inspired by.
Women of the internet weigh in on what characters empower them and which are downright embarrassing.
BEST: Marge Gunderson, Fargo
There’s a certain type of tough female character we’re all used to seeing. The kind of woman who swoops in to save the day is usually super strong or otherwise has incredible powers that put her a league above the rest of us. It’s rare to see an ordinary lady come in and put the criminal behind bars. Much less a pregnant woman!
That’s why we love Marge Gunderson so much. The role that made most of us fall in love with Frances McDormand, Marge is an honest woman doing her job. We don’t need to see her in a sexy cop costume to get that she knows how to get things done.
WORST: Mikaela Banes, Transformers
There are few memorable aspects of Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise. If you like mindless action flicks then that’s your thing, we’re not going to hate on it. But do we really need to have an overly-sexualized woman thrown in the mix? Aspiring actresses with stand-out looks generally get typecast into these kinds of roles. While it put Megan Fox on the map, it didn’t get her any critical acclaim.
Mikaela Banes isn’t what we’d consider a great female lead. She basically exists to be eye candy, not a whole lot different from the explosions we see in the rest of the film. But women can be so much more than a prize for the male protagonist. C’mon Hollywood, you can do better.
BEST: Beatrix Kiddo, Kill Bill
One of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies as well as one of the greatest revenge stories of all time, Beatrix Kiddo isn’t a name we’re likely to forget anytime soon. This ex-assassin shows us the lengths a woman will go to avenge herself and her unborn daughter. Not only does Uma Thurman kick some serious butt in this role, but we see a whole bunch of other badass ladies, too.
Her iconic yellow jumpsuit, inspired by a similar outfit worn by Bruce Lee, is a breath of fresh air when compared to the typical outfits we see tough women wearing. The best thing about Kiddo is seeing her emotional range, we get to see her vengeful and motherly side.
WORST: Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad
Harley Quinn might be one of DC’s most famous villains. If you never read the comics, you’ll definitely remember her from the animated Batman series. Her distinct voice, clown get-up, and tragic backstory made her a multi-faceted character we couldn’t help but love (even if she sided with the baddies). It’s safe to say DC fans weren’t crazy with the Suicide Squad version of the villain.
Not only is her outfit hyper-sexualized, but all the charm and intrigue of the character seemed to be wiped away. Not that this was unique to Harley, most of the characters were unrecognizable at best and downright cringe at worst. Production definitely learned their lesson when portraying her in Birds of Prey!
BEST: Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
Usually, a strong female character will shed her feminine attributes at the end of her story arc. But who said there was anything wrong with femininity? You can have a strong, go-getting female protagonist who loves to wear pink! Don’t believe us? Clearly you haven’t watched Legally Blonde. Elle Woods proves you can be a bubbly blonde in a frilly dress while conquering a courtroom.
Oftentimes female characters are portrayed as dumb or shallow for caring about their appearance, especially if they’re into more girly clothing. In Legally Blonde, Elle teaches us that we don’t need to pick between the two. Power and femininity can absolutely co-exist with one another!
WORST: Claire Dearing, Jurassic World
Men tend to be front and center of most action movies while the women are stuck running helplessly for their lives in heels. Obviously not all films are like this, but there are enough that we’ve started to notice a trend. When Jurassic World was announced we were all excited to see how Hollywood would reboot one of our favorite childhood films.
Then we saw that they relied on some old and boring tropes when it came to their female lead. Why does the female lead need to be stuffy and stuck up, only to melt in the hands of the male lead? That plotline is seriously getting tired.
BEST: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter
When it comes to girls in fantasy stories, you can’t do a lot better than Hermione Granger. What better role model for young girls than a character who values her studies and friendships above all? You can tell women and girls really connected with Hermione’s story, she’s one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.
The best thing about the franchise is watching the character come into her own. A human being is never just one thing, we all have complicated emotions and that needs to be reflected when creating characters in movies. Granger is confident yet vulnerable, brave yet sometimes insecure. She’s a very real character who we can all look up to!
WORST: Padmé Amidala, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
The Star Wars prequels have a whole bunch of flaws, we don’t think anyone’s starting a big debate over that. One that tends to be overlooked is Padmé’s confusing character. Is she the strong type or is she going to give up because her boyfriend turned evil? While Natalie Portman acted this role as best she could, we’re seriously questioning whether this intergalactic royal is good female representation.
Was staying alive for her children not enough of a motivation for her? The film leads us to believe she died of a broken heart, which is lame in and of itself. Then again, there’s a whole lot of nonsense going on in those films!
BEST: Ellen Ripley, Alien
When you think of strong women in sci-fi who comes to mind? For many, it’s Ellen Ripley, played by the incomparable Sigourney Weaver. She’s a natural leader who can keep her cool in difficult situations. Even before facing danger, we can tell she knows what she’s doing. One of the most interesting things about Ripley is that she wasn’t written as a woman at all!
Ripley was written to be played by either a male or female actress. Casting Sigourney Weaver for the part made her one of the most popular female protagonists of all time. For a genre that’s typically dominated by men, Ripley does more than simply stand out.
WORST: Nadia, American Pie
Let’s face it, some of the movies from our past didn’t age as well as we thought. This is particularly true when it comes to comedy films. It’s rare to find an old comedy that still holds up today, and American Pie is no exception to that rule. While some enjoy the humor, there’s no denying that the female characters are beyond embarrassing.
She essentially exists to be eye candy that’s ogled by the main character. We know we can’t expect too much from a movie like this, but it’s beyond obvious that a man wrote the ladies in this film. It’s possible to be raunchy and funny without disrespecting women, just watch Bridesmaids!
BEST: Minny Jackson, The Help
Not all strong female characters are set in our day and age, some of them are living in times when being a woman wasn’t easy. Minny Jackson, portrayed by the talented Octavia Spencer, had the extra challenge of being an African American woman in the 1960s. Though she’s expected to be submissive and obedient, Minny is neither. She stands up for herself at more than one point in the film.
While it can be difficult to look back at the past honestly, it’s important to remember how things used to be. It’s equally as important to recognize that there were strong women who did everything in their power to make life better for themselves.
WORST: Black Widow, Iron Man 2
Sometimes writers and directors need a wake-up call when it comes to their female characters. Black Widow had a whole lot of potential, but in earlier Marvel films it clearly wasn’t being used. How do you cast Scarlett Johansson for a role and expect her to just be eye candy? She’s so much more than that!
However, as the franchise continued it was clear Marvel was treating Black Widow with a little more respect. We even got an entire film dedicated to Natasha Romanoff and her journey before she joined the Avengers. We have to give Marvel props for recognizing she was worth it, though we wish they had realized that sooner.
BEST: Fa Mulan, Mulan
This underrated Disney Princess deserves more praise for being such a great example of female empowerment. Mulan represents a woman who pushes herself to overcome the odds, and she does it all to keep her father safe. We can’t help but get a little emotional when she finally climbs up and retrieves that arrow.
While there is a romantic subplot, it’s not the main focus of our heroine’s story. Another great part about Mulan is that she teaches the men to use their femininity as a strength! This movie is all-around fantastic when it comes to the lessons it teaches. Mulan is truly a great role model for little girls everywhere.
WORST: Claire Standish, The Breakfast Club
John Hughes brought us some of the most iconic coming-of-age movies in history, but there were times we just couldn’t buy into his characters. The Breakfast Club brings us a range of teenage stereotypes, eventually breaking them down to show that no one is one-dimensional. But some people have taken issue with the portrayal of popular girly girl Claire Standish.
While her character is pretty realistic, we just can’t get behind the idea that she’d get together with a guy who attempted to harass her. Teasing is one thing, sticking your head between a girl’s legs, without her consent, is super creepy! We love the movie for what it is, but we wish that aspect of their relationship had been cut.
BEST: Daria Morgendorffer, Daria
You can’t be a 90s kid without remembering this iconic animated character. Originally a character from the popular MTV series Beavis and Butthead, this bespectacled gal with an unusual name became the star of her own show. Her less-than-feminine style and distinct monotone voice made her stand out among other female characters. Many women who were teens during Daria’s run say they really related to her.
And it’s easy to understand why. Daria is the epitome of someone who just doesn’t fit in, and isn’t interested in changing herself for popularity’s sake. She values her education and friendships above all else, but still makes mistakes just like the rest of us. It’s no wonder people are still talking about her to this day!
WORST: Barbarella, Barbarella
It’s surprising that self-described feminist Jane Fonda would star in a film like this. However, it was early in her career and even she admits it wasn’t her proudest moment. Barbarella is one of the earlier examples of women in science-fiction, but this portrayal is far from being empowering. Instead, it’s an overly-sexualized film that some critics called exploitative.
Clearly, this movie was made for men to drool over Jane Fonda, representing women in the genre definitely wasn’t part of the equation. The movie hasn’t aged well, though there are still campy and entertaining aspects we can still enjoy. Though Barbarella probably won’t be anyone’s role model any time soon.
BEST: Princess Leia, Star Wars
Now this is our kind of science-fiction woman! Princess Leia, played by the talented and outspoken Carrie Fisher, is a strong woman who isn’t afraid of getting in on the action. She speaks her mind and doesn’t submit to the will of others. Over the course of the original trilogy, Leia proves her abilities in more than one way.
Who could forget the moment when it’s revealed that she came to rescue Han? Return of the Jedi might’ve come out in the 80s, but it was already subverting common movie tropes! Far from a damsel in distress, this Princess from Alderaan can fight for herself and save her man.
WORST: Anastasia Steele, 50 Shades of Gray
Just because a female character was written by a woman doesn’t mean she’ll be empowering. Or interesting, realistic…you get the idea. If you thought Bella Swan was a bland, one-dimensional character whose only personality trait was her boyfriend, wait until you meet Anastasia Steele! 50 Shades of Gray is a story inspired by the Twilight series, and it shows.
In addition to Anastasia not having a personality or ambitions of her own, the books and films have a pretty problematic portrayal of certain bedroom activities. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little kinky, but some of the stuff we saw on screen is bordering on abusive. We’re not fans.
BEST: Éowyn, Lord of the Rings
Having a character go from orphan to hero isn’t anything new, but how often do we see a woman playing the role? The fantasy genre has a ton of great female role models, and one of the greatest has to be Éowyn from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Many fans of the books and films feel she’s an empowering character who stands up for herself and knows her worth.
One of the greatest moments in the trilogy happens when she removes her helmet and reveals that she’s a woman. The line is still quoted to this day! Among all the female warriors in film, Éowyn is a contender to be the one to rule them all!
WORST: Natalie, Dylan, and Alex, Charlie’s Angels
The early 2000s had a few films that experimented with a certain type of female empowerment. At the time Hollywood was playing around with having kick-butt heroines starring in their movies, but they weren’t quite sure how to portray them. While the Angels are highly capable when it comes to saving the day, we have to question why they’re always in super sexy outfits.
How practical are heels when it comes to fighting? It feels like this movie was made more for guys to watch attractive female starlets rather than creating interesting and empowering representation for women. The trio will always be iconic, but we’d be lying if we said they’re good characters.
BEST: Sarah Connor, Terminator
It would’ve been very easy for Terminator to turn Sarah Connor into a screaming damsel while putting the focus on Arnold Shwarzzenger’s toughness. Thankfully, it didn’t do that and we have a better movie because of it. While she starts off as an ordinary character at the beginning of the film, we see her tap into her inner strength when things get rough.
She even manages to take down the Terminator! Now THAT’S one tough lady. Despite her abilities, we still get to see the character’s humanity. While most women aren’t fighting killer cyborgs (we hope), they can still look to Sarah Connor as great female representation in an action film.
WORST: Patience Phillips/Catwoman, Catwoman
There have been many renditions of this popular DC character, but Halle Berry’s version might be the worst. No shade to the actress, Berry is definitely a talented star, but the script she was given was beyond bad. One of the most common gripes with this film is the costume. Catwoman’s outfit has always been seductive, but this is taking it into the realm of alternative nightclubs.
The open-toe shoes she sports are just the icing on the cake. You’d think by 2004 Hollywood would be done with the over-sexualized female superhero, but nope. This so-bad-it’s-good film will go down as one of the worst superhero movies and examples of female representation.
BEST: Jessica Jones, Jessica Jones
Sometimes film and TV directors feel the need to make their female protagonists flawless. They think good representation means a perfect woman, despite their good intentions this isn’t the case. The best female characters are the ones with a range of emotions and dimensions to them. This is one of the reasons Jessica Jones is such a popular character.
Normally you see guarded, solitary characters played by men, but this time we have Krysten Ritter taking on the role. She has serious struggles but manages to fight through them, something that all people, not just women, can relate to. The series managed to give us a heroine who wears regular clothes instead of a sexy get-up, too!
WORST: Frida Kahlo, Frida
Frida Khalo is often named as a feminist icon for her unique appearance as well as her artwork. You’d think a film about her life would be a hit with women, but this wasn’t the case. A big part of that had to do with the harassment and abuse actress Salma Hayek dealt with from Harvey Weinstein.
The producer allegedly gave the starlet a hard time when making the film, threatening to sabotage it unless she agreed to a full-frontal nudity scene with another woman. This movie could’ve been something great if it weren’t for his intervention. Thankfully, that sort of behavior is becoming less tolerated in the industry, though there’s still a long way to go.
BEST: Buffy Anne Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
We’re used to seeing feminine blonde highschoolers as ditzy, clueless, and weak. Buffy the Vampire Slayer turned this common trope on its head and created one of the most incredible heroines of all time. Buffy takes on her role as a Slayer while still maintaining her regular life. From the start, we can tell she’s an intelligent girl, and we get to see her transformation into a powerful figure.
The male characters in Buffy’s life attempt to undermine her worth and abilities, but she always proves them wrong. Despite her strength, we still get some vulnerable and emotional moments from the character. Buffy Anne Summers is a feminist icon who won’t soon be forgotten!
WORST: Penny, The Big Bang Theory
We get that The Big Bang theory is mainly for nerdy guys, but did they have to make the female characters so unbearable? This show is masterful when it comes to relying on stereotypes, and one character women find particularly insulting is Penny. She exists to be attractive, less intelligent than her male counterparts, and to help Leonard come out of his shell.
We’re also majorly side-eyeing the situation where Leonard gets intimate with an incredibly drunk Penny. People can’t consent if they’re falling over drunk. Seems like she was created to be nothing more than a prize for the male lead, and eye candy for the rest of the cast to ogle at. Not cool.
BEST: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
We hope it’s not cheating to sneak a video game character in here. After all, Lara Croft was so popular that she came to life in her own movie! Video games often have issues when it comes to their female characters if any exist at all. From skimpy outfits to suggestive fighting sounds and moves, a lot of the time these ladies only exist to titillate.
While Lara Croft’s outfit isn’t exactly modest, she’s still a badass character above all else. Young girls who grew up with the game say that they were enamored with her as a tough yet pretty character they could play as. While she’s not perfect, she was still great representation for gamer girls back in the day.
WORST: Catherine Tramell, Basic Instinct
This film was not a critical success, and it only seems to grow more tasteless over the years. The movie follows an attractive female crime novelist who becomes a suspect in a murder case. While the thriller could’ve given us a complex woman anti-hero, we were left with little more than over-sexualized scenes that will be remembered for years to come.
Does anyone remember anything about this movie outside of the leg-crossing scene? There’s a lot of other bad stuff in this movie, maybe it’s best we don’t remember it. A film we’re sure Sharon Stone would prefer to have not made, this film is far from having flattering representation of women.
BEST: Okoye, Black Panther
Black Panther might have its weak spots, but strong female representation definitely isn’t one of them! It’s hard to pick just one for this list, but eventually, we had to settle on Okoye. She represents one of the greatest aspects of Wakanda, gender equality. Being a woman doesn’t limit you, you can be a tough warrior if you want to!
But it’s not just her physical strength we love her for. Her internal struggle whether to defend the throne or protect her close friend gives us a moment of vulnerability, showing she’s not just a suit of armor with no emotions. And how can you not fall in love with her character design? She’s an all-around tough lady we can all look up to.
WORST: Samantha Baker, Sixteen Candles
This isn’t the first John Hughs film to include some creepy situations involving a highschool girl. It isn’t even the first to involve Molly Ringwold! However, 16 Candles seems to stick out in most people’s minds as having some pretty unsettling moments. It’s not just Millennial and Gen Z viewers who find some of the scenes unsettling.
While the film centers around the teenage angst of a young girl, it doesn’t hesitate to put her in situations that could be categorized as assault. “She’s so blitzed she won’t know the difference,” isn’t something a guy should be saying about getting intimate. In addition to all this, the female characters are typically shown as shallow and clueless.
BEST: Moana, Moana
It’s no secret that little girls are the main demographic of Disney Princess movies. When they grow up they tend to hold a fondness for these characters, but some of the early Disney ladies didn’t always send the best messages. And that’s okay, the past is there so we can learn from it. Disney definitely took some notes when coming up with this incredible protagonist.
Moana is a teenage girl who loves her family and yearns for adventure…and doesn’t get married by the end of the film! Seriously, what’s the deal with all these young princesses rushing to put a ring on it? Moana is perfectly content with her island and the clear blue seas.
BEST: Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter
Not only was this character a great example of a strong woman, she was also played by an incredibly tough lady in real life! Professor McGonagall is without a doubt one of the most memorable teachers at Hogwarts. Despite her prim and proper demeanor she knows how to stand her ground when she needs to. Does anyone else remember how she dealt with Umbridge?
And a word about Dame Maggie Smith; this inspiring woman was going through cancer treatments while filming for Harry Potter. In her own words, “Some people say you have to fight cancer. But it was fighting me.” The actress truly fit the character when it came to their strength!
WORST: Rory Gilmore, Gilmore Girls
This series was a major hit in the 2000s, combining drama and comedy to bring us a story about a single mom and her daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut. While is one of the show’s primary characters, some fans of the series weren’t crazy about her. While we appreciate her fondness for reading, it doesn’t quite make up for her many faults…
People expected her to mature as the show went on, but viewers complained that she only got worse with every episode. According to fans she never grew out of her bad habits and continually displayed her weak moral compass and lack of compassion for others. Teens, don’t emulate this one!
BEST: Brienne of Tarth, Game of Thrones
There are many amazing female characters in Game of Thrones, however, there’s one that we believe to be a league above the rest. While the series wasn’t exactly consistent with their character arcs (ahem, Daenerys Targaryen), Brienne of Tarth manages to stand out as a strong woman who never bows to the immoral ways of others. She never backs down, even when she’s being mistreated for her gender.
Another aspect we can appreciate about Brienne is her unglamorous appearance. Empowering women don’t always need to have feminine or flashy looks to leave an impression on the audience. In a series with incredible female characters, Brienne is one who definitely deserves more appreciation.
WORST: Elena Gilbert, The Vampire Diaries
There was a time when we were all captivated by vampires, and not the Nosferatu kind either. Twilight brought about a newfound interest in these supernatural creatures, and shows like The Vampire Diaries were becoming incredibly popular. The series has a handful of female characters, but one that stands out for all the wrong reasons would have to be Elena.
Her character is majorly lacking in dimension, seemingly existing to complain about being too loved and too pretty. Even fans of the show will admit that she was one of the worst characters, and sometimes difficult to watch. There’s a difference between a female character showing vulnerability and one who does nothing but complain. Elena is definitely the latter.
BEST: Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation
This beloved series showcases a variety of loveable characters. We could go on about the amazing ladies who make this mockumentary great, but we’re going to spotlight the deputy director of Pawnee herself, Leslie Knope! She’s the definition of someone who never gives up, no matter how many roadblocks get in her way. And despite her many responsibilities she always manages to have a sunny disposition.
Another aspect we love about Leslie is her relationships with the other characters. We often see career women depicted as cold and uncaring, but Leslie clearly cares deeply about all the people in her life. An incredibly well-rounded character, and really funny to boot, we love this female representation Amy Poehler brought to life!
WORST: Rey, Star Wars
Making a female character perfect in every way isn’t as great as some writers might think. The Star Wars franchise is no stranger to a strong female lead, Princess Leia was and still is a great example of female empowerment in film. But our new lead in the movies produced by Disney? Yeah, we have a few problems with her.
Many fans noticed that Rey was a little too perfect from the jump, not giving us the opportunity to watch her grow or work through any flaws. Because of this, her character ends up being forgettable, which is a shame because we think we all wanted to see a better lead in the reboot.
WORST: Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel
We know Brie Larson has taken a lot of flack for her portrayal of Captain Marvel, so we want to emphasize that this is a critique of the character and not the actress. Marvel has been an absolute powerhouse when it comes to bringing comic book characters to life. Though their heroes outnumber their heroines, we still get to see some tough ladies shine every now and again.
But what’s the fun in watching a character who’s as flat as a piece of paper? Writing a character purely for feminist representation is never going to captivate audiences. We don’t think any actress could’ve saved this film or brought such a blandly written character to life.
BEST: Zoë Alleyne Washburne, Firefly
This science fiction series gained a cult following even before it was canceled earlier than it deserved. There are nine characters who make up the crew of the Serenity, but we’re going to focus on the first mate, Zoë Alleyne Washburne. This kick-butt woman always impressed us with her ability to stay calm in difficult situations.
We’re glad to see the trope of hysterical women fading into the past. She may have her flaws but that’s what makes her human, not just a physically strong fighting machine. She definitely fits in with the many other sci-fi ladies we’ve come to know and love. And brought to life by the phenomenal Gina Torres? What more could we ask for?
WORST: Andrea, The Walking Dead
Sometimes adaptations don’t get our favorite characters quite right. This is something fans of The Walking Dead complained about when they saw Andrea brought to life on the silver screen. What could’ve been excellent representation of a badass woman surviving the apocalypse became a pretty bland and clueless character. Andrea is often named one of the worst characters in the series in general!
There’s nothing more grating than someone who thinks they know everything yet is constantly wrong. She lacks conviction but fails to display any vulnerability that audiences can relate to. A bad character in general and bad representation of fictional females in general, Andrea definitely makes the ‘worst’ list.
BEST: Lisa Simpson, The Simpsons
Disclaimer: we’re ignoring the majority of the recent seasons of the show when writing about everyone’s favorite know-it-all, Lisa Simpson. In its heyday, The Simpsons had this little girl be the voice of reason and morality for the rest of the family. While she could be a bit annoying at times, her passion for her saxophone and conviction in her beliefs made her an incredible character.
Lisa wasn’t too proud to be vulnerable every now and again, remember the episode where she enters the beauty contest? While she’s clearly brilliant, she never sees herself as better than her family members and always puts them above everything else. Lisa was a real feminist character with heart, and someone we could always be inspired by.
BEST: Amy Dunne, Gone Girl
Not all compelling female characters have to be benevolent or have a good moral compass. No one exemplifies that more than Amy Dunne from Gone Girl. Sometimes we love to root for the bad guy (or gal), and there’s a good reason women found this character super intriguing. She’s extremely intelligent, cunning, and hyper-aware of how people view her as a woman.
And she uses that last aspect to her every advantage. Does that make her a good person? No. But does it make her an interesting and three-dimensional female character? Absolutely. On the list of female villains, we’d definitely rank this scheming lady at the top.
WORST: Alison Scott, Knocked Up
This film follows a pretty common scenario, two people hook up and end up having to deal with a pregnancy. It’s certainly a storyline we’ve seen in movies before, but there’s a reason Katherine Heigl herself considers this film pretty sexist. While both people are thrust into a complicated situation, it’s the woman who’s painted as uptight and difficult. The guy on the other hand…
He’s nothing but a fun-loving goofball for the audience to root for! Seriously, it’s like this movie didn’t want to give any empathy toward the female lead, which is harsh considering a surprise pregnancy is a rough thing to go through. This movie’s portrayal of women definitely didn’t age well.
BEST: Miranda Hobbes, Sex and the City
This series showcased what life could be like for women in their 30s living the single life in New York City. Zeroing in on the love and sex lives of women past their 20s was a revolutionary move for a TV show, and it definitely paid off. The show brought us several strong female characters to be inspired by, but there’s one who fans seem to adore above the rest.
How can you not adore such an independent career woman? While this trope feels a little old nowadays, back then it was fresh for viewers. It wasn’t the first time we saw a career woman on screen, but her plotline of being a self-sufficient badass brought joy to us all.
WORST: Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter
While the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is full of interesting and compelling characters, there’s one whose plotline seemed to be botched by the films and books alike. Ginny Weasley starts out as the awkward younger sister of the Weasley clan, plus she has a crush on Harry Potter that she’s embarrassed about. And by the end of the franchise, she grows into…
Does anyone have any answers? Seriously, what was Ginny’s development throughout all those films? We don’t get a whole lot of her personality or motivation as a character, other than wanting to be Harry’s wife. For a series that brought us Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood, we’re pretty disappointed.
BEST: Arya Stark, Game of Thrones
It’s no secret that this revolutionary fantasy series is chock full of incredible female characters. This article just wouldn’t be complete without naming everyone’s favorite; Arya Stark. This orphan is fiercely determined to avenge her parents’ death and proves herself to be both powerful and unstoppable. Despite her age, she’s not a threat to be taken lightly. Even people who haven’t seen the show know what a beloved character she is.
We all love a good underdog story, and Arya’s arc definitely delivers on that front. While some fans weren’t crazy about where her story went in later seasons, there’s no denying that she will go down in TV history as a badass female character.
WORST: Rachel Berry, Glee
As a series Glee was kind of all over the place. While a lot of viewers stayed loyal and saw the season out until the end, others dropped off after season 2 or 3. One of the biggest grievances with the series was its constant spotlight on Rachel Berry. The show never seems to do a good job of making her deal with her flaws or mistakes.
Rachel can truly do no wrong and is constantly moving upwards despite the way she treats others. While many character arcs were botched throughout the series, we think Rachel’s was the worst. Maybe Ryan Murphy thought he was bringing an inspirational female lead to the screen, but all he did was make us want to tune out.
BEST: Captain Janeway, Star Trek
One of the original sci-fi baddies, Captain Janeway will forever be a favorite of the Star Trek fandom. There’s really nothing more satisfying than seeing a female character who’s a natural leader, often named as one of the best captains in the series. Fans love the way she balances being practical and emotional, y’know, like a real human being would.
Charisma is what makes a female character more well-rounded and less robotic, an important factor when bringing women to the screen. No one wants a flat, humorless, character who embodies perfection in everything they do. Viewers want someone they can look up to, who’s also flawed like they are, and Captain Janeway brings that perfect balance to the USS Voyager.
WORST: Marie Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond
If there’s one stereotype we’re not crazy about, it’s the overbearing and hateable mother-in-law, and if any character fits that description to a T is Marie Barone. We’re also tired of the idea that a narcissistic parent is a loving one, it’s simply not true. Helicopter parenting isn’t the kind of loving upbringing a mom needs to give their kids, especially when they’re fully grown!
It seems that female characters are most often put into the stereotype of the overbearing and controlling parent, something that some might consider a bit sexist. There’s no doubt she’s funny, but there’s only so much of her we can take before getting seriously irritated.
BEST: Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
While there have been several additions to the Swedish series, we’re just going to focus on David Fincher’s version of Steig Larson’s popular story. Lisbeth Salander is the kind of woman who lives her life without caring about others’ opinions, and when necessary she’ll take her fate into her own hands. Though she’s lived through some horrific events, she always comes out a fighter and a survivor.
There’s no doubt she’s got a feminist attitude, and that’s likely due to the fact that the original story was written to counter violence against women. Lisbeth might not be perfect or conform to society’s standards of what a woman should be, but that’s exactly why we love her so much.
WORST: Piper Chapman, Orange is the New Black
Taking place in a women’s prison, it’s not surprising that this series gave us a plethora of female characters to identify with. There’s so much range when it comes to their personalities, motivations, and appearances. But one character people didn’t connect with was, surprisingly, the protagonist Piper Chapman. One of the bigger gripes people have is her lack of self-awareness when it comes to her more privileged background.
While other characters show remorse and growth, Piper never seems to learn from her past actions. While she’s not a terrible person, she’s perpetually bland in comparison to the more fleshed-out personalities around her. We preferred the episodes where she got less screen time.