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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

What are some decent feminist friendly tv shows?

118 replies

Mishmashofstyles · 28/12/2013 16:15

Like Parks and Recreation, that you'd recommend? You know, has more than one female character, the women are doing stuff, not just mooning over men, oh, or like Buffy!

That's what I'm after mumsnet feminists, hit me with it!

OP posts:
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hazchem · 27/01/2014 08:02

Taking a break from being a feminist while watching TV from the onion

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BeeBawBabbity · 26/01/2014 20:59

Definitely Veep, it's great.

Also Weeds, Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock.

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phoolani · 26/01/2014 18:55

Anybody been watching The Blacklist? I haven't sat down and analysed it, but I just keep finding myself pleasantly surprised when minor characters (which tend to be men normally) are female (and it isn't a plot device) and there's a couple of really great parts in it for women. Obviously, it's still a bit man-heavy, but I'd be interested to know what others think.

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RiaOverTheRainbow · 26/01/2014 02:35

Brooklyn Nine-Nine isn't specifically feminist, but three out of seven characters are female and they're as well-developed/weird/competent as the rest. The 'family-oriented' character is male, and in other ways very masculine, and not at all derided for being completely smitten with his daughters.

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Cactuar · 24/01/2014 06:03

Warehouse 13 - at one point the main female characters outnumber the male. Also love the fact that Pete and Mika just have a genuine male/female friendship. There is none of this will they/won't they get together.

Also Fringe - Olivia is a brilliant character.

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ProfondoRosso · 23/01/2014 17:23

The Golden Girls all the way for me - it addresses a lot of issues of ageism too. Just the funniest ensemble cast I've ever seen, regardless of gender.

Freaks and Geeks always feels like a good feminist show to me. I know Judd Atapow doesn't have a great record for nuanced female characters, but the main character in this show is a young woman in high school, who is very academic but feels disillusioned with all the roles society expects her to play. An amazing performance from Linda Cardellini in the lead role. I wish I'd seen it when I was in my teens and going through similar confusion!

I would add Roseanne too. It got crap towards the end, but I loved watching her relationship with her sister. They were so close and were always laughing together and being daft - it made me think of my relationship with my own DSis. And Roseanne was definitely the tough nut in that family.

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Loopytiles · 23/01/2014 17:11

Call the midwife

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Loopytiles · 23/01/2014 17:10

Fresh meat!
Good wife
Masters of sex

Am confused about "2 broke girls", but like it, mainly about them trying not to be broke and their friendship.

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ChunkyPickle · 21/01/2014 19:33

surprisingly Chuck - until the last season (when there's been a bit to much trading feminine wiles and doe eyed proposal attempts). Yes Chuck is male, but the females characters are all well respected in their careers and treated/act as as equals

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amalur · 21/01/2014 18:57

Borgen, Borgen, Borgen. It is not just that it has strong female characters, its main feminist point is that portrays a situation where gender does not seem to have any weight on the characters, they are individuals who happen to be women, but could have been men and the scenarios would also apply. Even the times where the work/life balance appears it is not about them being women, it is about being parents.

It is a brilliant show. The Bridge is similarly inspirational in how women are portrayed as individuals too.

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Mumraathenoisylion · 21/01/2014 18:54

Weeds

Big Love - although it's about the strict mormon religion and where one man has three wives the women are very strong and the men are secondary characters.

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GinnelsandWhippets · 21/01/2014 18:47

Breaking Bad is a very male dominated show, but the 2 main women in it are very well rounded, real characters with complexity, shades of grey (in the real way, not the dodgy book way) and they are real agents in the plotlines, not just there as window dressing.

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KeatsiePie · 21/01/2014 00:47

I just started watching the first episode of Major Crimes and just must reiterate that Mary McDonnell is amazing.

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KeatsiePie · 21/01/2014 00:23

It just occurred to me, has anyone mentioned The Closer? I love that show. I get a little tired of Kyra Sedgwick's character Brenda milking the Southern femininity thing to get her way, but I still love it. Mary McDonnell's great in it too, esp. in later seasons.

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BafanaThesober · 19/01/2014 08:59

Has anyone mentioned "the Bletchley circle". On.y watched one episode, but think it has promise!

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ErrolTheDragon · 13/01/2014 09:41

After last night, Sherlock - the women are as dysfunctional as the men! Wink

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SkaterGrrrrl · 12/01/2014 20:25

30 Rock

The West Wing

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ColouringInQueen · 12/01/2014 20:09

Another vote for The Good Wife. Strong female lead and supporting roles.

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Jacksterbear · 12/01/2014 19:48

Another vote for Battlestar Galactica. Also True Blood.

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Astarael · 12/01/2014 19:46

I really enjoyed Marvel's Agents of Shield. Its a team of six main characters - 3 men and 3 women. The "hardest" member of the team is one of the women, as is the cleverest scientist. I did the bechdel test on a couple of the episodes and it passed but didn't do each one.

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Astarael · 12/01/2014 19:44

I really enjoyed Marvel's Agents of Shield. Its a team of six main characters - 3 men and 3 women. The "hardest" member of the team is one of the women, as is the cleverest scientist. I did the bechdel test on a couple of the episodes and it passed but didn't do each one.

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KeatsiePie · 12/01/2014 18:07

This is great, I am out of episodes of The Good Wife. Making a list here.

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ArtetasSwollenAnkle · 12/01/2014 11:10

The Bridge.

Nurse Jackie.

The Sopranos - Carmela and Dr Melfi are both excellent.

Anything with Olivia Colman in it. The Thirteenth tale was superb.

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Rosencrantz · 11/01/2014 18:09

The Mindy Project. Very much a story about a woman looking for love, but Mindy is a doctor, a hero, not typically beautiful, not white, very funny and holds her own.

She is an example of a feisty woman who likes celebrity gossip and clothes, but still is successful and intelligent too.

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bigmouthstrikesagain · 07/01/2014 13:30

Pulling - had a great female heavy cast - it's theme was mainly relationships with men and how they could go disastrously wrong - the characters were grotesques designed for our amusement/ horror - it was refreshingly honest about relationships - sexual and platonic and it was very very funny.

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