How about entertainment we *can*stomach?!

[moofolk]

Inspired by the other thread of feminism ruining TV.

Let's compile some good stuff.

Not too many men, lots of strong female characters, hopefully some lesbians, definitely not loads of women being raped and murdered for male titillation.

I watched The Women with Meg Ryan and Annette Benning recently. It's bubblegum and hardly a feminist manifesto. It has a very strong female cast including Bette Midler and Carrie Fisher and crucially there are no men in it at all.

What have you got?

[MedusasBadHairDay]

Jessica Jones is another good choice, especially because of the dynamic between her and Trish as the storyline progresses.

On a superhero note I also enjoyed Supergirl, though I'm way behind on it (still on S3 I think?)

[moofolk]

Ooh some great ones here.

I loved Gentleman Jack and was excited about the series as I know the area a little and had found out about her history through O'Hooley & Tidow, the folk duo whose song was used as the theme tune.

Good Girls the daughter is played by a big and definitely transitions. I stopped when I IMDB'd and the character is credited as boy and girl names.

The analysis of Harlots is spot on and yes I think these issues can be dealt with well but I refuse to watch anything where women are raped and murdered for titillation (though tempted by The Fall largely because Gillian Anderson is in it!).

[moofolk]

I loved Jessica Jones and might hunt for some old Cagney and Lacey I loved it!

Pretty sure it's watchable with kids too.

Sci fi can be great too. I watched the first couple of series of Discovery but heard there's a stunning and brave trans character in the new one and haven't gone there. Not seen Picard yet but Voyager will probably always be my favourite Star Trek

[moofolk]

overdone the "strong female character" and make her into someone who can do no wrong - (without spoilers) is that not the case?

This is something that irritates me too!!! Oh it can't be sexist if the female character is perfect and all knowing m, right?! (Haven't seen Enola Holmes so not re that per se).

I loved the character Nadja in what we do in the shadows. It's male heavy but the actor refused to do it without the assurance that her character would be flawed and also as silly as the men.

[MagpiePi]

Fort Salem - was on BBC iPlayer, not sure if it still is though.

Maybe aimed more at YAs but was entertaining enough

[LaVitaPuoEsserePiuBella]

@BlueCatRedCat

I would happily watch Cagney and Lacey again. It was one of my favourite programmes as a teen in the '80s. The two lead characters were incredible: complex, realistic, relatable and aspirational. I want to say it was ahead of its time, but actually, I feel like we have gone backwards since those days.

I absolutely loved this as a teen and yes, I agree - I feel the same re going backwards since then.

[Hazelnutlatteplease]

Oh Yy unbelievable is utterly fantastic

Can I put a questionable vote in for the witcher? Whilst the nudity levels are still incredibly sexist, 2 of the main storylines are about woman where their primary interest is their own ambitions.

[ClaryFairchild]

Ride Like a Girl on Netflix. About the first female jockey Melbourne Cup winner.

I quite enjoyed Julie and The Phantoms even though it's targeted at the teen market.

Marvellous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime.

[RuffleCrow]

Ooh! Where to start?!

I don't think any of my choices are 'perfect' feminism. Except maybe Mrs America but that comes with the territory and it's perfect exactly because it exposes some of the key issues. The others all pass the Bechdel Test and are female focused - they show women's lives as being about something other than getting a man, although getting a man may be a part of their lives.

Most of Orange is the New Black, bar some of the trans storyline.
Gilmore Girls.
Fleabag
Mrs America
Russian Doll
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel

[ErrolTheDragon]

I loved Gentleman Jack and was excited about the series as I know the area a little and had found out about her history through O'Hooley & Tidow, the folk duo whose song was used as the theme tune.

I've still got the tune as an earworm at the moment - it's an excellent one to have on a brisk walk. I first heard about her on here because of the blue plaque furore.

[JKRforPM]

Ahh I see my suggestion of ST Voyager has already been mentioned!

In an era when female characters on TV were only leads because they had special powers/magic/etc Janeway was an ordinary woman who was Captain of a starship. And she was so well written (and played) she needs a special place in tv history!

[MaudesMum]

Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

[BlueCatRedCat]

The first 3 series of Fargo have some fantastic female protagonists as main characters.

I'm on the fence about Gilmore Girls' feminist credentials. I love it, it's one of my guilty pleasures. However, Rory is a dubious role model for young girls. She jumps from one abusive relationship to the next, spends a lot of time whining, and runs off to her grandparents whenever the going gets tough. And everything is handed to her by the very rich people around her. Yes, she's a terrific student, but ultimately does nothing of note with her education. She and Lorelei are also the ultimate "cool girls". They spend a lot of time denigrating other women and their choices. Eg, their attitude to Dean's wife, Lindsay, who is completely innocent, yet made out to be the bad person for daring to get married young. Oh and only eating junk and never putting on an ounce of weight, another cool girl trope. I could go on. I have watched this too much.

[LaurieFairyCake]

P Valley (seriously, 'Pussy' Valley)

A new show about pole dancers/strippers in the Mississippi Delta. So much poverty, abuse, the role of the church.

Incredible acting from all in it. Watch with subtitles as you will miss the funny lines if you don't.

Can't believe I'm recommending a show with a load of pole dancers and a transvestite/transgender (not self described) in it on the Feminist board but it's so damn gritty and like women's actual lives in this 'job'. And the backdrop of what life is really like there for young, mostly black women.

One of the best dramas I've watched this year.

[AppleJane]

In My Skin (BBC iplayer)

[MrsVeryTired]

Hanna on Amazon Prime, some very strong female characters.

[CuteOrangeElephant]

Motherland, it touches on some feminist issues like Julia always left to do all the running around because her husband is useless, Liz's useless ex.

[ThinEndOfTheWedge]

Not a series - but I highly recommend ‘Maiden’. Tracy Edwards - Whitbread round the world race.

Awesome.

[iguanadonna]

Here to second Miss Fisher (also the books) and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. So entertaining and funny, very feminist.

[RedLimoncello]

I like Motherland too, especially because Julia isn't perfect. Bit of a user, never appears to challenge her useless shit of a husband. But she's real and funny and chaotic. And I also love Liz- don't know the actress's name (will google now of course) but she was fantastic in that Ricky Gervais death one too.

[Spreadingcomfrey]

@BlueCatRedCat

I would happily watch Cagney and Lacey again. It was one of my favourite programmes as a teen in the '80s. The two lead characters were incredible: complex, realistic, relatable and aspirational. I want to say it was ahead of its time, but actually, I feel like we have gone backwards since those days.

Definitely agree!

[RuffleCrow]

I kind of agree @BlueCatRedCat. That's why i put it on my 'not perfect' list. I'm watching it with my teen and actually the fact that Rory, Lorelei, Emily, Rory's boyfriends etc have such obvious flaws makes it a brilliant conversation starter. IfAt 14, she's more disappointed in Rory's choices than anyone! And I always point out that whereas Jess turns out ok in the end, in real life boys like him generally just get worse.

For me, what makes it feminist is that it's about women having the freedom to make genuine choices about how they live their lives. Even if those choices aren't perfect.

[Frankiegoes]

The Walking Dead has some good female characters and no sexual assault or rape.

[onewhitewhisker]

I second the Unforgotten and Happy Valley recommendations. Lots of Sally Wainwright's stuff is great. I loved Scott and Bailey - female centred, female gaze but not making point of it. And great performances - Nicola Walker, Suranne Jones, Amelia Bullmore, Lesley Sharp all brilliant.

[Dozer]

Once Upon a Time, with DD. Passes Bechdel Test every episode.

Gilmore Girls. Outstanding performance by Kelly Bishop!