10 TV Shows With Badass Women Who Will Make You Feel Like You Can Conquer The World

    They'll make you feel some kinda way—empowered!

    Kanksha Raina
    by Kanksha Raina

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Some days just suck—and that’s when you need a show that makes you feel seen and heard. Here's a list of TV series with badass female leads, that are the perfect pick-me-up and a good break from the usual stuff we're tired of watching!

    1. Survival of the Thickest

    Person smiling, posing with a mannequin dressed in a sleeveless black dress, in a lively room setting
    Buteaupia/ San Witz Productions/ Netflix/ A24 / Via imdb.com

    Survival of the Thickest is the epitome of feel-good! The story revolves around Mavis Beaumont, a stylist living in NYC who decides to rebuild her life after her breakup. This show has everything you need to feel better about life—unapologetic representation, charm, a storyline around career and friendship and everything in between. It's self-love in a neat box.

    2. Top of the Lake

    Two people are standing indoors, one in a dark suit and the other in a police uniform, engaged in conversation
    See-Saw Films / Via imdb.com

    Top of the Lake is a gripping mystery drama that follows Detective Robin Griffin as she investigates the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl in a small town in New Zealand. It is dark, emotionally intense, and cerebral, led, of course, by a complex female character.

    3. Grace and Frankie

    Two women in a stylish, modern setting. One wears layered clothing with bold necklaces; the other wears a fitted outfit with a belt
    Okay Goodnight/Skydance Television / Via imdb.com

    Speaking of the perfect pick-me-up, Grace and Frankie has to be one of the best feel-good shows out there! It's a comedy-drama revolving around two older women, Grace and Frankie—nemeses since day one—who are forced to be in close proximity for a lot longer than anticipated after their husbands come out and leave them for each other. It's a series full of chaos, friendship, laughs, and starting over.

    4. Orphan Black

    Person relaxing on a couch with a contemplative expression, hand resting on their chin, and an unlabelled bottle on a table nearby
    Temple Street Productions/BBC America/Bell Media / Via imdb.com

    Orphan Black is a sci-fi thriller led by a powerhouse performance from Tatiana Maslany. The story revolves around Sarah Manning, who witnesses an incident involving a woman who looks exactly like her, which leads her to discover that she is one of many genetically identical clones.

    5. Pitch

    Baseball player wearing a jersey with "Barnes 42" on the back, standing on the field, holding a glove, stadium in the background
    Barnstorm Films/Left Coast Productions/Rhode Island Ave. Productions/20th Century Fox Television / Via imdb.com

    Pitch is a sports drama that follows Ginny Baker, the first woman to play Major League Baseball, as she battles sexism, media scrutiny, and self-doubt while trying to prove she belongs on the field.

    6. Better Things

    A person in a black suit and hat sits outdoors on a bench holding a book
    Pig Newton, Inc./Slam Book, Inc./3 Arts Entertainment/FXP / Via imdb.com

    Better Things is a comedy-drama that follows Sam Fox, a single mom, as she juggles raising three daughters and caring for her eccentric mother, all while handling her job as an actor. It is a funny and honest take on parenting and womanhood, which makes for the perfect pick-me-up.

    7. Wentworth

    Women in teal uniforms, some seated and some standing, gather around a table watching a small screen. A security guard stands nearby
    Freemantle Australia / Via imdb.com

    If you're a fan of Orange is the New Black, this is going to be your next favorite. 

    Wentworth follows Bea Smith, found guilty of attempting to kill her husband, as she navigates a women's correctional facility, which is rife with power struggles and the drive to survive. With its gripping plot twists and fierce female characters, this one will make you want to keep pressing play.

    8. Marcella

    A person stands in a dimly lit street wearing a coat with a fur-trimmed hood, conveying a thoughtful or serious expression
    Buccaneer Media/Amber Entertainment / Via imdb.com

    Marcella is a dark crime thriller about a former detective who is pulled back into investigating a string of brutal murders while battling her own mental health struggles. 

    If you like gripping storylines and a psychological deep-dive into the lead's mental health, this one's for you.

    9. Insecure

    Two women sit at a bar, both giving skeptical looks. One wears a casual jacket with a patterned top; the other wears a green top and light jacket
    Issa Rae Productions/Hoorae Media/Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment/3 Arts Entertainment/HBO Entertainment / Via imdb.com

    Insecure follows Issa Dee as she navigates love, friendship, and career struggles in modern-day Los Angeles, with a relatable awkwardness that makes for a great watch. It's a coming-of-age story that will definitely make your not-so-good day better.

    10. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

    Person with a bob haircut and bangs, wearing a chic, buttoned-overcoat and crossbody bag, indoors
    AStory/KT Studio Genie/Nangman Crew / Via imdb.com

    Extraordinary Attorney Woo follows Woo Young‑woo, a brilliant rookie lawyer on the autism spectrum, as she tackles unique legal cases with creativity and empathy while breaking down social barriers at her prestigious Seoul firm. It's got representation, softness, and resilience—what else do you need to lift your spirits?

    These are some of the many amazing shows with fierce female leads that make for a wonderful watch. Have any more such shows in your list? Tell us in the comments!