5 Extremely Underrated Female-Led TV Shows You Should Check Out
Image by Glenn Carstens-Peters via Unsplash
By Lauren Crookston
In the aftermath of an awards season in which a large emphasis was put on celebrating women’s achievements, I’ve been thinking a lot about female-led shows I’ve seen over the years that have not received the same level of recognition. So, in the spirit of celebrating women, I’ve compiled a list of five essential-watch TV shows centring around women and members of the LQBTQ+ community that I never hear anyone talking about – in case you missed them.
Here are my top five underrated female-centric TV shows:
1. Feel Good
Feel Good is a romantic-comedy that follows a non-binary amateur stand-up comedian named Mae, who is in recovery from a debilitating drug addiction, and their relationship with schoolteacher George, who had believed herself straight up until meeting Mae. It is a semi-autobiographical take on creator/comedian Mae Martin’s experiences and walks that fine line between being light-hearted and having some really impactful moments. The show only ran for two seasons, with 12 thirty-minute episodes in total, making it a perfect length for weekend binging.
All episodes of Feel Good can be streamed on Netflix and for free (with ads) on Channel 4.
2. Glow
Glow is one of the rare Netflix Originals that starts off strong and remains consistently good up until the end – perhaps partly due to its cancellation during the pandemic (which I’m extremely bitter about). Glow’s story follows the founding and development of an all-female pro-wrestling company in the 80s, loosely based on the real-life Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Jenji Kohen, writer and showrunner of Orange is the New Black, is executive producer and the show has a similar feel to it, with the interweaving of stories of women all from various backgrounds and lifestyles. Although the show was never technically finished, the three seasons that were made are well worth the watch if you’re looking for a solid drama-comedy chock-full of representation and wrestling.
Glow is available to stream on Netflix.
3. A League of Their Own
If you liked 1992’s film of the same name starring Madonna and Geena Davis, and you haven’t seen Amazon’s (much more sapphic) serial adaption then you’re missing out. Much like the film, the story centres around the formation of an all-female baseball team during World War II but with a much more diverse cast of women and stories. It’s 40s aesthetic coupled with its glorious soundtrack creates a classic comfort watch and the stellar performances from its cast keep you invested. It currently has one season and is set to air it’s second and final season sometime this year. It’s the all-female sports drama you didn’t know you needed.
A League of Their Own is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
4. The Bisexual
The Bisexual is probably the most unheard-of entry on the list, written by and starring one of my personal favourite writers, Desiree Akhavan. The show follows Leila who, as the title might suggest, is bisexual, and after coming out of a decade-long relationship with her girlfriend and business-partner Sadie, is finally able to explore her attraction to men. The Bisexual subverts the usual portrayal of bisexual people exploring their sexuality with people of the same gender by having Leila do the opposite which leads to the kind of awkward situations you might expect. The show only has six episodes, and can be easily watched in an afternoon, which I strongly recommend if you’re looking for honest and a little self-deprecating bisexual representation.
The Bisexual is available to stream on Netflix and Channel 4.
5. I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You is easily my favourite and most brutally underrated entry on this list. The show follows writer, Arabella, through the aftermath of a sexual assault. The comedy-drama, written by and starring the incredibly talented Michaela Cole, is based on her own experience of sexual assault and whilst it does feature her signature sense of humour, it never makes light of its sensitive subject matter. The show may not be suitable for everyone, however I maintain that the show might be one of the most important and poignant shows to have come out in the past decade. I May Destroy You is simultaneously funny and heart-breaking and opens a conversation that few other shows are brave enough to do.
I May Destroy You is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.