Top 10 Female TV Series Characters

The live-action ones, anyway.

Alright, friends, here's how it is: the astonishing, record-breaking big-screen release of director Patty Jenkins’ entry into the DCEU, Wonder Woman, as well as the success of its small-screen counterpart, Supergirl, has led me to ruminate on a topic that's near and dear to my heart: namely, my favorite TV show heroines! In the future, we'll talk about female movie heroines and discuss my favorite male television show characters, but for now, I want to focus on the ladies, because there ain't a thing I love more than a badass woman.

Keep in mind that this entire list is based on the shows I've watched at least most of the way through (hence, no sign of Veronica Mars, though I desperately wanted her to be on this list). I also tried to keep my choices down to one character per series, with one notable exception. In fact, this top ten is entirely based upon my personal preference as a fan of the shows in question. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary, and that's fine with me! In fact, leave me a comment and tell me where I'm wrong! I'd love to start a discussion about this with you all.  

10. Dana Scully (The X-Files)

We begin our list with the methodical FBI agent, played with unwavering aplomb by Gillian Anderson in the seminal 1990s sci-fi series, The X-Files. Packed to the gills with conspiracies and government shenanigans the likes of which were never conceived of by most audiences (except those of stuck in our modern political climate), X-Files played with our expectations and delivered cinematic storytelling and special effects each week. Executive producer Chris Carter also presented us with the two most iconic government agents of our generation, Fox Mulder (the believer) and Dana Scully (the aforementioned skeptic). Throughout the series, Mulder’s ideas and beliefs were constantly probed and questioned by Scully, which led to some heated debates during the series’ nine-season run (plus two films and a mini-series revival). It also led to one of the most intriguing relationships ever explored on screen, as Mulder and Scully’s mutual devotion to and respect for each other eventually became unwavering love. Personally, I've always been a fan of Scully’s character: she was tough as nails, intelligent, passionate, and beautiful. Anderson played the role perfectly, allowing Scully to be vulnerable and trusting at times, but never faltering in her willingness to question and to seek out answers where there appeared to be none. Simply put, Scully deserves to be on this list. ‘Nuff said.

9. Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)

Ah, Smallville, the show I sort of despise, but still have a strong desire to re-watch from time to time. One of the main reasons for this strange addiction is the character of Chloe Sullivan, played by the lovable Allison Mack. An invention of the show’s creators, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, Chloe was Lois Lane’s journalistically-inclined cousin who just happened to go to school with Clark Kent, the future Superman. Of course, Lois did eventually show up in the series, but her reporter’s shoes were filled quite nicely by our Ms. Sullivan, who could reliably rattle off expository dialogue rife with alliterative phrases and the kind of hacking skills that would make a Russian operative hang his head in shame. Beyond all that, however, Chloe was the heart of the show, and she ultimately became Clark’s best friend and confidant. She eventually gained some abilities of her own, due to some convoluted storytelling acrobatics which I don't want to bore you with here. Suffice it to say, through it all, Chloe never stopped being the dazzling, smart, and tough young woman that she always was. She was the devoted friend that we never knew Clark Kent needed, and, looking back on the series as a whole, Allison Mack was one of the most talented and funniest performers on the show.

8. Sara Lance (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow)

Many of the new DC Comics-based TV series owe their very existence to Smallville, but none so much as executive producer Greg Berlanti’s Arrow-verse, consisting of four separate shows--Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl--which often coalesce into a seasonal crossover of some kind (not unlike the source material upon which the shows are based). Many of the characters in these superhero series stand out as charming and badass, but none of them quite measure up to the awesomeness of Sara Lance, currently known as the White Canary. Played by the skilled former dancer, Caity Lotz, Sara is as graceful as she is deadly, which means that everything she does on screen looks great. She's also a bisexual character, which adds yet another layer of complexity to her personality and outlook. As tough and no-nonsense as Sara is, she is nonetheless vulnerable; she has a compassionate heart, which may be her greatest asset as well as her weakness. She fights fiercely for those she loves,even to the point of losing her life, which led to one of the more interesting Arrow story arcs. Indeed, her character has developed from one of Oliver Queen’s illicit romantic conquests to a deadly member of the League of Assassins, and, ultimately, to the noble and heroic leader of the Legends of Tomorrow themselves. Not a bad pedigree, if I do say so myself.

7. Kaylee Frye (Firefly)

Portrayed with sweet, down-to-earth charm by actress Jewel Staite, Kaylee was the mechanic on board the Serenity, a spaceship crewed by some of the most memorable smugglers and ne’er-do-wells this side of Cowboy Bebop. Yep, I'm talking about Joss Whedon’s awesome and aptly-named sci-fi western, Firefly. Though the series only ran for fourteen episodes (four of which were unaired), it was revived for one (unfortunately unsuccessful) cinematic sequel and continues on in comic book form. Still, none of that matters because it introduced me to one of my favorite characters of all time: Kaylee, the kind, beautiful, and passionate ship’s mechanic who ultimately served as the heart of the crew, and was the one person on the ship that all the characters invariably loved. Staite played Kaylee with so much warmth and good cheer that she's impossible to dislike, and her kindness and empathy provided a counterpoint to Captain Malcolm Reynolds’ often cynical pragmatism (though I loved him, too, don't get me wrong). Kaylee always saw the brightness in people and situations, even in the darkest of times. Though her character seemed to be more straightforward than some of Whedon’s other creations, Kaylee’s depth could be found in her actions, and how much her innocence and playful nature reminded the other crewmembers that there was something in this world worth fighting for. Love, happiness, sensuality, and joy are all words that bring Kaylee to mind. May all of us someday know someone like her in our lives.

6. Josephine “Joey” Potter (Dawson's Creek)

Now don't judge me, but I've actually gotten into this show after some prompting from my best friend in the world (hi, Kirsten!). Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd want to rave about Dawson's Creek, but I do. I mean, it's a rave-worthy show! Not only is it witty, intelligent, romantic (yes, that is a big part of it), and thought-provoking, but it also contains some sharply-written self-awareness and a good dose of meta-commentary. On top of that, a large part of the reason I love the show is due to Joey Potter’s existence. You see, Joey is portrayed by Katie Holmes, an actress I had written off after Batman Begins and Tom Cruise’s freak out on national television about how much he was in love with her. After seeing her play Joey, I get it. I understand what Christopher Nolan saw in her and why they cast her as Rachel in Begins. Here, Holmes played Joey with that down-to-earth, girl next door appeal. She's smart, funny, and adorable, a gifted writer and speaker, and she used her influence to constantly push Dawson Leery to be his best self. Joey grew from a somewhat discontented and aloof teenager who tragically lost her mother at the ripe young age of thirteen to a beautiful, brilliant young woman whose kindness and empathy led her to be her friends’ strength in times of trial. She never gave in to despair, and she never allowed her best friends to do the same. Everyone in the world deserves a best friend like Joey Potter. (Side note: I think I've found mine!)

5. Olivia “Liv” Moore (iZombie)

Speaking of empathy, let’s talk about the central figure of Rob Thomas’ brilliantly quirky action/drama, iZombie. Based on the Vertigo comic book series, the show tells the story of medical examiner and honest-to-goodness zombie, Liv Moore (portrayed by the wondrous Rose McIver), who keeps her hunger for brains at bay by indulging herself from time to time on the cadavers she deals with at her job. In this universe, eating brains doesn't just stop zombies from going full-on rampaging undead, it also enables them to relive the deceased person’s final moments and take on some of their personality traits, which gives McIver ample opportunity to take on a variety of roles. However, Liv doesn't just see visions; she feels what the person felt, too. In a way, she becomes the victim, and is able to see where they were and feel how they felt in their final moments. Even in cases where she consumes the brain of an unsavory character, Liv never loses sight of her own goodness, and she often has compassion for the victim and attempts to solve their murder, despite their flawed nature. Though she may be a zombie, Liv provides a great example of how to persevere in difficult times (the visions she sees often cause her physical pain), and how to accept others, even when they're flawed examples of humanity. After all, how do we know what a person truly feels or thinks unless we walk a mile in their shoes? Liv reminds us that kindness isn't something we can simply lip service to; it's a moral commitment to treat others the way we'd like to be treated. Oh, and also, she's a badass. Almost forgot to mention that last bit.

4. Samantha “Root” Groves (Person of Interest)

Now, here's an interesting one. Person of Interest was by far one of the most intriguing post-cyberpunk works I've seen in a long time, and the fact that the show aired on CBS for four seasons was something of a miracle. This brings us to Root, a complex character who was played by the radiant Amy Acker, a wonderful actress who's been a favorite of mine since I saw her on Joss Whedon’s Buffy spinoff, Angel. While she first appeared as an antagonist who believed humanity was simply “bad code”--i.e. inherently flawed and generally a waste of molecules--Root became obsessed with genius inventor Harold Finch’s artificial super-intelligence, which he called the Machine, and sought out a connection with it. Eventually, she became permanently attached to the Machine via an earpiece, which the Machine then utilized to teach Root the value of human life (yes, this is somewhat inexplicable, but hey, it's a sci-fi show), and she ultimately became Finch’s ally. Like I said, complicated. At its core, however, her story is one of redemption and even love, as she fell for the Machine’s other awesome ass-kicking female operative, Sameen Shaw (another character I wish I could add to this list). Over the course of her appearances, Acker played Root as a deadly assassin with a snarky sense of humor, yet beneath the sarcasm and violent streak, there was an underlying vulnerability that she only made known to Shaw. Theirs was an incredibly beautiful relationship, and Root was an amazingly complex character, who rose from villainy to become a true heroine, worthy of this list, certainly.

3. Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

For seven seasons, Willow (played by the incomparable Alyson Hannigan) was Buffy Summers’ best friend and true confidant, the one person to whom Buffy could go to seek advice on any topic, and her metaphorical spirit. Willow was also a powerful witch, who mostly used her skills for good, except for one instance: the day that she saw the love of her life, Tara, die right before her eyes. This trauma caused her to tap into primal dark magic, at first to attempt to resurrect her lost love, but when she failed, she then used her power to seek revenge on Tara’s killer. The problem was that killing him did not satisfy her rage or quell her grief. Rather, Willow set upon a dark path, nearly destroying the world before her friend, the ironically non-superhuman Xander, calmed her down. As it turned out, Buffy couldn't stop Wil alone, but each of her friends played a part in saving her, and Willow redeemed herself beautifully over the course of the final season of the show. Even though she nearly gave into the temptation to burn the world for what it had taken from her, Willow eventually rediscovered herself and her innate goodness. She was a character who was full of love and devotion for her friends. She always put others before herself, and she had so much compassion and empathy that it was hard for her to even argue with someone, let alone insult them. I've always related a great deal to her character, and she remains, to this day, one of my all-time favorites in the Joss Whedon pantheon.

2. Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

With this, we have now come to a character who is near and dear to my heart, blackened though it may be. Here in the runner-up spot, we have Rory Gilmore, daughter to Lorelai and friend to all. Portrayed by the lovely and talented Alexis Bledel, Rory has a gigantic heart to match her incredible mind. As the grandchild of the well-to-do Emily and Richard Gilmore, she was gifted with a top-notch education, beginning at the prestigious Chilton Preparatory Academy and continuing through her time at Yale University. Rory excelled in her studies and in pretty much every activity which she undertook. Sure, she made a few mistakes along the way, but Rory was a bright, quick-witted, passionate young woman, easily able to live up to and conquer any challenge in her way. Besides, she wanted to be a writer/journalist, which is an awesome career goal and one that she did attain, after a fashion. Still, the main reason I've always loved Rory as a character isn't simply because of her incredible mind or the fact that she's so damn adorable. I love her because she's a great person. Like Chloe, Joey, and Willow, Rory has an indomitable will and a great heart. She sees the best in people and never gives up on her friends. She is truly a good person, and one of those characters that I look up to whenever I'm feeling down or hopeless.

1. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

So, we have come to the end of this little trip down memory lane. My number one, absolute favorite female TV character would have to be Joss Whedon’s most acclaimed creation of them all, Buffy Summers. Though she debuted in a feature film bearing the same Buffy the Vampire Slayer name (there played by Kristy Swanson, who was quite good in the role), it wasn't until Whedon took the creative reins and began his television series that Buffy came into her own. Portrayed by the excellent Sarah Michelle Gellar over seven seasons and across two networks (the WB and UPN), Buffy faced many challenges over her high school career and into young adulthood, not the least of which was dying twice. Yep, Buffy sacrificed her life for her friends, the people of Sunnydale, and the world two times over, and both of those deaths didn't stick. She was strong and courageous, vulnerable and sensitive, funny and empathic. Buffy was a stubborn young woman who made mistakes and fought against her destiny at times, but she always put herself aside and did the right thing in the end, and she grew from a spoiled teen to a mature, heroic leader. She is a hero and an icon, not just for women, but for us men as well. The sacrifices she made saved the entire world, and the inspiration we can take from her benefits all of us. Indeed, the ending of the series showcased one such lesson perfectly: rather than hold onto her power (that of the Slayer), she decided to share her abilities with all of the women in the world who had the potential to become Slayers themselves. Thus, Buffy did not hoard her strength or her abilities to maintain her status as “the Chosen One.” She instead shepherded the next generation of her fellow Chosen, thereby ensuring a better future for humanity. And while this decision was not entirely absent of consequences, it serves as a lesson for us to share our gifts, talents, and even possessions with each other, and to work together to create a better, kinder, and ultimately stronger world. I love Buffy Summers, and I look up to her. After all, she helped me through some of the hardest times in my life.

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Well, there you have it, folks, my favorite female live-action TV series characters, at least up to now. There are still many characters who did not make the cut that I'm fond of, such as Annie Edison from Community, Kara Thrace from Battlestar Galactica, Michonne from The Walking Dead, Max Guevara from Dark Angel, Faith Lehane from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Winifred Burkle from Angel, Kara Danvers from Supergirl, Echo from Dollhouse, and many more. Unfortunately, this will have to do for now, but I intend to revisit this list after I watch more series like Veronica Mars, Game of Thrones, Orphan Black, American Gods, and The Handmaid’s Tale, among others. Hopefully I'll have the energy to write out my favorite male characters, too. Should be an interesting list in its own right. Or maybe I'll do this for movies, comics, and video games, too. We shall see.

Don't forget to comment and share this article, if you'd like! I'll be back soon with some E3 2017 updates and opinion. Thank you for reading, as always!