The Best Netflix Programs With Strong Female Characters

Sometimes you need an injection of girl-power into your midweek viewing and Netflix is always there to reliably provide. Whether you like yourself a bit of an antihero, a straight-up superwoman, or a real-life trailblazer, there’s something available to watch instantly, for everyone. So, if you’re struggling to find the woman your Wednesday needs, we’ve done the hard work and rounded up a list of some of the best Netflix programs with strong female characters, so you can just sit back, relax and get engrossed in some inspirational viewing.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit hit headlines when it was released and has continued to make waves in the world of entertainment ever since. For any fans of gaming, it is a dream come true to see a program celebrating pursuits of the mind, especially when this mini-series does it so well. The lead character is orphan Beth Harmon, who we see find her natural aptitude for chess in the basement of an orphanage. Throughout the film she triumphs over intense personal struggles, to become the best in her field. Whilst you might assume a film about chess won’t be terribly exciting, you’d be wrong, The incredible performance by Anna Taylor-Joy, as well as the truly stunning wardrobe of her character is enough to keep even the biggest skeptic fascinated until the very last second.

Godless

Netflix can always be counted on to come up with something new and exciting and Godless is feminism’s answer to that. The only fault in this mini-series is that it wasn’t a maxi one. From start to finish the storyline twists and turns, keeping you clicking that ‘are you still watching?’ button over and over again. The film is set in a small mining town where, owing to a mining accident, almost all of the inhabitants are women. The only two men in the town are the sheriff and his deputy, but it doesn’t take long for us to realize that they aren’t the ones really running things.

On the outskirts of town, there’s something of a lone wolf, a single mother who owns a huge ranch and lives with her elderly mother and teenage son. Before long trouble is afoot and a runaway cowboy seeks refuge in this mother’s barn. It turns out that he is on the run from a gang of bandits, who are truly formidable and on their way towards town. It’s up to the villagers to pull together to stop them from taking over, but in order to do so, bridges will have to be rebuilt and everyone will have to agree to work together tirelessly and fearlessly.

Dirty John

Sometimes it’s necessary for us to remember that the people we look up to may be flawed. Dirty John is based on a tragic true story, of a woman who gave everything she could to her marriage, only to see it taken away. This series follows John, an aspiring lawyer and Betty his doting wife. In the beginning, everything seems great, the pair are young, carefree and in love. However, it isn’t long before we see Betty’s devotion tested. John announces that he wants to go to medical school, which means the pair will be relying on Betty’s small income. Despite this she believes in him and pays his way through medical school, all the while supporting a growing family single-handedly.

Though he’s not yet worked in his chosen profession for any length of time, John decides to change careers again and head to law school. Betty is nearly pushed over her breaking point, but she supports him through law school, right the way up until he opens a practice of his own. Unfortunately for Betty, despite raising his children, supporting his career and sticking by his side, John falls for his secretary. The whole thing gets ugly from this point forward and though we beg Betty to remain dignified, could you in her shoes?