Feminist Rage: An Exploration of the Female Antihero in TV Series
Updated: Sep 4
Quite a few iconic protagonists from television have stuck with us over the last twenty or so years. Characters who've become the go-to reference when talking about antiheroes.
A quick search throws up names like Walter White, Don Draper, Tony Soprano, Dexter Morgan, Vic Mackey, Saul Goodman and Marty Byrd. But in a list of 24 character names, only three are women.
Why is that? Why don't we idolise the badass female antihero in the same way?
What's an antihero anyway and how does it apply to female protagonists?
In contrast with a traditional protagonist, an antihero does not possess the usual positive attributes associated with a conventional hero, like heart of gold, generosity of spirit, idealism or strong moral code (Beth Dutton from Yellowstone, Villanelle from Killing Eve or Clair Underwood, House of Cards, are good examples). That's to say, her intentions are not good and neither are her deeds.
But for other antiheroes, there could be a goal in mind that will ultimately bring good to the world or to another character. In other words, the end justifies the means (e.g., the sisters from Bad Sisters).
A character might start off seemingly “normal” enough, but the journey we go on with them involves becoming someone more akin to an antagonist (like Wendy Byrde from Ozark). We're witnessing a Walter White-like demise over time into a murky moral quagmire. We might also see these characters battling inner demons which cause them to make questionable decisions (such as Shiv Roy from Succession) .
There can be an interesting mix of ambition and will to win combined with moments of more traditional hero-like behaviour (like Annalise Keating from HTGAWM). But predominantly, the character is focussed on personal gain rather than anything too altruistic.
Our antihero needs to display some redeeming or appealing characteristics. It'd be difficult to get an audience on board if an antihero had nothing compelling or engaging about her, such as a killer sense of humour, high-level skill, or to-die for fashion sense (like Villanelle from Killing Eve).
A trauma from the past usually goes a long way in helping us understand why this character is the way she is. Fallibility (e.g. a weakness or addiction) can make the character a) relatable, b) engender sympathy, and/or c) be a visual representation of how the character has been damaged by her past (Fleabag).
Or maybe our antihero simply has a different ideology from the accepted world-view, but it's one to which she is fiercely loyal (such as Elizabeth Jennings from The Americans). I would similarly categorise Wednesday Addams here. Although a good person deep down in terms of moral code, she is extremely unconventional and eccentric–which of course adds to her appeal.
Female antiheroes on TV–are they iconic?
We love to hate them, sure.
But I get the feeling they aren't held in quite the same awe as a Don Draper or Tony Soprano. These two characters in particular have come to symbolise tectonic societal change; they have become the face of not only distinct historical eras but the malaise of the American Dream itself.
Where are the female characters that are held up with the same degree of reverence? That illustrate what's wrong with our world? I wonder if this means we (generally speaking) relegate female characters to smaller domains? Or is it because we're fundamentally still afraid to rejoice in female (traditionally the life-giver or carer) anti-hero exploits?
Female characters back in the day
There was a time when it seemed there were few remits available for women in TV drama: love-interest or nurturer; victim or shallow antagonist. There seemed more room to manoeuvre in comedy or crime series, where lady detectives were allowed to be obsessed with their work (e.g. Remington Steel, Murder She Wrote, Cagney & Lacey).
But overall, their intentions had to be very pure of heart. The complexity that was allowed in interesting male characters was absent in their female counterparts. There could be no ambiguity or sense of moral dilemma. No grit. A woman was either good or she was very, very bad in a superficial way that was not fully explored or explained.
The other huge point is that female protagonists, for a long time, had to be likeable. We were so used to seeing these unrealistic standards of perfection for women that it left no room for complexity.
More on that later.
Things have improved a great deal since then. And in this content-rich era, where we have literally seen it all, increasingly sophisticated audiences crave more authenticity, range and nuance. There is less distinction between the goodies and baddies and far more of an appetite for shades of grey–as long as we understand why those shades exist.
These characters say f*ck the patriarchy
I have a real soft spot for female antiheroes on TV because they carry a powerful message, particularly in terms of what is "acceptable" female behaviour. For example, people pleasing is a trait that has been indoctrinated into many of us. Women who are assertive are often denigrated as bossy or pushy. A bitch.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about, watch America Ferrera's monologue from Barbie.
Apart from that, women are angry. Sick and tired of being underpaid and overworked while at the same time being at the mercy of male violence.
There's a wave of rage that has been percolating for some time. Women don't want to put up with it anymore and they're delighted to see these feelings represented by kick ass characters on the screen.
KILLING EVE was sort of revolutionary when it came out. Villanelle was evil but funny. Eve was middle-aged, disgruntled and drawn to this astonishing character like a magnet. Who wasn't? Villanelle had killer fashion sense, killer lines, and actual killer sensibilities.
Then, Bad Sisters happened. Frankly, I didn’t want it to end.
Since then, Beth Dutton from Yellowstone has amassed an almost cult-like fan base. Furious Hulu/Disney+ seems to be the newest edition to the genre. The female antihero is clearly finding an audience.
I'm hoping to see more material of this ilk. Perhaps we too will soon have a Don Draper-like antihero epitomising our struggles with the early 21st century.
I think we already have many uncrowned potential candidates for the role.
My top 5 female antiheroes from TV
1. The sisters, Bad Sisters
Four sisters are forced to act when they realise sister number 5 has an abusive and thoroughly nasty husband. The take-away: murder is not as easy as it looks.
2. Villanelle, Killing Eve
Villanelle, skilled assassin and fashionista, is pursued by Eve, a bored M16 agent. Buckle up for high-jinx, dreamy locations and edgy romance.
3. Annalise Keating, How to Get Away with Murder
A brilliant law professor and defence attorney with a troubled past takes some students under her wing. They do whatever it takes to win, even when their clients are guilty.
4. Elizabeth Jennings, The Americans
A Soviet spy who, together with her allocated husband, infiltrates 1980s American suburbia to further the political and idealogical agenda of her masters in Moscow.
5. Shiv Roy, Succession
Shiv and her two brothers scramble for power in the hope of taking the reigns of their Murdoch-like father's media empire. Many ups and downs and double-dealings ensue.
Who's your favourite female antihero?
Story Inkubator was founded by writer, scriptwriter and teacher, Kristina Jilly, an Australian living in Central Europe who's written for HBO Europe and RTL Television. A teacher at the University of Applied Sciences in Upper Austria, Kristina also writes online content about the art of storytelling and topics that inspire creativity.
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