While Netflix is overflowing with the best shows to binge we have shortlisted 5 entertaining stories with the most enduring female protagonists, who show us life beyond being black and white, in different shades of grey and who are not afraid to unapologetically be themselves.
Here are the shows you need to start binging on :
1. The Queen's Gambit
Based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel called 'The Queen's Gambit' the show is set in the 1950s and revolves around the main character Beth Harmon played by Anya Taylor Joy, who is sent off to an orphanage at the tender age of nine after her mother's demise. This reserved yet curious and intelligent kid over the years becomes one of the leading chess players in the world. This coming of age story grapples with overcoming her internal struggles, drug addiction and alcohol dependency, the individual relationships she builds over the years, the quest of a woman chess player in a man's world and at the heart of it her journey towards success and stardom that comes with unforeseen prices that she has to pay.
2. The Crown
Based on an award-winning play 'The Audience' by Peter Morgan, this highly intriguing and intricately researched historical drama series revolves around the life of Queen Elizabeth II. From the 1940s to modern times, the series unveils the journey of the highly fascinating queen with an inside look from her former years of being a young lady who captivated the throne at age 25 after her father, King George VI's death. As the years go by, we see the events of her personal life, romances, and political rivalries that played a huge role in shaping up the coming years of the 20th century and counting. The lavish setup, the mesmerizing performances and the riveting drama portrays the journey of this amusing woman of power in the most human yet captivating way possible.
3. Emily In Paris
Emily Cooper from Chicago played by Lily Collins, lands a sudden fascinating job as a social media strategist in a French Marketing Firm in Paris to provide an 'American Point of View' to things. This fun comedy drama revolves around her juggling between her career and love life, her solo experiences in the city of romance and most importantly the culture shock she faces in this new land whether it is through her inability to speak French or the seemingly difficult French people she has to deal with on a daily basis. Due to the immense popularity and relatability of the show, the writers and director have already announced a season 2 about which the star told OprahMag “In season 2, she's going to be more of a part of the fabric of the world she's living in. She'll be more of a resident of the city. She'll have her feet on the ground a little more. She's making a life there."
4. Bombay Begums
An Indian Drama Series, Bombay Begums revolves around the lives of 5 women. Rani Irani, CEO of Royal Bank of Bombay played by Pooja Bhatt who is tired of putting up a constant image of being a sorted, independent, go getter who also has a dark past and subtle secrets hiding behind her success and aura, her teenage step daughter Shai played by Aadhya Anand who is discovering herself and her womanhood just like any other 13 year old, Fatima Warsi played by Shahana Goswami who works under Rani and is in a constant conflict between her career and pleasing her husband's dreams of having a family, a young Ayesha played by Plabita Borthakur who is discovering her sexuality along with riding up the professional ladder with dreams in her eyes to achieve success just like Rani and lastly Lily played by Amruta Subhash, a former bar dancer with aspirations to setup her own factory and live a respectable life. The story revolves around the journey of these characters and how their stories intertwine with one another to ultimately find a great bond of sisterhood in the middle of the chaos called life.
5. Bridgerton
Based on Julia Quinn's novels and set in the Regency era in London during 1813, this period drama series centers around the aristocratic Bridgerton and Featheringtone family and their trials and errors to find their daughters a suitable husband when they become women of age and subsequently debutants in the upcoming ball. The story is narrated by a mysterious and scandalous newsletter columnist known as Lady Whistledown who lives anonymously among them and secretly knows all the information in London. The shows presents an lavish ensemble with many characters, the main being Daphne Bridgerton played by Phoebe Dynevor, and Simon Bassett the Duke of Hastings played by Rege-Jean Page who form an offspring romance that blooms from within their love hate relationship while trying to fool people by pretending to be a couple. The other characters have their own storylines, graphs and interests that teleports the audiences into this ever so magical world.
While being a period drama the show also promotes inclusivity and diversity by incorporating people of color as prominent characters at a time when there was heavy discrimination against blacks and also showcases feminist characters in a world where women were only considered for superficial pleasure to men.
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