give it up for the ladies!

[xparrot]

I got into a discussion elsewhere about female characters, how they're often not as well-written as the guys. But that gets to be a depressing topic. So rather than talk about how female characters lose out, here's some winning female characters!

10 fandoms' worth of awesome women:



Star Wars:


Princess Leia Organa (Solo)
"This is some rescue!"
Princess of Alderaan but queen of snark, she stands up to Darth Vader and helps lead the Rebellion when Luke is still back on the farm whining about power converters - not to mention she kills Jabba the Hutt in a bikini.


The X-Files


Special Agent Dana Scully
"Please explain to me the scientific nature of the 'whammy.'"
The ultimate straight-(wo)man, and how many times did she save Fox "Damsel in Distress" Mulder? Battle!Scully for the win!


Babylon 5:


Ambassador Delenn
Poised, elegant, wise, witty. Oh, and did I mention fucking bad-ass?
"Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."


Commander Susan Ivanova
"You will listen to Ivanova. Ivanova is God."
Maybe she didn't have all the best lines - but she had plenty of them.


One Piece

Nami "Luffy...tasukete kure..." For what she did for her village, and what they did for her, and keeping her dream throughout it, and following it afterward. And for every time she gets beri-signs in her eyes.

and Nefertari Vivi Who is still nakama, but will always be a princess first - not the fairy tale kind, but the crown princess who will one day be queen, and can never forget it.

Nico Robin
For taking so long to open her heart and call her nakama by name, but finally managing to.


Scrubs


Dr. Elliot Reid
Conquering life, one neurosis at a time.


Nurse Carla Espinosa
She knows who she is and how to do what she does, and she does it better than anyone.


Jordan Sullivan
Just because her heart is black and cold and shriveled doesn't mean she doesn't have one!


Avatar: The Last Airbender


Toph Beifong
"I am the greatest earthbender in the world!"
No one expects the tiny blind girl--until she drops an avalanche on your head!


Katara
"But I believe Aang can save the world."
I almost didn't like Katara at first, for being too much of a teenage girl, with all the embarrassing, stubborn idealism that can include. But you have to love her for that, too.
(note: geeeze but there's some pretty Avatar fanart out there! *_*)


Azula
"My own mother thought I was a monster. --She was right, of course, but it still hurt."
For being scary, at fourteen years old!


Stargate


Colonel Samantha Carter
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water. "
Because she is smarter than you. And you, too.


Vala Mal Doran
"Because I am also a tortoise."
One of the main reasons I'm sad Farscape: SG-1 didn't get more seasons.


Teyla Emmagan
"Yes, because we humans aren't aggressive at all. "
A baby and a house-husband are waiting for her at home, while she goes out to kick ass across the galaxy.


Doctor Who


Donna Noble
"What, and you're in charge?"
"Doctor, Time Lord - yeah!"
"Donna, Human - No!"
She can do anything, if she puts her mind and her heart to it.


Rose Tyler
"I am the Bad Wolf. I create myself. "


Dr. Martha Jones
"So this is me, getting out."


Leela
Because the universe needs more time-traveling cavegirls pointing knives at people in Victorian England!


NCIS


Ziva David
"Ziva, did you kill Houdini?"
"It is possible; I do not remember all their names."
Mossad's answer to Illya Kuryakin!


Abby Sciuto
"Technically it was a squatting hug. A squg, if you prefer. "
Super-cute super-smart goth girls FTW!


Pushing Daisies


Charlotte Charles
"I guess dying is as good a reason as any to start living."
She knows things aren't perfect, but she's going to get as much as she can out of them anyway, no matter what.


Olive Snook
"Wouldn't it just rock and roll if liking someone meant they had to like you back? Of course that'd be a different universe and something else would probably suck."
For not letting love or craziness stop her. Also, singing!



PS. Yuletide nominations are open! I'm gonna be signing up for the first time...should be fun!

Comments

[rosalui.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who women FTW! And also Vala, because Claudia Black cannot be topped in the area of badassery. XD

One manga that always satisfied me with its female characters was Fullmetal Alchemist, too... badass does not even begin to describe. XD

Soooo glad you did this meme-thingy! Sometimes the lack of good fictional women gets depressing; it's good to have reminders like this. (If you have any free time, I'd love if you'd check out the one I did, too: http://rosalui.livejournal.com/15078.html#cutid1 )

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

FMA has awesome women! I mostly left out animanga and J-drama because I was having enough trouble choosing already...

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

River Tam better not find out that you left out her and Kaylee.

Because, you know, she can kill you with her brain.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I had to narrow it down to 10 fandoms, and I haven't watched Firefly in a while! I could list another 20 fandoms, easy (what with only 1 anime and 1 cartoon, especially...)

Girl Power!

[trystings.livejournal.com]

Oh I love the quotes, Ziva's cracks me up. :D

And if I weren't at work I'd add a couple of pics of my awesome fandom women: Brenda from The Closure, Annie from Being Human and Allison from Medium to name a couple. Great post. ;)

Re: Girl Power!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

The quotes took me a while to choose, for some (and I just gave up with Scrubs; too many great ones! ^^;)

Don't know Closure or Medium, but Annie is <3!

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

I could write you an essay about how Rose Tyler doesn't deserve to be in this list, but I'd probably come across as crazy and prejudice so I won't :p

Good list otherwise, I've got a nice 'girl power' vibe going on now, so thanks :D

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Heh, yes - the Doctor's Companions are a hot contest; I'm an oddball for liking all of them, for different reasons. Though Donna is still my #1!!!11! (she better be fixed, she has to be...argh!!!)

[ender24]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww omg my teenage idols:
Delenn and Scully!
(though, I am missing Xena and Ms Parker :D)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Delenn & Scully were my idols as well! (Xena is still on my list of "want to see"; I've only seen a couple eps! And where is Ms Parker from? Pretender, was it...?)

[velvetmagras.livejournal.com]

You forgot Zoe, Kaylee and River from Firefly/Serenity!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Heh, I keep getting this - I didn't forget Firefly; I just ran out room for it! ^^; Next time...

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Mossad's answer to Illya Kuryakin!

Oh my god - that's true! You have nailed her character in one sentence. She's attractive without working at it, utterly ruthless, slightly out of the loop with Americans and incredibly competent at her job. What a terrific analogy, and how perfect given her co-star.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

(I need a Ziva icon!)

I've been thinking this for a while - the parallels are so close that I'm wondering if they might've been deliberate. Since they do have David McCallum right there as inspiration! (I'm convinced that Cote de Pablo has seen MFU, at least, because of how she describes young-DMc as "super-cute" ^^)

[alessandriana.livejournal.com]

YAY. This is awesome, especially Ziva, because omg so true. *hearts them all.*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

*hugs all her girls*

[edna-blackadder.livejournal.com]

::applauds:: Some of these I know and some I don't, but thank you for doing this -- winning female characters deserve to be celebrated. I particularly love your Leia description, and it warmed my heart to see Chuck and Olive there (not only are they both awesome, they actually deal with their Ned issues like the mature adults that they are!).

Anyway, I'm totally stealing this idea.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Rewatching the SW trilogy recently reminded me why I adored Leia way back when. And Chuck and Olive, yes - they're both marvelous because they *could* have been really annoying, obnoxious characters, but the show acknowledged this, had them face their flaws, struggle with them, and I love them for it!

And steal away - it's not really my idea, I've seen memes like it before, just couldn't remember where ^^;

[epicycles.livejournal.com]

<3! This is terrific -- it's nice to be reminded that there are some awesome female characters out there.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

There are tons out there, really - I could've made this list 3 times as long! Though these are my faves. It does help if you look for them; these days I watch shows hoping to find more to add to the list ^_^

[innueneko.livejournal.com]

Yay kickass female characters FTW! Are any of them main characters though? It's rare to have a kick ass girl that is the main character. :/

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hmm - several of them are lead characters in ensemble shows, or half of a partnership (like Scully and the Doctor's Companions) - but not the absolute lead. I haven't actually seen Buffy or Xena... (Buffy might be the only genre-sf show I know of with a female lead, that isn't a spin-off of another male-lead show...)

It does get frustrating...but we gotta keep pushing for it!

[elandrialore.livejournal.com]

So many great women there! *g*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

It makes me happy to think of them!

So much squee.

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

YESSSSS. SO MUCH YES.

I kind of want to watch Babylon 5...? Even though sci-fi isn't even my thing. And NCIS for Ziva as I didn't far enough to see her.

Also, I was shocked that there was no Bellemere! Just. SO MUCH KICKASS. Also I am shallow and I think her pink buzzcut is so freaking amazing. <3 And Nico Robin <333 for being amazing in an honestly scary way, putting her nakama above the fate of the WORLD. *sigh*

Also I want to rewatch Doctor Who just for Donna. Wow I thought she was annoying in the Xmas special but my heart grew about 10e3wsfjw (actual number) sizes for her during the course of the show. And ended up being my favorite?!

Re: So much squee.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Babylon 5 is fantastic - it has its flaws, but if I had to pick my single favorite TV show, that might be it. It has the most solid, complete arc of any Western show I've ever seen (with the possible exception of Avatar, though Avatar is much shorter.) I will warn you that you really have to see all of B5 in order to appreciate it...including most of s1, which is for the most part bad, bad TV (the rallying cry of the season is, "It gets better!") But the later stuff - oh man. The characters are all so complex and fabulous, and oh man, Delenn...Ivanova...and Londo and G'kar of course, and--

--er, yes, I start to gibber wildly when discussing B5 ^^

Bellemere!!! <333 Ahhh, I should've included her - but then I'd want to include Kuina too, and probably Tashigi while I was at it, and--eee, OP is much, much love for the awesomeness of the girls!

And Donna is my favorite Doctor's Companion, hands' down. The first time I watched the Xmas special she kind of annoyed me, the second time I decided she was actually what the Doctor needed, and the actual season itself, oh man, she fulfilled all my hopes and then some! ...though if they don't fix her I will be Very Put Out. They gave Rose a happy ending! Donna deserves everything~!!

[greenygal.livejournal.com]

I remember watching Star Wars in my late teens--probably not for the first time, but after long enough that I didn't really remember any details--and being genuinely stunned and delighted that the damsel in distress in an action movie was being allowed to shoot the bad guys. I've never been a huge SW fan, but I love Leia a whole damn lot.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I watched Star Wars earlier enough (and often enough!) that I don't have clear memories of the first time I saw/understood a lot of it; it's always been part of my fannish mindscape. (I do remember the first time I realized there were no female X-wing pilots; I was in my teens, and it really irritated me...)

But Leia, yes! I love that she's not one of the classic warrior women (not that I don't love them, too, but) - she's not a better fighter than the guys, but she's fully capable of picking up a blaster and doing what needs doing.

[tasabian.livejournal.com]

Awesome choices!

"Please explain to me the scientific nature of the 'whammy.'"
Scully was a TV revolution all in herself. I know a biochemist and a doctor who pursued science because of her.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So awesome! I had a female student in Japan who was studying forensics because of Scully (this was a big deal in Japan because women are not much involved in the sciences there, and she had to put up with a fair bit of sexism, but was going through with it anyway, to be like Scully!)

[nerowill.livejournal.com]

Princess Leia really goes to show that girls mature faster than boys! Oh, and even in that silly bikini, she was always a force to be reckoned with. :)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

The bikini is ridiculous, but it's the way she *owns* it - that disgusted defiance she's got when she's in it: "you are trying to degrade me by putting me in this, but guess what, I'm not going to be degraded." Oh, yeah, much love for Leia <3

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

This made my day. Seriously, great to see all these kick ass women here.

Great job choosing- only 10? If I could add more, I think I'd include Buffy, Willow, and Cordelia from BtVs, Starbuck from BSG, River and Zoe from Firefly, Beckett from Castle, and Uhura from ST to your impressive list :)

Thanks for sharing!!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I could've made a list double this long! (though I've never actually seen Buffy, oddly enough...) Firefly and BSG were right next on the list (though in BSG, Number 6 and Boomer would be on there before Starbuck, for me, actually...) And gotta see more Criminal Minds, 'cuz Garcia is already a front-runner as well, and the other women have potential...

[snarkydame.livejournal.com]

I am absurdly happy that I recognize (and agree!) with all of these choices! (although, once you're more familiar with Criminal Minds, you may have to make room for a few more!)

Also -- \o/ Yuletide! It's so much fun.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Oh, I already have more - the post could've been double this size, easy; I just had spent enough time on it already! ^^;

(I don't actually have the Yuletide comm friended, am just counting on people to make noise when the signups start ^^;)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Pushing Daisies is <3! And the ending is pretty good, despite it being canceled out from under them (sigh)...

[crashtestskater.livejournal.com]

wow, what a fun list. So many memories. So much joy. I didn't know the Dr Who Leela. She sounds interesting.

Have you had a chance to look at the story I sent you?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Leela was with the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) for a season or two - I only saw a couple serials with her, but she was greatly entertaining, my favorite of the older Companions that I saw (though I liked all of them, really...)

--ack, I'm sorry, I've been getting nothing done this week! Will look at the story tonight/tomorrow, get back to you asap - apologies~!

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

Love the list :) - do you mind if I borrow the idea?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

It wasn't particularly my idea (I've seen other such memes around) - so please, go ahead and do it! More awesome women deserve appreciation ^_^

[katheli.livejournal.com]

Buffy should definitely be there. She may be a tad annyoing but is pretty much everything every girl ever wants to be and is still so human. Joss Whedon is a genius for writing good characters.

Also, I may be the only one but I always liked Rose the best of the three Dr. Who girls. Though I love all three of them (super-cool Martha! Crazy-hilarious Donna! and boy-kissing Jack who should also count XD). And I have no explanation for that whatsoever.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I've never actually seen Buffy, else I probably would include her...!

And I loved Rose when I first watched Who - and still do, but Donna is my very favorite (I do love the funny ones!)

Great female characters

[(Anonymous)]

Straying into books if allowed...

Honor Harrington, from David Weber's science fiction universe, or look at Miri Robertson & Pricilla Mendoza, part of Steve Miller & Sharon Lee's Lianden science fiction universe.

Lori

Re: Great female characters

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Books are totally allowed! I was sticking to TV & movies only for expediency's sake ^^

Haven't read Weber, and I've never even heard of Miller & Lee, but having looked them up on Amazon, I'm thinking I should check 'em out, I do enjoy a good space opera!

More fantastic female characters (comedic)

[sovht.livejournal.com]

How I Met Your Mother: Lily Aldrin, Robin Scherbatsky
Modern Family: Gloria Pritchett, Claire Dunphy
Better Off Ted: Veronica Palmer, Linda Zwordling

And ok fine not comedic, but also: Aerin, Zhaan, and Chiana of Farscape.

Re: More fantastic female characters (comedic)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I agree 100% with all of these! (ironically, at the time I wrote this post I hadn't seen any of the 1st three shows, but now I've seen all of them and totally agree. Veronica especially is my hero.)

The only reason the Farscape women didn't make it on was because I ran out of space! (\o/ Chiana!)