In which I ramble about female leads in television
So, before we all head off for Thanksgiving, I pose my first (and thus far, only) Buffy rambling.
As you may remember me saying, I've been watching a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer the last month or so. I adore this series, and Buffy is I think the epitome of Strong Female Character. I was talking with my hubby, and noted that with a lot of shows the last few years, those who have a woman protagonist (usually strong female characters) automatically have a leading man, and that the ultimate path is for them to get together (Brennan and Booth from "Bones" immediately comes to mind).
What is different about Buffy, meanwhile, is she had two best friends who were equally important to her, and while Xander is awesome, he was there to be Buffy's friend, not her eventual love interest. Angel was brought in to the be the "love interest", but he didn't prop her up the way Willow and Xander did. When he left for his own show, Buffy didn't lose what made her a rounded character--yet if Booth were to leave "Bones", that would be, at the very least, the beginning of the end. I am in no way saying having a love interest is bad (heck, I'm seeing if I can start watching "Castle" for the soul purpose of watching Nathan Fillion flirt), but what I think is missing is a series where the female protagonist would not be less interesting if the "love interest" were to leave.
I mean, half of the "Grimm" fandom have been yelling for his girlfriend to leave since last season, and I think if she did it would take his character to the next stage in his role as the Grimm, and the show would still do well. I started the pilot of "Arrow" today, and I don't even know if his character is supposed to get together with anyone. Which is cool really. So, if these male-centric shows can do it, can't female-centric do so, too?
And willowwand can correct me, but it seems that books, particularly Young Adult Fiction, have this issue, too. You have these great plots and female protagonists who you can get behind, but if the leaning man were not there, would she be as interesting?
Anyway, what do you guys think? Is there a reason for the lack of shows with leading females that does not lean on a male lead as well? Or are there such shows and I'm just missing them? I'm not sure if I made sense, but I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, have a happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!
As you may remember me saying, I've been watching a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer the last month or so. I adore this series, and Buffy is I think the epitome of Strong Female Character. I was talking with my hubby, and noted that with a lot of shows the last few years, those who have a woman protagonist (usually strong female characters) automatically have a leading man, and that the ultimate path is for them to get together (Brennan and Booth from "Bones" immediately comes to mind).
What is different about Buffy, meanwhile, is she had two best friends who were equally important to her, and while Xander is awesome, he was there to be Buffy's friend, not her eventual love interest. Angel was brought in to the be the "love interest", but he didn't prop her up the way Willow and Xander did. When he left for his own show, Buffy didn't lose what made her a rounded character--yet if Booth were to leave "Bones", that would be, at the very least, the beginning of the end. I am in no way saying having a love interest is bad (heck, I'm seeing if I can start watching "Castle" for the soul purpose of watching Nathan Fillion flirt), but what I think is missing is a series where the female protagonist would not be less interesting if the "love interest" were to leave.
I mean, half of the "Grimm" fandom have been yelling for his girlfriend to leave since last season, and I think if she did it would take his character to the next stage in his role as the Grimm, and the show would still do well. I started the pilot of "Arrow" today, and I don't even know if his character is supposed to get together with anyone. Which is cool really. So, if these male-centric shows can do it, can't female-centric do so, too?
And willowwand can correct me, but it seems that books, particularly Young Adult Fiction, have this issue, too. You have these great plots and female protagonists who you can get behind, but if the leaning man were not there, would she be as interesting?
Anyway, what do you guys think? Is there a reason for the lack of shows with leading females that does not lean on a male lead as well? Or are there such shows and I'm just missing them? I'm not sure if I made sense, but I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, have a happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!