Top25 Female TV Characters
See, you might have noticed that I like compiling lists. It's a hobby of sorts (I've never claimed to have a life, people). This particular one was born during a lecture (it was a tiny bit boring, all right?) a few weeks back, and once I had the names down, the idea of posting this here wouldn't leave me alone. I did an armed edition a while back, but this is a completely general look at the female representation on TV. Many deserving names were left out again, but 25 names was the limit I set for myself. Anyway, female awesomeness coming up!
Top25 Female TV Characters
.: 25. Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds)
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"Fount of all Knowledge, check my flow!"
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Who: Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness)
Fandom: Criminal Minds (US)
Why: Garcia makes being a computer geek look sexy as hell. For once, there's a female character who's just as good (and, let's face it, even better) as the men in her field, and she doesn't need to fit the typical parametres of a female character in order to be awesome. Besides, her one-liners win at life, and if nothing even comes out of the Morgan/Garcia flirting, I'll cry.
Moment of Brilliance: Garcia asking Brad the fake!FBI agent "What's it like at Quan-ti-co?" is one of the most hilarious things I've ever heard. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Her outrageous clothes are fabulous, but she can go just a tad overboard at times.
.: 24. Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (Golden Girls)
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"You'll have to excuse my mother. She suffered a light stroke several years ago that rendered her totally annoying."
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Who: Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (Bea Arthur)
Fandom: Golden Girls (US)
Why: Sarcasm is Dorothy's middle name and I love sarcasm as a form of humour. Her deadpan delivery is second to none and, in my opinion, she's by far the most entertaining member of the entire cast. Besides, no one raises an eyebrow quite like she does.
MoB: Everyone remembers the classic condom skit. "Condoms, Rose! Condoms! Condoms!" [ YouTube it! ]
But: The clothes. My God. I know it was the 80s, but Christ, woman, what were you thinking?
.: 23. Cristina Yang (Grey's Anatomy)
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"If I miss a real procedure because of this case, they're gonna call me 007, because I killed you."
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Who: Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy (US)
Why: There's something about Christina that makes me love her, even if her conduct should be such a turn off. Maybe it's the matter-of-fact way she sees life, or the fact that, deep down, she's just as vulnerable as the rest of us. Sarcasm is her forte also, which probably has something to do with my fascination as well.
MoB: The only way for a patient to dull the pain is to watch porn, for the endorphins. When the power goes out, Cristina needs to come up with an alternative solution. Hilarity of the epic kind! [ YouTube it! ]
But: Taking advantage of your oblivious & über-adorable superiors (see #12) is not cool.
.: 22. Pikku Myy (Muumit)
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"I can't wait or stop, not today. I'm too full of energy!"
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Who: Pikku Myy (voice: Elina Salo)
Fandom: Muumit (Finland)
Why: Muumit is my childhood. My dad taped every single episode and those tapes were watched so many times that they broke (I still haven't seen how the ghost ship storyline ended!). Pikku Myy was always my favourite character, because she could do anything - I remember wishing I'd been just as adventurous and daring as she.
MoB: Pikku Myy threatening to whack Niiskuneiti around the head with a broom (yes, this is a children's programme, why do you ask?). Although, I have to say that hearing Myy say "Sinä olet se haisurotta, joka sipsutteli meidän päällämme viime yönä." is kind of awesome. [YouTube it! ]
But: At times she can be downright mean, which isn't as funny.
.: 21. Lindsay Boxer (Women's Murder Club)
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"You say 'he's great' the way people say green tea is great. Like we're supposed to drink it, but we really want to drink coffee instead."
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Who: Lindsay Boxer (Angie Harmon)
Fandom: Women's Murder Club (US)
Why: Lindsay's such a badass; we got to see some serious gun wielding every week. Also, once again, it's the dry & sarcastic sense of humour that absolutely captivates me (the scene in a lift where Jill & Cindy are trying to find out about Lindsay's date is a marvelous example). Angie Harmon's facial expressions are comedy gold.
MoB: Seeing Lindsay handcuff a woman and elbow a huge man in the face in order to keep him at arm's length while talking on the phone is one of the coolest things I've seen.
But: I wish she stopped crying in every frigging episode.
.: 20. Frankie Wharton (Waking the Dead)
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"Well, you wouldn't stick a nail through your own head, would you?"
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Who: Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird)
Fandom: Waking the Dead (UK)
Why: Frankie is such a 'no bullshit' character, especially when it comes to her lab, and, apart from Grace, she's the only one who can stand up to Boyd. She clearly has a sardonic way of looking at life, which also makes her stand out from the rest of the team.
MoB: Boyd catches Frankie trying to break into the station's drink machine. The scientist's "I get the pounds, you can keep the fifties!" line is funny with a capital 'F'.
But: She should've stuck around for more than four series.
.: 19. Kalinda Sharma (The Good Wife)
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"You can't ask me and I can't tell you, but don't conclude from what I'm saying it's what you think."
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Who: Kalinda Sharma (Archie Panjabi)
Fandom: The Good Wife (US)
Why: I was a little hesitant to include Kalinda on this list at first, since we haven't seen more than a few episodes of the show. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realised how utterly charmed I am by her - she's a strong character who is good at her job, compassionate, and her chemistry with Alicia is absolutely brilliant.
MoB: Kalinda shamelessly flirts with a female law clerk in order to obtain evidence files and nearly succeeds. Alicia looks on, amused. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Not really a bad thing per se, but her accent sort of falters every once in a while.
.: 18. Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess)
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"So you're saying that today is actually yesterday for you, but for us today is today because we can't remember that yesterday was today, right?"
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Who: Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor)
Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess (New Zealand/US)
Why: Gabrielle's character development from Season 1 to Season 6 is simply extraordinary, and it's one of the reasons I like her so much. She learns to take care of herself and, eventually, becomes nearly as good a warrior as Xena.
MoB: Although it's bittersweet, I've always loved how Gabrielle brings Xena back to life in the finale, even if it's only temporary. [ YouTube it! ]
But: I still don't understand why she married Perdicus, even if it was only for one episode.
.: 17. Veronica Palmer (Better off Ted)
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"Well, I'm different than other women, Ted, and by 'different', I mean 'better'."
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Who: Veronica Palmer (Portia de Rossi)
Fandom: Better off Ted (US)
Why: Another new-ish fandom, but I wholeheartedly adore the way Veronica's character is written and how Portia de Rossi portrays her. She's just so eccentric and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Her lines make this show for me.
MoB: Pretty much every scene she's in. [ YouTube it! ]
But: She doesn't have nearly enough screentime.
.: 16. Samantha 'Sam' Carter (Stargate SG-1)
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"I guess I've always had a thing for the lunatic fringe."
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Who: Samantha 'Sam' Carter (Amanda Tapping)
Fandom: Stargate SG-1 / Stargate Atlantis (US)
Why: Sam's character proves that a woman can be a little nerdy & ridiculously intelligent and still handle a gun & kick ass. She is a breath of fresh air in a world where female characters tend to be reduced into damsels in distress - in other words, characters that need to be saved by men.
MoB: Sam's introduction to the show. "I'm an Air Force officer just like you are, Colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn't mean I can't handle whatever you can handle." Rawr!
But: Her hair in Season 4 still gives me nightmares.
.: 15. Yvonne Atkins (Bad Girls)
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"I don't do scared."
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Who: Yvonne Atkins (Linda Henry)
Fandom: Bad Girls (UK)
Why: Top dog of G Wing. Do I need to say more? Yvonne is strong, independent and just. She doesn't take any crap from anyone and makes sure Fenner's needs to constantly be on his toes. Considering how brilliant a character Yvonne is, the way her story ended on the show was a disgrace.
MoB: Any of her one-liner comebacks to Bodybag. "Do I look like I was born yesterday? / If he does, he needs glasses."
But: Like I said, the ending for the character was ridiculous.
.: 14. Parker (Leverage)
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"I don't like stuff. I like money."
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Who: Parker (Beth Riesgraf)
Fandom: Leverage (US)
Why: Parker's such a nutjob, but, oddly enough, that's exactly what I like about her. Usually, I tend to go for the goofy-but-sane ones, but Parker is an exception - her matter-of-fact delivery of lines and fascination with money is nothing but endearing.
MoB: Parker disapproves of illegal downloading. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The random attempts at subtext between Parker and anyone else are eyeroll-worthy; there's no way Parker would ever have a relationship with anyone.
.: 13. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Bones)
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"'Task oriented' is an euphemism for 'lacking overall perspective'."
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Who: Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Emily Deschanel)
Fandom: Bones (US)
Why: I find it so very refreshing that Brennan's character isn't defined through a man in any way - she's strong and intelligent without needing a male character to bring out said attributes. Brennan is also a prime example of the importance of characterisation: I'm much more prone to accept/support a het!paring if the female character can actually think for herself.
MoB: Whenever she's referring to the various anthropological studies that have been conducted. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The "I don't know what that means" line would be funnier if they didn't use it quite so often.
.: 12. Arizona Robbins (Grey's Anatomy)
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"I have wine. White and red, and I have cigarettes. Which is awful, I know, but I only smoke on very rare, very occasionally. And only when I know I'm gonna be in trouble. Like now."
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Who: Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy (US)
Why: One of the most adorable characters ever to grace our screens. At first I felt slightly bad for liking her so much after what they did to Brooke Smith's character, but then I realised it's pointless; Arizona is so darn lovable. Besides, I've always had a soft spot for bubbly and über-optimistic characters.
MoB: Arizona talking to Callie's dad. As much as I love Arizona's chipper nature, she completely dazzled me with her serious side in this particular scene. [ YouTube it! ]
But: MOAR SCREENTIME PLZ.
.: 11. Sally Harper (Coupling)
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"A woman with clothes on has negotiating power."
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Who: Sally Harper (Kate Isitt)
Fandom: Coupling (UK)
Why: Although Steve and Susan are supposed to be the leading couple of the show, I've always preferred Sally & Patrick. And, of those two, Sally is my absolute favourite. Her preoccupation with her butt is hysterical, and the way she often manages to verbally dig herself into a hole amuses me greatly.
MoB: Sally having a four-way phone conversation. [ YouTube it! ]
But: My God, woman, your bottom hasn't sagged an inch!
.: 10. Kate 'Ash' Ashurst (Murder in Suburbia)
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"You know what I love about suburbia, Scribbs? The effortless way it all looks. Deceit, murder, wife-swapping. And still all the hedges get trimmed."
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Who: Kate 'Ash' Ashurst (Caroline Catz)
Fandom: Murder in Suburbia (UK)
Why: I only needed to see five minutes of this series until I was completely and utterly smitten by Ash. She's posh, a little rigid, sarcastic, and has a million & one rules in life - rules which she tends to impose on Scribbs as well. But, although she is a tad uptight, she's far from being unlikeable as a character; quite the contrary, actually. Most of the time, I simply want to give her a hug.
MoB: Ash explaining Scribbs the rules of sleeping in the same bed with her. The scene illustrates Ash's character perfectly. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Being so levelheaded, she ought to realise that, in fact, what she's looking for is right in front of her. And no, it's not Sullivan.
.: 9. Silvia Castro (Los Hombres de Paco)
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"Hundreds of stars. You just need to know where to look."
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Who: Silvia Castro (Marián Aguilera)
Fandom: Los Hombres de Paco (Spain)
Why: If Arizona (#12) was adorable, so is Silvia! She's beautiful, a science nerd, a police officer, and utterly gay for Pepa. What I love the most about her is the journey her character takes, from an insecure ex-wife of Lucas to a confident and, most of all, happy woman that marries Pepa. And those lab coats have never looked as hot, I'm just saying.
MoB: Silvia voicing her fears to Pepa. It's a wonderful scene because Silvia would never have done this with, for example, Lucas. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Well, there's the small detail of Silvia being, well, DEAD. TPTB, I hate you.
.: 8. Miss Parker (The Pretender)
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"The only way this [nicotine patch] thing is going to help me is if I roll it and smoke it."
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Who: Miss Parker (Andrea Parker)
Fandom: The Pretender (US)
Why: I don't think I've ever seen a character as wonderfully sarcastic as Miss Parker. Basically, everything coming out of her mouth is brilliant. She kicks ass, doesn't let anyone tell her what to do, and still has a more humane side to her that the viewers get to see from time to time. She's a baddie, only, not really.
MoB: All her reactions to the clues Jarod leaves for her. [ YouTube it! ]
But: She should've truly ended up with Jarod in the end.
.: 7. Sabrina Duncan (Charlie's Angels)
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"Too pretty to be a detective? Yeah, I think someone did say that. It was my ex-husband."
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Who: Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson)
Fandom: Charlie's Angels (US)
Why: Sabrina has always been my favourite Angel. She has the brains and is always responsible for coming up with that crucial piece of evidence that finally solves the case. What can I say, I've always been attracted to smart women, and Sabrina definitely is one.
MoB: Sabrina figures it all out while the others look pretty. Every. damn. episode. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Are we really supposed to believe Sabrina just suddenly got married and had kids? Please.
.: 6. Patsy Stone (Absolutely Fabulous)
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"The last mosquito that bit me had to book in to the Betty Ford clinic."
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Who: Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley)
Fandom: Absolutely Fabulous (UK)
Why: Oh, wow. Patsy is, well, Patsy. She lives on fags and alcohol, doesn't care about anyone else, and is, pretty much, the most hilarious character ever. My love for Patsy tenfolded when I fist heard Joanna Lumley speak as herself, because the difference between the two couldn't be greater.
MoB: Patsy accidentally sets the kitchen on fire. [ YouTube it! ]
But: There really is nothing negative I could say about her.
.: 5. Addison Montgomery (Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice)
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"Actually, I prefer to be called ruler of all that is evil. But I will answer to Satan."
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Who: Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy / Private Practice (US)
Why: Addison's character made Grey's Anatomy fabulous. She's wonderfully snarky (or, at least she used to be), and when she was first introduced to the viewers, she practically oozed coolness and confidence. I do still like her on Private Practice, but nothing beats Grey's Season 2 & 3 Addison, because she was fierce and totally superior.
MoB: Addison arriving at Seattle Grace. Oh, yes. [ YouTube it! ]
But: I did prefer the slightly snarkier version of Addison.
.: 4. Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
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"Why are you suddenly so worried about looking like an idiot? [pause] That came out wrong."
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Who: Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (US)
Why: I used to be obsessed with Willow; even my nick derives, sort of, from 'Alyson'. Like with so many other characters, Willow's geekiness instantly appealed to me, and I loved nothing more than seeing her develop into one of the most powerful characters in the entire show. Alyson Hannigan's spot-on delivery makes Willow's lines often the most entertaining ones.
MoB: Willow comes face to face with her vampire counterpart and figures that the latter is skanky and, yeah, kind of gay.
But: Higher self-esteem wouldn't be bad thing at times.
.: 3. Macarena 'Maca' Fernandez Wilson (Hospital Central)
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"I don't bite. Well, at least not always."
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Who: Macarena 'Maca' Fernandez Wilson (Patricia Vico)
Fandom: Hospital Central (Spain)
Why: The character (well, one of them) who's responsible for yours truly learning a whole new language. Talk about TV influencing people's lives... But, besides that, Maca is a strong and capable woman who, nevertheless, isn't perfect. She has quite a few bloke-like qualities to her which only make her character more interesting and oh, so very gay.
MoB: Esther is awkwardly trying to talk to Maca and, with a single word ("Hola"), the latter makes my stomach do a back flip. BE STILL, MY BEATING HEART. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The bloke-like qualities mentioned above can get old - 90% of the problems Maca & Esther have had were caused by Maca's thick-headedness.
.: 2. Helen Stewart (Bad Girls)
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"Thomas is gorgeous, he's everything you would want in a man. But I want a woman."
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Who: Helen Stewart (Simone Lahbib)
Fandom: Bad Girls (UK)
Why: This woman is completely to blame for my "light bulb moment"; I fancied Helen so much that it occurred to me rather rapidly that I might not be 100% straight. Again, we have a strong female character who doesn't take crap from anyone, speaks with a gorgeous Scottish accent, and who's perfectly capable of holding her own in a world that is completely male-oriented.
MoB: Nikki & Helen's first kiss. I just can't get over it. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Helen, Thomas is a dunce, the most boring person you could ever find.
.: 1. Emily Prentiss (Criminal Minds)
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"You have to understand. I'm a nerd. Like, seriously."
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Who: Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster)
Fandom: Criminal Minds (US)
Why: This is such a shocker to everyone, I know. But the reasons are simple: Emily is a ridiculously well-written and consistent character, which can be so very rare in shows like this. She's a nerd, a badass FBI agent and an enigma of sorts; deep down, we don't really know much about her, which truly intrigues me. She gets most of the best lines, because Paget is a comedy genius. Also, Emily's conduct is so gay that my ovaries are aching just by thinking of it. For me, she's the perfect character, plain and simple.
MoB: Emily sharing something of her past with Rossi in "Demonology". A rare moment of vulnerability, beautifully acted by Paget. [ YouTube it! ]
But: As if.
Sometimes, I wonder what greatness could be achieved if I only used my time to do something a little bit more useful (say, um, studying?) than compiling lists of women. Then again, what could be better than ogling at pictures of pretty people and analysing fictional stories?
...Oh, shut up, you lot.
Top25 Female TV Characters
.: 25. Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds)
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"Fount of all Knowledge, check my flow!"
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Who: Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness)
Fandom: Criminal Minds (US)
Why: Garcia makes being a computer geek look sexy as hell. For once, there's a female character who's just as good (and, let's face it, even better) as the men in her field, and she doesn't need to fit the typical parametres of a female character in order to be awesome. Besides, her one-liners win at life, and if nothing even comes out of the Morgan/Garcia flirting, I'll cry.
Moment of Brilliance: Garcia asking Brad the fake!FBI agent "What's it like at Quan-ti-co?" is one of the most hilarious things I've ever heard. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Her outrageous clothes are fabulous, but she can go just a tad overboard at times.
.: 24. Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (Golden Girls)
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"You'll have to excuse my mother. She suffered a light stroke several years ago that rendered her totally annoying."
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Who: Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak (Bea Arthur)
Fandom: Golden Girls (US)
Why: Sarcasm is Dorothy's middle name and I love sarcasm as a form of humour. Her deadpan delivery is second to none and, in my opinion, she's by far the most entertaining member of the entire cast. Besides, no one raises an eyebrow quite like she does.
MoB: Everyone remembers the classic condom skit. "Condoms, Rose! Condoms! Condoms!" [ YouTube it! ]
But: The clothes. My God. I know it was the 80s, but Christ, woman, what were you thinking?
.: 23. Cristina Yang (Grey's Anatomy)
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"If I miss a real procedure because of this case, they're gonna call me 007, because I killed you."
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Who: Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy (US)
Why: There's something about Christina that makes me love her, even if her conduct should be such a turn off. Maybe it's the matter-of-fact way she sees life, or the fact that, deep down, she's just as vulnerable as the rest of us. Sarcasm is her forte also, which probably has something to do with my fascination as well.
MoB: The only way for a patient to dull the pain is to watch porn, for the endorphins. When the power goes out, Cristina needs to come up with an alternative solution. Hilarity of the epic kind! [ YouTube it! ]
But: Taking advantage of your oblivious & über-adorable superiors (see #12) is not cool.
.: 22. Pikku Myy (Muumit)
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"I can't wait or stop, not today. I'm too full of energy!"
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Who: Pikku Myy (voice: Elina Salo)
Fandom: Muumit (Finland)
Why: Muumit is my childhood. My dad taped every single episode and those tapes were watched so many times that they broke (I still haven't seen how the ghost ship storyline ended!). Pikku Myy was always my favourite character, because she could do anything - I remember wishing I'd been just as adventurous and daring as she.
MoB: Pikku Myy threatening to whack Niiskuneiti around the head with a broom (yes, this is a children's programme, why do you ask?). Although, I have to say that hearing Myy say "Sinä olet se haisurotta, joka sipsutteli meidän päällämme viime yönä." is kind of awesome. [YouTube it! ]
But: At times she can be downright mean, which isn't as funny.
.: 21. Lindsay Boxer (Women's Murder Club)
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"You say 'he's great' the way people say green tea is great. Like we're supposed to drink it, but we really want to drink coffee instead."
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Who: Lindsay Boxer (Angie Harmon)
Fandom: Women's Murder Club (US)
Why: Lindsay's such a badass; we got to see some serious gun wielding every week. Also, once again, it's the dry & sarcastic sense of humour that absolutely captivates me (the scene in a lift where Jill & Cindy are trying to find out about Lindsay's date is a marvelous example). Angie Harmon's facial expressions are comedy gold.
MoB: Seeing Lindsay handcuff a woman and elbow a huge man in the face in order to keep him at arm's length while talking on the phone is one of the coolest things I've seen.
But: I wish she stopped crying in every frigging episode.
.: 20. Frankie Wharton (Waking the Dead)
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"Well, you wouldn't stick a nail through your own head, would you?"
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Who: Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird)
Fandom: Waking the Dead (UK)
Why: Frankie is such a 'no bullshit' character, especially when it comes to her lab, and, apart from Grace, she's the only one who can stand up to Boyd. She clearly has a sardonic way of looking at life, which also makes her stand out from the rest of the team.
MoB: Boyd catches Frankie trying to break into the station's drink machine. The scientist's "I get the pounds, you can keep the fifties!" line is funny with a capital 'F'.
But: She should've stuck around for more than four series.
.: 19. Kalinda Sharma (The Good Wife)
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"You can't ask me and I can't tell you, but don't conclude from what I'm saying it's what you think."
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Who: Kalinda Sharma (Archie Panjabi)
Fandom: The Good Wife (US)
Why: I was a little hesitant to include Kalinda on this list at first, since we haven't seen more than a few episodes of the show. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realised how utterly charmed I am by her - she's a strong character who is good at her job, compassionate, and her chemistry with Alicia is absolutely brilliant.
MoB: Kalinda shamelessly flirts with a female law clerk in order to obtain evidence files and nearly succeeds. Alicia looks on, amused. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Not really a bad thing per se, but her accent sort of falters every once in a while.
.: 18. Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess)
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"So you're saying that today is actually yesterday for you, but for us today is today because we can't remember that yesterday was today, right?"
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Who: Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor)
Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess (New Zealand/US)
Why: Gabrielle's character development from Season 1 to Season 6 is simply extraordinary, and it's one of the reasons I like her so much. She learns to take care of herself and, eventually, becomes nearly as good a warrior as Xena.
MoB: Although it's bittersweet, I've always loved how Gabrielle brings Xena back to life in the finale, even if it's only temporary. [ YouTube it! ]
But: I still don't understand why she married Perdicus, even if it was only for one episode.
.: 17. Veronica Palmer (Better off Ted)
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"Well, I'm different than other women, Ted, and by 'different', I mean 'better'."
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Who: Veronica Palmer (Portia de Rossi)
Fandom: Better off Ted (US)
Why: Another new-ish fandom, but I wholeheartedly adore the way Veronica's character is written and how Portia de Rossi portrays her. She's just so eccentric and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Her lines make this show for me.
MoB: Pretty much every scene she's in. [ YouTube it! ]
But: She doesn't have nearly enough screentime.
.: 16. Samantha 'Sam' Carter (Stargate SG-1)
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"I guess I've always had a thing for the lunatic fringe."
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Who: Samantha 'Sam' Carter (Amanda Tapping)
Fandom: Stargate SG-1 / Stargate Atlantis (US)
Why: Sam's character proves that a woman can be a little nerdy & ridiculously intelligent and still handle a gun & kick ass. She is a breath of fresh air in a world where female characters tend to be reduced into damsels in distress - in other words, characters that need to be saved by men.
MoB: Sam's introduction to the show. "I'm an Air Force officer just like you are, Colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn't mean I can't handle whatever you can handle." Rawr!
But: Her hair in Season 4 still gives me nightmares.
.: 15. Yvonne Atkins (Bad Girls)
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"I don't do scared."
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Who: Yvonne Atkins (Linda Henry)
Fandom: Bad Girls (UK)
Why: Top dog of G Wing. Do I need to say more? Yvonne is strong, independent and just. She doesn't take any crap from anyone and makes sure Fenner's needs to constantly be on his toes. Considering how brilliant a character Yvonne is, the way her story ended on the show was a disgrace.
MoB: Any of her one-liner comebacks to Bodybag. "Do I look like I was born yesterday? / If he does, he needs glasses."
But: Like I said, the ending for the character was ridiculous.
.: 14. Parker (Leverage)
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"I don't like stuff. I like money."
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Who: Parker (Beth Riesgraf)
Fandom: Leverage (US)
Why: Parker's such a nutjob, but, oddly enough, that's exactly what I like about her. Usually, I tend to go for the goofy-but-sane ones, but Parker is an exception - her matter-of-fact delivery of lines and fascination with money is nothing but endearing.
MoB: Parker disapproves of illegal downloading. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The random attempts at subtext between Parker and anyone else are eyeroll-worthy; there's no way Parker would ever have a relationship with anyone.
.: 13. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Bones)
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"'Task oriented' is an euphemism for 'lacking overall perspective'."
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Who: Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Emily Deschanel)
Fandom: Bones (US)
Why: I find it so very refreshing that Brennan's character isn't defined through a man in any way - she's strong and intelligent without needing a male character to bring out said attributes. Brennan is also a prime example of the importance of characterisation: I'm much more prone to accept/support a het!paring if the female character can actually think for herself.
MoB: Whenever she's referring to the various anthropological studies that have been conducted. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The "I don't know what that means" line would be funnier if they didn't use it quite so often.
.: 12. Arizona Robbins (Grey's Anatomy)
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"I have wine. White and red, and I have cigarettes. Which is awful, I know, but I only smoke on very rare, very occasionally. And only when I know I'm gonna be in trouble. Like now."
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Who: Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy (US)
Why: One of the most adorable characters ever to grace our screens. At first I felt slightly bad for liking her so much after what they did to Brooke Smith's character, but then I realised it's pointless; Arizona is so darn lovable. Besides, I've always had a soft spot for bubbly and über-optimistic characters.
MoB: Arizona talking to Callie's dad. As much as I love Arizona's chipper nature, she completely dazzled me with her serious side in this particular scene. [ YouTube it! ]
But: MOAR SCREENTIME PLZ.
.: 11. Sally Harper (Coupling)
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"A woman with clothes on has negotiating power."
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Who: Sally Harper (Kate Isitt)
Fandom: Coupling (UK)
Why: Although Steve and Susan are supposed to be the leading couple of the show, I've always preferred Sally & Patrick. And, of those two, Sally is my absolute favourite. Her preoccupation with her butt is hysterical, and the way she often manages to verbally dig herself into a hole amuses me greatly.
MoB: Sally having a four-way phone conversation. [ YouTube it! ]
But: My God, woman, your bottom hasn't sagged an inch!
.: 10. Kate 'Ash' Ashurst (Murder in Suburbia)
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"You know what I love about suburbia, Scribbs? The effortless way it all looks. Deceit, murder, wife-swapping. And still all the hedges get trimmed."
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Who: Kate 'Ash' Ashurst (Caroline Catz)
Fandom: Murder in Suburbia (UK)
Why: I only needed to see five minutes of this series until I was completely and utterly smitten by Ash. She's posh, a little rigid, sarcastic, and has a million & one rules in life - rules which she tends to impose on Scribbs as well. But, although she is a tad uptight, she's far from being unlikeable as a character; quite the contrary, actually. Most of the time, I simply want to give her a hug.
MoB: Ash explaining Scribbs the rules of sleeping in the same bed with her. The scene illustrates Ash's character perfectly. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Being so levelheaded, she ought to realise that, in fact, what she's looking for is right in front of her. And no, it's not Sullivan.
.: 9. Silvia Castro (Los Hombres de Paco)
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"Hundreds of stars. You just need to know where to look."
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Who: Silvia Castro (Marián Aguilera)
Fandom: Los Hombres de Paco (Spain)
Why: If Arizona (#12) was adorable, so is Silvia! She's beautiful, a science nerd, a police officer, and utterly gay for Pepa. What I love the most about her is the journey her character takes, from an insecure ex-wife of Lucas to a confident and, most of all, happy woman that marries Pepa. And those lab coats have never looked as hot, I'm just saying.
MoB: Silvia voicing her fears to Pepa. It's a wonderful scene because Silvia would never have done this with, for example, Lucas. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Well, there's the small detail of Silvia being, well, DEAD. TPTB, I hate you.
.: 8. Miss Parker (The Pretender)
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"The only way this [nicotine patch] thing is going to help me is if I roll it and smoke it."
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Who: Miss Parker (Andrea Parker)
Fandom: The Pretender (US)
Why: I don't think I've ever seen a character as wonderfully sarcastic as Miss Parker. Basically, everything coming out of her mouth is brilliant. She kicks ass, doesn't let anyone tell her what to do, and still has a more humane side to her that the viewers get to see from time to time. She's a baddie, only, not really.
MoB: All her reactions to the clues Jarod leaves for her. [ YouTube it! ]
But: She should've truly ended up with Jarod in the end.
.: 7. Sabrina Duncan (Charlie's Angels)
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"Too pretty to be a detective? Yeah, I think someone did say that. It was my ex-husband."
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Who: Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson)
Fandom: Charlie's Angels (US)
Why: Sabrina has always been my favourite Angel. She has the brains and is always responsible for coming up with that crucial piece of evidence that finally solves the case. What can I say, I've always been attracted to smart women, and Sabrina definitely is one.
MoB: Sabrina figures it all out while the others look pretty. Every. damn. episode. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Are we really supposed to believe Sabrina just suddenly got married and had kids? Please.
.: 6. Patsy Stone (Absolutely Fabulous)
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"The last mosquito that bit me had to book in to the Betty Ford clinic."
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Who: Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley)
Fandom: Absolutely Fabulous (UK)
Why: Oh, wow. Patsy is, well, Patsy. She lives on fags and alcohol, doesn't care about anyone else, and is, pretty much, the most hilarious character ever. My love for Patsy tenfolded when I fist heard Joanna Lumley speak as herself, because the difference between the two couldn't be greater.
MoB: Patsy accidentally sets the kitchen on fire. [ YouTube it! ]
But: There really is nothing negative I could say about her.
.: 5. Addison Montgomery (Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice)
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"Actually, I prefer to be called ruler of all that is evil. But I will answer to Satan."
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Who: Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy / Private Practice (US)
Why: Addison's character made Grey's Anatomy fabulous. She's wonderfully snarky (or, at least she used to be), and when she was first introduced to the viewers, she practically oozed coolness and confidence. I do still like her on Private Practice, but nothing beats Grey's Season 2 & 3 Addison, because she was fierce and totally superior.
MoB: Addison arriving at Seattle Grace. Oh, yes. [ YouTube it! ]
But: I did prefer the slightly snarkier version of Addison.
.: 4. Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
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"Why are you suddenly so worried about looking like an idiot? [pause] That came out wrong."
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Who: Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (US)
Why: I used to be obsessed with Willow; even my nick derives, sort of, from 'Alyson'. Like with so many other characters, Willow's geekiness instantly appealed to me, and I loved nothing more than seeing her develop into one of the most powerful characters in the entire show. Alyson Hannigan's spot-on delivery makes Willow's lines often the most entertaining ones.
MoB: Willow comes face to face with her vampire counterpart and figures that the latter is skanky and, yeah, kind of gay.
But: Higher self-esteem wouldn't be bad thing at times.
.: 3. Macarena 'Maca' Fernandez Wilson (Hospital Central)
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"I don't bite. Well, at least not always."
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Who: Macarena 'Maca' Fernandez Wilson (Patricia Vico)
Fandom: Hospital Central (Spain)
Why: The character (well, one of them) who's responsible for yours truly learning a whole new language. Talk about TV influencing people's lives... But, besides that, Maca is a strong and capable woman who, nevertheless, isn't perfect. She has quite a few bloke-like qualities to her which only make her character more interesting and oh, so very gay.
MoB: Esther is awkwardly trying to talk to Maca and, with a single word ("Hola"), the latter makes my stomach do a back flip. BE STILL, MY BEATING HEART. [ YouTube it! ]
But: The bloke-like qualities mentioned above can get old - 90% of the problems Maca & Esther have had were caused by Maca's thick-headedness.
.: 2. Helen Stewart (Bad Girls)
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"Thomas is gorgeous, he's everything you would want in a man. But I want a woman."
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Who: Helen Stewart (Simone Lahbib)
Fandom: Bad Girls (UK)
Why: This woman is completely to blame for my "light bulb moment"; I fancied Helen so much that it occurred to me rather rapidly that I might not be 100% straight. Again, we have a strong female character who doesn't take crap from anyone, speaks with a gorgeous Scottish accent, and who's perfectly capable of holding her own in a world that is completely male-oriented.
MoB: Nikki & Helen's first kiss. I just can't get over it. [ YouTube it! ]
But: Helen, Thomas is a dunce, the most boring person you could ever find.
.: 1. Emily Prentiss (Criminal Minds)
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"You have to understand. I'm a nerd. Like, seriously."
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Who: Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster)
Fandom: Criminal Minds (US)
Why: This is such a shocker to everyone, I know. But the reasons are simple: Emily is a ridiculously well-written and consistent character, which can be so very rare in shows like this. She's a nerd, a badass FBI agent and an enigma of sorts; deep down, we don't really know much about her, which truly intrigues me. She gets most of the best lines, because Paget is a comedy genius. Also, Emily's conduct is so gay that my ovaries are aching just by thinking of it. For me, she's the perfect character, plain and simple.
MoB: Emily sharing something of her past with Rossi in "Demonology". A rare moment of vulnerability, beautifully acted by Paget. [ YouTube it! ]
But: As if.
Sometimes, I wonder what greatness could be achieved if I only used my time to do something a little bit more useful (say, um, studying?) than compiling lists of women. Then again, what could be better than ogling at pictures of pretty people and analysing fictional stories?
...Oh, shut up, you lot.