[ad_1]
Legal TV dramas have been the rage for a while and one of the all-time favorites, Better Call Saul, is sadly finishing after a six-season run. While the genre is changing and evolving all the time, when it comes to being realistic and staying fresh and interesting, one change is quite notable.
There are a lot more legal dramas today that are led by female characters. Some of these are the stereotypical do-gooders, as one would expect, but many creators strive to subvert these stereotypes by creating female fictional characters that are downright brutal and will do anything to win a case.
Fairly Legal (2011 – 2012)
Stream On The Roku Channel
Fairly Legal took its shot by centering on the members of the law community that aren’t often in the spotlight. The series follows Kate Reed, who quits her attorney job to become a mediator. Its leading lady is the talented Sarah Shahi, known to excel in any role she takes on.
While many legal dramas try to subvert female stereotypes by making them as ruthless as possible, this show takes another route by playing off Kate’s empathy and her search for harmony in a world full of chaos. She deliberately puts herself between all the plaintiffs and defendants because she believes the law is not black and white.
Drop Dead Diva (2009 – 2014)
Available To Buy On Apple TV
Drop Dead Diva might not be a right fit for anyone striving for realism, as it features an aspiring model who is killed in a car accident and then brought back to life by inhabiting the body of a lawyer who has recently died. The premise sounds absurd, but Brooke Elliot, who is currently starring in the fan-favorite Sweet Magnolias on Netflix, was the perfect lead for the show.
Because of its interesting premise, the show not only deals with a female lawyer but also doesn’t shy away from other issues when it comes to self-worth and other issues women deal with regarding their weight and looks, in general.
Pearson (2019)
Available To Buy On Apple TV
Following the success of Suits, Pearson is centered around Jessica Pearson, a fan-favorite character who was disbarred due to some questionable ethics as an attorney. Pearson is one of those series that works simply because the main character is engaging enough.
Gina Torres delivers a great performance, and Jessica Pearson already carried on the central theme of perseverance from Suits that any woman in a demanding workplace can find comforting.
Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit (1999 – )
Stream On Hulu
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a mix between a police procedural and a legal drama, and it is one of the longest-running drama shows on TV. A part of the episode always takes part in a court, and there is no lack of strong female lawyers representing the victims, like Alexandra Cabot and Casey Novak, who both fought mercilessly to convict the people who assaulted the victims they represent.
Neither Alexandra nor Casey were the lead of the show — an honor belonging to a fan-favorite Mariska Hargitay — but for different reasons, they both became fan-favorite ADAs. They were both strong and caring characters who occasionally didn’t mind crossing a line in pursuit of justice.
Women’s Murder Club (2007 – 2008)
Stream On Tubi
Women’s Murder Club was a television show inspired by James Patterson’s series of bestselling novels. Presenting an all-female ensemble main cast, this show follows a homicide detective, a medical examiner, a newspaper reporter, and a young assistant district attorney who collaborate and solve murders together.
The plots are generally engaging and viewers found it easy to connect with the characters. Another aspect that is highly emphasized in this series is the bond between the characters, which almost resembles a sisterhood. This kind of relationship is often present in a female-led series.
Ally McBeal (1997 – 2002)
Stream On Hulu
Ally McBeal was one of the first female-led legal dramas, even if it did border on comedy. While being an ensemble show, Ally was the main character, and viewers got to observe her work life, as well as her personal struggles. The show ended 20 years ago, and nowadays it might feel a bit dated, especially with all the stereotypes it brings of women in the workplace, but it’s still entertaining to watch.
Ally, as a lead character, had her flaws, but her inner turmoil was eerily accurate and that is one of the main reasons people loved her as a character and rooted for her to succeed. The show walked the line between reality and fiction, and despite the storylines being corny at times, the script was oftentimes risky and fresh and dared to discuss topics that weren’t previously present on television.
Damages (2007 – 2012)
Stream On Hulu
Hollywood veteran, Glenn Close, delivers an outstanding, Emmy-worthy performance in Damages, where she plays Patty Hewes, an attorney who’s been caring for her granddaughter at the same time. This show is full of legal tangles, and what truly separates these characters from any others is their lack of a moral compass.
Patty isn’t one of those absolute do-gooders. Her motives are often obscure and unknown, and she does anything to achieve her goals. Fans often reproach this series that it’s too whimsical and far-fetched, but all in all, this is quality and enjoyable television with a high critic and audience rating.
Scandal (2012 – 2018)
Stream On Hulu
Scandal might not be as law-centered as some of these shows, but the protagonist, Olivia Pope, is a lawyer who works at a crisis management firm and one of her duties is to protect the president. The show deals more with politics than with law, even though it can still be considered a legal drama. As expected from Shondaland, it also involves a hearty dose of romance and drama.
Olivia is the perfect candidate to hide all the scandals caused by the wealthy and the political elite of Washington DC. Kerry Washington portrayed the character masterfully, creating a woman who fights for the causes she believes in, but also endorses and condones horrible actions like torture and kidnapping. The latter annoyed fans towards the end and some were convinced Olivia didn’t deserve her happy ending.
How To Get Away With Murder (2014 – 2020)
Stream On Netflix
How To Get Away With Murder brought something new to its audience. The storyline was surprisingly dark, but this was to be expected from Shonda Rhimes. According to IMDb ratings, it’s even one of the best legal dramas of all time. Despite the engaging storyline and a cherry-picked cast, it was Viola Davis’ performance that took this series to the next level of television.
She portrays Annalise Keating, a criminal defense attorney, and professor. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, she and a group of her students find themselves involved in their own murder case. Her character is complex and she played all sides of Annalise to perfection with the strength and perseverance that comes with being a woman and a wife, along with vulnerability.
The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)
Stream On Paramount+
The audience first fell in love with Julianna Margulies way back in her ER days, but she manages to bring something fresh each time she portrays a new character. Alicia Florrick, a humiliated wife and the only remaining family supporter must get over her humiliation and resume her career as a lawyer. Her character is amazingly complex, ranging from vulnerable to brave, and this is one of the reasons fans love her character so much.
The Good Wife is one of the rare female-led legal tv dramas that gained a large viewership and has remarkable ratings coming from both, critics and the audience. Margulies’s lead is additionally supported by the character of Diane Lockhart, who even spurred her own spin-off called The Good Fight.
[ad_2]
Source link
(This article is generated through syndicated feeds, Financetin doesn’t own any part of this content)
