Kick Ass Women On TV

They are gorgeous. They are intelligent. They are tough. But most especially, they are armed. They all share the distinction of being “dynamic.” In the past, leading ladies’ roles were strategically placed to make the leading men look more suave, cool, sophisticated and masculine. Well…not anymore. Over the years, women have evolved in every sense of the word. Gone are the “pretty in pink” and “waiting to be rescued by Sir Galahad” days. This past decade alone, the television industry has elevated women across the entire entertainment business by hiring women to lead network programming, hiring women as directors and hiring women writers while also developing women characters in lead roles. Showrunners and writers have not only given women top billing on their shows, they have empowered them to being stronger, smarter, and more formidable and even almost being invincible.

Without underestimating any of their wit, might and competence and with no particular order, here are some outstanding character women currently on television who exudes class, sophistication and a hint of sexiness:

One of the good things Sgt. Hank Voight of Chicago PD’s Intelligence has done was to bring in Officer Kim Burgess. Playingthe role is the lovely Marina Squerciati. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the men behind the show, made the viewing audience watch her character mature over time from the aspiring sometimes awkward police officer to the intense keen member of the Intelligence Unit. We all watched her struggle over her career, rejoiced when she fell in love with Officer Adam Ruzek and cursed at him when he broke her heart but felt vindicated when Voight offered her the newly opened position. It is one character that you would want to know more about and look forward to seeing where she will take you.

Peter Lenkov, known for his genius and success of rebooting Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver and Magnum P.I. , has assembled the highest caliber of women fictional characters on television. 

How can you go wrong with a Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), Lieutenant Catherine Rollins, USN, RET (Michelle Borth), Tani Rey (Meaghan Rath)? Young, fierce and very chic, these women can shoot, fight, surf, and make you fall hopelessly in love with them. McGarrett’s Five-0 task force has been complemented with a sniper (Kono) who graduated from the Police Academy, a Navy Intelligence officer (Catherine) and a woman version of himself (Tani) a HPD candidate who got kicked out of the Police Academy as her backstory still has yet to be revealed to us.

Then there is Matilda “Matty” Webber (Meredith Eaton) Riley Davis (Tristin Mays) of the Phoenix Foundation and Juliet Higgins (Perdita Weeks). Matty is the woman who is definitely in charge of the entire team, keeping Jack and Mac on the straight and narrow, as Riley who was hired for her incomparable hacking skills can save the day with a few strokes on the keyboard. While Juliet, who was a former MI6 agent and majordomo to Robin Masters Hawaiian estate has proven more than once or twice that she is a force to be reckon with and truly an asset to Thomas Magnum’s Private Detective endeavor.

Without a doubt President Tom Kirkman  (Kiefer Sutherland) was glad to have Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) on his side. She personifies what a FBI agent should be and must have – “knowledge, skills, commitment, and fortitude to investigate terrorists, spies, and a host of dangerous criminals.” Hannah has survived being kidnapped, being shot, along with accused of being a traitor, and yet she rises to prove that she was loyal, reliable and can be on the President’s beck and call to do the right thing.

Jaz of “The Brave” and Chris of “S.W.A.T” are the characters that one would need to watch out for.

Jasmine Khan (Natacha Karam), is best described as someone that goes through perpetual changes whenever and wherever a mission calls them to. She can definitely hang with the guys, play like them, shoot like them, and fight like them.  Rough on the edges, sweet and compassionate, the woman comes with a steady finger on the trigger. A woman who speaks her mind, and has a will to let you know what she thinks of and yet you know that her objective is the safety of her teammates and to accomplish the mission.

The Los Angeles SWAT (Special Weapons Arms and Tactics) has Officer Christina “Chris” Alonso (Lina Esco) who happens to be the team’s canine trainer. On the few episodes that the show has been aired, Chris is still a mystery yet to be discovered. Although she seemed to be the little sister to the team, she possessed an attitude that she can take care of herself and she does not need her big brothers to fight her battles for her. Show runners Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Shawn Ryan name along with its creative writers need to write more for us to get to know her character.

They are all fictional characters, created by a writer’s brilliant imagination and portrayed by women who are able to give each character life.  No matter whom your favorite character is or what show you watch, these characters will inspire and empower its audiences – especially the female audience. They make women viewers think and want to aspire and be the best that they can be.