Netflix lovers, rejoice! The trailer for season two of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has arrived and it’s got us popping popcorn and throwing on our sweats in preparation for a marathon.
If you missed the first season, here’s the gist: A group of women were locked away in a post-disaster bunker for 15 years—where they were forced to do “weird sex stuff” and cater to a male leader—and they finally get free. Kimmy Schmidt, played by the inimitable Ellie Kemper, starts a new life in New York full of colorful characters and tough challenges.
In many ways, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a comedy about sexual assault—and it’s done surprisingly well. The show’s guiding sentiment is captured in this line from its theme song: “Females are strong as hell.”
In celebration of the new season of Kimmy Schmidt, we put together a list of 10 other fabulous feminist shows you can binge watch on Netflix right now. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to share your streaming faves in the comments.
1. Jane the Virgin
Think a show about a pregnant virgin can’t be feminist (even though it stars the incredible Gina Rodriguez)? Think again. Jane the Virgin tackles everything from single motherhood to female friendship to life as an undocumented immigrant—and does it gracefully. If you’ve been sleeping on this show, wake up!
2. Being Mary Jane
Not every feminist is a fan of this show, but we think you should give it a shot. Being Mary Jane follows the professional, personal and romantic trials of TV news anchor Mary Jane Paul, played with aplomb by Gabrielle Union. She battles racism and sexism at work—alongside an equally powerful female producer, Kara Lynch (Lisa Vidal)—while attempting to balance her professional and personal lives. The show offers a strong example of a complicated, fallible and powerful woman on TV.
3. Jessica Jones
Talk about complicated. Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a private investigator who uses questionable tactics to accomplish her goals, all while battling deep personal demons and fighting hard to rid the world of a man who sexually, emotionally and mentally abused her—the show’s disturbing villain, Kilgrave (David Tennant). Jessica Jones offers a portrait of a woman anti-hero rarely seen.
4. Garfunkel and Oates
Don’t let this singing pair’s twee lyrics and tender harmonies fool you, the women of Garfunkel and Oates deliver strong feminist messages through their music. Starring real-life musical-comedy duo (and friends) Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, the show draws on the pair’s experiences with misogyny in the music business and other feminist fodder to offer a funny and charming look at life after 30.
5. Gilmore Girls
You can’t go wrong with this classic show about a single mother raising her daughter in a quirky small town. Relationships between women are at the heart of Gilmore Girls, and we can’t wait for the Netflix revival!
6. Master of None
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bFvb3WKISk
If you loved Aziz Ansari’s stand-up comedy special or his time on Parks and Recreation, watch this show immediately. Each episode tackles a different theme—from love to family to racism in Hollywood—and presents a pretty spot-on portrait of millennial life in a big city.
7. The Fosters
This ensemble family drama centers around interracial lesbian couple Stef and Lena (Teri Polo and Sherri Saum) and their five kids—four adopted and one biological from Stef’s previous marriage. Every episode is a tug-your-heartstrings marathon of plot twists, but the impeccable execution will have you glued to every turn.
8. Grace and Frankie
When their husbands abruptly leave them for each other, two women “of a certain age”—who have never gotten along—find themselves living under the same roof. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are whip smart, funny and relatable in this Netflix comedy.
9. The Good Wife
The farewell season of The Good Wife—about a woman lawyer whose politician husband engages in a very public sex scandal—is airing now on CBS, so it’s the perfect time to binge watch the previous six seasons. If strong, well-drawn women TV characters are your jam, jump on this series—and don’t blame us if you find yourself up all night devouring every episode.
10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
She was among the first feminist heroes for many millennial women (both on the big screen and the silver screen), and Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) continues to own our hearts decades later. Re-watch Buffy and you’ll be slaying (get it?) in life and at work in no time.
