On-screen representation is incredibly important for all, but especially for people belonging to marginalized communities. Recent research shows that we can help bridge the leadership gap by portraying women as the central characters in movies and TV shows. That way, women and girls can see themselves represented, giving them something to relate to and aspire to.

There haven’t always been many women-centric TV shows, but the quality has always been there, even if the quantity lacked. Looking at nostalgic 2000s TV shows or brand-new releases, you will find compelling, emotional, empowering, and hilarious stories. These are our favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades.

Charmed

Charmed is one of those 90s/00s TV shows that made an eternal impact on those of us who watched it. With the bond between the three sisters at the core of this show, the outlandish plots never felt too far-fetched. The witch sisters fought demons, leprechauns, angels, and even Cupid to protect the human world.

Prue, Piper, and Phoebe were the first set of sisters, and they made us fall in love with the show. Then Shannen Doherty departed the show, prompting the writers to write Paige’s character as the youngest sister. Even with all the on-set turbulence, Charmed remains one of our favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades.

Grey’s Anatomy

Bombs, drownings, plane crashes, hospital shooters, train crashes— Grey’s Anatomy fans have seen it all. With Meredith Grey, spectacularly portrayed by Ellen Pompeo, the show takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. Meredith starts the show by being dark and twisty, shutting out everyone who tries to get close to her. The first character who succeeds is Cristina Yang, her person and fellow surgeon.

Apart from Meredith and Cristina, who are smart, ambitious, emotionally complicated, and hilarious, the show has a myriad of other fantastic women at its core. From the sharp and witty Dr. Miranda Bailey to the photographic memory-having Lexie Grey to bisexual ortho goddess Callie Torres. The 22 seasons thus far have given us some of the most relatable and aspirational women on TV. That is why Shonda Rhimes’ show is one of our favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades.

Ride or Die

Although we much prefer long-form over short-form TV shows, we have to appreciate gems like Ride or Die. Ride or Die is a brand-new TV show by Prime Video that takes you on an unforgettable ride of friendship, shadowy conspiracies, and non-stop action. Led by Academy Award-winning Octavia Spencer and Laurence Olivier Award-winning Hannah Waddingham, this show is a masterclass in acting.

Its script is equally admirable. It is quite fast-paced, so you won’t find yourself reaching for your smartphone in boredom. While Ride or Die tells the story of an assassin and her best friend facing an army of enemies, it still feels very grounded. The writers accomplish this by focusing the story on the friendship between the two women. That is why Ride or Die makes it to our 5 favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

We can’t make a list of our 5 favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades without including Buffy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of those shows that reshaped the TV landscape for women. It showed a young woman as the lead character in a show that didn’t define her as someone’s daughter, girlfriend, wife, or sister. Buffy is the main character, and she is the hero.

This show tells the story of a young woman chosen to fight evil forces. Buffy is incredibly physically and mentally strong, agile, and intuitive. She also has premonitions, intuition, and a healing ability. Sarah Michelle Gellar delivered the titular character’s sharp wit, charisma, and personal growth masterfully. That is why it has an astounding 93% on Popcornmeter and 85% on Tomatometer, even 29 years after its pilot.

The Bold Type

The Bold Type seemed, from its teasers and trailers, like it was going to be another Sex and the City rip-off. Right off the bat, though, it was clear that this show was going to be so much more than that. The Bold Type told the story of three friends— Jane, Kat, and Sutton- who all work at the same magazine. They have different job positions and different ambitions in life, but they are modern, progressive young woman. They are each other’s cheerleaders, advisors, and support system.

Apart from the three young women, Jacqueline Carylye, the magazine’s editor and their mentor, is also at the core of the show. Jacqueline is an incredibly successful professional who hasn’t sacrificed her femininity, family life, or dignity for her success. Instead of tearing the other women down, like in other shows, Jacqueline helps them rise and improve. These four main characters make it one of our favorite women-centric TV shows from the past 3 decades.