Sundays just got a whole lot less exciting. After the Big Little Lies finale, which finally gave us an answer to who was murdered at the Elvis and Audrey party and reminded us why we loved Bonnie so much, there's a hole in a lot of people's TV schedules. For those looking for smart, exciting television that focuses on female stories, don't worry. There are actually other shows that can make it a little easier to move on after BLL, which probably isn't coming back. Sorry.
I know. Too soon. But to help you cope, this list rounds up some of the best shows that get at what it's like being female. There are dramas that get at the less stellar moments of womanhood. There are shows that focus on the workplace, where women aren't always welcome, especially after certain age. But the best part is that, with some of these shows, they're also made by women. Yes, I'm looking at you, Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan.
Think of this recommendation list as your trip to the beach with Madeline, Jane, Renata, Bonnie and Celeste. So grab your off-white cardigan and prepare yourself for a trip through the best female-driven shows TV has to offer.
1'Girls'
Before Hannah, Marnie, Shoshanna, and Jessa say goodbye, it's worth checking in one last time with the girls, whose 20s have been filled with bad decisions that have infuriated all of us. Whether you like Lena Dunham or not, she's managed to create a series that gets real about what it's like to be a girl just trying to find her place in the world.
2'Jane The Virgin'
Despite its title, this CW series isn't just about Jane, the inspiring romantic novelist who accidentally gets artificially inseminated before ever having sex. It's also about the women who fill her often chaotic life. There's her mom Xo, a singer/dancer trying to figure out what her future holds; her abuela, who is beginning to take hold of her life and citizenship; and Petra, Jane's nemesis turned resistant confidante. Each woman gets a chance to tell her own story, and the viewers are better for it.
3'Insecure'
On her HBO series, Awkward Black Girl's Issa Rae is now insecure, but she's not the only one. Rae, who plays Issa Dee, is dealing with work and a stale relationship, all while figuring out what she wants to do next with her life. But at the center of her story is her friendship with Molly, a high-powered lawyer who has her own relationship problems. She isn't some sidekick, though. On this show, Issa and Molly are both the stars of their own story and #friendshipgoals.
4'Orange Is The New Black'
Jenji Kohan's Netflix series, gearing up for its fifth season, shows that there's not one kind of prisoner, just like there isn't one kind of woman. With one of the most diverse casts on television, this is the gold-standard for female shows: starring women, made by women, for women.
5'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'
Buffy may have been the chosen one, but she made sure to surround herself with kick-ass women. From her bestie Willow to her adversary Faith to the bunny-hating reformed demon Anya, strong women was the real theme of this '90s series.
6'Gilmore Girls'
The unique relationship between mother and daughter was the reason fans tuned in for seven years and a Netflix revival of Amy Sherman-Palladino's beloved series. We all longed to have the bond that Lorelai and Rory had and prayed we'd never have the problems Lorelai and Emily had. It's rare to see a show that tackles the complexities of family relationships quite like this.
7'Grace And Frankie'
What happens when you've reached retirement age and your husband tells you that he's leaving you for another man? You attempt to start over like Grace and Frankie have since getting that exact news. What they show is that you're never too old to find yourself.
8'Call The Midwife'
Set in the early '60s, this BBC series looks at the women who helped other women give birth. It's sweet and sad, funny and tragic, and it's the show you should be watching right now. Lucky for you, it's available on Netflix.
9'The Good Fight'
Picking up one year after where The Good Wife left off, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) is dealing with a financial crisis that has put her career in jeopardy and ruined her goddaughter and protege Maia's (Rose Leslie) reputation. When fellow lawyer Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo) decides to take Maia's case, the three women are in for a fight of their lives.
10'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'
Rachel Bloom is not a crazy ex-girlfriend; her situation’s a lot more nuanced that that. In fact, that's how I would explain every woman's situation on this show. There are no caricatures or stereotypes, just real women making real decisions. Oh, and breaking into song.
11'Harlots'
This Hulu Original explores 18th century sex work, giving the women involved a story that they are in full control of.
12'Feud: Bette and Joan'
The surprisingly accurate FX series, which looks at the feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, gives an interesting look at how two stars ended up in a bitter rivalry. The reason had little to do with the women themselves.
13'Orphan Black'
Tatiana Maslany plays over a dozen different characters — convincingly so, may I add — on this BBC show, which focuses on two experimental cloning projects that have trained clones to be military operatives. All of these characters are unique and all worth getting to know.
14'Broad City'
Find yourself someone who will love you as much as Abbi and Ilana love each other. This show will make you laugh and want to call your bestie — possibly from the bathroom. Most of all, it makes dealing with the curveballs that life throws at you a little easier.
15'Younger'
Liza (Sutton Foster), Maggie (Debi Mazar), and Kelsey (Hilary Duff) may not be from the same generation, but they all understand that the greatest friends are those who would do anything for you. Even lie about your age to help you get ahead at the workplace.
16'UnReal'
The Lifetime series, which takes a behind the scenes look at a Bachelor-type dating series, created real female antiheroes that we love to hate.
17'Teachers'
The teachers of Fillmore Elementary are bad to the bone. Hilariousy, so. As it turns out, the statue game is a great cure for a hangover.
18'Search Party'
A girl that Dory (Alia Shawkat) kind of knew in college has gone missing, and now she's hellbent on solving the case. The reason why, though, is what makes this mystery an interesting look at the lengths one can go to escape their lives.
19'Bomb Girls'
This Canadian series, which debuted in 2012, focuses on four women who go to work in the factory during World War II. It will come to no surprise that their experience was not stress-free or devoid of sexism.
20'Big Love'
This HBO series, which looks at a polygamous marriage, gives us three female characters that we may not always like, but can't help but root for.
21'Bob's Burgers'
Sure, it's a cartoon about a loving family who own a burger shop, but it's the ladies of the Belcher family — Linda, Tina, and Louise — that will keep you laughing.
These shows may not be exactly like Big Little Lies, but, if you want to catch up with some impressive women, they offer you a place to start.
