From Buffy Summers to Arya Stark, Fennec Shand to Seven of Nine and Peggy Carter to Robyn McCall, women have been taking names and appropriate action in the name of the downtrodden, underrepresented and victimized across the TV landscape to superb effect for decades. 2024 saw some new stars shine and deliver shiners as they stepped up, spoke out and stood for a unifying belief that right is mighty. Read on for some of our favorite new TV heroines who lean in when evil and injustice threaten the world.
Nell Jackson (Renegade Nell)
Louisa Harland’s portrayal of the tough but tenderhearted Nell Jackson is an adventure underscored by ambiguous backstory and supernatural overtones. Although her conflict with the local nobility has repercussions all the way to the queen herself, Nell seeks only a quiet and peaceful life for herself and her sisters.
That said, she simply cannot turn away from injustice and bullies. Whether it’s Thomas Blancheford (Jake Dunn) harassing her sister Roxy (Bo Bragason), his sister Sofia (Alice Kremelberg) calling up demons or Lady Eularia Moggerhanger (Joely Richardson) publishing sensational lies about her family, Nell does not hesitate to speak truth to power and back it up with her magical muscle, Billy Blind (Nick Mohammed).
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She inspires her sisters, infuriates the nobility and enthralls other would-be renegades like Charles (Frank Dillane) and Polly (Ashna Rabheru). It’s unlikely Nell returned from the war, weary and widowed, looking to take on entitled manor-dwellers and sorcerous peers of the queendom. And yet, that is the path she chooses. The opportunities for heroism are not wholly thrust upon her. Nell steps into these fights with her eyes up. She always leads with her heart, believing bad acts must have proper consequences.
All episodes of Renegade Nell are streaming on Disney+.
Lady Jane Grey (My Lady Jane)
Historically, Lady Jane Grey is a tragic figure. At a young age, her political family exploits her for her royal lineage. She ends up executed for their plotting. In Prime Video’s My Lady Jane, Emily Bader fleshes out the pitiable young puppet into a clever and ambitious woman of agency and innovation. This Jane is highly literate, driven by a scientific understanding of the world. Furthermore, she studied weapons training with the royal children’s tutors. She possesses not only a quick mind but a sharp sword.
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As she attempts to circumvent her mother’s plan to marry her off in exchange for a return to power, a covert political plan to exterminate the Ethians (humans with the ability to shape-shift into an animal form) ensnares her and her husband, the secretly-Ethian Guildford Dudley. Raised to the throne when her cousin King Edward (Jordan Peters) disappears, she must navigate the perils of court life by more subtle means, although her first instinct is to confront her enemies head-on. Her leadership sparks other rebellious spirits at court and in her family. Her defiance of Queen Mary (Kate O’Flynn) lights Hope’s flame for England’s Ethians.
All eight episodes of My Lady Jane are streaming on Prime Video.
Jentry Chau (Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld)
It’s been a minute since we’ve had a teenage demon slayer dealing with the horrors of high school to cheer for. Jentry Chau (Ali Wong) lives in fear of the fiery powers she has but cannot control. Upon turning 16, some hard truths come to light, not the least of which is mogui — a demon king — is looking to consume her soul to gain her powers.
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Shouldering the great responsibility that always comes part and parcel with great power, she trains with her Gugu (Lori Tan Chinn) and hones her skills and control. With Gugu and jiangshi Ed (Bowen Yang) at her side, she prepares to take on the mogui and a host of other nasty denizens of the Underworld. But it’s deceit and well-meant familial interference that prove her greatest obstacle. It takes more than fire hands to overcome betrayal, and Jentry learns what truly gives her strength.
Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld is streaming now on Netflix.
Saffron Haddock (Time Bandits)
Survivors often kick a lot of butt in their quest to overcome their circumstances. When her entire family disappears, Saffron Haddock (Kiera Thompson) strikes out on her own, traversing numerous time periods and evading a demon huntress.
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Once she’s stuck in the Ice Age with a clan of Neanderthals, she continues to survive, giving them a proverbial kick in the societal butt. In three years’ time, she instills them with language (of a sort), a detailed social structure and a largely unnecessary disdain for her brother Kevin (Kal-El Tuck). But when Kevin and his entourage find her and explain their parents’ situation, Saffron’s ready to rock the space-time continuum to set things right, and Pure Evil himself doesn’t stand a chance.
Time Bandits Season 1 is streaming on Apple TV+
Sigrid (Twilight of the Gods)
Daughter of giants, Sigrid (Sylvia Hoeks) wins not only honor upon the battlefield but also the heart of her husband Leif (Stuart Martin). When Thor (Pilou Asbæk) attacks their wedding celebration, slaughtering their clan, she vows vengeance.
Her determination to bring down the gods themselves is a force of nature. And the squad she assembles is just as hell-bent as she is. When the dwarf-smith Andvari (Kristofer Hivju) warns them his god-killing weapons will curse their souls, they snatch them up before he can even finish the caution. The funny thing is that’s what convinces him to join up, too.
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Sigrid’s path of vengeance costs her much. Of course, it costs others their blood and lives, too. Her quest may very well bring about Ragnorak, but that’s pretty much on brand.
All eight episodes of Zack Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods are streaming on Netflix.
Honorable Mention: Agent Kayla Craig (Cross)
Although she cracks jokes about being overshadowed whenever she partners with Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge), FBI Agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) knows her worth. Strong, smart and with chutzpah for days, she leverages her involvement with Cross and Sampson’s (Isaiah Mustafa) case to turn a major asset. Her real butt-kicking in Cross‘s debut season is in reminding Sampson and Cross that they need each other.
It’s telling that the Season 1 stinger scene is Craig sitting with Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gill), striking a deal with a long playtime. Where Kayla’s alignment truly lies has yet to be revealed, but so far, she’s clearly Team Good Guys.
Cross is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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