Just over a year since the final episode of Jane The Virgin aired, fans are still lamenting the show’s conclusion. At the heart of this American telenovela are three women: Jane, her mother Xiomara, and her grandmother Alba. They hold the stories together and represent the themes surrounding feminism, sexuality, race, class, and culture.
While the series came to a reasonably satisfying conclusion (many fans would disagree), television hasn’t been quite the same without the heartfelt story of Jane, the accidentally artificially inseminated Catholic virgin. For fans who miss the show, here are ten other empowering female-led dramas.
Sex Education (2019-)
Otis’s mother Jean (Gillian Anderson) is a sex therapist, which makes things awkward for the introverted teen. Although the main character is a male, the series is created by a woman and continues to be written and directed by a team of women. Many of the key characters are female, and they each have a unique and empowering storyline.
Some of the other key female characters include Maureen, a friend of Jean and the wife of Moordale’s severe principal, and the girls: Maeve, Aimee, Olivia, Ruby, Ola, Lily, and Viv. They’re all unique and easily identifiable, all dealing with issues surrounding sexuality, assault, discrimination, and identity, like the Villaneuvas.
Never Have I Ever (2020-)
From Mindy Kaling comes this diverse, representational comedy about a first-generation Indian-American teenager. Devi has recently recovered from a physical trauma following her father’s sudden death.
Never Have I Ever explores the same issues of coming-of-age, choosing the right romantic partner, surrounding oneself with supportive friends or family members, and cultural disconnect as Jane The Virgin does. The dynamic between Devi, her mother, and her cousin is reminiscent of the three Villaneuva women’s.
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
For those looking for something a little more serious, but still with plenty of vibrant, diverse, and powerful characters, HBO’s Big Little Lies is an excellent choice.
Based on Liane Moriarty’s hit novel, the story centers around five women living in Monterey, California. Someone close to them has been killed, and it’s implied that one or all of the women are involved. Besides the mystery, the show explores the complexities of their friendship as well as their romantic relationships, their differences in class, culture, and social upbringing.
Unorthodox (2020)
Religion is a major theme in Jane The Virgin, and it has a lot to do with the identities of all Villaneuvas. Esther Shapiro lives is part of an orthodox Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York.
She decides to escape to Germany after her arranged marriage goes wrong and she finds her new life oppressive. The series delves into female sexuality, autonomy, and how these connect with religion.
Annihilation (2018)
Based on Jeff Vandermeer’s novel, Annihilation is a 2018 film directed by Alex Garland and starring Natalie Portman. Gina Rodriguez, the star of Jane The Virgin, also appears in the movie as Anya.
Five women embark on an expedition into Area X, a strange growth that threatens to consume the American coast. Lena (Portman) and the other scientists must learn the origins of this growth even after dozens of previous expeditions have failed. Meanwhile, flashbacks of Lena’s past reveal who she is and who she used to be.
The Edge Of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld and Haley Lu Richardson star as best friends in this critically acclaimed teen drama. Nadine thinks she’s the most awkward teenager to walk the Earth, and her self-esteem only plummets when her best friend Krista starts dating Nadine’s brother in secret.
Krista is portrayed by Haley Lu Richardson, who also appears in the fifth season of Jane The Virgin as Charlie, who becomes pregnant with Michael/Jason’s baby. In real life, Michael’s Brett Dier is engaged to Haley Lu Richardson.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Based on Jenny Han’s popular books, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of the best-received teen dramas of recent years. Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her crushes, but when her sister secretly sends them out, she’s not happy. Luckily, the strange situation results in an unexpected romance with one of her crushes.
One of the key relationships of the movie is the one shared between the three Covey sisters. Her older sister is always willing to offer Lara Jean some wise advice, though sometimes it’s her younger sister who has the better advice – she is the one who pushes Lara Jean to do something about her feelings. The family’s Korean culture is also omnipresent in the movies.
Booksmart (2019)
Another high school drama, Booksmart is directed by Olivia Wilde and written by Katie Silberman, along with three other women. At the heart of the film are two young, ambitious, and hilarious girls: Amy and Molly.
Like Jane The Virgin, the movie is rife with comedy and is essentially an examination of the female friendship. The two girls attend a number of parties during the course of a single evening, each one leading them on a journey to discovering their sexuality and who they want to be when they graduate.
Dead To Me (2019-)
Created, written by, and starring women, this comedy is an excellent choice for Jane The Virgin fans. Two women, Jen and Judy, meet at a support group after suffering significant losses.
Jen’s husband has recently died, and she’s determined to solve the crime. The series was nominated for five Emmys this year, including Outstanding Comedy Series. This, along with its blend of mystery and comedy, is what makes Dead To Me a series than fans of the CW telenovela will love.
Fleabag (2016-2019)
Fleabag is another highly critically acclaimed comedy series created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Fleabag, a woman of dry wit, is dealing with grief as she navigates London.
Andrew Scott, Olivia Colman, Brett Gelman, and Fiona Shaw also star in the comedy. Like Jane Villanueva, Fleabag suffers from grief, but the character is probably more like Petra, who has no filter and is very deadpan.
