Best TV Shows for Women: People Voted and We Ranked the Top 20

Discover the top TV shows for women, carefully chosen by ordinary people on an online poll, that reflect diverse female stories. These series resonate deeply with female viewers, offering tales of resilience and triumph. Featuring strong female leads and various narratives, they celebrate the richness of women’s experiences. From heartfelt comedies to empowering dramas, these shows provide a platform for female voices to shine.

20^th: Modern Family (2009-2020)

Modern Family is a popular American sitcom that follows the lives of Jay Pritchett and his diverse family, including his second wife, Gloria, and her son, Jay’s adult children Claire and Mitchell, along with their respective families. With its hilarious portrayal of the ups and downs of modern family life, the series garnered critical acclaim, winning numerous awards, including multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. The talented ensemble cast, including Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet, brought depth and humor to their iconic roles, making Modern Family a beloved fixture in television history.

19^th: Once Upon a Time (2011-2018)

Once Upon a Time is a fantasy drama television series which revolves around a diverse cast of characters from fairy tales who find themselves trapped in the modern town of Storybrooke due to a curse cast by the Evil Queen, Regina. Led by Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, the main cast also includes Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, and Robert Carlyle. Although Once Upon a Time did not win any Emmy Awards, it received critical acclaim and garnered a dedicated fanbase for its imaginative storytelling, complex characters, and creative reinterpretation of classic fairy tales.

18^th: The O.C. (2003-2007)

The O.C. is a teen drama set in the wealthy community of Newport Beach, California. The show follows troubled teenager Ryan Atwood, played by Ben McKenzie, as he is taken in by lawyer Sandy Cohen, portrayed by Peter Gallagher, and his family. Alongside McKenzie and Gallagher, the main cast includes Mischa Barton as Marissa Cooper, Adam Brody as Seth Cohen, and Rachel Bilson as Summer Roberts.

17^th: The Good Wife (2009-2016)

The Good Wife is a legal and political drama series. It follows Alicia Florrick, played by Julianna Margulies, who resumes her career as a defense attorney after her husband, a former state’s attorney, becomes involved in a scandal. Alongside Margulies, the main cast includes Chris Noth as Peter Florrick, Alicia’s husband, and Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, her mentor and colleague. The show received widespread critical acclaim and won multiple awards, including five Emmy Awards.

16^th: This Is Us (2016-2022)

This Is Us is a heartfelt family drama television series that premiered in 2016 and continues to captivate audiences with its poignant storytelling. The show follows the lives of the Pearson family across multiple generations, intertwining their past and present struggles, triumphs, and connections. The main cast includes Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, and Susan Kelechi Watson. This Is Us garnered widespread critical acclaim and won various awards, including Emmy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards, for its exceptional writing and acting, solidifying its place as one of the most beloved and celebrated television series of recent years.

15^th: Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Sex and the City is a groundbreaking romantic comedy-drama television series set in New York City. The show follows the lives of four friends: Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall). While Sex and the City didn’t win major Emmy Awards, it received critical acclaim and garnered a cult following for its bold portrayal of female friendships, candid exploration of relationships, and fearless approach to topics like love, intimacy, and fashion in the cosmopolitan setting of Manhattan.

14^th: How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)

How I Met Your Mother is a beloved sitcom whose plot revolves around Ted Mosby, played by Josh Radnor, recounting to his children the story of how he met their mother. Each episode chronicles his adventures alongside his close-knit group of friends in New York City: Marshall Eriksen, Lily Aldrin, Barney Stinson, and Robin Scherbatsky, portrayed by Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris, and Cobie Smulders, respectively. While How I Met Your Mother received critical acclaim for its clever writing, memorable characters, and innovative narrative structure, it did not win any Emmy Awards, despite being nominated a total of 28 times.

13^th: Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)

Desperate Housewives is a popular mystery comedy-drama television series. Set on Wisteria Lane, the show centers on the lives of a group of suburban women: Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Van de Kamp, Gabrielle Solis, and later, Katherine Mayfair. The characters are portrayed by a star-studded cast that includes Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, and Dana Delany. The series won two Golden Globe Awards and seven Emmy Awards, and remains highly regarded for its witty writing, memorable characters, and gripping storylines.

12^th: Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)

Orange Is the New Black is a critically acclaimed comedy-drama television series. The show is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir of the same name and follows the experiences of Piper Chapman, portrayed by Taylor Schilling, as she navigates life in a women’s federal prison. Alongside Schilling, the main cast includes Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew, Uzo Aduba, and Danielle Brooks. Orange Is the New Black received widespread critical acclaim and won multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Uzo Aduba, solidifying its reputation as one of the most groundbreaking and beloved series of its time.

11^th: The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

The Golden Girls is a beloved sitcom which follows the lives of four older women living together in Miami: Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nylund, and Sophia Petrillo, played by Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty. It was critically praised throughout most of its run and was awarded multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series, which helped cement its status as an iconic television show.

10^th: New Girl (2011-2018)

New Girl is a popular sitcom that follows the quirky and lovable Jessica Day, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, as she navigates life and friendship with her three male roommates: Nick Miller, Schmidt, and Winston Bishop, played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Lamorne Morris, respectively. While «New Girl» received critical acclaim for its humor and performances, it didn’t win any major awards, although Zooey Deschanel received a Golden Globe nomination for her role.

9^th: Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Thrones is an epic fantasy television series based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. The show is set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos and follows the power struggles among noble families as they vie for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The main cast includes notable actors such as Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, and Maisie Williams. Game of Thrones is critically acclaimed and a multiple award-winner, having gathered numerous Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, making it one of the most successful and acclaimed television series of all time.

8^th: Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

Pretty Little Liars is a mystery drama television series based on a novel of the same name by author Sara Shepard. It centers on a group of high school friends—Aria Montgomery, Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin, Emily Fields, and later Alison DiLaurentis—portrayed by Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, and Sasha Pieterse, respectively, as they navigate the mysterious disappearance of their friend and the series of secrets and lies that follow.

7^th: Hart of Dixie (2011-2015)

Hart of Dixie is a comedy-drama television series which follows Dr. Zoe Hart, portrayed by Rachel Bilson, a New York City doctor who unexpectedly finds herself practicing medicine in the small town of Bluebell, Alabama. The rest of the main cast includes Scott Porter as George Tucker, Jaime King as Lemon Breeland, Wilson Bethel as Wade Kinsella, and Cress Williams as Lavon Hayes.

6^th: Friends (1994-2004)

Friends is a beloved sitcom that revolves around the lives and relationships of six friends living in New York City: Ross Geller, Monica Geller, Chandler Bing, Joey Tribbiani, Rachel Green, and Phoebe Buffay. The star-studded cast, which was catapulted to worldwide fame through the success of the show, includes David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow. The series was nominated for a whopping 62 times at the Emmy Awards and won Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002. It is also widely regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time.

5^th: The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

The Vampire Diaries is a supernatural drama television series about the lives of the residents of Mystic Falls, including teenager Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), her vampire love interest Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), his brother Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), and their friends and enemies, all of whom become entangled in the supernatural mysteries of the town. While the show didn’t win any major awards, it launched a media franchise that includes TV spin-offs, novels and comic books.

4^th: Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

Gilmore Girls is a comedy-drama show about the close-knit relationship between single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory as they navigate life in the charming town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Portrayed by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel respectively, Lorelai and Rory are joined by a cast of quirky characters, including Lorelai’s parents Emily and Richard Gilmore, played by Kelly Bishop and Edward Herrmann. The series’ popularity inspired the return of the original cast for a four-part miniseries revival in 2016, titled Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

3^rd: Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present)

Grey’s Anatomy is a long-running medical drama television series that follows the personal and professional lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle. The original main cast includes Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang, and Katherine Heigl as Dr. Izzie Stevens. It has received critical acclaim and won several Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Katherine Heigl, and has been described as a «phenomenon» for its longevity.

2^nd: Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

Gossip Girl is a teen drama television series that follows the lives of wealthy and privileged teenagers living in the Upper East Side of New York City, as they navigate love, friendship, and scandal under the watchful eye of the anonymous blogger known as «Gossip Girl.» The main cast includes Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen, Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey, Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald, and Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass. Its success has led to several adaptations outside the United States, including Mexican and Turkish versions.

1^st: The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-present)

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian drama television series based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. The show is set in the totalitarian society of Gilead, where fertile women, known as Handmaids, are forced into servitude to bear children for the ruling class. The main cast includes Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne, Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford, Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford, and Alexis Bledel as Emily. It has received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress for Elisabeth Moss.

We also ranked the best drama TV series of all time. Click here to check it out!