Dramas with Well-Written Female Characters

Now, some people may think I'm crazy for adding this, but the FL is a pretty great character. While she has her flaws, she isn't afraid of anything and isn't hesitant to speak her mind when the situation calls for it. I do think that they could have improved her a bit more, made her a bit stronger, but she was one of the first female leads I actually enjoyed to some extent so she's got a place here.

CW: big age gap between one of the MLs and the FL.

I enjoyed the female characters here, but most especially the FL, Usagi, who held up against many men in this drama. She was very resilient and passionate along with a strong exterior and a pure heart, she made sure to believe in others even when she didn't want to leave the Borderlands. The second season has even more baddies. Not to mention Kuina is a total baddie, an icon in the second season where she gets more screen time. Every character has a story and a well fleshed out background.

The main thing I look for in a FL is whether or not she has a backbone. While the FL here, Kurumi, is a bit timid, she is definitely a greatly written lead. She has her own life on the internet, she makes the best of situations and she's very strong-willed and resilient. She doesn't let men intimidate her as much as other female characters do in most dramas, plus the relationship between the FL and ML is incredibly healthy once it begins. It also has the same actor as Hajimete, Yokohama Ryusei as the ML.

While the ending wasn't the best, the whole drama is a great story of revenge and a badass assassin FL, who isn't afraid of death and also fears no man. She's strong, talented, and skilled in martial arts, able to go up against multiple men with little issues unless they have prior training. Not to mention the lady general that comes on later in the drama, a total queen with an army of men willing to die for their general despite the sexism and prejudice against her being a woman in power.

The FL here is a very mature, independent woman. She loves to take care of others and rarely puts herself first, she also becomes a den mother to this jpop group of young men, where she manages to get through to them and earn their trust. She also has a backbone, not letting anyone push her down despite facing many difficulties in life, she only makes the best decisions for those she cares about and I enjoyed watching her love story despite this drama being very light on the intimacy.

Okay, despite the FL being a bit naive and innocent, she's actually really strong and speaks her mind when she needs to. One thing that surprised me about her was the fact that when she eventually fell in love with the ML, she became stronger and pursued him even when he would be scary and push her away, not to mention she would be the first to volunteer to help in any way she could despite being viewed as "weak" or "useless" by almost every other character.

My baddie Esther Yu is the FL here, so maybe I'm a bit biased lol. 

Do not get me started on Esther Yu's character in here. Ling MiaoMiao is one of the most well-balanced FLs I've come across. Despite starting out as a villian, she makes it her mission to end the story with a happy ending. She learns to fight for herself and she isn't a victim, she has a will and a way most of the time even when the situation seems hopeless. Ling Miao Miao is also very sacrificing, but she's smart about it, so she makes sure to ensure everyone around her has a happy ending. I enjoyed her versatility as an actress and how she managed to make one character seem so different in three major ways, which I won't spoil here.

Watch this drama after watching Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, you'll see why after you finish it. Another great Esther Yu character, along with the same actor as the ML in Love Game, Ding Yu Xi, the chemistry is outstanding. Chu Li is a woman with a dream, one that requires self-sacrifice and losing some dignity. An editor. She's peristent but understanding, and her character doesn't change drastically, she just gets more mature as the drama goes on. Not to mention when she and the ML are offically together, she's extremely secure in her relationship, and doesn't question his loyalty to her even when a celebrity shows an interest in him. I enjoyed her confidence, but humbleness balanced it out so nicely.

Suzuki is a bit ordinary. She prefers an ordinary job, an ordinary life and family. Yet, as you watch her journey, not only does she learn that there is more to life than just ordinary, but you see her grow as a person. Suzuki is strong willed, but smart in a lot of ways, she even manages to win the favor of the strictest woman of the whole drama. Suzuki isn't the only great female character in here, Reiko is a diva of fashion and a stickler for perfection, yet underneath it all is a complex character. I enjoyed these two career-oriented women taking the time to learn about one another and eventually support each other in various ways. Suzuki also keeps her mind set on being a career woman and it's a refreshing topic in this drama that I really enjoyed.

Now, the amount of kick-ass women in here is astounding. All of these characters are flawed in some way, but as you watch and fall in love with them you learn so much about found family. This post-apocalyptic setting brings out these women's survival skills. You have Lee Eun-Yoo, a bit of a bitch but also not afraid to speak her mind and tell it like it is, she doesn't mince words but she also cares for others in her own way rather than laying down and letting the men do all the work. I enjoyed her character even more in season 2. You have I-Gyeong, a firefighter, with abs for days and a strong sense of responsibility to those in need. She searches for her fiance and hopes he's alive, while also fighting off huge monsters and she becomes one of the best characters. Ji-Soo is a badass with a bat and a guitar, she doesn't hesitate to speak her mind to men or women alike, she gets attention due to her commanding caring character, along with her smartness and bravery. 

Oh, lord. This drama had me pissed and emotional in such complex ways it was amazing. A tale of revenge and body horror as you learn of the FL's story. You begin to understand why she is the way she is. Her character is unyielding, unbelievably strong and smart and such a greatly developed growth in her personality. Not to mention, even the female villains of the story were written so well you hated every single one with a dying passion, not one ounce of sympathy for any of them and their awful actions. Such an emotional but worth it journey.

STRONG. INDEPENDENT. WOMEN. 

Min Hui is not one to lie down and take any bull from anyone. She and her bestfriend fight head on with men in the business world, dealing with schemes and sexism and romance. Min Hui doesn't forgive easy and she is so professional in almost every aspect, not to mention raising her son all on her own. Fashion, business ethics, and badass women with a goal in life is the overall theme of this drama. Not to mention the ML is a character that shows great growth despite his earlier jerk behavior. I enjoyed this so much.

Yet another business woman with a goal in life. Do you see a theme here? 

Mi-So shows strength and mental maturity in her every action. She begins to yearn for a life outside of taking care of her boss as his secretary, and she starts to vie for her own meaning of life. This is a unique theme, where the FL doesn't fall head over heels immediately, nor does she change her mind the instant a man pays her attention, and she makes her boundaries and intentions clear when her and the ML eventually get in a relationship. I loved watching her tell him no. 

Added this as soon as I finished watching it. The FL is smart, strong, loyal and prideful and she stands down to no man.  Yan Luniang creates a name for herself -- starting out as a low level clerk of the Ministry of Justice tasked with cleaning and sorting files, and working her way through difficult cases to find the justice and truth of each one. Luniang stands up for herself, keeping her mind centered on her career and not wanting her arranged marriage to hold her back. She gains new titles due to her competence and loyalty. Her sisters all change to become stronger and more independent in their thinking, one escaping her abuser. Luniang supports divorce and freedom of choice for women. 

A plus is that her husband doesn't hold her back.