8 Female Characters That Rocked The Small Screen in 2015

Ever since I started watching television, female characters have always been my favorites. This year has been no exception to that rule. From Jessica Jones, to Scandal, to The 100, here are the eight women that rocked my small screen and stole my heart in 2015.

4. Jemma Simmons, Agents of SHIELD

Jemma Simmons had the most consistent and entertaining plot line of the first half of Season 3 of Agents of SHIELD. After getting sucked into the monolith at the end of Season 2 Jemma’s fate was the thing many fans were looking forward to most this season, and her journey did not disappoint. Her time on the alien planet showed her incredible brilliance, determination, and faith.

We even saw the moment she lost that faith, and the way she’s still working on coming back from that. Jemma’s always been strong and brave, but now she’s hardened and even more determined too. And when we see her be emotional and vulnerable it doesn’t take away from her character at all, instead it makes her even more realistic and interesting. Jemma may never be the same person she was before her time on the alien planet, but seeing her work through these changes, with Fitz at her side, is the best thing about Agents of SHIELD right now.

3-2. Olivia Pope and Mellie Grant, Scandal

I simply couldn’t choose between these two incredible women, so they take third and second on this list. Throughout the course of the show Mellie and Olivia have often been at odds with each other, but when they work together they can accomplish anything (like stealing an election or secretly running the country).

The first half of Season 5 has shown these women in different positions from those they’ve held for the majority of the show–we finally saw Mellie outside the White House and Olivia finally took what she thought she wanted. Mellie learned that though some small part of her may always love Fitz, she doesn’t need him or even want him on her team anymore. Olivia got to be a little indulgent and fully embrace her relationship with Fitz, but through that she learned that their relationship is not meant to be. They both grew a lot in a short amount of time and I can’t wait to see where the rest of Season 5 takes them.

1. Abby Griffin, The 100

To say I love Abby Griffin is a bit of an understatement. She is quite easily my favorite television character this year. Her complexities as a mother, a leader, a doctor, and a woman and how these different roles work together as well as conflict with each other is incredibly compelling. Over the course of the first two seasons Abby’s main goal is to keep her daughter safe, as well as the rest of her people.

Throughout the second season, Abby learns to let Clarke be the leader and adult she’s become. She discovers that maybe there are no absolutes, everyone’s a little good and a little bad and they’ve all got to do the best with the impossible choices they’ve been given. Abby’s pure heart and her desire to keep everyone alive in this post-apocalyptic hell, along with her determination and her love earn her the top spot on my list.

Who were your favorites? Let us know which female characters you loved most this year in the comments below!

Samantha Coley

Samantha (she/her) is a social media specialist by day and a sci-fi junkie by night. As a freelance writer and podcaster, she also enjoys live-tweeting, blogging, good music, and better television. Her current favorite television shows include Star Trek (yes, all of them), Riverdale, and Stranger Things and there will always be a place in her heart for Battlestar Galactica, Leverage, and The West Wing.