Everyone woman loves having a best friend. However, while BFF’s make for sweet television moments, it’s TV’s female adversaries that tend to pack the biggest dramatic punch. After all, drama is about conflict. No, I’m not talking about silly “catfights.” When intelligent & strong-minded (some would say stubborn) women are on opposite sides of the fence, the results are great television!
Here are some examples of how some of TV’s female adversaries get paired:
All in the Family
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Supergirl: Kara Danvers/Supergirl and Aunt Astra
Even though Kara (Melissa Benoist) and Astra (Laura Benanti) are diametrically opposed, they still have a place in their hearts for the other. They never will agree about what the right path is, or about Kara’s mother, Astra’s twin sister Alura, but in the end neither is ever willing to completely destroy the other.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gukquxQLJLg?rel=0&showinfo=0]
Former Friends
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Scandal: Olivia Pope and Mellie Grant
Once upon a time Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Mellie (‎Bellamy Young) were friends – until Olivia fell for Mellie’s husband Fitz (Tony Goldwyn), who happens to be the President of the United States. Over the years these women have developed one complicated relationship!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByAqq2xnMyY?rel=0&showinfo=0]
Useful Enemies
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Marvel’s Agent Carter: Peggy Carter and Dottie Underwood
Peggy (Hayley Atwell) is an American SSR agent and Dottie (Bridget Regan) is a top-of-the-line Russian operative. Obviously there’s gonna be conflict, and both of these women know how to throw down!
However, when Peggy gets hurt and needs a female operative to go on dangerous mission, there’s only one person that fits the bill!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYu4eB_gwmo?rel=0&showinfo=0]
Frenemies
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The Good Wife: Lawyers Alicia Florrick & Diane Lockhart
To Alicia (Julianna Margulies) Over the years Diane (Christine Baranski) has been a mentor, a backstabber, an opposing lawyer, and a friend. Like all good frenemies, sometimes it’s hard to tell when Diane is doing Alicia a favor, or setting her up for a fall!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k8-V1Db-4I?showinfo=0]
Deadly Dynamics
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Castle: Dr. Kelly Nieman & Detective Kate Beckett
When admiration turns to obsession, the results aren’t pretty! Kate (Stana Katic) has always suspected that Kelly (Annie Wersching) was dangerous and connected to serial killer 3XK, but the woman had a way of always being one step ahead. Their conversations in the past have tense, but none of them quite like this!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4mWiKBA53g?rel=0&showinfo=0]
Why Do We Love These Pairings?
While no one likes having enemies in real life, you have to admit it’s fun to watching on television! Why are these pairings so entertaining? Whether it’s a physical fight like in Supergirl or a mental game of cat and mouse like the conversation between Peggy and Dottie on Agent Carter there’s something about two women holding their own against each other that’s exciting. While there is no drama without conflict, seeing two women owning their strength, power and authority is extra special. Maybe it’s because socially there are still ideas floating around that a woman should “play nice” and not be too aggressive in going after what she wants? Well, it’s 2016. It’s good to see that TV shows are realizing women don’t have to be either saints or sinners and can have stories and relationships that are more complex than a good girl/bad girl paradigm.
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