Category: Female TV Characters

Ranking your Favorite Female Performances on Television for 2018

Greetings TV Fans!  As the New Year quickly approaches, it really got me thinking about some of my absolute favorite female performances on television this past year.  Whether it was a moment of female empowerment, the unexpected transformation of a character, or a breakout role, I found myself completely mesmerized by so many of these performances.  They touched my heart and soul and really gave me a lot to think about, as I followed them on their journey in 2018.  Again, it was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite female performances for 2018 because there were honestly so many and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!    

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes so that we can all decide who our favorite female performances are for the year.  Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

**Seriously, we even had fans voting to support Alycia Debnam-Carey back from her Lexa days on The 100!  Amazing!  

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Round One featured the following Female Performances on TV from 2018:

  • Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom from Riverdale
  • Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode from American Horror Story:  Apocalypse
  • Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark from Fear the Walking Dead 
  • Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly Maxwell from Ash vs Evil Dead
  • Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery from American Horror Story:  Apocalypse
  • Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper from Riverdale
  • Lola Flanery as Madi from The 100
  • Ruth Wilson as Alison Bailey from The Affair
  • Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake from The 100
  • Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
  • Billie Lourd as Mallory from American Horror Story:  Apocalypse
  • Amanda Warren as Jane Barbour from The Purge

After your votes, the following female actresses moved on to Round Two:

  • Billie Lourd
  • Marie Avgeropoulos
  • Lili Reinhart
  • Emma Roberts
  • Alycia Debnam-Carey
  • Madelaine Petsch

Honorable Mention:  Kiernan Shipka just came up short.  I’m personally looking forward to seeing Sabrina cast some more spells in 2019 and I’m sure you are too!

After your votes in Round Two, the following female actresses moved on to the FINALS:

  • Lili Reinhart
  • Alycia Debnam-Carey
  • Billie Lourd

Honorable Mention & my personal favorite of the year:  Marie Avgeropoulos may not have made it into the finals, but she absolutely captivated my attention in 2018.  I was never really a fan of Octavia previously on The 100, but her character has transformed so much and I was amazed at Marie’s incredible range as an actress.  I am looking forward to seeing more from “Blodreina” in 2019!

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After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3rd place: Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper from Riverdale

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2nd place: Billie Lourd as Mallory from American Horror Story:  Apocalypse

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Drum roll please…

1st place:  Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark from Fear the Walking Dead

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Alycia Debnam-Carey WINS as your favorite female performance on TV for 2018!  Congratulations!  

Alycia Debnam-Carey’s performance was so real and heartbreaking this past year on Fear the Walking Dead and her standout performance was in the episode, “Close Your Eyes” (Season 4, episode 10).  It’s like I could feel every breath she took and every word she blurted out, empathizing with the pain screaming inside her character.  While some of the main characters are now gone from the series, Alycia’s performance proved that she is a strong female protagonist, worthy of the lead and I am absolutely ready and willing to follow her in 2019!

Thanks to all the fans who voted!  I wish you all the best for the upcoming New Year!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite female performances on TV from 2018.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites!  Thank you!

My Whizbuzz Book Page

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

Want to read more?  You can click the link directly below for a free preview.  Thanks for your support!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Cover

Ranking the top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money: Solving one mystery at a time

Happy Saturday TV Fans!  I hope you are having a fabulous weekend full of shopping and binge-watching.  For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking the top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money.  Do you ever wonder how some of these characters solve the mystery in the nick of time while maintaining their grades, high school drama, and keeping up with the latest fashion trends?

For today’s ranking, I am only looking at female amateur sleuths.  If they work for any type of federal/government agency, they are not included since they are considered professionals.

My top 5 TV female characters who give Nancy Drew a run for her money are:

5

Dr. Joan Watson from CBS’s Elementary. 

While the original Dr. Watson from the classic Sherlock Holmes series is male, Lucy Liu proves that gender need not apply in order to have the smarts and wit to keep up with Sherlock Holmes himself.

While Dr. Watson does eventually consult with the police, she started off her career as a doctor and then shifted to helping others through addiction.  Even before Sherlock mentored her and taught her the ways of being a detective, her compassion for others and attention to detail made her a force to be reckoned with.

Joan is even able to get through to Sherlock and break through his shield of bottled emotions to help him cope with his own issues.  Through every test and case, Dr. Joan Watson proves to be a worthy partner of Sherlock’s and is capable of solving the mysteries on her own if needed.  But we love to see these two working together for sure.

4

Nancy Wheeler from Netflix’s Stranger Things. 

While a lot of the series centers on Nancy’s younger brother and his friends dealing with the threat of the upside down world, Nancy steps into the lime light herself to reveal that she is more than a stereotypical teenage girl.  When her best friend, Barb, vanishes, she is devastated but refuses to just accept it.

Nancy will stop at nothing to find out the truth about what happened to her and to make things right.  She finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, dealing with conflicting feelings for both Steve and Jonathan, but puts that on the back burner initially so that she can focus on the mystery at hand.

3

Betty Cooper from the CW’s Riverdale. 

Betty is pure of heart and has enough bounce in her blonde ponytail to bring school spirit to anyone even remotely close to her.  But that’s not what makes her so intriguing on Riverdale.  While she is concerned with doing the right thing and her image is close to perfection, Betty has some serious skills as an amateur sleuth and other characters on the show have even referred to her as Nancy Drew jokingly.

Unfortunately for Nancy Drew, she didn’t live in a world filled with technology at one’s finger tips and Betty uses this to her advantage.  She puts her family and friends above everything else and is great at analyzing the missing pieces of the puzzle to bring the truth to light.

2

Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily from Pretty Little Liars. 

While “A” has been revealed and the show is over, we can’t forget about the constant twists and turns these girls had to face.  The beginning of the series opens with their friend Alison’s supposed death and the girls are left to pick up the pieces and figure out what happened to her.

The fun doesn’t stop here; however, as someone going by the name “A” is after them and putting them through hell.  The girls don’t give in so easily, as they work together as a team to bring down “A” and figure out the mystery at hand.  Individually, each character has their own strengths, but together they are an unstoppable force and their bond and friendship keeps them from breaking along the way.

1

Veronica Mars from Veronica Mars. 

Following in the shadow of her father who is a private detective, Veronica is a high-school student who works closely with him and shows that she has just as much talent and a real knack for the business.  Her best friend was murdered and the series begins with her trying to figure out who did it by piecing together the evidence.

During this, she also takes on cases at school on behalf of her friends and classmates.  What’s so great about Veronica is that you almost forget she is a teenage girl.  Her wit and humor is hilarious and you find yourself rooting for her with each new case coming her way.

Veronica was once popular, but is now considered an outsider at school, but this doesn’t stop her from helping others and making a statement against bullies and other threats along the way.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of your own favorites below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl