The Importance of TV Show Representation

Hi! My name is Hazel, and I watch A LOT of TV! Well, granted I can thank coronavirus and quarantine for that. I’m not going to name everything I’ve watched but let's just say that in total it has probably been about 30 seasons worth of television… anyways! After watching several different series of different genres and from different networks I began to notice the gritty details, and not only which shows had better CGI or costume design, but what race, sexuality, religion, and body type each of the characters were. A large majority of the TV shows included mostly white, straight, christian, and skinny characters. However while watching some series I noticed the opposite. Some series had POC main characters, characters in the LGBTQ+ community, and strong female leads.

But this isn’t just in tv shows; it also plays a huge part in award shows such as the Oscars, and more recently the Golden Globes. In the 78 Golden Globe award shows that have premiered in the US, only 2 women have won best director, and only 2 Black women have won best actress, Andra Day in 2021 being one of them. This applies even broader than leads and directors, too;women,Black actors, and cast members have been sidelined time after time.

It is so important to make sure that kids can see themselves be represented through the tv shows they watch from a young age. Having powerful female and BIPOC characters as well as LGBTQ+ couples represented in a healthy and kind way is something so important in today's society. As I mentioned above, I am someone who loves to watch TV, so here is a list of around 20 series I think have great representation (along with being really good shows in general!).

List of TV Shows With Great Representation

She-Ra

Five seasons on Netflix

PG

Description: This reboot of the 1980’s series follows an orphan girl who transforms to the warrior she-ra through a magical sword.

Representation: body inclusive, strong female leads, diverse, LGBTQ+

Atypical

Three seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This series follows Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum and his adventures through high school along with his sister Casey, parents, and friends.

Representation: autism awareness and LGBTQ+

Julie and the phantoms

One season on Netflix

PG

Description: This new Netflix TV show follows teenager Julie and how she finds her passion for music after the recent passing of her mother along with a trio of ghostly guys.

Representation: diverse and LGBTQ+

The Umbrella Academy

Two seasons on Netflix

TV-14/TV-MA

Description: This two season Netflix drama follows seven adopted siblings, Vanya, Allison, Klaus, Nen, Diego, Luther, and Five as adults and how they work together to solve the mystery of their father’s death.

Representation: diverse and LGBTQ+

Legends of Tomorrow

Five seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This five (soon to be six) season CW series follows a time traveling team of misfits including an assassin, a clone, a man made of a steal, a criminal, a historian, and more throughout their crazy adventures.

Representation: diverse and LGBTQ+

Black Lighting

Four seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This four season CW show follows a Black family and how they handle the family life while also being superheroes

Representation: Powerful female leads, diverse, and LGBTQ+

Supergirl

Five seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This series follows Kara Danvers and her life grappling being a journalist, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, and a superhero. This show also follows Alex Danvers and her journey through coming out and coming to terms with her sexuality, owner of L-Corp and Lena Luthor, owner of Catco Cat Grant, and more.

representation: powerful female leads and coming out/LGBTQ+

One Day at a Time

Four seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This comedy series follows Elena and her families adventures

representation: coming out and LGBTQ+

The 100

Seven seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This futuristic CW series follows 100 teenagers sent back to earth to test its habitability. These exiles find themselves fascinated yet terrified having the fate of the human race left in their hands.

Representation: diverse, strong female leads, and LGBTQ+

Never Have I Ever

One season on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This short Netflix series follows the complicated and crazy life of Indian-American teenager Devi and her friends

Representation: diverse and LGBTQ+

Jane the Virgin

Five seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This series follows the daughter of a teen mom, Jane Villanueva, growing up and trying to not make the same mistakes as her mom. At the age of 23, Jane is studying to be a teacher and engaged to a detective who respects her decision to wait till marriage. That is, until a routine clinic visit changes her life.

Haunting of Bly Manor

One season on Netflix

TV-14

Description: A young governess arrives at bly manor and begins to see apparitions haunting the estate

Representation: diverse, strong female leads, and LGBTQ+

The Wilds

One season on Amazon Prime

TV-14

Description: A group of nine teenage girls from different backgrounds find themselves stranded on a remote island, unaware they’ve just become the subjects of an elaborate social experiment

The Fosters

Five seasons on Amazon Prime

TV-14

Description: Police officer Stef and Vice Principal Lena have formed a close-knit family relationship with Stef’s biological son Brandon and adopted twins, Mariana and Jesus. When Lena meets Callie, a foster kid who’s been in and out of foster homes and juvie, she decides to welcome her into her home and soon become her forever home along with her younger brother jude.

Representation: diverse and LGBTQ+

Greys Anatomy

Seventeen seasons on Netflix

TV-14

Description: This medical drama series focuses on a group of young interns at seattle grace hospital who begin their careers clueless and end being world class surgeons.

Representation: strong female leads, diverse, LGBTQ+ & coming out, police brutality