The Crown, Killing Eve, Big Little Lies: 6 webseries that you cannot miss if you are a woman

The world of OTT content is a different beast altogether. It does not differentiate between content based on gender, as one normally witnesses in the world of cinema. To put it plainly, it’s a fair ground. In fact, 2018 will be remembered as the year when female-led content superseded its male counterparts. With powerhouse performers like Meryl Streep and Frances McDormand expected to join the party, 2019 is surely going to be one helluva ride. Abhishek Srivastava picks six series which clearly show that women have successfully taken the lead.

# The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Set in New York of 1958, this series is about a housewife who takes the unconventional decision of becoming a stand-up comedian. With a performance devoid of any false note, Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam Maisel left competition far behind. Two back-to-back Golden Globe awards in 2018 and 2019 are testimony to the appeal of the series. Apart from a story which keeps one invested, it, in a subtle manner, also talked about women’s emancipation. The crisp, witty dialogues of Amy Sherman Palladino (of Gilmore Girls fame), and the charm of Rachel Brosnahan proved to be a winning combination for this Amazon drama. This is also one of the few series which maintained a constant momentum in both its seasons. It never dipped for a moment, a miracle indeed!

# The Crown

The mega success of The Crown, the biographical story of Queen Elizabeth II, rests largely on the histrionics of Claire Foy. In the role of young Elizabeth, she delivered a performance that took the world by storm. It also made her an instant star for sinking her teeth into the character. John Lithgow as Winston Churchill and Matt Smith as Prince Philip occupied magazine space for their riveting performances. But none could match the euphoria which Claire Foy generated. With Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gillian Anderson slated to join season three and four of the most talked about series, one can only expect sparks from The Crown in the future. It is a classic example of what women are capable of achieving with their combined might.

# The Handmaid’s Tale

This dystopian drama, based on the 1985 novel of Margaret Atwood, was an instant sensation. It single-handedly changed the fortunes of Hulu network, the home of The Handmaid’s Tale. Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne, a handmaid to a commander and his wife, gave a tour de force performance. With some great performances in Mad Men and The West Wing in the past, Elisabeth Moss was always considered a bonafide actress. But the success of The Handmaid’s Tale put her on a pedestal, which even the actress had never imagined. The success of the series and Elisabeth Moss’ performance became synonymous with each other.

# Killing Eve

BBC’s Killing Eve became an overnight sensation. And the credit for the same goes to three women – Phoebe Waller-Bridge for her screenplay, actresses Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. The cat-and-mouse game, played between MI 5 officer Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) for 10 episodes, made the series a binge affair. The two protagonists remain at the core throughout the story. And helped bring out all the possible emotions that humans can emote. The ‘tough woman with a heart’ act of Sandra Oh, besides fetching her a Golden Globe, also helped her garner immense love.

#Insecure

Insecure came out of nowhere and proved to be a revelation. The series, from the viewpoint of two black women, deals with modern America’s contemporary issues. It show issues that most black women have to deal with namely relationships, racism, sex-lives and cultural conflicts. It was instant fame and success for Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji, the two protagonists of the show. Through comic situations and raunchy affairs, they together poked fun at themselves and society. For twenty-something black women, Insecure proved to be revolutionary and also added another feather in the crowded cap of HBO.

# Big Little Lies

The success of season one of Big Little Lies can be gauged by the fact that Meryl Streep will appear in the second season of the show. Needless to say, expectations have simply sky-rocketed. The series is based on the book of the same name by Australian author Liane Moriarty. The first season was fronted by the joint might of Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley. And it dealt with their emotionally troubled lives. The eight Emmy Awards it won out of its 16 nominations say a lot about the series.

Which is your favourite of the lot? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section below! Also stay tuned to CineBlitz for more Bollywood news, updates and gossip.