12 | Lady Detectives on TV

From Charlie’s Angels to Brooklyn 99, how have female detectives and crime solvers been depicted on TV?

We discuss some notable TV detectives from Honey West to Jessica Fletcher, talk about how shows like Law and Order made progress in representation, and get into CSI and other shows that (thankfully) start to show more complex female characters. This episode also includes discussions about The Closer, Veronica Mars, Major Crimes, and some new shows this season that have us feeling hopeful.

It’s pretty obvious from the start that we think Brooklyn 99 is the most progressive example we have - and guest Cristina Sullivan shares her take on Latina representation in the show. We commend its humor, diversity, portrayal of LGBT characters, and its approach to important topics. But how did we get here - and why is this show a rarity?

In this episode, we end on a high note of progress, with some optimism about the future of female detectives on TV.

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Written by Misty Wilson-Mehrtens and Allegra Davis Hanna