Recently, Hollywood has pushed for more women to be screenwriters, directors, and actresses. The entertainment industry is in the midst of its own women’s rights movement. Everyone, especially women, should be ecstatic about it. As a result, there has been a resurgence of female-centric TV shows that depict strong, independent leads. As millennial women, we find ourselves drawn to these shows because they truly resonate with us. These shows make us want to cuddle up on the sofa with a glass of wine for a Friday night binge-watch sesh with our besties. One of these shows is Queen of the South, is a USA Network show based on a book of the same title.
The show centers around Teresa Mendoza, a girl living a glamorous life in Mexico until her drug-runner boyfriend is killed. Soon, she finds herself running and fighting for her life. Queen of the South follows Teresa on her journey to self-discovery and independence as she overcomes all of the difficulties that life throws at her.
The most captivating part of Queen of the South is the in-depth character development.
This is evident when Teresa transforms from a trophy wife to a strong, self-reliant woman. We see her struggle through devastating circumstances and discover her strength, which is universally relatable, even though being a drug trafficker’s girlfriend likely isn’t.
Additionally, the show has a remarkably talented cast. This includes Alice Braga, Veronica Falcón, and Justina Machado, whose characters all represent different parts of Teresa’s world. The almost entirely Latino cast is another groundbreaking element of this project. This adds authenticity due to the predominantly Mexican world portrayed in the show.
Queen of the South shows us a female lead who transforms from being dependent to fostering her own independence.
She doesn’t need a man to save her, and she is definitely a badass, which resonates with women everywhere. The show also discusses matters such as the complexities of good and evil, showing integrity, and taking responsibility for our actions. It also puts a fresh spin on these important issues by including underrepresented populations throughout. If you enjoy gripping, intriguing thrillers with a female empowerment twist, then I recommend giving Queen of the South a watch. The show’s fourth season premieres June 6th. It’s even available on Netflix, so it’s the perfect binge-watch for a weekend in. So add it to your queue, and get watching!
Previously published on Thought Catalog
Featured image via Queen of the South Netflix
