Netflix Is Stabbing Female Empowerment In The Back Whilst Apple Champions It

As Netflix cancels two of it's best and most progressive female-centric shows, Apple TV+ debuts the trailer for season two of Hailee Steinfeld's Dickinson

Betty Gilpin in 'GLOW' (CREDIT: Netflix)

                    by Jack Linsdell

Netflix was (emphasis on was) getting to a place where even it's toughest critics had a hard time finding fault with the streaming giant. That's especially true considering the kind of mad year we've had. With a pandemic putting a stop to theatrical releases completely and everyone locked down at home, Netflix arguably became even more of a one-stop-shop for our filmed entertainment. Call it coincidence or excellent adaptability, Netflix stepped up drastically with their 2020 output, both in terms of entertainment quality and progressive storylines/characters. And, that's especially true when it comes to the representation of women. 

Not only did Netflix release some of their best original content his year, but it also happened to be their most Female-centric slate yet. We had some of their best original movies like Grace van Dien's dirt racing drama Lady Driver (in May) and Sabrina Carpenter's teen dance flick Work It (June), both of which focussed on young women whose drive and head strong attitude were seen as tools not flaws. And, their TV output, whether new shows (Teenage Bounty Hunters, Julie and The Phantoms) or new seasons of existing hit shows (Sex Education, Trinkets) were all extensively female-led (and focused) too. In the case of Teenage Bounty Hunters, Kathleen Jordan's terrific comedy-drama debuted one of the best first seasons ever for a Netflix show. It also wore it's heart on it's sleeve, putting heavily stigmatised issues around teen sexuality and lesbian romance (especially in relation to religion) front and centre, paving the way to a new level of honest and frankly inspirational female representation in film and TV. 

So, when we heard this week that Netflix is cancelling some of it's best Female-centric shows whilst Henry Cavill gets another season of The Witcher, there was justified outrage. Among the losses are Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch's excellent (and very popular) female wrestling drama GLOW, Liz Feldman's dark comedy Dead to Me and Jordan's Teenage Bounty Hunters. This also follows the loss of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina earlier in the year too. What's very ironic is that all four shows put queer, outcast and independent women at the centre of their storylines. Just as Netflix seemingly was the one championing female representation that actually reflects women of the modern age, it goes and stabs us all in the back and effectively "cancels" the movement it was starting. However, at least the likes GLOW, Dead to Me and Sabrina got multiple seasons, whereas Teenage Bounty Hunters is effectively cancelled after just one season. I wrote (somewhat jokingly) in my review for the show a couple of months ago how I'd be cancelling my subscription if the streaming giant didn't renew it for a (at the time) inevitable second go-around. I was never expecting to actually need to do it. 

The loss of such high quality, entertaining and socially progressive shows from Netflix is a big black mark against their name. But, in another example of great irony, this was also the week that Apple debuted the trailer for the second season of Dickinson. The "Hailee Steinfeld IS poet Emily Dickinson" off-the-wall, period comedy aired an outstanding and highly acclaimed first season in the fall of last year before swiftly moving into production on another season. As it happens, they'd finished filming before COVID kicked off, meaning that come January 2021, we'll be binging that highly anticipated second series. Anyway, Dickinson was exactly the sort of progressive comedy that very rarely gets made. It disguised itself as a period drama, despite really being the "show of the moment" for our modern times, exploring the stigmas around lesbian romance, female empowerment and society's gender roles in such an off-beat and charming way. And, season two seems to be taking that to the next level. 

As Netflix seemingly cancels it's best Female-centric and progressive shows, Apple TV+ is championing them. Dickinson is joined by the likes of the Jennifer Aniston/Reese Witherspoon political drama The Morning Show and the Rafe Spall/Esther Smith British comedy Trying as very female-led and progressive shows that are getting renewed without even a thought. I've always said since it's creation last year that Apple TV+ is the best streaming service around, especially when it comes to backing shows with some of the most pioneering, unorthodox and progressive content around. And, whilst Netflix boasts millions of subscribers worldwide and a place in modern pop culture ("Netflix and chill"), Apple TV+ remains a relatively unexplored service despite most people having an iPhone with free access to it. So, the irony is not lost on me. 

Anyway, I'm very upset and frustrated that Netflix after seemingly turned a corner has stabbed us all in the back. The likes of GLOW and Dead to Me were vastly enjoyable series, but Teenage Bounty Hunters was one of the best TV shows of modern times and is the greatest lost of all. But, that's almost irrelevant considering the significance behind the issues explored and representation given in each of those shows around young women. The fact was they put very flawed, driven and independent young women at the centre of their stories, exploring issues around sexuality, gender roles and career progression made them important milestones in our united quest to improve and increase our representation of women. But, as Netflix effectively cancels out the hard work they'd already put in, Apple is stepping up to wave the female flag. Maybe they should put that on their website.