Homeland

We have a free trial of Showtime, HBO, Cinemax....all the premium channels. We get it about twice a year, and they run marathons of all their popular shows. We fill up the DVR with movies, Dexter, and whatever else they want to give us for free.

I don't understand why people subscribe.

But anyway, we started watching Homeland. It's wonderful. It's character-driven, unlike 24 which relied on one crazy event after another to speed along the plot.

The main character is Carrie Mathison. She's a CIA intelligence officer and was tipped off that an American POW is now working for the terrorists. She is fearless. She breaks laws, lies to people, puts herself in danger, and has cried 3 times in the first 8 episodes. She has a hidden illness she keeps from people. She doesn't date but she is sexual. She's kind to her nieces, relies on her sister, and works all hours of the day.

They wrote a character. A real, believable, could-be-an-actual-person character. 

And she's female.

And the lead.

A few years ago, an interviewer asked Joss Whedon why he writes such strong female characters, he famously replied, "because you're still asking me that question."

I think writers heard you, Joss.

A good, strong character is someone believable, likeable despite their flaws, and is interesting enough to carry the story without weird plot twists and shit blowing up.

Hello Carrie Mathison.