I started watching the TV show Covert Affairs and while seemingly empowering, it finds a comfy middle ground that shows “strong women” as largely nonthreatening. Looking for some confirmation I stumbled on this review that was humorous and spot on.

“Annie Walker is so blatantly intended to be a Strong Female Ideal that I have a hard time taking her seriously. She’s perfect. And that perfection is both annoying, and unrealistic. I suspect that creators Matt Corman and Chris Ord sat down with a feminist theory textbook when they brainstormed Annie, fully believing her to be some sort of primetime TV revolutionary. […] She’s the least threatening Strong Female on television. She’s even contrasted with Auggie in one of the oldest Strong Female cheat codes there is. By pairing a not-particularly-tough woman up with an emasculated man (emasculation generally accomplished through permanent disability, temporary submission, or a stark contrast in social class) she, by comparison, becomes the ‘stronger’ character.”
Covert Affairs vs. Xena: Warrior Princess (or, how to do feminism on TV without really trying)

You know what they say about good intentions…

cross-posted on Facebook