International Women’s Day is a good excuse to celebrate the women in our lives, but it’s also a great moment to appreciate the fictional ones who dominate our watchlists. We’re talking about the women who enter a scene and suddenly the entire show is more interesting.

STACKTV has a ton of those special women on-screen right now. They’re funny, messy, strategic and unpredictable. Whether they’re spying, unravelling suburban secrets or running circles around those who underestimate them, these are the characters we keep talking about.

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Beatrice Grant (Emilia Clarke) — PONIES

Bea is the kind of character who takes over a show. At first, she seems like someone trying to keep her life together following tragedy. But there’s much, much more going on beneath that calm exterior. As Bea becomes entangled in the world of espionage, the traits that once made her easy to overlook (patience, intelligence, composure) become her greatest weapons. It’s the kind of performance we love Emilia Clarke for — she’s underestimated until we realize she absolutely shouldn’t be.

Twila Hasbeck (Haley Lu Richardson) — PONIES

If Bea is the strategist, Twila is the unpredictable spark. The Louise to her Thelma, if you will. Haley Lu Richardson plays Twila with so much intensity that she makes every scene come alive. She’s sharp, impulsive and usually the first person willing to say what everyone else is thinking. Watching Bea and Twila navigate their new reality together is one of the most entertaining parts of PONIES. Their partnership is supportive, chaotic and often both at the same time, and that tension is exactly what makes the show so fun to watch.

Marissa Irvine (Sarah Snook) — All Her Fault

If you’ve watched All Her Fault, chances are you’ve already chatted with your friends about Marissa. The show begins with a missing child but quickly spirals into a tense story with secrets, suspicion and stereotypical facades of suburban life. Sarah Snook plays Marissa with a mix of vulnerability and intensity that keeps us constantly reassessing what we think we know. Her facial expressions are everything, and she’s the kind of character who doesn’t sit back and wait for life to happen to her. When she can, she takes charge in the best (and most thoroughly researched) ways.

Jenny Kaminski (Dakota Fanning) — All Her Fault

Jenny brings a completely different energy to the story, and that’s what makes her friendship with Marissa so awesome. Where Marissa is raw and reactive, Jenny is calm and controlled. Dakota Fanning plays her with a quiet confidence that makes every interaction feel loaded with subtext. Their early friendship in the wake of social and familial pressure to stay away from each other is what makes the show, and proves that women really do rock when they learn to support each other.

Samira Fisher (Keke Palmer) — The ’Burbs

Suburbia rarely stays peaceful for long, especially when someone like Samira enters the chat. In The ’Burbs, Keke Palmer plays a lawyer who quickly realizes that her new neighbourhood isn’t as ordinary as it seems. Samira is observant, skeptical and not willing to ignore the strange things happening around her. Keke’s charisma and epic one-liners makes Samira the person we want leading the investigation when things inevitably start getting weird. But she’s fun, and we also want to hang out with her in her downtime.

Related: Series Creator Celeste Hughey on Bringing The ‘Burbs Back to Life

Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore) — The Paper

Every newsroom has someone who instantly understands the power dynamics of the room. In The Paper, that person is Esmeralda. As online managing editor, Esmeralda is blunt, sharp and completely uninterested in pretending otherwise. Sabrina Impacciatore gives the character an immediate presence and fearlessness that makes every scene she’s in a little more unpredictable. Her obsession with the camera is unapologetic, and we kind of love her for it… even when she is sabotaging the new editor-in-chief.

Michelle (Melissa Barrera) — The Copenhagen Test

Michelle in The Copenhagen Test thrives in a world where the stakes are always high, which makes her an incredible character to watch. Michelle constantly navigates shifting alliances and hidden agendas, and she often makes it look easy. Melissa Barrera plays her with determination and emotional depth, making the character feel grounded even as the story grows more intense. She’s exactly the kind of character who keeps us watching well past our bedtimes.

Ali Budd — House of Ali

Not every standout woman on STACKTV is fictional. In House of Ali, luxury home designer Ali Budd undertakes ambitious design visions and turns them into tangible realities. Between demanding clients and high expectations, the pressure is constant, but she never buckles. Watching Ali handle those challenges with creativity and confidence is what makes the series so engaging. She always leaves us inspired and wanting more.

Pamela Anderson — Pamela’s Cooking With Love

For viewers looking for something a little cozier, Pamela’s Cooking With Love offers a completely different kind of on-screen presence. Pamela Anderson, who never buckles to social expectations with a full face of makeup, invites viewers into her kitchen for a series that blends cooking, conversation and storytelling. As a result, this feels less like a cooking show and more like someone who genuinely loves sharing what she’s making. How can you not feel like a part of the fam while watching a host like that?

Start streaming all of these fierce women and more on STACKTV. Try it free today!

Related: All Her Fault Ending Explained