3 shows for International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day, celebrate stories about women—complex, funny, fearless, and ready to take on the world. 

From whirlwind romances to high-stakes espionage, these shows portray powerful women navigating love, ambition, and personal challenges. Whether you’re in the mood for an irresistible love story, a glamorous Parisian adventure, or a gripping action thriller, these shows deliver compelling narratives with women at the centre.

Rating: M Prime Video

Picture this: A divorced mum pushing 40 who'd rather discuss modern art than reality TV suddenly finds herself tangled up with a rock god who makes teenage hearts explode. Sounds like fantasy but that’s just the beginning of The Idea of You. 

Anne Hathaway plays Solène, a gallery owner whose idea of a wild night usually involves bidding wars over abstract expressionism. Enter Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) – he's 24, tops the charts, and somehow sees past the screaming fans long enough to notice the woman trying not to notice him. Their connection is electric, intoxicating, and absolutely nobody's business – except suddenly it's everyone's business. 

As their relationship sets social media on fire, Solène finds herself starring in a movie she never auditioned for: Woman Dares to Date Younger Man, Society Clutches Pearls. Between the sideways glances and trending hashtags, she's forced to question everything: Is this love worth the headlines? Does she really want to trade wine tastings for world tours? And why is it that when Leonardo DiCaprio dates a 23-year-old, it doesn’t raise too much attention but when she does it, it's breaking news? 

The Idea of You could have been just another romance, but Hathaway brings something raw and real to Solène's story. The film explores a woman’s experience of remembering who she was before she became someone's mum, someone's ex, someone's cautionary tale. This isn't your algorithm-approved romance; it's messy, it's complicated, and it's exactly as inconvenient as real love can be. Lioness – Season 2 (2024) 

Rating: MA 15+  Paramount+ 

Terror strikes home in Lioness Season 2, dragging Joe and her CIA team into a deadly game on American streets. Zoe Saldaña burns up the screen as the hardened operative who thought she'd seen it all - until now. When a shadowy threat emerges stateside, Joe faces an impossible choice: protect her country or protect her soul. 

The glittering cast reads like an awards show lineup. Nicole Kidman and Michael Kelly return as Joe's handlers who navigate the challenges of mission creep and mounting casualties. But it's the raw chemistry between Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira, a new recruit, that crackles through every scene. Morgan Freeman brings gravitas to a story already heavy with consequence. 

After shattering Paramount+ viewing records, Lioness builds on what made Season 1 so good. The action explodes bigger, the stakes cut deeper, and the personal costs rack up faster. But beneath the gunfire and tradecraft lies something more dangerous - the realisation that serving your country might mean losing yourself. 

Lioness – Season 2 was added to our International Women’s Day review because while most spy thrillers treat women as window dressing, Lioness puts them in the command seat, calling the shots and taking the hits. It's not just about breaking the glass ceiling - it's about shattering expectations of what women can do in the field. The result is pure adrenaline with a razor-sharp edge. 

Rating: M Netflix 

Emily's chaotic Parisian adventures dial up the drama in Season 4. The City of Light sparkles as Emily careens through fashion disasters and romantic misfires, still managing to charm everyone despite herself. Lily Collins embodies the bright-eyed American who can't help stumbling into spectacular situations, even as she's supposedly mastered the marketing game. 

The show's trademark love triangles reach new heights of absurdity. Between the smouldering chef Gabriel and the straight-talking banker Alfie, Emily's romantic life remains a glorious mess. But this season throws some delicious curveballs that might finally force her hand. 

At its heart, though, Emily's story captures something real: the rush and terror of reinventing yourself far from home. Sure, most of us don't land dream jobs or date impossibly gorgeous Frenchmen, but who hasn't felt like an outsider trying to fake it till they make it? Between the designer clothes and picture-perfect backdrops, Emily keeps proving that sometimes the best way forward is to embrace the chaos. 

This season it seems particularly clear that the show knows exactly what it is - a champagne bubble of fashion, miscommunication, and beautiful people making questionable choices – without apologies. Season 4 doubles down on everything fans love, serving up pure escapist joy with a side of croissants. 

International Women’s Day or any day 

Whether it’s a romance that challenges societal norms, a stylish adventure in Paris, or a high-stakes CIA mission, these films and series remind us that women’s stories are diverse, powerful, and worth celebrating. Why not add these to your watch list on International Women’s Day or any day. 

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