Video games, books, TV, and film are full of incredible female characters–some role models and some far more flawed, but many of them strong, awesome, and inspiring. If I were to list every female character I love, this blog would likely be never-ending, though somehow still too short. Instead, this is going to be a yearly installment by the Foxfire so I can celebrate as many legendary ladies as possible, but here are a few of my favourites right now!

Lara Croft – Tomb Raider Remastered

Lara Croft is the classic badass woman, with her iconic twin pistols, no-nonsense sass, and seemingly impossible feats of endurance and athleticism. As someone who has both loved and feared the classic Tomb Raider games since I was a kid, it’s been a joy to see my old favourites return in the form of Tomb Raider Remastered bundles so I can face my fears at last and join Lara on her adventures first-hand. From her thwarting of Natla’s plans to facing down gods, Lara’s proven that she can do it all, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that these remastered editions are leading up to more classic-stlye adventures featuring Lara’s famous bravery and wit.

Tifa Lockheart and Aerith Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII

I’m cheating a bit with this one, but it’s only right that these two be mentioned together, as either would likely want the other shouted out. Among the significant changes made throughout the Final Fantasy VII: Remake project, the relationship between Aerith and Tifa is probably one of my favourite changes. The writers took the time to deepen and explore their friendship, transforming it from lukewarm and ‘eh’ at best into something truly special that transcended the shipping wars and love triangle competition. 

Aerith and Tifa are both women who’ve seen hardship in their lives, and who both grieve the families and homes that they have lost. They’ve never let their suffering turn them cruel, however; rather, they do their best every day to show kindness to others–Aerith by taking part in volunteer activity, and Tifa by running Seventh Heaven: a place where she can provide warm food and hospitality in the heart of the tough-as-nails slums. Though few have ever put them first, the ladies are always considerate, worrying about others and striving for the greater good, and I think this is what makes them such a great team. 

Not just to consider the feelings of both ladies, I also put them together on this list because that’s what I love so much about them: how they interact and care for one another when they’re together. This may be the best representation of female friendship and sisterhood I’ve seen in gaming, and I hope we see more of this going forward!

Lae’Zel – Baldur’s Gate 3

Picking one of the awesome ladies from Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 was a seriously challenging task, I want you to know; the team did a great job of showing us women from many walks of life, and with vastly differing morals, attitudes, and goals. Keeping my initial experience in mind though, the person whose arc stood out to me and stuck with me most was Lae’Zel. Again, that’s not to diminish the stories of the rest of the cast! Karlach’s coming to terms with her mortality and making the most of her remaining time, Shadowheart’s search for herself while dealing with chronic pain, Jaheira’s attempt to do right by as many people as possible in a changed world while protecting Minsc, the grief that Dame Aylin and Isabel bear and the love they keep alive for one another throughout the years… it’s all brilliant, from start to end, and that’s not even an exhaustive list.

What makes Lae’Zel special for me is how she changes and grows as a person if you successfully pursue her path. She goes from being a brutish bully to deferring to your judgement and slowly respecting Tav more in her interactions as Tav proves themselves worthy of her respect. My first time through her route, I genuinely wasn’t sure whether she’d break her shackles, reject Vlaakith’s horrors and lies, and find her own code to live by. Her advanced gradually grow less aggressive, and at the end of their courtship, she wakes Tav up to view a sunrise, wide-eyed and awake to the beauty of something other than bloodshed. Lae’Zel’s overworld dialogue is also really fun and demonstrates how little she knows about the world she’s found herself in, such as thinking ‘Tieflings’ are called ‘Teethlings’. She’s a fearsome warrior, but discovers a whole new life to live–one in which she might be something other than a weapon.

Circe – Circe by Madeline Miller

I’ve recently been reading Circe–a retelling of the story of Circe from Greek myth, daughter of sun god Helios and ocean nymph Perse, and the sorceress encountered by Odysseus in Homer’s epic The Odyssey who turned men into pigs through use of herbs, drugs, and incantations.

Miller tells Circe’s story from the first-person perspective, giving us a heart-rendingly close view of how she is herself transformed from a gentle, rejected child to a hurt, vengeful woman, and eventually into a survivor. The tale details the cruelty of gods and the lengths to which women must go to survive, and faces us with the cold truth that women are so often made into monsters, loved only for the heroes their deaths and misfortunes create. As expected from the author of The Song of Achilles, this story will hurt with the light it sheds on unsavoury truths, and it’s well worth reading for anyone in search of feminist fiction.

Hitori Gotoh – Bocchi the Rock!

I started watching Bocchi the Rock! because I’d heard the name a bunch and liked that it was about a rock band, but I had no idea I’d be delving into a commentary on a life lived with social anxiety. As another girl who hesitated on the playground and often lacked the ability to relate to my peers, I’ve also known what it’s like to feel unworthy or just the general ability to make a connection with other people. I’ve been lucky, like Hitori, in that I’ve encountered people who have seen past my anxiety and gotten to know the me within, but it’s not been without plenty of struggles and hard work on myself to push my boundaries and meet them halfway, even when at times that’s felt impossible. I saw so much of myself in Hitori and empathised with her deeply, and was so impressed by the anime’s ability to make her anxiety episodes feel so humorous but relatable. Hitori is a seriously strong lady and I hope she and Kessoku Band someday make it to the top!

Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation

Rounding out this list is Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, which I came to again recently after marathonning the US version of The Office. In this chaotic political climate where hate is biting and spitting in all directions in an effort to win, Leslie’s heartfelt campaigns for a better Pawnee are a reassurance that, under the right leadership, politics can be a hopeful thing–not just a weapon swung against the vulnerable. Leslie’s not perfect, of course–her want to help people and to make things right for everyone often lead to her making more problems, or sticking her foot in her mouth. However, I’m confident that if Leslie were in the White House today, then the world would be a much better place, bonded as a community, not torn apart by its pieces. 

What Did You Think?

What did you think of my picks? Do you agree, or do you have faves that should’ve been on this list? Sound off in the comments below! It was a really hard job to narrow things down to just these candidates, so know that this is by no means exhaustive! If you have recommendations based on my picks, I’d love to hear those too! I’m always open to reading, playing, and watching new things! Let’s hear your thoughts! Who knows? Maybe some of your besties will appear on this list next year.

Happy International Women’s Day! 

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