These Female TV Characters Wouldn't Exist Without 'Mad Men'

Whether intentional or not, Kim is a feminist hero on Better Call Saul. And, like Peggy and Joan, she isn't solely defined by her relationship with a male character, and is complex and fascinating on her own terms.

Throughout Scandal, Olivia has been portrayed as a multi-faceted character unafraid of to do or to take whatever she wants, and to have control of loaded situations.

Jane Fonda is formidable in whatever she does, but as Leona in The Newsroom she was a goddamn queen, and unapologetic about it.

Like Joan, Alicia wasn't afraid for her sex life to overlap with her career, even if it was destined to end messily. However, Alicia was also wonderfully flawed, forthright, and ferocious in just about every other aspect of her life and career, too.

Diane was kind of the Peggy to Alicia's Joan, maintaining a much more focused professional edge throughout The Good Wife. Her drive, smarts, and fierce wit continue to be an inspiration on The Good Fight, too.

Jessica has exactly the sort of grace, cleverness, and cunning that makes her stand tough within the cutthroat legal World. Which is perhaps exactly why Jessica may be leading a Suits spinoff soon.

Veep may be a comedy, but that doesn't make Selina any less vocal, powerful, and commanding.

It isn't just that Claire is impossibly smart and startlingly assertive, but also that she shares Joan's penchant for looking seriously chic while being absolutely bomb.

Rayna might be a brain within the music industry, rather than within a corporate field, but she's just as dominating and inspiring a character.

US Marshall Brooks was smart and fearless, and regularly challenged authoritative and criminal men like it was no big deal. And all with her formidable wry smile, and dazzling wit.

As a complex, flawed, and multi-faceted character, Carrie was utterly compelling. She always went the extra mile to get the job done, and she was also given full agency over her sexuality. No matter what dark places these decisions took her.

Set in the '50s, Johnson was portrayed as being completely ahead of her time. Not only was she a divorced Mother pursuing a meaningful career, but she also explored, and embraced, her sexuality in full. Including joining a polyamorous relationship.

Annalise isn't perfect, and that's perhaps what makes her so fascinating. While there's no doubt that she's an absolute boss on just about level she possibly can be, we're also given access to her flaws and vulnerabilities, in a way that feels empowering.

There are few women characters on TV as unapologetic and confident as Gillian Anderson's Stella. Whether she's leading a murder investigation, challenging the patriarchy, or simply choosing a lover to share her bed for the night, she does so with inspiring levels of self-certainty.

Alex may be incredibly sexy, and unafraid of that fact, but she's also fiercely headstrong and audacious in her pursuit for truth.

As was clear from the second Elizabeth Moss appeared on screen as Peggy, the actor always excels as challenging, feminist characters who dare to disrupt the patriarchy. And as outspoken, tough detective Robin, she was exactly that.

Quinn is ruthless in a way that is rarely seen in women characters on TV. Though this can often be an inspiring trait to witness, in UnReal, it can also be a little terrifying as Quinn is happy to push whatever boundaries she needs to in order to boost ratings.

Cookie is imperfect, for sure, but her unapologetic ambition, independence, and expression of her sexuality were irresistible to witness. Furthermore, her flaws and complexities made Cookie into a true feminist hero, striving for excellence, while capable of vulnerabilities.

Peggy and Joan may have helped usher in a whole new era of feminist characters, but here's hoping that the rest of these inspiring TV women help to inspire a whole new era of feminist programming, too.